Problem with Autocom kit 200 bike to bike

[daesimps]

I have a Autocom kit 300 on my bike which is connected to a Cobra MT800 using the Autocom cable.

Today we picked up the wife's 1st bike which I had fitted with a Kit 200 and our other MT800.

The problem we are having is that when we are stationary we can communicate over the radios, but once moving they don't transmit. Obviously the kit 200 doesn't have an adjustable VOX so I'm not sure what to do. The wife says that when she is speaking she can hear herself (through the sidetone) but the radio doesn't transmit unless stationary (or moving very slowly).

I too have a similar problem with my Super Pro Avi, but I think I just need to change the vox setting although I can hear myself too when talking.

Does the VOX sensitivity only affect the radio transmit, or is it all speech? The reason for asking is that since we can both hear our own voices it would indicate that the microphone is working but I can't understand why the radios don't transmit.

Does anyone have any ideas what the problem may be? If nobody has an idea I'll give Sam at Chainspeed a call on Monday.


Thanks in advance
Dae.

 

[Bohsfc]

You need to put the VOX setting just over half way (thats where I find best anyway) to the right.
You will hear your voice regardless of VOX setting because it (your voice) is coming through the autocom and not the radio.
What is more than likely happening is, is that the VOX is set to hard and therefore the radio is not kicking in long enough to transmit.

My 2pence worth. Hope it helps.

 

[daesimps]

Thanks for the quick response. I figured that was the issue with my Super pro Avi, but the wifes kit 200 (Active plus?) doesn't have any adjustment on the vox sensitivity. That's the bit I can't figure out - what to do with hers.


Dae

 

[Bohsfc]

Thanks for the quick response. I figured that was the issue with my Super pro Avi, but the wifes kit 200 (Active plus?) doesn't have any adjustment on the vox sensitivity. That's the bit I can't figure out - what to do with hers.


Dae

Does the radio have a VOX setting which you can adjust.

 

[daesimps]

The radio does have a vox setting, but I always thought that you had to turn the vox setting off on the radios and let the Autocom do the vox for you.

 

[daesimps]

Maybe I should learn to RTFM. I just found an online copy which indicates that the Active plus system has an adjustable VOX - it's hidden in the battery compartment.

 

[Bohsfc]

Maybe I should learn to RTFM. I just found an online copy which indicates that the Active plus system has an adjustable VOX - it's hidden in the battery compartment.

Don't tell the wife or you might be wearing the autocom around your neck.

 

[daesimps]

To be honest the manual has helped and also confused me more. I now know where the VOX adjustment can be found, but the manual also seems to suggest that it isn't the problem.

The manual seems to suggest that when you talk (e.g. pillion to rider) then that uses the same VOX sensitivity level as the bike-to-bike. Now the weird thing is that when the wife is pillion we can hear each other clear as a bell and don't have any issues getting the microphones to switch on. When we try and use bike-to-bike the microphones are switching on (indicated by the sidetone) which suggests that the VOX circuit is set to the correct sensitivity, but it's just not sending it to the radios.

Maybe I've got that last bit completely wrong, but if so I don't understand why it would use a different voice trigger level for the rider/pillion comes than it uses for the bike-to-bike.


Dae

 

[Bohsfc]

To be honest the manual has helped and also confused me more. I now know where the VOX adjustment can be found, but the manual also seems to suggest that it isn't the problem.

The manual seems to suggest that when you talk (e.g. pillion to rider) then that uses the same VOX sensitivity level as the bike-to-bike. Now the weird thing is that when the wife is pillion we can hear each other clear as a bell and don't have any issues getting the microphones to switch on. When we try and use bike-to-bike the microphones are switching on (indicated by the sidetone) which suggests that the VOX circuit is set to the correct sensitivity, but it's just not sending it to the radios.

Maybe I've got that last bit completely wrong, but if so I don't understand why it would use a different voice trigger level for the rider/pillion comes than it uses for the bike-to-bike.


Dae

I am afraid its beyond my knowledge.
Give it a day or so and GSrich will be along and give you the definative answer.

 

[daesimps]

I hope either GSRich or Sam @ chainspeed can help. I spoke to Autocom direct last week about another unrelated matter and they were useless.

Basically they said that they'd lost everything in the move down to the Starcom offices and that some of the PCs had been wiped. They couldn't even tell me which lead a mate needed for his bike-to-bike (unrelated to the problem I'm having with the wife's bike-to-bike by the way).


Dae

 

[newboy]

My bro rang Autocom last week and they told him that...

Doesn't sound good - but I am sure they had backups

 

[GSrich]

I have a Autocom kit 300 on my bike which is connected to a Cobra MT800 using the Autocom cable.

Today we picked up the wife's 1st bike which I had fitted with a Kit 200 and our other MT800.

The problem we are having is that when we are stationary we can communicate over the radios, but once moving they don't transmit. Obviously the kit 200 doesn't have an adjustable VOX so I'm not sure what to do. The wife says that when she is speaking she can hear herself (through the sidetone) but the radio doesn't transmit unless stationary (or moving very slowly).

I too have a similar problem with my Super Pro Avi, but I think I just need to change the vox setting although I can hear myself too when talking.

Does the VOX sensitivity only affect the radio transmit, or is it all speech? The reason for asking is that since we can both hear our own voices it would indicate that the microphone is working but I can't understand why the radios don't transmit.

Does anyone have any ideas what the problem may be? If nobody has an idea I'll give Sam at Chainspeed a call on Monday.


Thanks in advance
Dae.

Your Kit 200 DOES have VOX the dial is inside the batt compartment so that could be adjusted. Also what lead is being used on the Motorola and is it a single or twin pin connection?

The VOX on your systems control the levels of the mics coming in, the level in theory sets how sensitive the mics are for wind and engine noise. IF the VOX is not being used for the bike to bike side it will not transmit out. If only word is being said it would not transmit, you need a control word as in say the persons name then continue to talk. So if you say "ok" by itself you will not transmit.

Rich

 

[daesimps]

Rich,

Thanks for the response. I figured out in post #6 where the Vox setting on the wife's Autocom was, however I don't think the VOX level is the issue as we are both hearing ourselves clearly on the sidetone - which gives me the impression that the VOX level is set correctly. We are using Cobra MT800 radios with a custom Autocom cable that you guys made for me last year (after speaking to you). These cables and radios have worked in the past with my bike and my mates (both of us with Super pro AVI).

I assumes we are using the VOX for the bike to bike as there's no PTT switches involved, just the cable you supplied and the radios/autocoms. We are definitely not using 1 word answers and making sure that we talk continuously for long enough for something to transmit. I am certainly used to VOX operations and we have no difficulty when stationary.

After talking to Sam @ chainspeed we have come to the conclusion that the radios are in fact transmitting, but not receiving. We suspect this due to the wife's radio being laid down under the seat on her ER5. Unfortunately there's nowhere else we could put it at the moment as she has no luggage etc. The cable between her kit200 and the radio wasn't long enough for her to keep the radio in her jacket pocket. My radio is vertical in my top box and far away from any metal/interference.

Hopefully we'll get a chance to try again soon, but the snow/ice round here is atrocious. I'm just sick of it now and want to get back to using the bike for commuting again.


Thanks
Dae.

 

[GSrich]

Have you tried running one of the radios as just a hand held and had someone connected to say the Active Plus and tried any transmisions? This will show up on any problems with the radios or indeed the comms.

Shame im not still there as I would invited you over to work to see what the score is/was

Rich

 

[daesimps]

Have you tried running one of the radios as just a hand held and had someone connected to say the Active Plus and tried any transmisions? This will show up on any problems with the radios or indeed the comms.

Shame im not still there as I would invited you over to work to see what the score is/was

Rich

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I may have beat you to it.

I did a bit of an experiment last night and confirmed Sam's theory. First off I put one radio in the house in front of the stereo on VOX transmit, and went out to the wife's bike with the other radio. I was receiving a transmission loud and clear until I put the radio under the seat. It then went a bit crackly. I then plugged it into the Autocom and started the engine. All was not too bad until I put the revs up to 3-4k. Immediately the radio cut out. When I pulled the radio from under the seat and sat it on the outside of the bike the transmission came back.

To then confirm this, I disconnected the radio and took it for a ride in the car. I received a constant transmission up to about 0.75-1.00 miles (depending on house density of the area). I think this confirms that the metal under the seat combined with the electrical "noise" from the engine must be blocking the transmission/reception of the radio.

I am currently considering trying a puxing px-888 with remote antenna for her to try and overcome the issue as she has no storage etc on the bike, so under the seat is the only current place for it. I may be able to get her an extension, but can see her getting off the bike with the radio in her pocket and remembering to unplug the autocom, but forgetting the radio lead.

The reason for the puxing is the low cost for a higher (not strictly legit) transmission power with the option of a remote antenna. They won't be used enough to warrant shelling out for the likes of Kenwood etc. I appreciate that I'll need a Kenwood style patch lead to plug the puxing into the Autocom.

Dae

 

[mikebarr]

Did you ever get this sorted? I have exact the same issue with autocom active 7 (old 2005 model) and a cobra radio.

Perfect transmit/receive upto about 3k revs then nothing. I rang autocom and they told me to reroute the PTT wire, but I tried unplugging it completely (vox only) with no change.

I now have the radio cable tied to the rhs of the instrument panel with aerial vertical (other advice) but still no luck.

The only odd thing I can spot is that the icom cable doesn't fit snugly into the grey cable of the active 7 as the newer connectors seem to have a collar on the base?

I'm tearing my hair out trying to sort this-rerouted cables, rewired autocom, put in ground loop isolators, etc.

HELP!!!

MB

 

[daesimps]

I couldn't get it sorted with the Cobra. I ended up buying a pair of Puxing 777 from ebay and getting the number plate aerial kit from the guy on the biker's oracle forum.

This works perfectly and has cured the issue. The Cobra radios just seemed too sensitive to any electrical interference from the engine on the wife's bike. They worked perfectly on my bike and my mate's in the top boxes, but anywhere under the seat or any bike that is electrically noisy and the range drops to about 10-20 metres.

Sorry I can't be more help.

 

[Incarpaul]

I also binned the Cobra mt800!!!!!! I could receive ok but the other person complained he could not hear me, ok standing next to each other but as soon as we moved totally crap.
I bought this 'click here'setup without the external aerial with the radio under seat in exactly the same place as the Cobra one and it's a 1000% better with speed over 70mph and out of sight he could still hear me

well worth the small price to pay for a quality radio.

Paul

 

[Bumpkin]

I couldn't get it sorted with the Cobra. I ended up buying a pair of Puxing 777 from ebay and getting the number plate aerial kit from the guy on the biker's oracle forum.

Hi, can you please tell me what lead you used to connect the Puxing to the Autocom?

 

[daesimps]

They use the standard Kenwood lead.