| Author | Message | ||
     Cataract2 |
I'm wondering what devices are available now for bike to bike communication? My wife and I ride together and for her I would like to find a good communicator so that we may talk back and forth. I'm wondering what is available now. The big feature we need is one that you can plug in a music player. I've been reading up on blue tooth ones, dunno which would be better to go with. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Hmmm, you mean you actually want to be able to hear your wife while you're riding? A novel concept.  | ||
| Steve_mackay |
webbikeworld is your friend. http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-intercoms/u clear-hbc-100/ http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-intercoms/s ena-smh10-intercom/ http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-intercoms/c ardo-scala-rider-g4/review.htm | ||
| Toona |
+10000 on the Scala rider G4 | ||
| Cataract2 |
The Scala, the jacks on it. Are they standard size jacks that we could plug in any sort of ear buds? | ||
| Ratbuell |
Standard 1/8" headphone jack. Depending if I'm using my GPS or not, I'll either BT my tunes from the blackberry or plug the BB and the GPS into the jack (I have an Atari-based Quest II that refuses to die...but has no BT). I love my G4. And yesterday I had to recharge it. For the first time since I rode to Daytona. In March. | ||
| Sl33py |
I have a pair of the Interphone F4's. i've been really impressed so far. Mine is over a year old with no issues. BT, intercom when paired and 1/4 mi range (pretty close even in city). Great volume and filtering (80mph+ and still able to hear others with IAB gone). Music quality and volume is good. caught in the rain several times and still kicking along no problems. Just spent 2-3 hours paired chatting with GF as she practiced some riding skills. I commute frequently w/ mine and bought a spare just in case (loaned to friend who loves it for commuting). Worth looking into at 150'ish $. HTH - GL! | ||
| Sl33py |
I do love webbikeworld as well - i looked extensively before biting the bullet getting mine. These BT units are just getting better and better - worth checking back every once in a while to see what's new and improved... here's the interphone F4 review: http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-intercoms/i nterphone-f4/ | ||
| Cataract2 |
Interesting about the Interphone. It lists itself being waterproof vs the Scala being resist. | ||
| Nillaice |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zKQv2dc-cM this should have been posted sooner | ||
| Cataract2 |
Question, does the Interphone F4 offer the inputs for an MP3 player to connect wired to it? Also, the speakers, the inputs for those, are they standard plugin size so we would use ear buds vs the in helmet speakers? (Message edited by cataract2 on May 30, 2011) | ||
| Kenm123t |
We have had HJC fx2 chatter boxes for a few years. Use the input all the time. We have had no problems other than patch cords wear out after a few years in the wind. Still using the original nicads. There are more choices today than when we bought ours. | ||
| Cataract2 |
For those with the Cardo Scala Rider G4 and/or Interphone F4. Are you stuck with using the in helmet speakers or can you plug in ear phones of your own? My wife and I both like using noise canceling ear buds to keep the wind noise down. These use standard jacks so either of those devices would need to accept that. Also, do either of the devices allow you to connect a music player in with a standard male to male jack cord? I also see this one the Sena SMH10. http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-intercoms/s ena-smh10-intercom/ I have the same questions for this one as the above. Also, how does everyone feel for the ones you may be using. Range matters a bit as when we get into the tight stuff I tend to get ahead of her. | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Cat, I've wondered that as well. I prefer in ear vs speakers. I'd love to be able to plug in my earbud of choice instead of speakers. | ||
| Greg_e |
I think it comes down to legality.. It is not legal to use an in ear audio device on the streets, but it is legal to use earplugs, and it is legal to use speakers. Go figure. | ||
| Cataract2 |
Looks like the Sena unit does offer an accessory to hook in ear buds. I'm leaning towards those units. | ||
| Toona |
On my Scala G4, it has a regular 1/8" port for hardwired connection to any mp3 player/GPS unit. It has hard wired speakers, so I don't believe there is a way to hook up in ear buds. The speakers work really well at high speed. The boom mic cancels out 95% of the background noise, even with your visor open at speed. The bike to bike intercom is good for about a half mile in direct view, around 1/4 mile if there is terrain in between. It also has FM radio and will scan and pick up the 6 strongest radio stations to your location. You can scroll thru them with buttons on the unit. It will pause the music when the GPS is giving turn directions or intercom chat then return to music after 30 seconds of silence. | ||
| Spike240sx |
I have the G4 and I love it. No issues yet with it and Ive had it for over a year now. Just so all know, You can now get the G4 with a wired mic instead of the boom mic. And for those with the boom mic already, you can order on easily from about any retailer. | ||
| Billyo |
I really like the Scala G4, but lately I can't get the vox to work when I have the mp3 plugged in. I, or my wife on hers, have to push the A button to talk and then I have to push the A button to go back to listening to music. I probably have the vox turned off somehow. | ||
| Froggy |
Billyo, VOX can be turned on and off by pressing the buttons in a certain way. I forget what you need to do, it is in the manual, but I changed my settings using the software and USB cable as it was easier for me. | ||
| Billyo |
Thanks Froggy, I just found it in the manual, just hadn't really had time to look for it. What software are you talking about? | ||
| Spike240sx |
The G4 kit comes with software so you can change settings via PC. It is also how you upgrade the frimware for the unit. There was a firmware update earlier this year that added some nice functionality to the G4. | ||
| Billyo |
I bought mine when they first came out and no software came with it then. I'll have to make a phone call after work today. | ||
| Pammy |
There are updates periodically on the G4's. Online. | ||
| Boogiman1981 |
J&M end of discussion. | ||
| Sl33py |
Hardwired speakers on the Interphone as well - no earbud option unless you want to cut/solder... It looks like the G4 is technically superior to the interphone. Better range, can pair 4 vs 3, pauses music (interphone shortcoming - i pause before voice dialing), etc. I do wonder if it able to go as loud as my Interphone which is nice. If a buddy has one i'll try to test. I thought the interphone was significantly cheaper... but found the G4 set for 240 online (didn't check s/h so could be more), but the Interphone F4 set was 300 last time i got them. MSRP looks high, but searching may be cheaper than Interphone. When mine gives up the ghost i'll be looking at the Scala offering at that time. (Message edited by sl33py on June 02, 2011) | ||
| Cataract2 |
Ended up going with the Sena SMH10. All reviews on it give it higher marks than the Scala or Interphone. Plus, it offers a replacement base that will allow the use of ear buds which was the breaking point for not going with the other units. | ||
| Froggy |
Billyo, everything is on their website. They have a program that will update to the latest firmware and let you manually set all the options like FM presets, VOX on/off, and so on. | ||
| Billyo |
Yup, did it last night. Vox was turned off on the wife's unit. My droid X is NOT paired with the headset but I just started running the music through the mp3 jack. The vox will not work with the music playing but will without. Maybe the headset still recognizes a phone and gives it priority. I set the sensitivity to high but I still need to hoot really loudly to get it to activate. We'll be away for the weekend so I'll play around with it again next week. always worked great until I started using mp3 jack. | ||
| Jornum1 |
You will be happy with the Sena Cataract, I love mine. I also bought the optional ear bud base. It never made sense to me just add more noise on top of engine, and wind noise. Especially having a aftermarket pipe on my 1125. With noise canceling earbuds you reduce ambient noise, and that allows you to keep the bluetooth's volume lower as well. Good luck with it! |
