Radio's and Autocom

[Bryn]

Having just got SWMBO a F650GS (Twin)

We need to communicate, and I've never had radio's on my own bikes before

Asked this question in another thread, but will ask again for advice...

I need a pair of good radio's, bike powered preferably...and I need them to work with Autocom.

These have been mentioned elsewhere

http://www.euroradiosales.com/rs2/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=273

Will they work with Autocom.. and more important what do I need to do the job?

(I've got to purchase a second autocom set up for Lyn's bike and don't really want the hassle of re-charging batteries every day if I can help it...

Advice very much appreciated

 

[pablo666]

Bryn, any radio will work with Autocom---it all depends, however on whether you can get a compatible lead to connect the radio to the autocom. There are standards, such as I-com and Kenwood. A lot of other radios will use either the I-com or Kenwood sized connectors. See what size connectors are used on the radios you want and compare them with the two standards I mention. Outside of those two I'm not sure. A look at the Autocom cataloge and specified lead dimentions may help. I've got a lead of both types at home if you can get a look at the radio you want, you could try my leads to see if they fit.

Let me know how you get on, since I'm probably going to need a couple of radios soon. Paul

PS well done on the solo riding for SWMBO

 

[pablo666]

Hi again, I just read the specs
It shows that a kenwood type connector is required. These are available from Autocom. You will probably want a PTT switch as well. (Most find that the other option of speech activated microphone is a RPITA.)

Another thing to consider, is do you want to communicate with anyone else in the group? If so you need to make sure your radios are compatible with their standard (PMR etc).
Paul

 

[beemerboy9]

Having just got SWMBO a F650GS (Twin)


I need a pair of good radio's, bike powered preferably...and I need them to work with Autocom.

None of the Autocom units is designed to power a 4W radio. You are unlikely to be covered by the guarantee if you over load the power supply.
Compatable units for powering radios are the Autocom Pro-M1, Pro-M7 and Super Pro-Avi (also known as the kit 300). The have bigger power supply and special heat-sink compared to lesser models in the range.

 

[Bryn]

Thanks for the replies folks... I'll work out what I need to do next

 

[beemerboy9]

Thanks for the replies folks... I'll work out what I need to do next

Sorry, Bryn, I hope hope you realised my reply referred specifically to Autocom-powering the radios. If you bike-power the radios off a separate supply, that is another matter entirely.

 

[Wapping]

I settled on the Kenwood radio, linked to an Autocom.

Why?

(a) It's a well built radio and is reliable. Mine has sat under the seat of at at least three or four different bikes, clocking up in excess of 100,000 miles. It's got hot, cold, wet and dirty but never missed a beat.

(b) It is easy to power from the bike / Autocom. I plumb it in and forget about it, leaving it on the bike under the seat. If I don't need it, I simply turn it off.

(c) Decent enough range for most day-to-day needs. In reality you don't spend hours chatting on the things like women on the phone.

(d) Good choice of pre-set channels. Simply turn the multi-position switch on both your and your wife's radio to the same number.

OK, it's not the cheapest but if it works well and 100% reliably, it's worth it.

I have both the VOX (voice operated) and a Push To Talk (PTT) button. More often than not I use the VOX method to activate the radio's transmission.

 

[wheeledwidewebb]

One of the best things that I did was to have a switch to power the radio on and off in a convenient location, that I could operate whilst riding.

I found that you can end up in a location that had lots of radio bleed from taxis and the like and if you have to stop and mess around to switch the radio off then life gets tiresome.

Remember that you will receive radio broadcasts from all manner of sources as well as the person that you intend to communicate with.

 

[ianboydsnr]

I had intarides A80, which can be bike powered, and I know intaride do a cable to connect it to an Autocom, others had good results using cheap cobra radios, (dont use the cheapo non brand ones, coz there carp), converted to run on bike power, I got rid of mine as it became bored with it

 

[wheeledwidewebb]

+1 for the Intaride radios, they can be bike or Autocom powered and they can have an external antenna.

 

[Bryn]

Sooo many options

 

[wheeledwidewebb]

The whole bike to bike thing is a bit of a learning curve when it comes to choice, location and use of equipment.

If you can then you will be doing yourself a seriously big favour by physically having a look at other people's setups.

 

[MikeP]

I'm also thinking of bike-to-bike comms.

If I buy a radio, say a Kenwood, are the frequencies pre-set so that if I'm riding with someone who has a different make of radio, will we be able to find common frequencies?

 

[wheeledwidewebb]

Yes you should be able to find common frequencies but be warned trying to do this on the move would be a nightmare I reckon.

Maybe worth searching the net and downloading the user manual for the radio you are considering so that you can get a feel for the user interface.

Remember not all radios have displays on them.