Bike to bike PMR radio recommendation

[NLC]

Hi - had a dreadful time with one brand of radio that was receiving a lot of interference when drawing from bike power. Company has been unable to solve the problem. Any recommendations for good radios to run on bike power with a Starcom? Was thinking of going down the Kenwood route. It would be nice to have something that would plug into an external aerial but I understand that you have to have to choose 0.5w unrestricted or restricted 5w route. Any thoughts?

 

[Andy B]

I'm dying for some user feedback on this which I think sounds great on paper. No need for wires anywhere and completely portable as long as you have a bluetooth headset. This has got to be the future hasn't it? (and its cheaper than a Kenwood!)

 

[NLC]

I had four Scala units and had no luck with any of them. Bluetooth works for non-related comms i.e. devices talking to one another. I was getting lots of interference and the bloody thing was just too complicated.

 

[Bumpkin]

Hi - had a dreadful time with one brand of radio that was receiving a lot of interference when drawing from bike power. Company has been unable to solve the problem.

Sounds like Ground Loop Interference to me. With two connected audio devices, I assume that you were running the radio though an intercom, you can get varying degrees of interference depending on how it's all set up. The likes of Autocom do isolating leads that eliminate this problem. I have my PMR and Autocom powered from the same source which, more by luck than intention, eliminates it without special leads.

 

[degsey]

Try a ferrite core on your power lead

 

[chas820]

What Bumkin said!!Are you powering it from the same source?What radio is it?I have used Puxing /Linton/Weiwei and currently a Wintec.The two that have given the best results are the Linton(2w)and the Wintec(2w)

 

[Bumpkin]

I have used Puxing /Linton/Weiwei and currently a Wintec.The two that have given the best results are the Linton(2w)and the Wintec(2w)

I'm genuinely interested to hear in what respect the Puxing was a problem as I use a PX-888. I'm not banging on about how great it is or complaining that you're 'dissing it. Just want to know if I can improve my set-up.

 

[NLC]

I have tried a ferrite bead no luck. Starcom is wired directly to battery and radio directly to switched Fuzeblock. Thought it was a Ground Loop but company could not solve it. Don't have a Starcom Digital so I can't power it from that unit. Starcom tells me they don't have any problems with the Kenwood... Kinda sucks that it has a fixed antenna but I understand I can modify that at a later date.

 

[Bumpkin]

Starcom is wired directly to battery and radio directly to switched Fuzeblock.

I don't think that's going to help. Try wiring both to the same source, both live and ground, and see if that makes it any better. No promises mind you

 

[chas820]

Bumpkin,nothing wrong with the Puxing although my mate hates them.The Wintec is a bit smaller and i can just cram that and the Starcom into the back of my F800gs.I sold my Linton to a mate and i`ve regretted it ever since,it transmits perfectly,no ground loop no hissing and really clear speech.I`ve found it`s better to use 2w rather than 4w, as if you are less then two hundred yards apart you get less than clear comms,i/e speech a bit garbled.Setting the radio to "wide" helps as well.Four in our group use radios but we never seem to get everybody`s system working,there is always someone who`s not receiving or transmitting If you have a Starcom and find the wires disconnect from vibration try using a hot glue gun,it works very well and is easy to peel off if you need to disconnect something.

North London Cookie/
Have a look at the radio`s sold by Intaride,they are pmr with removable aerials.

http://www.intaride.com/business_radios.html