Quit the fags, use the pennys for comms

[big stu]

Been of the cig`s for a while now, saving Penny's for trips away and toys, £200 a month better off!!
Reading the post`s on comm`s look to be a minefield Scala, Auto com, add on`s for this that and the other, what is needed and how the hell does this go with that ?
Looks like the zummo 660 has a sd card to load i tunes onto.
Comms for having a chat with my honey, listen to the zummo directions.
I`m a clumsy git , so not sure if i can blue tooth all this or cables? Feel if we use cables to wire up the wife will bugger off at fuel stops still tied by said cables!
So reading posts, having a look at the web sites for different systems looks like you buy base units then add ons for phone, i pod and connect to gps as well as pillion etc.
Understand this question has been asked and answered so many times, which has baffled the hell out of me. So full face helmets, in ear speakers , mic to talk to each other , listen to music (zummo or i pod) listen to zummo directions possible to connect to blackberry. Which can be done? Whole thing blue tooth or do i need to connect via cables?
Any help ? Possibly find someone/ service in the North East to fit the sod so i don`t arse it up or is it straight forward.
Cheers in advance, Stu

 

[Pablo1]

What do you want to be able to do ?

1. Do you really want to listen to music , does pillion want to hear tunes also.
2. Do you really want to answer the bloody phone when you are riding.
3. Do you have a sat nav already ?Do you really need one.
4. Do you have a budget in mind ?

 

[big stu]

Think i covered this in the question
"Comms for having a chat with my honey, listen to zummo directions"
" listen to music (zummo or i pod ) "
" connect to blackberry"
Budget is answered also "quit fags saving £200 month". Please engage the brain cell before being so pedantic.
As it happens just had a bit crack with a chap , he uses scala. Blue tooth to each lid, gps and phone, connect to an i pod via cable sorider and pillion can listen to thier own tunes perfect .
Cracked it ,thanks any way, no cables all done with blue tooth

 

[Pablo1]

Think i covered this in the question
"Comms for having a chat with my honey, listen to zummo directions"
" listen to music (zummo or i pod ) "
" connect to blackberry"
Budget is answered also "quit fags saving £200 month". Please engage the brain cell before being so pedantic.
As it happens just had a bit crack with a chap , he uses scala. Blue tooth to each lid, gps and phone, connect to an i pod via cable sorider and pillion can listen to thier own tunes perfect .
Cracked it ,thanks any way, no cables all done with blue tooth

I was trying to help you out here, you don't need to be such a cheeky bastard!

 

[mr_magicfingers]

I have an autocom that I fitted to my bike, originally so I could talk to my girlfriend on the back. She then bought a bike and I added a bike to bike radio option to continue doing the same when needed.

I bought a garmin zumo satnav and wired that in to the autocom so that I can hear its directions. I have music on the SD card and control that via the garmin screen. My iPhone connects to the zumo via Bluetooth and can be controlled from the zumo screen.

All in all a very neat setup that wasn't that difficult to install.

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=221110&highlight=Kenwood+tk359

 

[big stu]

That is a comprensive link "magic" thank you for taking the time , i am not great at electic`s , build an engine happy as larry .
This is helpful , again thank you for taking the time.
Regards Stu

 

[v8legend]

I can thoroughly recommend the Sena SMH610, I've just got one and love it.

Tried one a while back http://ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=277233 now got one.

 

[Rasher]

I am a big fan of Autocom wired systems.

When two-up touring we can easily chat (up to any speed a GS is capable of)

I can listen to music all day long, when touring i use the Sat-Nav as an MP3 player, on shorter journey's I just use a cheapo MP3 player velcro'd on the dash area so I can still stop / start / skip tracks on the move.

I have also fitted an Ampli-Rider so I have an easy to reach volume control (as well as boosting weaker signals and improving sound quality from the cheapo MP3's)

I prefer the wired system as it needs no charging, I know many modern wireless ones last a decent length of time, but suspect if playing music all day long they may not do so well.

Some people hate the "hassle" of having a wire to plug in, but this takes about 3 seconds each time you get on / off the bike and to me is no real hardship, especially considering the always on / "charged" and ready to go nature of the system.

I would recommend you look to buy from someone who knows the kit, I always use Chainspeed for comms and other touring stuff as they know these systems very well and stock a range of wired and wireless systems, they have also tried all of the stuff they sell so can give good unbiassed advice.

 

[big stu]

Cheers v8, must admit not seen the Sena before, but this is on the lines i`m looking at, and the the link you added was also helpful.
Bugger scala g4 or sena, both around the same price, blue tooth connections. The only thing that stopped me buying the g4 was perfer the in ear / earbuds rather than "speakers".
Thanks for the help v8,
Regards Stu

 

[big stu]

Now then, Rasher can i ask, do you connect to the gps ( in my case zummo 660) via a cable , there is a 3.5 female connector on the power loom ?
The reason i was looking at Scala g4, now the sena to be honest is easy, less trouble than incorrectly setting up the auto com.Your point is well made however with regard to not having to charge items and my other concern is are the g4`s any good, can you hear each other, music etc. Not a big fan of listening to music on a bike, however on a trawl down the motorway, would be a +.
Guy`s thank you for taking the time, Patience with replies, very helpful.
All the best, Stu

 

[Rasher]

I have had two autocoms and found them both easy to setup with them both pretty much working perfectly out of the box.

I use a 3.5mm jack to connect the Garmin to Autocom, as mentioned I feed it through an Ampli-Rider to give me a handy volume control but this is not essential.

I was not bothered about music on a bike until I had it, it certainly helps relieve the boredom on the motorway / in heavy traffic and I have music on the go all the time now.

Chainspeed can fit and setup Autocom (and other) systems and are always happy to provide aftersales assistance.

Can't compare the setup to wireless as I have only used Autocoms, we can hold a normal conversation at motorway speeds and have tested the system at 140 on the old bike, although we needed to talk very loudly we could communicate. Music is listenable beyond a ton on my GS (With airflow screen) and is brilliant at motorway speeds.

The other thing I like is no "components" to mess with, it does no need clipping to the bike or anything, speakers are in the helmet so you just lug the lead in and off you go.

Same with accessories, the cables are all in place so I can quickly plug in sat-nav, MP3 Player, Camera Detector and off I go, no messing about trying to pair things up or any other hassle.

 

[Bumpkin]

I concur with Rasher on all points. Wired Autocom ticks all the boxes and just plain works. Reliable and bike powered as well. I have GPS inc MP3, Bike-to-Bike and Bluetooth dongle for phone connectivity. All work really well (the BT on the phone is a bit flaky but new contract in Jan will hopefully sort that with a new phone). Both GPS and PMR radio are also bike powered which can cause problems, you need isolating leads which aren't cheap, once you have these issues are sorted. Not having to rely on rechargeable batteries more that compensates for the inconvenience of having to plug-in/unplug IMHO.

Chainspeed are excellent, whatever system you decide to get. Only had experience, sort of indirectly, of returning Interphone kit which didn't work well for us on tour. They provided support whilst we were away in Europe trying to sort the issue and refunded in full on our return. Have used them myself for Autocom bits and would happily do so again in the future.

 

[mr_magicfingers]

+1 on chainspeed, always very helpful and always have the bits you need.

I've recently moved from helmet speakers to custom in-ear monitors instead of earplugs and rate them highly.

Wire everything you can, the only bluetooth link I have is the phone to the zumo, and that's automagic every time I get on.

Just plug in the helmet cable and I'm away.

 

[B4ndit]

As it happens just had a bit crack with a chap , he uses scala. Blue tooth to each lid, gps and phone, connect to an i pod via cable sorider and pillion can listen to thier own tunes perfect .
Cracked it ,thanks any way, no cables all done with blue tooth

FWIW I have had 5 Scala. 3 have broke within the warranty period. Warranty returns go to America.

They are expensive and the sound isn't really that good. The radio sound is good but you need to keep retuning as you move around which makes it impractical. IPOD sound is useless. Person to Person I have only tried on a few occasions and is acceptable but no more. The scala units creat quite a lot of wind noise as they are situated on the side of the helmet. This can be reduced with a fillet.

At £50 they would be good. At over £100 they are not.

have a look on Ebay.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_f...+headset+motorcycle&_sacat=See-All-Categories

I have tried something like this and for music it is equivelant to the Scala. I am going to set up a Satnav in the near furture and try that.

But given the price of the EBAY item you can't beat it. It would be interesting if anyone has actually tried these bike to bike.

 

[big stu]

Chainspeed and autocom it is then, thank you for the replys.
Pleased you posted that about the scala b4ndit, not good .
At the end of the day if wiring everything in is the way to go, fair enough.
Thanks for that mr. magic, being able to use ear monitors is a +.
Bumkin, Rasher, thanks for the help and the crack, good on you.
So unit for rider to pillion, connect to gps as Rasher explained . Just going to upgrade the phone to an i phone ( over due, orange keep nagging me to upgrade) so pair the phone to gps to use i tunes and snip, snip bob`s your aunty.
Thanks for the help , guess it may be helpful to others who are looking at comms, the replys are very helpful to me, thanks again for taking the time.
Regards Stu
P.S chainspeed look to be in Wales, feel a run down in the new year if not before.

 

[mr_magicfingers]

Sounds like you've got yourself sorted. Just one thing, if you're going the in-ear monitor route, you'll need an adapter lead so that you can take out the regular speakers, and you have a regular headphone socket that hangs next to the big din connector to plug the monitors into.

If you're buying from Chainspeed, just let them know and they'll sort you out with the bits you need.

 

[big stu]

Great, thinking of going down if the weather hold `s this year, about 6 hour ride, but combine with a few days in Wales for a look see. If not next year get the system fitted correctly and have a bit of a break .
Stu

 

[Bumpkin]

One of the most important things about an Autocom installation is the placement of the speakers in the helmet. Both centralised on the ear canal but also, if required, packing to bring close to your ear. Obviously if you're going for in-ear monitors this doesn't apply but I thought I would mention it for the benefit of others.

My first Autocom, an Active Plus system, was OK but initially, at motorway speeds and above, was difficult to hear. Making foam stacks to lift the speakers in the ear wells of my helmet and thus bring them closer to my ears made a significant difference and improved matters considerably. I now have a Super Pro Avi that has the BackGround Noise Sensor (BGNS). This increases the volume dependant on wind noise and works very well. The foam stacks can be purchased from Autocom, however, It's easy to make your own with suitable foam (old carry-mat) and sticky-backed Velcro.

 

[russ996duke]

+1 on chainspeed, always very helpful and always have the bits you need.

I've recently moved from helmet speakers to custom in-ear monitors instead of earplugs and rate them highly.

Wire everything you can, the only bluetooth link I have is the phone to the zumo, and that's automagic every time I get on.

Just plug in the helmet cable and I'm away.

which brand did you go for? mine are due for update....

 

[mr_magicfingers]

which brand did you go for? mine are due for update....

The ones I'm currently using are pretty high end monitors from hearyourself.com They're triple driver, made of solid plastic and sound utterly gorgeous. However, due to the cost of them I don't want to keep using them when on the bike as I think the wear and tear is quite high.

I'm actually looking for a pair moulded in softer silicon to keep specifically for the bike. I hear good things (badum tish) about Green Leopard and our own Judge on this forum works for Ultimate Ears who also seem to be very well thought of.

I think both companies frequent the bike shows and can take the impressions for you while you wait.