New Scala Rider Q2 device - bike-to-bike & radio

[Mike Werner]

The new Scala Rider Q2 Bluetooth (version 2.0) communications device features a built-in FM radio, AND bike-to-bike communications!!!

You can use in between 3 units (i.e. 3 riders) for a distance of up to 500 meters/1640 feet. All three can talk ta the same time in full duplex.

Also, as with other units, you can talk over a Bluetooth mobile phone, and receive GPS instructions.

The Q2 is backwards compatible with other Scala Rider units.

Cost: €189

Scala Rider Q2 article

 

[Padge]

Scala Riders are great quality for phone calls, but the original unit has 2 major flaws:
It is not designed for use in prolonged rain (that's what killed mine)
The boom mike is too short for a lot of helmets (useless on the System 5)

Oh, and they had that annoying problem where the Zumo would drop the conection after a call (although I think this was a Garmin problem).

 

[Mike Werner]

Scala Riders are great quality for phone calls, but the original unit has 2 major flaws:
It is not designed for use in prolonged rain (that's what killed mine)
The boom mike is too short for a lot of helmets (useless on the System 5)

Oh, and they had that annoying problem where the Zumo would drop the conection after a call (although I think this was a Garmin problem).

The Q2 is apparently more rain proof, and to my knowledge the exchange with GPSs is better now thanks to new profile specs for Bluetooth 2 (everyone has problems with GPS).

 

[andyclift]

The boom mike is too short for a lot of helmets (useless on the System 5)

It's not just that the boom mic is too short. The Scala Rider is designed to clamp on the bottom edge of the helmet but many helmets have neck skirts built in which makes this impossible.

I have a System 5 and a Schueberth C2. My wife has a System 4. The Scala cannot be used on any of them unless the neck skirt is attacked with a craft knife to cut a slot in it.

I have also found that it's not just the length of the boom that is a problem. It's remembering to tuck it under the edge of the helmet and get it comfortable before putting on gloves and driving off.

It actually works extremely well. The sound quality is good and when I take phone calls the person on the other end seems to have no problem hearing me, even though the mic is nearer my ear than my mouth. The snag is that more often than not I get a phone call and find the mic is waving about on the outside of my helmet.

Much prefer using an Autocom with everything neatly fitted on the inside of the helmet and cheap to get extra mic/speaker kits for additional helmets. The only reason I got a Scala Rider was that I could not find an adapter to plug my phone into my Autocom. As soon as I change my phone the Scala Rider goes on eBay.

 

[Mike Werner]

Problem with the likes of Autocom, Starcom, Intaride and AKE is that they're fixed. Great for singel bike owners, not so great when you've got more than one, or if you use other people's bike, or like me, rent bikes when visiting countries.

As for the boom mike, I did really have a problem with the Rider teamset and my C2. When I wrote my review, I tried it on several helmets. The mic's length doesn't need to go in front of your mouth, next to it is fine.

True, fixing it on the lining was a challenge, but managed it ok.

 

[andyclift]

Problem with the likes of Autocom, Starcom, Intaride and AKE is that they're fixed. Great for singel bike owners, not so great when you've got more than one

My Autocom is now fixed to the bike but it doesn't have to be. It was originally kept in a pocket and can run on batteries. The Scala is more convenient in that it does not require a lead running from pocket to helmet but loses out on flexibility. I can choose to plug in my MP3 player, phone, bike to bike, bike to pillion, satnav, DAB radio, etc.

On a European trip everything went in a bum bag (except the lead for the satnav). Easy and convenient to use and no problems with mating Bluetooth devices.

 

[Kritou]

The new Scala Rider Q2 Bluetooth (version 2.0) communications device features a built-in FM radio, AND bike-to-bike communications!!!

You can use in between 3 units (i.e. 3 riders) for a distance of up to 500 meters/1640 feet. All three can talk ta the same time in full duplex......

Scala Rider Q2 article

Don't know why they bother - BT bike to bike comms just don't work, full stop - straight from Autocom

 

[Mike Werner]

Don't know why they bother - BT bike to bike comms just don't work, full stop - straight from Autocom

yeah, Autocom have a bee up their bonnet about Bluetooth. I've been using a Cellularline Interphone with the extended BT range of 500 meters, and it works more than fine. I use it to communicate with my wife when she's riding her own bike, and love it.

Autocom are one of the very few left who have not embraced BT technology (apart from their dongle)...

I think this Q2 is interesting since you can talk to 2 others, making it a low cost alternative when riding with a pillion and another bike, or a couple of mates out for a ride.

 

[GSrich]

That is completly wrong by the way, we sell portable systems or any of our bike powered systems can be ran via detachable power leads for people running a couple of bikes or even hire bikes etc.

Rich

 

[Mike Werner]

That is completly wrong by the way, we sell portable systems or any of our bike powered systems can be ran via detachable power leads for people running a couple of bikes or even hire bikes etc.

Rich

Rich, it's an apples and oranges thing. I too have an Autocom, but although yes you can bring it with you, the strength of Autocom is the fact that you can attach everything but the kitchen sink on to it. That means you've got a lot of leads coming out of the black box. Not something you want to take on a holiday, or trip on another bike.

The BT style units like Scala et al, are great for their portability, not for real comms centers like Autocom et al.

If I were responsible for Autocom products, I'd do what AKE have done. Put a BT dongle that allows you to interface your Autocom products to 3rd aprty BT head sets. This way, you keep you comms center/hub with all it's attachments, and run wireless to whatever BT headset there is.

I've been running the AKE now for a few months, not using their BT headset, but Cellularline and Scala, and works great.

 

[andyclift]

That is completly wrong by the way,

Rich, am I missing something - I was agreeing, an Autocom does not HAVE to be fixed to the bike and has a lot more flexibility.

I may be a Luddite but I still prefer to see good old fashioned wires linking kit together rather than rely on, sometimes dubious, Bluetooth or other clever systems. I cannot see the point iof using radio waves to link a couple of bits of kit that are less than a metre apart and its a lot easier and more reliable to plug a cable in than all the agro. of pairing Bluetooth.

Example.

I have a Garmin with hard wired audio to my Autocom so all I do when I get on the bike is plug in my helmet and, if required, my mobile phone. Takes about 5 seconds. If my wife uses my bike she just plugs in her helmet and phone. No hassle.

Her bike has a Tomtom Rider so needs Bluetooth to get the audio out so its paired with her Scala Rider and, in turn, her phone. I also have a helmet with a Scala Rider. To use her bike I have to go into the Rider set up and wait while it finds and connects to my Scala Rider, then play with my phone menu to get that to pair. The next time my wife uses her bike she has to go through the same hassle to re-pair everything to her helmet. Then I get in my car and find I can't pair the phone to the hands free as, unfortunately, that's Bluetooth as well.

Other problems.

Go out on the bike - damn, the batteries are flat on the Scala Rider so I can't hear the satnav or use the phone. I don't get that problem with the Autocom.

Come home, put away helmet and forgot to turn the Scala Rider off. The next day I find six missed calls on my phone as the damned thing was still paired with the Scala Rider. I have had the same problem turning on a Tomtom Rider to connect it to a computer. It immediately pairs with the mobile so I don't hear it ring.

The only part of my system that has to use radio waves is bike to bike and if I could fix that with about 500 yards of cable, I would.

 

[GSrich]

Well if you want to run a system with a very short battery life and poor expandability feel free, if bluetooth systems were worth selling our new 2008 systems would all be running Bluetooth or fully wireless etc.

We have tested pretty much every system currently sold on the market and believe me they do not offer everything they say on the packet.....and we get so many people trying the systems to later on come back to fully wired.

Rich

 

[GSrich]

Rich, am I missing something - I was agreeing, an Autocom does not HAVE to be fixed to the bike and has a lot more flexibility.

I may be a Luddite but I still prefer to see good old fashioned wires linking kit together rather than rely on, sometimes dubious, Bluetooth or other clever systems. I cannot see the point iof using radio waves to link a couple of bits of kit that are less than a metre apart and its a lot easier and more reliable to plug a cable in than all the agro. of pairing Bluetooth.

Example.

I have a Garmin with hard wired audio to my Autocom so all I do when I get on the bike is plug in my helmet and, if required, my mobile phone. Takes about 5 seconds. If my wife uses my bike she just plugs in her helmet and phone. No hassle.

Her bike has a Tomtom Rider so needs Bluetooth to get the audio out so its paired with her Scala Rider and, in turn, her phone. I also have a helmet with a Scala Rider. To use her bike I have to go into the Rider set up and wait while it finds and connects to my Scala Rider, then play with my phone menu to get that to pair. The next time my wife uses her bike she has to go through the same hassle to re-pair everything to her helmet. Then I get in my car and find I can't pair the phone to the hands free as, unfortunately, that's Bluetooth as well.

Other problems.

Go out on the bike - damn, the batteries are flat on the Scala Rider so I can't hear the satnav or use the phone. I don't get that problem with the Autocom.

Come home, put away helmet and forgot to turn the Scala Rider off. The next day I find six missed calls on my phone as the damned thing was still paired with the Scala Rider. I have had the same problem turning on a Tomtom Rider to connect it to a computer. It immediately pairs with the mobile so I don't hear it ring.

The only part of my system that has to use radio waves is bike to bike and if I could fix that with about 500 yards of cable, I would.

Andy, sorry mate I quoted the wrong person, hence why I edited my post.

Rich

 

[andyclift]

and we get so many people trying the systems to later on come back to fully wired.

Very slightly off - topic. My last mobile plugged into a lead on my car radio. This charged my phone and used the car speakers for the phone, cutting the radio when the phone rang. A small mic on the sun visor meant I call talk clearly without shouting. Easy, legal and reliable.

I can't get an adapter for my new phone (why do they all have to have different wierd and wonderful sockets to do the same thing?) so now I have to plug it into the, not very reliable, cigarette lighter socket to charge it and frig about with the keypad to get it to mate with a Bluetooth hands free, use a weedy little speaker to hear calls and shout into the phone's mic - remembering I need to turn the radio down first.

This is progress? Give me electric string any time.

 

[Ragnar]

Bl**dy typical, just after I splashed out on a Scala Rider Teamset they announce this

Impressed with the Scala Rider stuff when using it in combination with my Zumo and phone, but tried it with the pillion unit the other day and found it to be a bit of a nightmare.

 

[AndyW]

Anybody interested in the new Scala Rider....

I received an email from Nathan at Global Gizmos:

New improved scala rider headset due out soon.

If you're in the market for a Bluetooth headset / intercom system it might be worth holding fire for a while.

A new updated/upgraded Scala Rider system is coming on the market in the next few weeks. It has all the qualities of the original scala headset + plus these extra features.
1) A built in bike to bike intercom with a range of up to 500 metres
(with another scala q2 equipped rider) old unit only allowed 10 metres.

2) Multi pairing, allows you to have communication with up to three
seperate riders (cardo q2 equipped of course) aswell as listen to directions
from your bluetooth equipped sat nav at the same time.

3) Full duplex conversation on the intercom (two way) none of the old
walkie talkie style one way conversation like the old unit.

My friend Nathan at Global Gizmos says that they are due to get these in 4 weeks and apparently you will get a discount if you mention my name