Bluetooth headsets

[Dave Cr]

I would appreciate some feedback (non electrical) from anyone who has fitted the very latest Bluetooth kit from BMW to their helmet. Failing that, can any of you recommmend comparable systems please. My pillion does not want anything to do with wires and electrical connections! Thank you.

 

[R1200JK]

Hi - I use Sennheiser MM 200 stereo bluetooth earphones with my Zumo 660. In ear speaker design acts as ear plugs, great stereo music from the MP3s, clear & loud navigation voice prompts. Simple - lovely! Probably would work with mobile phones etc. but I don't. Didn't want voice com with pillion either - shoulder tapping and vague waving works quite well and adds entertainment value.

 

[EggChaser]

I use a Cardo Scala Rider - not used the rider to pillion setup, but rider to GPS and phone is good quality sound, - although the headset does sometimes drop the connection, needing a 0.5sec press on the unit to get it to re-attech.

 

[London Mole]

Navigator IV + Autocom Wireless L-IW

Hi,

Here's my twopence worth: after buying a 2006 GSA last August, I wanted to improve the quality of the ride for my beloved, who had never been on a bike as a pillion before, as we were planning a long trip accross the Channel.

First, I spent more than £500.00 on a brand new BMW Navigator IV and fittings: awesome piece of equipment, brilliant picture and reception quality, very easy to use even in storm conditions (we were 3 litres away from having to push it -MY fault- while in the middle of nowhere in France... just press the "Closest Petrol Station" button and you're there!

Happy so far.

Then, I spent £460 for an "Autocom Logic Independence Wireless".

And another £2 for "Open Face Conversion Kit".

And another £80 for a "Plug-In Bluetooth Module".
And another £25 for an "Extension Lead".

Because if your unit is behind your back to "talk" to your pillion... it can't "talk" to your satnav via bluetooth. So there's a big thick cable with a small box at the end that goes around you from the unit all the way to somewhere near the satnav...

How is it WIRELESS then???!!!

And if you plan on riding for more than 5 hours during a single day... bring spare batteries!

Very practical having to change batteries when the weather is atrocious, you're on a motorway, it's night time, raining so much that visibility is approximately 50 yards, all traffic is doing 30mph, gusts of wind +50mph and your pillion is VERY frightened ... and you suddenly loose radio contact, and can't stop in a hurry to replace batteries on both units!

Thank you Autocom, I suppose after spending all that money for a product that works-ish I can now spend the same amount on batteries!!!

Or maybe spend another £XXX amount on a "Bike Power Kit"... but then again, what's the point in calling it WIRELESS kit if you have to add cables to get a decent result.

And one last thing: everytime I plug-in my helmet to the Autocom unit, I never know if the music player on the Nav' IV will play!
As a matter of fact on a 7 day trip riding everyday for many hours, we had music only on a couple of occasions. God knows why. Most of the time the Nav' IV doesn't "recognise" the bluetooth in order to play music... but recognises it to give audio directions and "ding-ding" for speed-traps! Weird!!!

For sure if the sound goes for one "part" or "programme" of the Nav' IV, ALL sounds should go through!!!

I forgot to mention that I spent another £30 on a Micro SD memory card for the satnav (not included).

Oh, and another thing, I've had the Autocom kit less than a couple of month and... the main "plug" on the unit side snapped clean off, just hanging by the internal cables... Hang on, I haven't even abused the damn thing, so why have plugs and cables the size of forearms if they don't even last a few month???

Well, apologies if I sound bitter, some will say that if I spend so much on a GSA I shouldn't complain, some others will say that I should have known better and researched products more in-depth.

But that's not the point: I'm not happy with a VERY expensive piece of equipment described as "The Ultimate Expandable Audio/Communication System". And now it's all out of the box and used, there's no-way they'll exchange it.

So I guess I can dump everything into a bin and buy my other half a flip-up helmet... and a new MP3!


Hope this helps.

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

I use the Midland BT2 and have no complaints. I get stereo music from my phone along with GPS voice directions. I don't have a separate sat nav yet so cant comment on how that would work. Works fine driver to passenger as well although bike to bike I would say forget it. The range is just too limited but I could add a radio if it was important to me. You get about 6 hours use from full charge which isn't too bad but it is a bit limited I guess if your on a major run. You can plug it into the bike and charge/run it if you like but then as Mr grumpy above states, it isn't wireless then. I think your always going to have limited time with this kind of kit, either that or bigger batteries which equals bigger size which wouldn't be so good. The BT2 uses a mini USB plug for charging to I guess you could use one of those battery packs you get for phones to extend the use. It wouldn't be wireless but at least you wouldn't be attached to the bike.

 

[London Mole]

To Marki GSA:
I didn't intend to sound "Grumpy".
All I'm saying is that if you can get reasonably cheap professional radios (medics, army, police, rescue) that can transmit miles away (and even underground!) for up to 16 hours, how come I can't talk for more than a few hours to someone sitting behind my back after having spent half a grand!!!

 

[beemerboy9]

Hi,

Here's my twopence worth: after buying a 2006 GSA last August, I wanted to improve the quality of the ride for my beloved, who had never been on a bike as a pillion before, as we were planning a long trip accross the Channel.

First, I spent more than £500.00 on a brand new BMW Navigator IV and fittings: awesome piece of equipment, brilliant picture and reception quality, very easy to use even in storm conditions (we were 3 litres away from having to push it -MY fault- while in the middle of nowhere in France... just press the "Closest Petrol Station" button and you're there!

Happy so far.

Then, I spent £460 for an "Autocom Logic Independence Wireless".

And another £2 for "Open Face Conversion Kit".

And another £80 for a "Plug-In Bluetooth Module".
And another £25 for an "Extension Lead".

Because if your unit is behind your back to "talk" to your pillion... it can't "talk" to your satnav via bluetooth. So there's a big thick cable with a small box at the end that goes around you from the unit all the way to somewhere near the satnav...

How is it WIRELESS then???!!!

And if you plan on riding for more than 5 hours during a single day... bring spare batteries!

Very practical having to change batteries when the weather is atrocious, you're on a motorway, it's night time, raining so much that visibility is approximately 50 yards, all traffic is doing 30mph, gusts of wind +50mph and your pillion is VERY frightened ... and you suddenly loose radio contact, and can't stop in a hurry to replace batteries on both units!

Thank you Autocom, I suppose after spending all that money for a product that works-ish I can now spend the same amount on batteries!!!

Or maybe spend another £XXX amount on a "Bike Power Kit"... but then again, what's the point in calling it WIRELESS kit if you have to add cables to get a decent result.

And one last thing: everytime I plug-in my helmet to the Autocom unit, I never know if the music player on the Nav' IV will play!
As a matter of fact on a 7 day trip riding everyday for many hours, we had music only on a couple of occasions. God knows why. Most of the time the Nav' IV doesn't "recognise" the bluetooth in order to play music... but recognises it to give audio directions and "ding-ding" for speed-traps! Weird!!!

For sure if the sound goes for one "part" or "programme" of the Nav' IV, ALL sounds should go through!!!

I forgot to mention that I spent another £30 on a Micro SD memory card for the satnav (not included).

Oh, and another thing, I've had the Autocom kit less than a couple of month and... the main "plug" on the unit side snapped clean off, just hanging by the internal cables... Hang on, I haven't even abused the damn thing, so why have plugs and cables the size of forearms if they don't even last a few month???

Well, apologies if I sound bitter, some will say that if I spend so much on a GSA I shouldn't complain, some others will say that I should have known better and researched products more in-depth.

But that's not the point: I'm not happy with a VERY expensive piece of equipment described as "The Ultimate Expandable Audio/Communication System". And now it's all out of the box and used, there's no-way they'll exchange it.

So I guess I can dump everything into a bin and buy my other half a flip-up helmet... and a new MP3!


Hope this helps.

Take the whole sorry lot up the Autocom factory in Leamington Spa (preferably after the NEC show has finished!) and do NOT leave until they have sorted you out - which I am sure they will be very pleased to do!

What is wireless? If you had purchased Cardo Scala BT headsets you would be plugging them into the mains each night!

 

[Dave Cr]

Thank you all for your prompt responses - all useful too. BMW want over £260 to fit bluetooth into my System 6 helmet, but there are cheaper ways of listening to my sat. nav. now that my wife has said she isn't bothered about being connected. And what happens when the helmet goes....?

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

London Mole I was only messing with you, I would be grumpy as well t be honest spending that much. I don't know the autocom setup so cant comment on it other than its a bit pricey.

 

[karlp]

Hi,

Here's my twopence worth: after buying a 2006 GSA last August, I wanted to improve the quality of the ride for my beloved, who had never been on a bike as a pillion before, as we were planning a long trip accross the Channel.

First, I spent more than £500.00 on a brand new BMW Navigator IV and fittings: awesome piece of equipment, brilliant picture and reception quality, very easy to use even in storm conditions (we were 3 litres away from having to push it -MY fault- while in the middle of nowhere in France... just press the "Closest Petrol Station" button and you're there!

Happy so far.

Then, I spent £460 for an "Autocom Logic Independence Wireless".

And another £2 for "Open Face Conversion Kit".

And another £80 for a "Plug-In Bluetooth Module".
And another £25 for an "Extension Lead".

Because if your unit is behind your back to "talk" to your pillion... it can't "talk" to your satnav via bluetooth. So there's a big thick cable with a small box at the end that goes around you from the unit all the way to somewhere near the satnav...

How is it WIRELESS then???!!!

And if you plan on riding for more than 5 hours during a single day... bring spare batteries!

Very practical having to change batteries when the weather is atrocious, you're on a motorway, it's night time, raining so much that visibility is approximately 50 yards, all traffic is doing 30mph, gusts of wind +50mph and your pillion is VERY frightened ... and you suddenly loose radio contact, and can't stop in a hurry to replace batteries on both units!

Thank you Autocom, I suppose after spending all that money for a product that works-ish I can now spend the same amount on batteries!!!

Or maybe spend another £XXX amount on a "Bike Power Kit"... but then again, what's the point in calling it WIRELESS kit if you have to add cables to get a decent result.

And one last thing: everytime I plug-in my helmet to the Autocom unit, I never know if the music player on the Nav' IV will play!
As a matter of fact on a 7 day trip riding everyday for many hours, we had music only on a couple of occasions. God knows why. Most of the time the Nav' IV doesn't "recognise" the bluetooth in order to play music... but recognises it to give audio directions and "ding-ding" for speed-traps! Weird!!!

For sure if the sound goes for one "part" or "programme" of the Nav' IV, ALL sounds should go through!!!

I forgot to mention that I spent another £30 on a Micro SD memory card for the satnav (not included).

Oh, and another thing, I've had the Autocom kit less than a couple of month and... the main "plug" on the unit side snapped clean off, just hanging by the internal cables... Hang on, I haven't even abused the damn thing, so why have plugs and cables the size of forearms if they don't even last a few month???

Well, apologies if I sound bitter, some will say that if I spend so much on a GSA I shouldn't complain, some others will say that I should have known better and researched products more in-depth.

But that's not the point: I'm not happy with a VERY expensive piece of equipment described as "The Ultimate Expandable Audio/Communication System". And now it's all out of the box and used, there's no-way they'll exchange it.

So I guess I can dump everything into a bin and buy my other half a flip-up helmet... and a new MP3!


Hope this helps.

The Autocom does not connect with the Nav IV and autocom apparantly have not spoken with BMW to find out what has been changed in the Bluetooth protocol.

Music and Nav commands use different protocols. The Nav commands do connect to Autocom but the music does not (that is why you can hear the Nav commands but not the music).

It seems to me an easy thing to sort out if Autocom get off their backsides and ring BMW but I have been told they cannot be bothered.

BMW bluetooth headstes will communicate with Nav IV and passenger and the headsets last for approx 10hrs.

This is the setup I use.

 

[paintman]

We bought two nolan N103 flip front Helmets approx £200 each, then fitted the comms kit, which varies in price depending on what functions you want, we have blue tooth for wireless gps/phones, wireless rider to pillion comms, and listen to Ipods with cables. It took a while to conquer pairing and connection, but now happy with the kit, at motorway speeds you need the volume up pretty high to overcome wind noise. Don't know how it compares with other systems, but it all works.

Hein Gerrick are stockists.

 

[ktmmark]

I use a Cardo Scala Rider - not used the rider to pillion setup, but rider to GPS and phone is good quality sound, - although the headset does sometimes drop the connection, needing a 0.5sec press on the unit to get it to re-attech.

Three of us use the cardo scala q2, had it 6 months and it's been spot on both to the pilion and bike to bike, run phone sat nav and mp3 through it no problem even has a built in radio

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

Three of us use the cardo scala q2, had it 6 months and it's been spot on both to the pilion and bike to bike, run phone sat nav and mp3 through it no problem even has a built in radio

Another vote for the Cardo Scala. Don't listen to music, but works perfectly with phone, GPS and pillion. Has the advantage to also work bike to bike.

It does need charging but seems to last for ever, and quick to charge.

No wires, no fuss