StarCom1 Com System - Interested?

[Dale_I]

This is taken from the AutoCom thread. If I can get a 10+ interest in getting the StarCom system, the info is posted below. More than 20 gets even deeper discounts. Just finding out if there is enough interest.
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I went one step further and called over to CST. They said they would facilitate a group buy if we wanted one for the StarCom1 units. They already have reduced pricing, but would further the discount if we could get 10 or so units sold. They suggested the StarCom1-A kit, and adding an additional headset if you wanted. The price turns out to be the same, but allows for different headset styles if you are not needing both full or both open face.

Thier current pricing is:
Base Unit (comes with music cable): $224.66
Extra headset: $52.52
PTT: $26.28
Phone Adapter: $26.28
Radio Adapter: $17.53
Total: $347.27

They said 10+ would get 5% off their already lower price = $329.91

The benefit would be that you wouldn't have to buy all the accessories if you didn't need them. You can just add up the items you would like. They said they would like to deal with one person if possible, and I would step up to the plate, but there would need to be an understanding that shipping to me and then shipping to you would add a little time value. If a week or two makes the difference, I'll bow out and everyone could order direct with CST - but the 5% off might lower by a point or two.

I'll start a new post and see if we have the head count to take it any further...
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Also:

I just asked for differences from the ST.org and ST list. Seems the my-mc posters use the Autocom and like it. Works well, good audio, nice quality. Seems the ST.org listers use the StarCom1 and like it. Works well, good audio, nice quality. CB's have been an issue in both systems. Seems that grounding and location away from the antennae are the main culprits of problems, but neither of these can be attributed to the com sets.

Neither like the IMC as much. Seems to be inferior cabling and higher speeds cause the audio quality to drop off. Fine for around town, but limited use at slightly higher than freeway speeds.

One issue that was brought up was the open mic. Seems that the Starcom1 has a dual channel system that allows both rider and pillion to talk simultaneously (could be good, could be bad...). From their site, Starcom1 uses active background monitoring to automatically advance the sound level when the mic background noise increases, and has a separate volume control for pillions in case rider or pillion uses earplugs instead of helmet speakers and the other person chooses the opposite option. The Starcom seems to be always on. When the VOX activates you only mute the music or start the radio transmission. The PTT button operates the radio frequency only to separate the com discussions if installed. However, there is always an open mic.

AutoCom uses VOX to activate the mic for rider to pillion conversation as well as to activate the radio. So, no open mic, no talking at the same time (again, could be good, could be bad...). You can get the PTT button that will separate the radio from the VOX to keep com talking separate if installed. The AutoCom is amplified, does not automatically increase the volume with increased background noise. However, they do provide sidetone, which is a small amplification of yourself back to your ear. This results in you speaking louder as background noise increases the same way I would whisper in a library and shout at a concert. It is not equipped with a separate volume controls for rider and pillion, so you are either either wearing headsets or both wearing earplugs.

As an added note, the StarCom1 can be modified to enable sidetone if desired.

I didn't look into the IMC unit since I did not receive any positive feedback on it. Just thought I might throw out some observations from my research...

[STeve1300]

Great job of research. You definately swayed me to the Starcom. Seems to me the extra time & shipping wouldnt be worth saving 17 bucks. I would just order from Cal Sport. Thank you.

[jgilmore]

I love my Starcom. I have a cell phone (motorola), GPS (Garmin 2610), MP3 player (Rio) and passenger headset hooked in. I do not have a CD or bike-to-bike radio. The sound quality simply blew me away. The auto-volume control works perfectly once you set the right base volume - not too loud at stop, not too low at speed. It is true what they say, you can take cell phone calls and the caller will not know you are on the bike. It's almost freaky. The VOX works very well too, once you get it dialed in. Be patient tweaking the settings, it will pay off!!!

Here are a few things to think about if you are going to get one:

1) You may want to get a PTT switch, even if you are not using a CB or Bike-to-bike. It will help you while dialing in the VOX, and when your buddy pulls up next to you to talk, or you think you hear something you need to pay attention to quicky. I feel less silly pressing a button than saying "quiet" or something just to trigger the VOX - and you can control the duration of the silence.

2) If you are hooking in a Garmin GPS, get the CAB-35 isolation cable. The GPS will be inaudable without it, because the way Garmin outputs the audio signal (something about a bridged vs. non-bridged output). The first cable I got was bad, but received a new one in about 2 days.

3) I you are running from the tail section, and have stuff mounted on the bars, the cables will be too short. You can buy extensions from various places, they are pretty standard cables. If you need a specific cable, I can dig up where I bought them from. I maybe spent an extra $20.00 or so.

4) The bulk-head fitting for the driver headset works very nicely. I mounted it on the left side panel, just below the glove box. Yes, it is right next to the coil, but there is zero ignition noise.

5) I have not found it necessary to install any noise filters. I have the unit in the tail section, powered by the tail lights. I keep my cell phone in the left glove box. The MP3 player is on the brake reserviour, and the GPS is on a ram mount between the bars. Didn't matter where I ran the cables, there was no noise.

BTW, I bought from CST. Did I mention I love my Starcom?

-john

PS - this if my first post on this board. Sorry if it's ugly.

[GRN]

this looks/sounds good... if the quality is up there with the Autocom for significantly less $$, I'm being swayed... wish I had dug into this a little further before starting the post for the Autocom group buy. It will be interesting to see if we can get some more aggressive pricing on the Autocom how these weigh out.

[GRN]

RC - I hear you on the dilution concern... let's get our #'s and let everyone who's interested voice their preference with the idea that we try to carry the momentum in one direction... seems to be in everyone's best interest? I have no preference, my needs from one of these are pretty simple. Less $$ good :)

[Pred8tor]

Yeah, I want to know what kind of deal we can get. If Starcom works about as well as Autocom, and there's substantial savings to be had, I'm very interested.

[Txrebel]

I have to admit I am leaning heavily toward the starcom myself. Sounds like a fairly decent compromise between price and features.

[Dale_I]

Charlie -- I think the dilution element is why I apologized over on the Autocom thread. I really didn't want to start another group buy, and was just doing the research. I figured competative pricing might help the AutoCom purchase by showing the price difference. However, if you don't think that they will at least try to compeat, I guess that is their right. I, for one, would lean toward the Autocom for the same price, but $100 buys a lot of fuel and it doesn't seem that too many are displeased with the StarCom unit.

I also agree with Steve, the $17.36 savings hardly justifies the hassle of trying to organize a single group buy. Especially once you figure in the shipping charges because there would be some charge to get it to me, and another to get it to you. I would bet you would only save $10-$15 total.

However, I only made one phone call and didn't pursue it any further. I just wanted to see what could be done if there was a concencus towards the StarCom unit. You may want to check with the distributors of the AutoCom unit to see if they also sell the StarCom. If so, maybe there is some more room to deal on them?

Regardless, I'm waiting for the AutoCom numbers as well. No decision until all the information is in. And, I'm sorry if I confused the matter at all. :confused:

[NewsMag]

I'll second what JGilmore wrote about Starcom. I was all set to buy Autocom, motivated by my hatred for J&M products and J's concept of "service." I also bought from CST. I called and talked to Kim Leong. He was the biggest distributor of Autocom systems in the US, and he dropped their line and went to Starcom. Same capability for half the cost.

I've seen complaints on the msn board (and maybe here) about how it's too hard to dial in. My experience again is like JGilmore's - it takes a bit of fiddling, then forget about it - it works perfectly forever (or so far anyway).

I have received cell calls on it, and it sounds a little echo-y to the other party, and there may be wind noise until you get the windscreen up and/or slowed down a bit, but otherwise they can't tell at all.

I think the guys who dumped the Starcom and went to Autocom have more money than patience.

[seiseman]

...
As an added note, the StarCom1 can be modified to enable sidetone if desired.
...

Do you know if this is a new feature of the StarCom1? I bought mine a little over a year ago (and I still am pleased with the unit) and I emailed TechStar several times (they were very prompt and thorough in their responses) and at that time they told me that sidetone was not available through their unit. Coming from flying as a previous pasttime I do miss the feature.

Below is a portion of my e-mail to/from them.

Steve E :03biker:

Thank you for your mail and suggestions.

Our system relys on natural feedback and not side tone.

We are looking at possible adding this type of feature in the future with customer selection as many customers dont like this feedback.

Initial trial of both ways showed in favour of natural feedback. When side band feed back is used it can effect Telephone conversations with echo.

I note your idea regarding flip helmets and have passed it to R & D for their consideration.

I am pleased you like the unit.

Best regards

Tony Starling

----- Original Message -----

From: "Steve Eisemann" <seisemann@insightbb.com>

To: "tecstar" <sales@tecstar.co.uk>

Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2004 5:43 AM

I recently bought the StarCom1 and various cables/ adaptors/ accessories.

I have not hard wired it as yet but have been using it in the tank bag on battery. It is one impressive unit. So far I have used it with a music input, FRS radio and cell phone. I am very pleased. I do have one question and one suggestion.

Question: Does the intercom have side-tone? I don't get side tone on mine and I wondered if I had something set up wrong. (If you don't have side tone it would be a great addition to your unit...)
Suggestion: When using the full face helmet kit in a flip face helmet the cable connecting the mic is rather precarious. I foresee that at some point I will get it caught in the lock on my Nolan and I will cut the cable. What about adding a third kit for flip face helmets that come with a length of protective tubing over the cable to the mic? Say 3-5 inches- Just enough so that I would keep it from getting cut in the latch. Make the diameter so that it can slide to the correct position but will stay there once it is placed.
Again, Great unit. I made the right choice.

[Dale_I]

Do you know if this is a new feature of the StarCom1? ...they told me that sidetone was not available through their unit.

I don't know if it is a new feature or not. I asked on another board and was supplied with this diagram, which basically shows adding a 1K resistor jumpering R34 and R35, which activates the sidetone. I really am a wiring/electronic goober, so exactly how or why it works is beyond me. But, I hope it helps you.

[AgSTreak]

Saving money is good, but getting a reliable unit is even more important. So far you have addressed my initial concerns with the unit and the StarCom sounds pretty good now.

[jgilmore]

I'd like to throw out a couple more comments. I thought and thought and thought and thought (and read and researched) about which unit to get, and hope this will help you guys decide which way to go.

- The difference in price between Starcom and Autocom was not much of a factor in my decision. I feel I got a good price AND a reliable unit. I started out with a Baehr system and returned it after their GPS cable tip snapped off inside my Garmin cable (yes I had to replace the Garmin cable because I couldn't get it out), finding it was not Stereo (the Verso XL), and finding that the automatic volume control was only 2 step rather than continious.

- Some people have complained about the cables. I personally don't have a problem with the cables. They use 6 and 4 pin DIN cables for the Headsets and PTT, which look like the tips inside might bend or brake easily, but they haven't broken so far, nor do they disconnect. I will admit because I read about people's opinions on the cables I was concerned. I was also concerned when I actually saw them. But so far, I have had no problems at all, and I've forgotten about it (until I wrote this).

- The manual does not say anything about enabling sidetones, but I have heard they can be enabled, probably as explained in an earlier post. But I personally don't see the need. Maybe someone can explain the benefit of sidetones. I can hear myself in my helmet, and I don't have to raise my voice as the background noise increases.

- I have an inline volume reducer on the Garmin cable (less than $10.00) because the Garmin volume, even on "1", was too loud.

- I don't have, nor have ever listened to, an Autocom. But I wanted volume control and allowing the rider/pillion volume to be modified. The latter is done with a jumper placement on some pins inside the unit (a high/low setting). The volume control is a knob on the outside, same as the VOX. I adjusted the volume for rider/passenger conversations, then normalized the volumes of my other devices. The tweaked the VOX to shut off when I talked normally. Autocom does not have a volume control, but maybe that is not necessary for their unit, I don't know. I liked having the additional control.

I hope this helps you decide one way or another.

-John

[jgilmore]

>>Um ... the Active-7-Smart as two control knobs on the unit ... VOX sensitivity and volume.

Volume control is a new feature since I looked into Autocom (Jan. Feb timeframe). Prior to that, Autocom did not have a volume control, only VOX. That was one of the biggest complaints I read about the Autocom, nice to see they addressed it.

-John

[nm6r]

I feel compelled to make mention of my personal experience. I too wanted to 'save' money so I bought a Starcom. I had to return it as I was so dissatisfied with it. The cables and connectors are crap. The mini-DINs just aren't designed for a mobile environment. It's considerably noisier than the Autocom. It's operation is poorly thought out as the passenger can't even hear the phone or 2-way radio. I could go on and on but it's just not worth it. I spent the money on the Autocom Active-7-Smart and have only been impressed since. Maybe I'm just overly particular about quality communications.

Ray
http://www.frontiernet.net/~st1300rider/smile04Bikerwheelie.gif

[GRN]

If you consider the total investment in the gear that compiles your complete com set up, the extra $$ for the autocom become less of a factor. If I'm going to bother to wire this sucker up to 2 buckets, tunes, RD, and my cell phone, then flexible functionality and clearity of all components is a must. Anything less than outstanding and I'll do with out the tunes (I have never had, and still question) and cell (up here I hardly ever have signal anyway), and get an earphone for the RD and save a lot of $$. I would love to hear from more folks who have hands on with both... being happy with one or the other is one thing, clearly and objectively identifying the real functional differences is where the rubber meets the road IMO.

Thanx for the feedback Ray....................... :04biker: