Starcom 1 Advance, anyone using one Rider - Pillion?

Fluffmeister

Fluffmeister

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As above really, I had a search through t't forum and found a few posts on Starcom, but mostly it seems everyone is an Autocom fan, and the posts are fairly old, so..

I've given up on trying to pair my system 6 / communicator to anything other than another BMW communicator so am looking to remove it and replace it with something else.

I was thinking of going the wired route and Starcom are doing the 1 advance as a rider / pillion kit for £149.

All I want is rider / pillion coms so that my son can yatter away while he's on the back for this years Euro tour, and plum in my 660, and play a bit of music to both headsets, without breaking the bank.

Any advice / recommendations or piss taking greatly received.
 
Bear in mind that you will need to buy an additional cable to connect your intercom to your Zumo.

Not sure about Starcom (their website is shockingly awful) but Autocom include a stereo audio/music lead in the kit. You might be forgiven for thinking that this would suffice to connect the audio out from your Zumo to the audio in on the intercom. Regrettably, if both devices are powered off the bike this is unlikely to be the case as a phenomenon called Ground Loop Interference (GLI) will create an audible hum. This can vary from almost imperceivable through annoying to overpowering the intended signal. To remove GLI you need a special isolating stereo music lead, these will cost you another £25 or so.

The included music lead is intended for battery powered devices such as an MP3 player.

One criticism I've heard of Starcom intercoms is that the connectors for the headset leads are prone to damage if you're not careful. Otherwise they're rated highly.

I use an Autocom Super Pro Avi which dates back to 2009, a fantastic bit of kit which connects with my GPS, phone and bike-to-bike radio and is usable at practically any speed I wish to travel at (120 on the Autobahn last summer, could still hear GPS though earplugs). The main rider pillion kit cost £43 2nd hand off eBay, I was very lucky, they go for £100+. Over the years I've added cables to connect my GPS, phone and PMR radio. The majority as used items also from eBay.

One thing that is critical for good performance, applicable to any intercom, is placement of the helmet speakers. Central to the ear canal and as close as is comfortable is a good starting point.
 
Thanks for that Bumpkin, I'm bidding on a Super Pro AVI on Ebay at the moment, but I have a feeling it may go for silly money, and as a fall back I was looking at the Starcom (Who own Autocom iirc, and still have a shockingly bad website) as for £149 as a starting point, it does not look to bad.

I could add the Bluetooth module I guess, and use that for picking up the signal from the 660.

Thanks again for the reply
 
Fluffmeister said:
I'm bidding on a Super Pro AVI on Ebay at the moment, but I have a feeling it may go for silly money
Click to expand...

Yes, I can't believe how much they sell for these days. An indication of how good they are maybe...

Last year I helped a relatively web timid friend buy one. It was £105 ISTR but when we got it it had loads of useful leads/accessories not really mentioned in the auction that made it a good buy.

Fluffmeister said:
I could add the Bluetooth module I guess, and use that for picking up the signal from the 660.
Click to expand...

I would tend to use a hard-wired connection for the GPS <> intercom. Both are mounted on the bike so I can't see the need for Bluetooth which is quite a bit more expensive and prone to a degree of flakiness in my experience.

If buying a used Bluetooth dongle the older ones will be mono and only really suitable for phone use. If you do go down that route then ensure that you get a more recent A2DP dongle. This will give a decent stereo signal for music as well as GPS directions.

My 660 is hard wired to the Autocom though I do have an older Autocom Bluetooth dongle for the phone that operates independently of the intercom. Though it's possible to do so running a phone though the Zumo and then to the Super Pro Avi is fraught with problems due to the priorities give to the various inputs and the fact that the phone input is designed for a mono signal. Not sure if Starcom are any better in this respect. As I only need the phone in case someone needs to contact me urgently (was useful twice last year when riders out of my immediate group had accidents). In other cases (work or SWMBO) I'll pull over and call them back. The idea of calling ahead to POIs in the Garmin or calling people in my phone-book whilst riding is something I don't really like the idea of.
 
I use the Starcom and it does everything it is supposed to perfectly. As has been mentioned the connector plugs are not as good as the autocom, I have broken one already and never had that trouble with the autocom. Both are owned by the same company so you would think they could take the best of both and put them together in one unit. I also returned to wired after trying Bluetooth for a while.
 
I have the Starcom and it works very well.Yes the mini din connectors are a pain and you must take care.I might be able to lay my hands on a brand new Starcom,purchased by a friend a few tears ago and never used.Will ring him and ask if he still has it.
 
I have a starcom and very happy with it. I have mine linked to iPhone which was originally via a cable but got noise but now BT and its perfect!

Yeh the mini Din's are not great but aslong as u dont abuse them they are fine, you could probably swap them out to more robust plugs if required but ive no issues yet :)
 
I use a Starcom digital, and am very happy with it. Yes the connectors are a little fiddly,but i keep them lubed with proper electronic lube stuff and that seems to sort it out.
 
The problem lies usually in the connection between headset and the lead running to the unit itself.I replaced one set of connections with a standard din plug from Maplins which worked for a couple of years,but the quality let it down:( I will be looking around to see if anybody does better ones.
My friend sold that Starcom months ago so no joy there.But he has got a brand new Puxing radio for bike to bike if needed.By the way there are two Starcoms on fleabay at the moment £50 no bids.
 
Ref the 'groung loop interference problem.
I found that if you take the power from both units from the same place, it gets rid of the hum. I have conected both the Autocom and Zumo wires to the aux plug leads (spliced in under the seat), and don't get any hum.
 
Likewise have the advance version.

like others have said only problem has been with headset leads.

use mine via garmin, phone, music, pillion, and have used bike to bike,

Have had starcom on 3 different bikes.
 
hatzyian said:
Ref the 'groung loop interference problem.
I found that if you take the power from both units from the same place, it gets rid of the hum. I have conected both the Autocom and Zumo wires to the aux plug leads (spliced in under the seat), and don't get any hum.
Click to expand...

That's a good point and an approach I took when adding bike power for my PMR radio having been advised by a friend with more knowledge of such things than I. I was also advised to try and keep the lengths of the power leads to each device similar as apparently this, and good connections, can also have a bearing on GLI.
 
Another vote for the Starcom. I changed to the starcom advanced, not because its smaller but because you can use the remote volume control. Handy when playing your MP3 and you need to talk to pedestrians when you stop. As long as you don't want to use the GPS for bluetooth mobile phone you can just use a double ended 3.5mm lead at about £1 cost on ebay. I use bike power to the Zumo 660 and don't get any problems with earth noise.
The auto noise cancelling is great and clarity is super. My helmet DIN plugs have lasted over 10 years maybe I am more careful than Del??
 
stever1 said:
I use a Starcom digital, and am very happy with it. Yes the connectors are a little fiddly,but i keep them lubed with proper electronic lube stuff and that seems to sort it out.
Click to expand...

What is this electronic lube stuff you speak of and where can I get it please?
 
llotse said:
What is this electronic lube stuff you speak of and where can I get it please?
Click to expand...

Starcom cut me a deal on a Digital with 2 headsets and after fitting it at the weekend I could not be happier :)

I am going to rejig things this weekend as I have a "Fuze Block" coming from NN as it's time things where tidied up under the seat.

As for the leccy lube, I am not sure about the other guys, but I have been using this stuff for a while http://www.amazon.co.uk/DOW-CORNING...4318/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360661116&sr=8-1

I bought a tube a couple of years ago and use it for the "cage mod" to the MAF on the car, and use it for waterproofing electrical connectors on the bikes and other things like RC cars etc.

I popped a smear on the DIN connectors of the starcom as a precaution.
 
llotse said:
What is this electronic lube stuff you speak of and where can I get it please?
Click to expand...

Cant remember off the top of my head, ill dig it out and pop down at the weekend so you can try it.
 
Fluffmeister said:
Starcom cut me a deal on a Digital with 2 headsets and after fitting it at the weekend I could not be happier :)

I am going to rejig things this weekend as I have a "Fuze Block" coming from NN as it's time things where tidied up under the seat.

As for the leccy lube, I am not sure about the other guys, but I have been using this stuff for a while http://www.amazon.co.uk/DOW-CORNING...4318/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360661116&sr=8-1

I bought a tube a couple of years ago and use it for the "cage mod" to the MAF on the car, and use it for waterproofing electrical connectors on the bikes and other things like RC cars etc.

I popped a smear on the DIN connectors of the starcom as a precaution.
Click to expand...


Cheapest I could find http://www.chilledpc.co.uk/shop/product_info.php?products_id=227
 
I may have a spare Autocom in the garage.

They are rgeat bits of kit, I have used one for years, first one was going strong after 4 years, but I upgraded it to latest Super Pro automatic.

Got a couple of older models in the Garage, I need to put one on the Mrs bike, and can check the other one out, would be going cheap as I have no spare headsets (Although the garage may well throw up one of them if I have a tidy)

Sam at Chainspeed is the man to go to for advice and Autocom parts / Service.

If your not in a hurry I should now about my spare unit in a couple of weeks
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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