Resend my activation email : Register : Log in 
BCF: Bike Chat Forums


Cheap(ish) Intercom sets

Reply to topic
Bike Chat Forums Index -> General Bike Chat
View previous topic : View next topic  
Author Message

Paris2
Nearly there...



Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Karma :

PostPosted: 13:58 - 20 Jun 2012    Post subject: Cheap(ish) Intercom sets Reply with quote

I am planning on a short camping trip in July, pottering around Wales.

Me and my brother are looking for some sort of intercom to chat to each other from Bike to Bike. I have seen a fair few threads asking advice on these types of sets and the general consensus is that you get what you pay for.

But, do you really need a ~£200 set (i.e Scala/Autocom)? Or can you get away with a cheaper alternative. There are plenty of PMR sets on the web for ~£60, two radios with PTT headsets.
i.e https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cobra-MT600-Motorbike-Walkie-Talkie-Radio-Intercom-VOX-PTT-Close-Face-Headsets-/390360455893?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item5ae34bdad5#ht_2143wt_952.

Im aware of their limitations but will they get the job done. As this is the type that riding schools use then surely they cant be too bad.

I cant afford a "decent" set, so can someone please enlighten me as to whether the cheaper alternative will get the job done or be so useless that I will give up on the first day Rolling Eyes

Unless someone wants to lend/rent me a decent set or sell one off cheap Laughing
____________________
Current Ride: Daytona 600
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

Baisemontchou
Scooby Slapper



Joined: 02 Jan 2012
Karma :

PostPosted: 14:15 - 20 Jun 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have that set and it's OK, range is excellent - they quote 5km and it may well reach that, I 'lost' my son for a while and was able to talk to him clearly while he was a couple of Km away.

Fitting it to your helmet is a faf unless it's got cut-outs for headphone pads and mic.

the PTT (push to talk) works well, easy to forget you have cables connecting you to the handlebars though.

Easily worth £60
____________________
Current Carz: Jeep Liberty, Kia Sorrento Diesel
Current Bikz: '06 Honda Shadow 750 Custom, '02 Sachs Roadster 650, '10 Yamaha R125, '12 Derbi GPR 50, '04 Yamaha TZR 50.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

Paris2
Nearly there...



Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Karma :

PostPosted: 17:48 - 20 Jun 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cheers for the info.

Did you have any problems with them at all? I dont want to set out on our trip to then find that they are not up to the job.
____________________
Current Ride: Daytona 600
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

_Troy_
World Chat Champion



Joined: 11 Feb 2011
Karma :

PostPosted: 18:32 - 20 Jun 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm said brother.

Would be good to hear of any other options. We're not against spending a bit more cash, we'll more than likely sell the set after anyway. But as we're going for our first tour for a few days, it would be nice to be able to talk to each other.

Will trade karma for help (or food Mr. Green )
____________________
Current bike: ZX6R J1
Previous bikes: CLR 125 | GS500 | ZX6R G2 | SV650
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

Baisemontchou
Scooby Slapper



Joined: 02 Jan 2012
Karma :

PostPosted: 18:40 - 20 Jun 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nope - no problems at all, did need to read the manual to setup channels, but that's it.

If your helmet is tight then the speaker pads will irritate, but they don't have to be next to your ears, they can be mounted higher. They are slim and have thin have velcro pads to fix, you can't really remove them as the velcro on it's own is torture! Lol!

I had to put the speaker pads inside the foam padding of my Nitro helmet and I had to shave 2-3mm depth out of the polystyrene (size of a 50p piece) to make them fit comfortably. You may not have to do this as I didn't have to in a Nuvo helmet.

The mic doesn't have to be in front of your mouth, side of the helmet just in front of the cheek pad is fine.

The Walkie-Talkie's are great. Smile
____________________
Current Carz: Jeep Liberty, Kia Sorrento Diesel
Current Bikz: '06 Honda Shadow 750 Custom, '02 Sachs Roadster 650, '10 Yamaha R125, '12 Derbi GPR 50, '04 Yamaha TZR 50.
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts

Teflon-Mike
tl;dr



Joined: 01 Jun 2010
Karma :

PostPosted: 18:48 - 20 Jun 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Arrow Bike 2 Bike Communication.... where to start

Paris2 wrote:
As this is the type that riding schools use then surely they cant be too bad.


Nope, they are NOT the type riding schools use..... or probably not.

They are CONSUMER 'PMR446' Licence-Free 'standard' 1/4w transmitter power.

Schools will normally use more powerful COMMERCIAL PMR or ''Taxi' Radio standard. Same 'Walkis-Talkie' case, and teh frequency range of taxi-radio does over-lap some of the PMR446 chanels, but Taxi-Radio is licenced, they have to have an operators licence for it, and they are allowed higher transmitter power, which on these walkie talkies is often 1w or even 4w.

SOME schools may use Consumer PMR as its a lot cheaper; but I know a couple that tried and they deemed it too unreliable... but pretty 'key' part of thier business, especially if they are offering DAS lessons & its a legal requirement!
____________________
My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'


Last edited by Teflon-Mike on 18:55 - 20 Jun 2012; edited 1 time in total
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website You must be logged in to rate posts

Easter Bunny
World Chat Champion



Joined: 20 Aug 2010
Karma :

PostPosted: 18:49 - 20 Jun 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Cobra PTT set up are not waterproof!


Mind you that was a 15 hour trip with it raining 70% of the way

The PTT buttons gave up, one didnt work after about 10 hours the other was permanently on shortly after that!
____________________
The light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train!
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website You must be logged in to rate posts

snikks
Spanner Monkey



Joined: 15 Jan 2011
Karma :

PostPosted: 18:56 - 20 Jun 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Eggs Benedict wrote:
The Cobra PTT set up are not waterproof!


Mind you that was a 15 hour trip with it raining 70% of the way

The PTT buttons gave up, one didnt work after about 10 hours the other was permanently on shortly after that!


That's easily solved, stuff them in a plastic bag Wink
____________________
- CBT: 02/01/11 Theory: 26/04/11 Mod 1: 19/05/11 Mod 2: 19/08/11
- 2007 Honda XL125V Varadero (Sold), 1999 Yamaha FZS600 Fazer (Sold), 2001 CBR600F
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message You must be logged in to rate posts

Paris2
Nearly there...



Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Karma :

PostPosted: 19:07 - 20 Jun 2012    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cheers for all the info everyone.

Mike, I have read that before, long time ago. 'Tis a good read though Thumbs Up


Does anyone have any experience with the Bluetooth kits. I assume they connect to each other via bluetooth so should surely give a decent signal when in range?
____________________
Current Ride: Daytona 600
 Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail You must be logged in to rate posts
Old Thread Alert!

The last post was made 13 years, 227 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful?
  Display posts from previous:   
This page may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. By clicking on an affiliate link, you accept that third-party cookies will be set.

Post new topic   Reply to topic    Bike Chat Forums Index -> General Bike Chat All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You cannot download files in this forum

Read the Terms of Use! - Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group
 

Debug Mode: ON - Server: birks (www) - Page Generation Time: 0.07 Sec - Server Load: 0.84 - MySQL Queries: 13 - Page Size: 64.33 Kb