advice on bike to bike radio system

Does the Starcom Advance still use the mini-DIN cables and connectors?

That was a major weak link on the Starcom 1.

Ray
smile04Bikerwheelie.gif
 
Sink said:
So what can you hook up to this system? Cell phone, MP3, GPS? Does it silence the music when you use the FRS or Cell phone? How good is the audio quality?

Sink
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With the MIT-100, you can have your cell phone hooked up, MP3 or XM, and FRS. The MP3 will silence when a FRS or Cell phone call comes in. The FRS is PTT. The one small down side that I have run into is when I have strong side winds, the music will silence as the unit thinks you are talking to your passenger. You can hook up a GPS, but it uses the line for the phone. I plan on hooking up a amplirider this winter to hook more things up. If you are going to hook up XM, you will need a amplirider or a boostaroo. I use a boostaroo now, and have clear sound at 85+ mph with ear plugs. When my daughter rides with me, we talk to each other and the sound is clear.

Again, this is a good basic unit. You can add a lot of things to the Autocom/Starcom, but it will cost you. For me this unit meets my needs. This system was just what I was looking for and what I had the money for.
 
Here's the response I got from Starcom... and yes Ray, they still use the mini din PC keyboard type plugs and sockets, although I haven't had any problem with them.


Hi Dave

This is the way starcom currently works. This has come up before and will be a consideration for a design change.
This can be changed on the current board and if you has the ability to solder then its a change you can do, the change disconnects the VOX circuit from the radio TX circuit.

The change requires

1) remove the circuit board from the case
2) remove D2 a diode ( approx 5mm x 2mm red in colour with a dark band at one end) which is located under the shaft for the volume control.

hope this helps, please come back if you need further help. Or would like us to make the change.


I will be making the change !!!

Regards,
 
Burger said:
Here's the response I got from Starcom... and yes Ray, they still use the mini din PC keyboard type plugs and sockets, although I haven't had any problem with them.


Hi Dave

This is the way starcom currently works. This has come up before and will be a consideration for a design change.
This can be changed on the current board and if you has the ability to solder then its a change you can do, the change disconnects the VOX circuit from the radio TX circuit.

The change requires

1) remove the circuit board from the case
2) remove D2 a diode ( approx 5mm x 2mm red in colour with a dark band at one end) which is located under the shaft for the volume control.

hope this helps, please come back if you need further help. Or would like us to make the change.


I will be making the change !!!

Regards,
Click to expand...


It sounds like that diode can be clipped out without even using a soldering iron.

Those mini-DINs were a problem for me right out of the box. I have a friend that is currently finding a problem with his. They just aren't suitable for this type of application nor are the wimpy cords.

Ray
smile04Bikerwheelie.gif
 
good info so far...

From all the Info given so far, I am leaning towards an Autocom Easi-plus, which costs very close to the MIT-100. ($219 vs $200 for the MIT-100) deciding factor here, is the lack of portability of the MIT-100. the easi-plus will allow me to do Bike to bike as well as intercom and mp3, I have no desire to have a phone on a motorcycle, not only from a safety factor, (damn things should be banned for on-highway use) but where I live, cellphone service is a very chancy thing anyway.

last issue, is deciding which GMRS/FRS transciever to use. have seen some good ideas so far, but would like a bit more input on what everyone is using. not only will I getting a pair for me and my wife, but it is starting to look like a very good xmas gift for my Father. (He rides a Harley Police bike, with a very nice, nearly pornographic airbrush job on the fairing...)

Again, Thanks for all the Advice so far!
 
Tor said:
Using Autocom and Icom F21GM radio (think this is the other radio Sam is referring to). Very satisfied.
Click to expand...

Thanks Tor ... Icom is in fact the other model Autocom suggested. ALSO, my bad!! I made a mistake in the model of my radio. I use the Kenwood TK-3131. The following is a short Kenwood blurb about the two radios:

Kenwood introduced the compact and lightweight FreeTalk XLS radio (TK-3131) as a fully featured, high-tier GMRS radio (General Mobile Radio Service). This 15-channel radio has a long list of useful features, including 121 sub-channels, plus it comes with a spring loaded belt clip, rechargeable Nickel Metal Hydride battery and rapid rate desktop charger. The FreeTalk XLS has a range of up to 4-miles depending on terrain.

When you need a more powerful, rugged two radio, the FreeTalk XL (TK-3101), The Adventure Radio, is ideal. The FreeTalk XL is a 15-channel 2-watt GMRS radio that meets military standards for durability and ruggedness. It features a die-cast aluminum frame and polycarbonate case and comes complete with a spring loaded belt clip, rechargeable battery and desktop charger. The FreeTalk XL has a range of up to 5-miles depending on terrain.

Tor ... bring your radio with you July 22!!

Sam
 
Artcwolf said:
I was just pointing out the one downside to the Collett's.

Autocomm's are very expensive which is the reason I don't have it. I might look into the MIT system but for now the Chatterbox works fine.
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I almost bought the Chatterbox units at the time but these were cheaper, so I went the cheap route. I have 3 sets of Motorola FRS units and if I could have figured out how to ride and talk with them I would have used them instead.
 
Our solution for bike to bike communication is a bit different. Both Maggie and I have bluetooth enabled cell phones so we picked up a pair of Scala Rider head sets. You can get 'em on eBay for $80 or so a copy. Our phones (Razrs) have voice activated dialing directories which can be activated by one of the buttons on the Scala headset. Not only does that do a nice job of covering us bike to bike without any interference, but also comes in handy when our daughters or someone else needs to get in touch with us.

I'll be wiring the wires from the Scala speaker connection into speakers that I've installed in my helmet that's hooked into a Mix It. That makes it easy to manage multiple audio connections (cell, GPS, radar detector, iPod).

John
 
Burger said:
Jeff,

I never said you can't disable vox... in fact, I said you can... so we're in total agreement there. What I said is that if you have vox enabled to mute music when you want to talk to your passenger... that it will also at the same time trigger the Tx on the radio. If you disable vox, then you can use the PTT switch to mute the music... it is still the same effect. In other words... either way, if you want to mute the music to talk to your passenger, you will trigger the Tx on the radio. This is a thread about 2 way radios!

This is a flaw in the system. Sorry if you don't like that, but that's the way it is. It should be possible for you to have a private conversation with your passenger with the music muted, without transmitting over the radio.

If you don't use a two way radio... you won't have yet discovered this flaw in the Starcom.

Just FYI... I have satnav, MP3, phone (bluetooth) and two way radio all connected to my Starcom 1 Advance... the system is not faulty and is working absolutely as designed.

This information is most definitely not incorrect.

Regards,
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Sure it'd be better if plugging in the PTT button to the Starcom1 Advance disabled radio transmission while still being able to have the music muted for private rider-to-passenger communication. We however have not found it to be a big problem to turn the VOX off, set the music to a reasonable level and then just talk over it like we would in the car together. Then use the PTT to transmitt to others. Works fine.
 
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added expense..

Just realized, browsing the autocom website, that to use Bike to bike, they want you to buy a "bike to bike kit" with a couple of connectors in it, for an additional $200. holy crap, thats insane. looking again at the MIT-100....
 
ST/SV said:
I almost bought the Chatterbox units at the time but these were cheaper, so I went the cheap route. I have 3 sets of Motorola FRS units and if I could have figured out how to ride and talk with them I would have used them instead.
Click to expand...

Just a suggestion.....

If you JUST want bike to bike (and maybe music) and especially if you already have motorola FRS radios, here's another option:

https://www.rflimited.com/Site.asp?CID=3

I have a Starcom Advance on the ST (which is awesome), but use the MotoComms (MC-552 headset system) on dirt bikes. I have my kids hooked up to just listen (no PTT button), and mine and my wife's so we can talk (finger or handlebar mounted PTT button). They work great.

I got them for $49.00 from sporttour.com. Cabelas also carries them.

-John
 
jgilmore said:
Just a suggestion.....

If you JUST want bike to bike (and maybe music) and especially if you already have motorola FRS radios, here's another option:

https://www.rflimited.com/Site.asp?CID=3

I have a Starcom Advance on the ST (which is awesome), but use the MotoComms (MC-552 headset system) on dirt bikes. I have my kids hooked up to just listen (no PTT button), and mine and my wife's so we can talk (finger or handlebar mounted PTT button). They work great.

I got them for $49.00 from sporttour.com. Cabelas also carries them.

-John
Click to expand...
I posted earlier about the Colletts I have for bike to bike but if I have any trouble with them I will definitely check these out. Thanks
 
Burger said:
Here's the response I got from Starcom... and yes Ray, they still use the mini din PC keyboard type plugs and sockets, although I haven't had any problem with them.


Hi Dave

This is the way starcom currently works. This has come up before and will be a consideration for a design change.
This can be changed on the current board and if you has the ability to solder then its a change you can do, the change disconnects the VOX circuit from the radio TX circuit.

The change requires

1) remove the circuit board from the case
2) remove D2 a diode ( approx 5mm x 2mm red in colour with a dark band at one end) which is located under the shaft for the volume control.

hope this helps, please come back if you need further help. Or would like us to make the change.


I will be making the change !!!

Regards,
Click to expand...

Is this a solution for the Starcom1 or the Starcom1 Advance?

I have ordered an advance along with a PTT talk switch, but would like to be able to use the VOX to mute the music when I speak to my passenger.

This sounds like just the trick. Once I get the unit and have it installed and working, I will ask Tim and Tony if this is a viable option.
 
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On the starcom1 what brand of CB and FRS radios would use the same cable and PTT cable assemby so that the radio of choice could be changed depending on what the other riders were using. I'm thinking cobra ???
 
PTT-03 is a new push to talk from Tecstar for the Starcom1 Advance that will disable the VOX for the 2 way radio so you can use the VOX to mute music without rider and passenger conversation going out over the radio.

Dan, your Starcom1 Advance will be coming with the newer PTT-03.

Ray, why don't you like the mini-din? I have made thousands of connections to the ones on my computer service bench and never had a failure. Using brute force strength to force the connector in the wrong way will break it.

Gene, the Starcom1 Advance has a different cable for radio and PTT. If I want to use a different radio I just switch the radio cable and use the same PTT. Some radios share the same cable type so it would be possible to use the same radio cable with some CB and FRS/GMRS radios. Cobra is moving to a single pin for all the new radios.

Tim :03biker:
 
Tim thats what I want to do. It would be to easy for all of them to use one industry standard connection !!! One buddy uses CB and other allready has frs already .
 
Tim4255 said:
PTT-03 is a new push to talk from Tecstar for the Starcom1 Advance that will disable the VOX for the 2 way radio so you can use the VOX to mute music without rider and passenger conversation going out over the radio.

Dan, your Starcom1 Advance will be coming with the newer PTT-03.

Tim :03biker:
Click to expand...

I guess this means that I won't have to remove the diode after all. Can't wait to receive it Tim.
 
I've used a Starcom unit now for nearly 3 years (both Starcom 1 & now the Advance in my most recent ST) and I've never found the PTT/CB transmit to be an issue even when riding with Pillion. If I want to speak to my wife and not transmit and the music is too loud, I flick the PTT for a spit second...music mutes, I'm not transmitting, I say what needs to be said and eventually the music returns. No big deal. If we want to talk for longer than the Starcom mute time, I hit pause on the MP3 player, or re-key the PTT again for a split second.

Other than one loose PTT mini-din extension connector with my first unit, (which I simply replaced with an off-the-shelf S-video cable) I've had no cable problems. In my opinion, the customer is the winner in this as Starcom created competition, dropped prices and incorporated enhancements that others have now added. Capitalism at its finest.
 
snowmoer said:
With the MIT-100, you can have your cell phone hooked up, MP3 or XM, and FRS. The MP3 will silence when a FRS or Cell phone call comes in. The FRS is PTT. The one small down side that I have run into is when I have strong side winds, the music will silence as the unit thinks you are talking to your passenger. You can hook up a GPS, but it uses the line for the phone. I plan on hooking up a amplirider this winter to hook more things up. If you are going to hook up XM, you will need a amplirider or a boostaroo. I use a boostaroo now, and have clear sound at 85+ mph with ear plugs. When my daughter rides with me, we talk to each other and the sound is clear.

Again, this is a good basic unit. You can add a lot of things to the Autocom/Starcom, but it will cost you. For me this unit meets my needs. This system was just what I was looking for and what I had the money for.
Click to expand...

I tried hooking up the GPS to the phone input and I don't get any sound. Any help with this?
 
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