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|  | Topic : Blue tooth communication recommendations. |  |
| | | VABird | | Jupiter |  |  | | Reg. Date | : | 28/09/2014 | | Posts | : | 1,373 | | Location | : | BEDFORD, Virginia, United States |
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| | Posted : 02 Oct 2018 - 00:18 Post title : Blue tooth communication recommendations. | | | Ok, if it was up to me, I'd still be using 2 tin cans and a string, but my (new to riding) wife would like us to be able to talk to each other while riding.
 Now... I know what some of you may be thinking. Why ruin the experience? Right? Don't confuse me with the facts... Her mind is made up.
She started riding a Can Am Spyder a few months ago. Today, when we went out, she disappeared from the rear view mirror several times, and I had to backtrack to find her stopped at some pull off. So I'm thinking it may not be such a bad idea.
So, kidding aside, without presuming that more expensive automatically means better, what are the best values in communication devices?
What distances are they usable? How clear is the sound? How user friendly?
I know virtually nothing about them, and don't even know the right questions to ask.
So recommendations?
| The ride may be fun, but in the Great Scheme of things, it really is about the destination! John 3:16 
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| | | bschwartz | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 12/03/2014 | | Posts | : | 336 | | Location | : | Madison, Wisconsin, United States |
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| | Posted : 02 Oct 2018 - 01:50 Post title : Re: Blue tooth communication recommendations. (Re: VABird) | | | I have the Cardo Packtalk. It was replaced this year by the Cardo Packtalk Bold but it's pretty much the same thing. The new one just has more natural voice commands. My buddy and I used them on our ride out to the Black Hills this summer. They were awesome. Would not ride those kind of distances without them. You can stream music from your phone and when you want to talk to another rider you just start talking and the mic picks you up and transmits it. If the other rider talks to you then your music just reduces in volume and you hear them talking to you. Sound was respectable even at 80+ mph. We didn't get too far away from each other on this ride but we have tested it before with 1/4 mile apart being no problem and even up to 1/2 mile. They were indispensable when he started having battery problems and his bike started running like crap in the middle of nowhere. We were able to formulate a plan on the fly to find a battery shop that was miraculously open on the 4th of July to buy a new battery. Also really helps when traffic gets a little hairy and you're trying to plan exits and keeping in touch as cars split you up, etc. Since we had a couple of days with over 12 hours of riding and a couple more with 10+ the music really helped the time go a lot faster. It's not concert hall quality sound but it's quite respectable. I wear a full face helmet and ear plugs and I could almost always hear my buddy. Sometimes on the second to last day when we were fighting 25-30 mph cross winds and doing 80+ I'd have to have him repeat something but not very often. He and I were just talking this past weekend that we agreed that these were the best purchases we've made for the bike in a long time. I've heard good things about Sena too but the Cardo are waterproof and use mesh networking which is a hell of a lot easier to set up than the Bluetooth network that Sena uses except on their high end model. We got the Cardo deal with Packtalk duo which is two units in one box. It's a little cheaper than buying them separately. Haven't played with the Bold but the Packtalk does have voice commands you can use they just aren't as natural as on the Bold. But to be honest I don't have any trouble using the buttons on the unit to control things. Really all I need the buttons for is to forward to the next song on my playlist or to pause the unit. Those are simple controls to learn. I don't want to answer phone calls when I ride or send texts to people. I'm out to ride not to be doing work. I think once you ride with one you'll be happy you got something no matter if you go with Cardo or Sena.
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| | | PapaSmurfMC | | Chaac | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 03/10/2013 | | Posts | : | 871 | | Location | : | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
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| | Posted : 02 Oct 2018 - 03:48 Post title : Re: Blue tooth communication recommendations. (Re: VABird) | | | I've used Sena for the last 6 years; first the SMH10 and for the last 2 years, the 20S. I've already decided the next generation (mesh communication) I get will be a Cardo. The Senas have held up OK but they're not the most intuitive to use and heavily dependent on multiple buttons and jog dial, so there's some one-handed fiddling necessary when on the road.
Voice command capability is weak in the Sena; in fact, for the modes I use most you have to push a button before you can speak a command. Ridiculous. Sound quality and battery life have been very good on both models I've had. It's not waterproof, just "resistant", though I've had it out in a pouring rain more than once without issue.
I've read a lot about their latest Sena model, the 30K, and lots of people seem to be experiencing sound problems; obviously rushed to market to compete with the Cardo Packtalk. Cardo had a good year's jump on Sena with mesh communications (which you don't need to consider unless you ride in groups) so Sena is desperately playing catch-up..
At Americade, year before last, the Cardo guys were very approachable and eager to discuss their products with everyone; they were actually very technically savvy. Sena sent marketing types that were more interested in passing out brochures and talking to eachother than to customers.
At the other end of the spectrum, there's the $47 BT-S2; just Google "BT-S2". I picked up a couple of these for "guest" helmets. All I can say about these is that for the money, they're shockingly OK. I successfully paired one of these with my Sena and communicated in intercom mode both ways but haven't had one out on the road, yet. They claim 1000m range.
Just my 2 cents (and worth every penny!).
| 2013 Blue Marble Haze Thunderbird 1600 ABS
2009 Black Bonneville A1 ("Mag")
Buncha farkles
| | Post edited by PapaSmurfMC on 02 Oct 2018 - 03:49 |
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| | | VABird | | Jupiter | | | | Reg. Date | : | 28/09/2014 | | Posts | : | 1,373 | | Location | : | BEDFORD, Virginia, United States |
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| | Posted : 02 Oct 2018 - 12:01 Post title : Re: Blue tooth communication recommendations. (Re: PapaSmurfMC) | | | Thanks, guys. I'll be investigating Cardo more. Already read/heard 2 independent online reviews.
I often ride with a larger group and to my knowledge, none of them have a comm device. It's good to know that they can be added individually.
| The ride may be fun, but in the Great Scheme of things, it really is about the destination! John 3:16
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| | | Leethal | | Zeus | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 24/01/2011 | | Posts | : | 6,491 | | Location | : | Australia |
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| | Posted : 03 Oct 2018 - 22:28 Post title : Re: Blue tooth communication recommendations. (Re: VABird) | | | I have used Scala (cardo) for the last seven years, it went through some teething issues early which were sorted under warranty and has been a reliable unit although now coming to it's end of life.
| Experience is something you get just after you needed it 
1600,Foran Razorbacks, Meerkat bypass, Dyno tune, real headlight,plenty of chrome,switchblade pegs, Hagon Nitro shocks & Ikon progressive fork springs etc. Scorpion Western Low handlebars. PH adjustable fork caps.
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| | | mastan | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 31/07/2018 | | Posts | : | 6 | | Location | : | United States |
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| | Posted : 04 Oct 2018 - 01:15 Post title : Re: Blue tooth communication recommendations. (Re: Leethal) | | | If you only want to use it for GPS, Phone, and Com with your passenger, the Scala Rider is a great way to go. It's very cheap and easy to set up.
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