Replacing Autocom with G4

[daesimps]

Guys,

I'm thinking of replacing the Autocom setup that the wife and I have with a G4 setup but have a couple of questions. Before I ask the questions I'll explain why I want to change. We both have new bikes and there is zero space under the seats. We both used the Autocom on the old bikes for Bike-to-Bike, Music, GPS and phone in that order of priority. I can make the Autocoms fit on the bikes at a push if I ditch toolkits etc and cut some plastics under the seat, but there is no way we can get the radios on. I thought about just putting the radios in bags on the pillion seat (with limited size plastic tanks we are constantly fuelling so tank bags are a no go), but it just seems like far too much hassle. We also both need new headsets as both of ours are dodgy for the second time - these really are the weak point of the Autocom.

So, on to my questions:-

1) Is the G4 still waterproof if you use a cable for MP3? We'd be doing this as the Zumo 500 and 550 aren't A2DP and I am told that the audio quality is far better with a cable than messing with a A2DP transmitter.
2) Does anyone know what the battery life if like when listening to music?
3) Is the volume acceptable with ear plugs?
4) Does the new update now make the volume gain and VOX sensitivity usable?
5) Which would you recommend for my C3, the corded or boom mic? If corded, how long is the cord?
6) Does the unit cause a noticeable increase in wind noise due to it being stuck on the side of the lid?
7) The important one - I'm from Yorkshire so tight as the proverbial duck's rear. Where's the best (cheapest) place to pick them up. I see prices ranging up to £500 in some places for the Powerset.


Thanks
Dae

 

[daesimps]

Another question just in from the wife - Can you use the voice control feature of the iPhone with the Scala?

With other bluetooth headsets you can voice dial the iPhone and even speak the name of an album you want to listen to - that would be good if it worked with the Scala too.

 

[Oldrat]

I've fitted the autocom and fuzeblock under the seat of my 2010 GSA, and put my Kenwood PMR in a tooltube which still has space for other bits.
HTH

 

[daesimps]

Unfortunately I've tried every approach to fitting all the kit in, but the under seat exhausts simply don't allow it as they've removed every little bit of storage.

The question is more of which bluetooth headset to replace the Autocom with, rather than if I should replace it.

I think I'm leaning towards the Scala as it is upgradable and has both an FM radio for the commute to work and an 3.5mm socket on it.


Thanks anyway,
Dae.

 

[AshR1]

1) Is the G4 still waterproof if you use a cable for MP3? We'd be doing this as the Zumo 500 and 550 aren't A2DP and I am told that the audio quality is far better with a cable than messing with a A2DP transmitter.
2) Does anyone know what the battery life if like when listening to music?
3) Is the volume acceptable with ear plugs?
4) Does the new update now make the volume gain and VOX sensitivity usable?
5) Which would you recommend for my C3, the corded or boom mic? If corded, how long is the cord?
6) Does the unit cause a noticeable increase in wind noise due to it being stuck on the side of the lid?
7) The important one - I'm from Yorkshire so tight as the proverbial duck's rear. Where's the best (cheapest) place to pick them up. I see prices ranging up to £500 in some places for the Powerset.

1) Not sure what Cardo's official line is with this. I suspect it won't bee 100% waterproof, but I can tell you that audio quality is fine using a transmitter. I've used this Sony one and it works perfectly.

2) I listen to music constantly and get about 15 hours out of it. However, I have an SRC (see following answer to number 5) and the battery life reduces depending on how loud you have the audio.

3) Well that depends on your hearing I suppose. I've tried it with custom moulded plugs and had to have the volume turned up fairly high. This reduced the battery life. As my C3 is fairly quiet I normally don't wear plugs for my 2 hours of commuting each day.

4) Yes, although we didn't notice a problem before.

5) If you have a C3 then get the Schuberth SRC as it's a Cardo Scala G4 inside anyway. I have this and my wife has a G4 attached to her Shoei. The SRC has a boom mic because a fixed one won't suit due to the flip front and of course let's you still talk whilst the front is up at petrol stations etc.

6) I wouldn't know as I have the SRC, but my wife hasn't noticed any significant different in noise, weight or wind resistance with the G4 fitted.

7) Got my SRC from Helmet City and the G4 from Handtech.

 

[daesimps]

AshR1,

Thanks for the responses. I did consider the SRC for my lid, but decided against it as I can get the G4 Powerset with 2 headsets for £269.99 which is less than the price of 1 SRC. Add on the price of a G4 for the wife and you are looking at nearly double the cost of the Powerset if I were to use the SRC. Also with the G4 it means that if ever I change my lid I won't have to purchase another headset, not that I intend to do that in the near future but you never know.

Do you use the Sony transmitter from battery power or do you have it wired up on the bike so you don't have to keep recharging it?

It looks like you've convinced me to go with the G4s. 15 hours of music is plenty for any day touring and means I don't have to worry about it going dead half way through a trip.

Again, thanks for the reply.
Dae.

 

[Bury_Dave]

I have the G4 powerset. Took a bit of setting up to start with and you need to download the software upgrades, keep the mic' over your mouth and make sure (if you use the fitted earphones) they are over your ears and with no padding between them and your ear. Obvious really.
VOx is adjustable and i have mine and my wife's set to low sensitivity and never had a problem. I use normal custom earplugs and have no problem hearing the wife Mind if needed, I could hear her through 3 feet of reinforced concrete should she want me to hear her !!

I've had my set fitted with a jackplug and use custom speakered earplugs in my Tour X3 and have the original speakers in my Caberg (which I use most when have missus on the back). I find the original speakers work better than the earplugs as i seem to get a lot of noise transferred into my earplugs from the helmet vibration (?). The external speakers actually work better. Even with non speaker earplugs.

Sound quality with my Zumo 550 MP3 is pretty poor. I prefer my iPhone hardwired into my custom earplugs when riding alone.

The other advantage of the Scala is that when my missus takes her CBT and gets her own bike, the comms are already set up unlike the hard-wired systems.

There is quite a bit of wind noise with the unit fitted. A better set-up would be the unit mounted on the rear of the helmet and longer wires for the earplugs and a wired rather than boom mic'. But the volume deals with the noise - even with earplugs fitted.

Dave

 

[daesimps]

Well, I received my teamset today. I couldn't wait, so fitted it to my lid whilst at work.

I've got the Zumo 550 which doesn't support A2DP so I've left my iPhone paired with the Zumo for phone only, and then used a 3.5mm cable to get the music and navigation from the Zumo. I already had a 3.5mm cable in place that went from the Zumo to under the seat so now when I get on board I can just plug the non-Scala end in and get my music. I'd really like to use an A2DP transmitter for the Zumo, but am going to hold off until I can find one that will turn on and off with the ignition.

I went with the wired mic option in the end for the C3 as I saw a couple of people on other forums that found that to be the best option. I've put the mic on the cheek pad and it seems to work. I used the stick on fitting as the neck collar didn't seem to allow the clamp to fit.

I've also fitted the wife's to her HJC helmet. This is a full face so no issues with the wired mic. The only issue was the repeated putting on and taking off of her lid as she didn't know where her ears were!!

I've not noticed any increase in wind noise on the C3. The unit is mounted quite far back because of the sun visor control, so that may explain it.

My only issue with the unit is the really poor FM radio reception. Even with the speaker cable passing over the top of my head it didn't seem to make it any better.

Hopefully I'll be able to tweak the volume gain etc once I've used it in anger.


Dae.