intercoms - What should I be expect?

[jimbo]

Having tried an autocom and a starcom, I'm totally un-impressed with bike intercoms. 3 units and 2 of the leading brands tried and they are all sh*t. Is it me? Am I doing something wrong?

I got a top of the range autocom (Super Pro @ £300 odd) and fitted it to my LT. It was a disaster. Despite knob adjustment and changing the position of the ambient noise mic and then removing the foam, the VOX tripped all the time. My breathing or a noisy car passing with trigger VOX. Both are common occurences...
Tippets Honda were great and exchanged it for another- that did exactly the same thing. I tried all the advice from Autocom and Tippets. Tippets gave me my money back thumb2 to Tippets - couldn't fault their helpfulness). This happened as Autocom went bust so I jumped at the full refund given I couldn't make it work an the factory backup was in doubt.

So I got a Starcom 1 now. No VOX, so at least I can listen on the ipod without a passing car silencing it.
However with the Mrs on the back its basically usable up to about 50mph. Beyond that the wind noise (no not the Mrs) amplified through the headset is tiring. Beyond 70 I can't understand anything she say. This is on a LT, which has far less wind noise than the GS. I've taped up the helmet vents for the mouth by the mic.

So am I doing something wrong, or is expecting an intercom to work on a motorway too much?

To get the Mrs on the back of a bike, I had to basically buy an LT or a Wing. I would actually like to be able to talk to her if we plan some longer trips..

any advice much appreciated.

 

[Ogmios]

it's you.

sorry - but it has to be something you're doing. i've even used autocom with open face lids and not had half the trouble you've had.
However,
they are a fecker to set up properly and if you dont - you get every one of the problems you describe.

the mic, is very fussy as to where its fitted and the amount of vox.

hth.
i can do no more without actually 'being there'

 

[wilbjr21]

I agree with the previous post. I must be you.

I've never has any problems with my Autocoms. I use Pro avi; wires are much better than all this bluetooth gubbins (although I use bluetooth for the phone via Zumo).

I use Duocomm speakers in my ears (as does the wife) and the quality is excellent - even music. I don't get any false vox triggering at all.

Used at three figure speeds.

 

[petera]

its you +1 I'm afraid.

Me and the missus use a starcom and it works fine even on the motorway.
Can't really help much except to say Mic and ear piece location is critical and worth spending sometime to get right.
There is some amplified wind noise but I always use earplugs which seems to antenuate this along with the normal wind noise but the speech or music is still perfectly clear.

 

[gerarddwatts]

Could'nt make starcom work, can't make autocom work. Both shite. Suppose it must be me as well. Going to try Interphone 4 next.

 

[jimbo]

its you +1 I'm afraid.

Me and the missus use a starcom and it works fine even on the motorway.
Can't really help much except to say Mic and ear piece location is critical and worth spending sometime to get right.
There is some amplified wind noise but I always use earplugs which seems to antenuate this along with the normal wind noise but the speech or music is still perfectly clear.

Hmm - ok thanks.

I also use earplugs.

so what to I try next? moving the mic around? can't see how thats going to decrease wind noise much. I might try emailing starcom..

 

[Rasher]

Having tried an autocom and a starcom, I'm totally un-impressed with bike intercoms. 3 units and 2 of the leading brands tried and they are all sh*t. Is it me? Am I doing something wrong?

I reckon so, I have used an Autocom on a ZX9R, ZZR1400 and the GS, music at motorway speeds on all of them, easy comms into 3 figures and the ability to be understood at way beyind the top speed of a GS.

IMHO one of the best bits of kit I have ever purchased, about to upgrade to the latest kit.

any advice much appreciated

Buy from an expert, I have had great support from Sam at Chainspeed, his product knowledge is second to none, and he will fit the kit, install headsets and help you set the stuff up if need be.

I did see someone else on here promoting these services, I think it may have been self promotion, but anyway still better to look to people who do install the stuff regularly as they will undoubtedly be well placed to assist and advise.

Hope you do get something working as it is great when properly sorted

 

[NLC]

Having tried an autocom and a starcom, I'm totally un-impressed with bike intercoms. 3 units and 2 of the leading brands tried and they are all sh*t. Is it me? Am I doing something wrong?

I got a top of the range autocom (Super Pro @ £300 odd) and fitted it to my LT. It was a disaster. Despite knob adjustment and changing the position of the ambient noise mic and then removing the foam, the VOX tripped all the time. My breathing or a noisy car passing with trigger VOX. Both are common occurences...
Tippets Honda were great and exchanged it for another- that did exactly the same thing. I tried all the advice from Autocom and Tippets. Tippets gave me my money back thumb2 to Tippets - couldn't fault their helpfulness). This happened as Autocom went bust so I jumped at the full refund given I couldn't make it work an the factory backup was in doubt.

So I got a Starcom 1 now. No VOX, so at least I can listen on the ipod without a passing car silencing it.
However with the Mrs on the back its basically usable up to about 50mph. Beyond that the wind noise (no not the Mrs) amplified through the headset is tiring. Beyond 70 I can't understand anything she say. This is on a LT, which has far less wind noise than the GS. I've taped up the helmet vents for the mouth by the mic.

So am I doing something wrong, or is expecting an intercom to work on a motorway too much?

To get the Mrs on the back of a bike, I had to basically buy an LT or a Wing. I would actually like to be able to talk to her if we plan some longer trips..

any advice much appreciated.

You can expect to have raised blood pressure. Bike comms is a dark art. Vodka, a big hammer and patience. You'll get there.... or die trying. I've got a Starcom with a zumo and iphone which works great. The PMR is a little bit tricky.

 

[GS_or_bust]

Thinking of buying an Intaride intercom and radio set up

I am thinking of buying an intercom from Intaride together with a bike to bike radio. Against the Evo2 their web site says 'Waiting for new model' and on inquiring further I was told that a new model replacing the Evo2 will be out shortly with some great new features so I am hanging on to see what it can do.

P.S. I have no connection to Intaride

 

[NLC]

I have the Intaride radio and it works good. You can wire the antenna into an external aerial socket and the radio can transmit at 5w (technically illegal in the UK) but I only use them in France . They have very good service as well.

PS I have no connection to Intaride either other than as a consumer.

I bought the 803.

 

[boatman]

you Must be not getting the set up right on the autocom ,though they are not as particular to set up as the sales info would have you believe
I have had various autocom units on lots of bikes over the years and have toured extensivly over years at most speeds two up and i dont seem to have problems ( i always wear ear plugs)
tip....... keep the vox turned well back and train yourselves to speak louder (which is not that intuitive so you need to do it quite deliberatly till it you both become used to it)

 

[MotorbikeAdventures]

Autocom

I would be tempted to fit a logic unit rather than a pro if you have a GPS then a 4066 into that and your phone to the GPS works really well and easy ish to install. Sam from chainspeed knows his stuff and fit to bikes for you, as do we.
The pro can be hard to setup with so many adjustable parameters but IMHO it’s the best wired system thus far!

 

[chas820]

Ahem,Jimbo has a Starcom 1 not the Autocom.First and formost the mike must be directly in front of your lips.I have the large foam wind sock on mine just touching my lips.CHECK that yours and the wifes mike are facing round the right way,there is a small silver mark on the mike thats the side that faces your lips.Next the speakers MUST be placed correctly,a fraction out and you will lose sound.Plug yer mp3 into the Starcom and twist and lift your helmet to see if you have them centered correctly.Earplugs are a must,the windroar will drown out the speakers.I hear the Starcom clearly with my earplugs in, less so with out them.

 

[beemerboy9]

I got a top of the range autocom (Super Pro @ £300 odd) and fitted it to my LT. It was a disaster. Despite knob adjustment and changing the position of the ambient noise mic and then removing the foam, the VOX tripped all the time. My breathing or a noisy car passing with trigger VOX. Both are common occurences...
Tippets Honda were great and exchanged it for another- that did exactly the same thing. I tried all the advice from Autocom and Tippets. Tippets gave me my money back thumb2 to Tippets - couldn't fault their helpfulness). This happened as Autocom went bust so I jumped at the full refund given I couldn't make it work an the factory backup was in doubt.

You don't say whether you have a Super Pro Avi or Super Pro Automatic, but based on when you bought it, you may well possess an early release of the Automatic.
If that is so, then there is a known fault with this unit that will manifest itself depending on the machine, screen type, riders height etc. Never bothered me at all on the 1200RT but you can send it back to the factory and they will apply the so-called "VOX-mod" for £25. This makes it far harder to trigger the VOX.
If I were you I would ring Tecstar, tell them the whole story including buying the Starcom replacement and ask for a freebie modification. Tell them if the mod works you will say so on the internet and challenge them to honour their reputation (i.e. be polite about the matter)
Do let us know how you get on.

 

[AberdeenAngus]

One of the biggest things to be careful of is the mike location.
Because they operate in a lot of ambient noise, these mics are designed with a 'sweet spot' directly in front of them. If they are mis-alligned, even slightly, the 'pick-up' of your voice is greatly reduced.

If you get the mic set up just so, then you will probably be ok with VOX but you may need to spend some time fettling and adjusting.
Fitting a PTT means the mic positioning is a little less important.

I also agree with Chas. My system is MUCH clearer turned up loud, with ear plugs in.

 

[jimbo]

Many thanks for all the help guys I knew I could rely on support here!

Just to clarify, I returned the autocom for a full refund. I don't generally go around slagging it off, as I know most people have good experiences with them - but it didn't work for me. I think I did have an early Automatic, so it may be I had the issues beemerboy mentioned. That would make a lot of sense - I played with it for ages, but with the sensitivity all the way down, the quietest noise would trigger VOX. I could never work out how something that worked so badly for me, had so many happy users.

I now have the Starcom. All I really use it for is to listen to an Ipod, which its great at. I wear earplugs and the ipod volume is fine. The few occasions I've used it as as an intercom its been poor. Although there is a VOX to mute music, the intercom is open all the time (that a passenger is plugged in).

I've used a GPS for so long without any voice prompts, I really don't miss them, and have never bothered to wire it in. I don't want the distraction of a phone, so really all I want is music and an intercom.

So it looks likes my ear pieces at least are in the right place. Spurred on my the responses here I will do some playing this weekend and then it not sucesful I will call Tecstar.

 

[chas820]

Just to clarify,is it Starcom1 or Starcom Advance that you have? The advance has adjustability for the passenger intercom.I think that 1 has it as well but you have to adjust a slider pin inside the unit.

 

[jimbo]

Just to clarify,is it Starcom1 or Starcom Advance that you have? The advance has adjustability for the passenger intercom.I think that 1 has it as well but you have to adjust a slider pin inside the unit.

Starcom Advance.

 

[chas820]

Have you got the big foam wind sock for both your mikes.If i remember correctly the kit only comes with the small ones.Check out Starcoms web page,go to the Goldwing headset page and see if you have the same mike socks as those.If not a phone call is in order.I`ve been messing around with these things for years and i can get decent comms with a fellow biker or passenger upto 70+ and thats on an F800gs with minimal wind blocking and using a flip front helmet which are not the quietest.

 

[Rasher]

I can chat at 140 with my Autocom!

Music goes a bit hard to hear past 100mph and is always useless by 110 (not a big issue on the GS)

About to upgrade my Autocom Kit 200 to the latest Super-Pro and I expect the performance to be even better.