Zumo-Amplirider-Autocom question

[denny]

I'm hoping that someone who has the same setup will read this as I'm probably not going to be very clear with my explanation.

The reason I got the amp was to boost volume from the Zumo for music/directions/phone calls, which were too low with earplugs in. Up untill now the install was Zumo 550 to Autocom Easi Plus with 'part 1299' in between.

Now I'm trying to wire the Amplirider between part 1299 and the Autocom but I'm not sure what type of lead I need to use. As part 1299 has a 4 pole jack going to the Autocom aux plug I tried using a lead with both ends 4 pole jacks. All good except on phone calls my voice wasn't heard the other end, so I tried a lead with 3 pole jacks with no joy. Could my leads be faulty or should one end be 3 pole the other 4 pole?

To sum it up, the Zumo has two leads connected to it - a mini 2 pole (mic) jack and a 3 pole (h.phone) jack, whose opposing ends have two 3 pole jacks that connect to part 1299, which has a 4 pole jack that connects to the autocom.

Told you it would be a mess

 

[Rasher]

I would suggest trial and error may be required

One thing I do know is the Ampli-rider volume control should have a 4-pole to 4-pole (supplied with unit)

I assume the phone used to work fine?

Also have you contacted Gary at Electric Avenues, he is a very helpful chap

 

[denny]

I would suggest trial and error may be required

One thing I do know is the Ampli-rider volume control should have a 4-pole to 4-pole (supplied with unit)

I assume the phone used to work fine?

Also have you contacted Gary at Electric Avenues, he is a very helpful chap

Yep it came with the 4 pole volume control cable. I'm going to try different 3pole-3pole and a 4pole-4pole leads tomorrow in case the ones I tried today are damaged. I don't have a 3 pole to 4 pole to try.

Gary is very helpful, but I thought I'd ask here first as I'm guessing he won't have much knowledge on Autocom/Zumo setups.

Cheers

 

[rockster57]

Denny,

Re your absent transmit issue - Have you tried disconnecting the Amplirider and going back to your original set up again? If you do that and find you can again speak to the other party on your phone (albeit at low volume) that should eliminate any problem with the boom mike all the way through to your phone. You can then look elsewhere. However, if you find you now have no transmission with the original set up, then perhaps your boom mike connections have failed or been disturbed?

I have a low volume issue using earplugs with my comms set up. Zumo 550 - Autocom Pro Avi 300 with 1299. I bluetooth my phone to the Zumo and whilst my caller hears me well, I struggle to hear their conversation. The same low volume problem occurs with the navigation instructions and music from my Zumo. I've ordered the Amplirider and if you wish i'll report my results here on your thread once its arrived and i've tried out the phone facility.

In respect of low volume generally, it has occurred to me from my (non-motorcycling) experience of ipod earbuds, there is a huge difference in volume and sound quality depending in orientation and depth of the buds in my ears. As my helmet speakers sit in recesses over my ears i'm going to try packing the speakers out from behind so that they are pushed closer and in better contact with my ears. I'm hoping that may help too.

 

[Bumpkin]

As my helmet speakers sit in recesses over my ears i'm going to try packing the speakers out from behind so that they are pushed closer and in better contact with my ears. I'm hoping that may help too.

I found this made a distinct improvement with my Autocom speakers, more so at higher speeds/wind noise. You can buy foam stacks from Autocom or make your own using foam and sticky Velcro.

My speakers are located behind the cheek-pad lining of my Arai and touch my ears lightly. It can take a bit of helmet wiggling to get my ears not folded over when putting my lid on but once in place it's all day comfortable.

Equally important is the alignment of the centre of each speaker with the ear canal.

 

[denny]

Contacted Gary about this. He advised me to connect the Zumo speaker cable to the only to the Amplirider, rather than the part 1299 'out' lead...leaving the mic lead out of the amp loop. This is apparently cos the amp has a stereo output only & wont work the mic. Will try it tonight and post an update!

A good idea that speaker + foam thing. I'd never considered brining the speakers out a little, makes sense though. Got velcro & foam at home so I'll try that as well.

 

[stolzy]

I have a starcom not an autocom but have been fiddling with these issues for some time.

The amplirider has to go between the autocom and the helmet speakers otherwise you'll just saturate the autocom/stardom input (DAMHIK)

The other problem I had was that many non-original headphones use a common earth, but, in the starcom at least, the headphones have separate earths for left and right channels.

This may or may not be relevant.

 

[denny]

It works!!! Gary's advice was spot on. The Zumo cradle has two plugs, top one for the mic, lower for headphones. I simply plugged the headphone lead from the Zumo to the amp, then from the amp 'out' to the relevant plug in the 1299 part. The only problem I found is the bluetooth phone quality has dropped. Don't use the phone much so not too bothered.