Communication options

Maximus53 · Post by **Maximus53** » Wed May 23, 2012 5:22 pm

I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for communicating with someone who is following you in a car. It seems that all the in helmet communication systems either let you pair to another similar system or to a cell phone.

I am looking to start making trips with my girlfriend following me in her car. The problem now is she doesnt like the fact that we are driving separately so I think a 2 way radio would be the perfect solution.

I dont really want to have an open cell phone call for a 3 hour trip and the gf wont want to sit in the car with her helmet on to use a paired com device.

michelle_7728 · Post by **michelle_7728** » Wed May 23, 2012 5:43 pm

I would think you could find a way to rig up a helmet communication device (remove it from one helmet) so that it can be used as a headset.

You'd have to be pretty inventive, but I'll bet it would be doable. I think that most of the communications systems work with up to 3 devices, so if you have 2 installed on helmets, and you don't want to disassemble one, you should be able to buy one more and pair to that one.

For the person folling in the car, maybe you could find a cheap over-the-head headset at Goodwill, carefully break off the speaker and put your speaker in it's place, then velcro or tape (thinner solution) the boom of the new one to the boom on the headset.

Does that make any sense?

This solution seems better to me than walkie talkies, as you have to press a button to talk with a walkie talkie, and the volume has to be constently messed with if you are going faster or slower. Harder to mess with when wearing a helmet and gloves too. The Scala Riders my husband and I use automatically adjusts the volume while you ride, and you talk when you want...no pushing a button to do so.

Dooglas · Post by **Dooglas** » Wed May 23, 2012 5:51 pm

You can get headsets for GMRS/FRS radios. We use them on our boat while docking or anchoring. Don't know if some of the existing helmet radios are compatible with those channels but it ought to be easy enough to find out.

Post by **ericalm** » Wed May 23, 2012 5:58 pm

Dooglas wrote:You can get headsets for GMRS/FRS radios. We use them on our boat while docking or anchoring. Don't know if some of the existing helmet radios are compatible with those channels but it ought to be easy enough to find out.

^ This. I have a Chatterbox GMRS/FRS and it works well. You can also just get the handsets and add a headset with push to talk for the helmet.

Keys · Post by **Keys** » Wed May 23, 2012 10:38 pm

I just use hand signals. No, wait...those are reserved for discourteous drivers. Disregard, please.

Grant H · Post by **Grant H** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 7:45 pm

There are all kinds of options out there for this exact thing. Just look around online. Most are going to be bluetooth. You could also get a standard cell phone bluetooth and call other numbers from your cell phone in your pocket. Probably not a good solution though.

Post by **ericalm** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 9:10 pm

Grant H wrote:There are all kinds of options out there for this exact thing. Just look around online. Most are going to be bluetooth. You could also get a standard cell phone bluetooth and call other numbers from your cell phone in your pocket. Probably not a good solution though.

Bluetooth won't work very well for this. We tried a helmet-to-helmet Bluetooth option for my riding group and the signal isn't any good if there's much distance. They're really for rider-to0passenger communications and for pairing with your Bluetooth phone/GPS, etc.

agrogod · Post by **agrogod** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 9:26 pm

Just to chime in on the Bluetooth, its only good for about 10 - 15 ft., any further and your reception starts to get static-y. Ok for two up riders, not so much for two vehicles.

Hands free radio

SYMbionic Duo · Post by **SYMbionic Duo** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 9:44 pm

Actually class 1 BT is good up to 330ft /100m.

Problem is that most equipment is class 2 (33ft / 10m).

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 10:28 pm

We used the Cardo Scala G4 system and it was very good to excellent. I had some issues with noise over 70 mph, but not a big deal.

Anyway, based on someone's post here on MB (I don't remember who), i switched over to the Sena SMH10 and found it even better. But honestly, both worked very well for our purposes.

And I'll add, the communication systems really added to our rides. Whether just the wife and I, or with larger groups. The added features of cell phone, ipod, etc., interfacing just makes them even better. For us this was a worthwhile investment.

Rob

Post by **ericalm** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 10:52 pm

SYMbionic Duo wrote:Actually class 1 BT is good up to 330ft /100m.

Problem is that most equipment is class 2 (33ft / 10m).

I think you also need direct line of sight. A curve or a hill and you lose it easily.

SYMbionic Duo · Post by **SYMbionic Duo** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 11:07 pm

BT is 2.4ghz so just like WiFi. Curves are fine so long as there is not solid rock in between.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 11:46 pm

I'll have to go back and check, but I believe the Sena system is BT 3.

I think they claim a range (these specs are always optimistic or best case scenario) of 800 meters or so (again, I have to go back and check) and while we have never really checked the max range, it's more than sufficient for our needs.

And you definitely do not need direct line of sight.

Rob

Stormswift · Post by **Stormswift** » Fri Jun 29, 2012 1:15 am

1. I talk to my mom on the phone all the time (family talk is great for that. I have button airphones for my cellphone which work great inside the helmet. The mic is tiny and the wire can be taped inside the helmet
2. If I am on the cellphone I have it rigged to answer automatically. Hence hands free.
3. I'd rather follow someone then have them follow me. Seems safer that way.

BootScootin'FireFighter · Tue Jul 03, 2012 8:13 pm

Stormswift wrote:3. I'd rather follow someone then have them follow me. Seems safer that way.

I'd rather have someone known, trusted, and loved following behind me. Keeps the crazies off my 6.

agrogod · Post by **agrogod** » Tue Jul 03, 2012 9:24 pm

SYMbionic Duo wrote:Actually class 1 BT is good up to 330ft /100m.

Problem is that most equipment is class 2 (33ft / 10m).

I stand corrected, thank you.

PIStaker · Post by **PIStaker** » Tue Jul 03, 2012 10:39 pm

You're all way overthinking this. The answer is simple: Semaphore flags. http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/v ... RxMCo7WZuC