Oh so confused...

[Deleted account 210214001]

So I'm looking for a comm system to use on my 1150GS. Mostly I'll be using it hooked up to a music source, my gps, and my mobile; rider-to-pillion comm's will come later.

My initial thought is to go for the Starcom Advance. However, as I look at the various websites -- Starcom, Autocom, Intaride, etc -- their tests are completely inconsistent and don't help me at all.

Starcom - conducting their tests on an airstrip, starting from 60mph, going up to speeds far beyond anything I can drive in the US or Canada. They say they've connected a recorder to the pillion output so you are hearing what your pillion or someone on the mobile would hear.

Autocom - conducting one of their tests on a racetrack, seeming to focus mostly on speeds over 100mph -- again, doing me no good. The don't say how they're recording. Their side-by-side tests are conducted who knows where and they show an audio dB meter, apparently to show me how loud the ambient conditions are.

Intaride - conducting their tests who knows where. Their speed range covers something reasonable, going from 30mph up to 90mph. They say they've connected a recorder to the pillion output so you are hearing what your pillion or someone on the mobile would hear.

My confusion is coming from the fact that they all say -- and their tests seem to show -- that their system is nearly flawless but the other systems don't work at all well.

I'm an engineer and I'm anal-retentive to boot, so I'm trying to sort through all the chaff to get at the real information.

Any insight from any of you? (I've read hundreds, if not thousands, of testimonials. That's all well-and-good. I'm hoping to find something meaningful.) Of course, it could be that all three systems are just fine, no one really having an edge over the others in terms of performance.

Help!

Bohdan

 

[beemerboy9]

I think you've answered your own question. All the systems you mention are fine for speeds up to 90 mph that you'll be using.
I believe the Autocom has a technical advantage at higher speeds because the microphone shuts off completely when not it use. This means that you have to open the mike with a keyword before you say anything important.
The other systems leave the mike slightly open so that not a single word is lost, but that allows more noise into the system.
It is this advantage that the Autocom demo is trying to show.

By the way, I am biased, having been a dedicated Autocom user for 6 years. I chose them because they would do an instal at their factory
There is nothing wrong with the other systems, they're just different - some of them will even go completely bluetooth wireless to the helmet.

 

[Ogmios]

trying to help here / not confuse even more....
FWIW:
i train riders. i use a cheap little PMR446 and an Autocom.
depends on circumstances as to which system i use for which job i'm doing.
though i do this VERY part time - i've done it for a long time. so i've made most of the mistakes it's possible to make

in my experience, for a simple life, get Autocom.
yes, many others will do the same, but it does seem a bit hit and miss, involves more faffing about to get a set up that suits YOU and in the end....

...many (but not all) end up with Autocom anyway.
it is not perfect.
but seems less feckin about than other systems.

but then - this is just my opinion / experience.

Good Luck.

 

[terayon]

Having used 2 of the systems mentioned I prefer the autocom. As said it's mic shuts off to ambient noise and it's VOX system detects noise above this for opening speech. You don't need a key word to open the mic when using rider to pillion, just when using a walkie talkie. The system uses a side tone, which allows you to hear what your saying so you know how loud to talk, and there is no need to shout, just normal voice will do.

Rider to pillion can be heard as though you are talking into each others ear even at speeds in excess of 120mph (but you didn't hear that from me) and i've spoken to people on the mobile phone while doing 90mph and they thought I was in the office.
If you follow the instructions on set up, you can bet that you will only need to tweak the vox a little depending on helmet.

The other unit I had was starcom, and boy was that I pain in the ear, have to constantly listen to noise as the microphone picks up everything.