Hard wired or Blu tooth

[Wassted]

Wired or Blu tooth? The guys who have hard wired systems, would you go Blu tooth if you were to buy a new system now? The guys who have already moved over to Blu tooth, are the advantages of not being wired to the bike sufficient to outweigh the charging required to keep the system going?
This is a tough choice to make as I really like the thought of wireless coms but don’t like the thought of having another piece of equipment to charge whilst on a long trip.

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

I use the Scala and this works fine for:

Phone
Sat Nav
Pillion
Bike to bike

I don't listen to music on the bike, but I don't think the quality is good.

A few initial issues getting everthing to talk to each other but once done no problems.

The battery life is excellent, although on tours I always charge each night (45 mins). The charger is the same size as a mobile phone charger.

Not used a hard wired system but this will win for sound quality. I just see myself forgeting about the lead when getting off the bike.

 

[earthmover]

Recently swapped to a Cardo Scala Q2 set up, purely for the ease of the bike-to-bike facility. The Autocom system I had proved faultless for everything but that. Never had a problem with forgetting the wires, but now I forget I haven't got them and try to unplug it.
Only time will tell regarding the reliability of the blutooth set up though, ask me again in a couple of years time.
Mark

 

[Wapping]

Hard wired 660, via Autom, with Kenwood bike-to-bike. Everything sat under the seat of a 1200GSA, all powered by a dedicated feed.

I do not use the phone on the bike, though I could.

Works very well.

Now on it's 3rd or 4th bike, so it does not owe me much.

With wires, if you have a problem it should be easy enough to work it out and mend. With Bluetooth

Now that they have got the battery life on Bluetooth devices up to something acceptable it may be something to have a look at, for sure.

 

[Sho]

I am now the proud owner of the Scarla G4, myself and Major Gadget brought the set so there automatically paired at the factory.

I just didn't like the idea of being wired to anything on the bike just incase the bike and myself decided to part for whatever reason.

The range is not to bad, i left the zumo powered on at the petrol station, went inside to make payment and was still listening to my tunes

 

[Billywhizz]

Hard wired for me. Nothing fancy, straight into the Zumo and a set of Starcom helmet speakers / micrphone. Good sound, nothing to charge, easy release coupling (yes I have walked off with it connected...). Synchs with 'phone over BTooth so phone just goes in pocket. £30.00 all in....plus the Zumo of course. Play music until interrupted by the phone or directions

 

[Big Nick]

Been mulling this over myself and currently use a hardwired Autocom setup for music, phone and satnav. Having crashed while connected to the Autocom I can safely assure you it disconnects sharpish and without issue! The charging problem is the thing that stops me going Bluetooth as owing to work etc I sometimes don't ride for a couple of weeks so failing to charge up my headset would be a pain. Autocom means it's always good to go

 

[Ian Paterson]

Scala Q2

I have just bought the Q2 with a friend and it is a problem fitting to a BMW flip up helmet although the range was good. Quality was good but have not worked out how to get phone and GPs working together. The Nokia 6301 I have was paired to the Garmin 2820 on Autocom but if I switch phone onto bluetooth the voice commands on GPS willl not work. Have tried paring the phone to Q2 but it fails everytime. Any ideas as to what I am doing wrong?

Must say it is nice to get off the bike without wires and the scala comes off the brackect for charging. Used it Saturday for twelve hours and left on over night and it was still charged in the morning.

 

[Coolcarbon]

I've used various systems including Autocom, Intaride, Baerh but decided to try the BT route last year.

After looking around and reading up on the kit available, I settled on Bikercom

You're right, you do need an additional charger with you for the headsets but it does both at once,it's small and the charge will last all day even when streaming music as I do.. , plus it's a mini USB will do for other kit as well.

I plug the 'Full house and chips' into the hub, it all works well together.

Have a read of the following write-ups...

Webbike World
Bluetooth Intercoms
Our vey own Mike Werner's of this Parish too...