I want to get talking - J&M or AutoCom?

redrocket

So I have read many of the treads from what people have said about their J&M units and the autocom units and I currently have a Zumo 550 and I would like to connect that with an intercom system and a CB radio.

The J&M seems to be a cleaner install with the CB controls at the bar witch really draws me to it.:D The autocom seems to have more owners who stand behind the product but it also seems like a lot of extra pieces to put it all together.

Has anyone ever used both or have any suggestions?

RIDE SAFE!
 
Make sure to consider the StarCom1 units. I have an Advance and am well pleased. They are a little cheaper than Autocom and seem simpler to configure. Not sure how they compare to J&M though.
 
+1 for the Starcom Advance. I just installed one and am very pleased with it. Sound for music, phone and intercomm is crystal clear. One nice touch the Starcom has available is a manual volume knob so I can control volume on the fly. Occasionally, you'll want to turn it down to talk to the guy next to you, or up for that good song on the ipod.

I'm using a Midland 75-822 that I just clip to my belt when I know I'm going to need a CB that day, plug into the Starcom and am good to go. I'm using the Vox feature right now but a PTT switch is available. The range is 1-2 miles with the rubber duck antenna, if I start using the CB more I might go with a firestick.
 
I have no knowledge of Autocom. I have a J&M unit and am very happy with it. Fit and Finish their is no competition that J&M is the best. I did have water get in the main bundle of the J&M and it screwed up my intercom. I sent the unit to J&M and about 10 days later I got it back and it worked perfect. They have A+ customer service!
 
redrocket said:
So I have read many of the treads from what people have said about their J&M units and the autocom units and I currently have a Zumo 550 and I would like to connect that with an intercom system and a CB radio.

The J&M seems to be a cleaner install with the CB controls at the bar witch really draws me to it.:D The autocom seems to have more owners who stand behind the product but it also seems like a lot of extra pieces to put it all together.

Has anyone ever used both or have any suggestions?

RIDE SAFE!
Click to expand...

try Intaride it better than both.

www,intaride.com
 
Brad Felmey said:
In fairness, the J&M headsets are "tinny". I'm thinking I'm going to take my headset and replace the ear speakers with those from a real headphone set.
Click to expand...

Brad, which headset do you have? Elite series? I have a J&M on the shelf to be installed when weather gets warmer but I haven't bought the headset yet. It sounds from your experience that I may want to replace the speakers in the J&M headset?
 
The J&M is an incredibly simple and clean installation for cb/intercom/music. This does limit the user to cb only and the transmit quality and intercom is fair at best. The J&M headsets are overpriced, especially with the microphone quality.

The Starcom is a cheaper alternative to an Autocom. Many have it and like it. It can be installed nicely but it will be lacking the nice control unit of the J&M. Having used one, I found it's a matter of getting what you pay for and are willing to tolerate. I took mine back, paid the difference to get an Autocom and haven't looked back since.

Autocom is the name of the game when it comes to motorcycle communications. It can be installed nicely but it will be lacking the nice control unit of the J&M. Some people have experienced problems connecting a cb. I did too but was easily able to resolve the RFI. No issues or problems with the PTT switch functionality, VOX, intercom, radar detector, music, muting, FRS/GMRS 2-way communications, cell phone sounds like not even on a m/c.

The graphic on the Autocom web site sums it up nicely.

autocom_difference.jpg



Ray
 
I have had neither but a friend has an autocom pro. He regularly calls me from his cell phone while riding his vstrom down the highway at 80mph. It sounds to my ear, it works as well as my cell phone does in the car. Better then with a window open in my car. Autocom will be my choice later this year. My other buddy with the jm set up just sold it off and is now running an autocom and is very happy with his autocom selection
 
nm6r said:
The J&M is an incredibly simple and clean installation for cb/intercom/music. This does limit the user to cb only and the transmit quality and intercom is fair at best. The J&M headsets are overpriced, especially with the microphone quality.

The Starcom is a cheaper alternative to an Autocom. Many have it and like it. It can be installed nicely but it will be lacking the nice control unit of the J&M. Having used one, I found it's a matter of getting what you pay for and are willing to tolerate. I took mine back, paid the difference to get an Autocom and haven't looked back since.

Autocom is the name of the game when it comes to motorcycle communications. It can be installed nicely but it will be lacking the nice control unit of the J&M. Some people have experienced problems connecting a cb. I did too but was easily able to resolve the RFI. No issues or problems with the PTT switch functionality, VOX, intercom, radar detector, music, muting, FRS/GMRS 2-way communications, cell phone sounds like not even on a m/c.

Ray
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+1 Ray

I have an Autocom, my riding buddy has the J&M. Mine works, his has issues, and it gets REALLY expensive to connect additional equipment to the J&M, about an additional $300 for the harness. I can also switch between GMRS and CB depending on whether I am riding with my buddy, or my wife is behind me in the chase SUV. His bike came with the J&M, and if he had it to do over he would have gone with the Autocom.
 
In answer to your direct question I have not tried both.

However, I do have both on my ST. The Autocom handles the audio interface between the rider and passenger and the rest of the world.

The J&M CB 2003 handles just that CB radio and weather channel.

I have a Garmin 2820, somewhat similar to your 550 in capabilibities which handles the navigation, MP3s, XM Radio, and boothtooh interface if I want to do that.

I chose this combination because the J&M CB was the cleanest looking device. It does come with a hefty price tag but it functions as designed and is easy to use while on the bike.

The Autocom was selected primarly because of all the good press they get here and in other forums. It has proved to be a good value. I have the pro rider, I especially like the background noise sensor and the way it handles the audio volume, the higher the noise level the higher the volume.

The 2820 has a speed sensitive volume system but I find that it's operation is less than adequate.

I like the way the Autocom interfaces with the rest of the equipment, the small size of the microphones and their sensitivity. I don't like the in the helmet speakers all that much and just got a set of in the ear speakers (not exactly the right terminology but close) from Arizona Al. They are really a great investment.

Cost is an issue in all these systems.

The best you can do is ask a lot of questions and see what fits into your budget. I probably went over budget on my set up but I am very pleased with how it all goes together.

All I have to do is to turn on the GPS, fire up the bike, plug in the helmet cord and I am off. A simple turn of the switch on the CB gets me on the air and, if I want, I just go to the settings function on the 2820 and connect a bluetooh device. I rarely fool around with the volume controls.

The only real issue is connecting the J&M to the Autocom. There is no interface cable and you have to "roll your own". But I have a schematic that shows how mine is interfaced if you wish.

jim
 
i think Uncle Phil indicated he replaced his J&M headsets with http://edsets.com/ and found them be a significant improvement. we have the j&m setup on both of our bikes and communicate on the cb without difficulty. on my unit i paid the extra 300 bucks or so and hooked my gps/phone up to the main system. i also have xm radio hooked into the system. all i do is crank the bike and it all fires up.

the autocom continues to scare me off only because of the perceived difficulty in getting cb to work with it correctly. at the present though, the j&m gets the job done very well so no need to change.

good luck and have fun with your farkling
 
My friend has a Star Com and doesn't seem as happy as I am with my Autocom. I spent a little more to get the AVC (automatic volume control) and love having it! The thing I don't like about the STAR COM is the fact that you (my friend) can not hear his voice to know if he is ON or OFF. One day I thought something was wrong with my radio (ham radio) until I realized it was HIS that was keyed up constantly. Since no volume came over his radio, he didn't know his radio was active.

When he calls me on his cell phone (we both have Treo's), when I talk to him (I'm not on the bike) I hear an AWFUL echo, he doesn't hear it, but he knows everyone complains about it. When I call from my bike, no one knows I'm on my bike.
 
hojo in sc said:
My friend has a Star Com and doesn't seem as happy as I am with my Autocom. I spent a little more to get the AVC (automatic volume control) and love having it! The thing I don't like about the STAR COM is the fact that you (my friend) can not hear his voice to know if he is ON or OFF. One day I thought something was wrong with my radio (ham radio) until I realized it was HIS that was keyed up constantly. Since no volume came over his radio, he didn't know his radio was active.

When he calls me on his cell phone (we both have Treo's), when I talk to him (I'm not on the bike) I hear an AWFUL echo, he doesn't hear it, but he knows everyone complains about it. When I call from my bike, no one knows I'm on my bike.
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Actually the Starcom literature instructs how to open the unit and turn on the side-tone so you can hear yourself. This is true at least for the Advance model. They are delivered as a default with it switched off. Don't know about the echo thing, but no one has reported a problem talking to me either with my previous Treo or my current AT&T 8525. On the contrary, most don't realize I'm on a bike!
 
I have the Autocom pro it cost $$$ but is still cheaper than buying an Starcom and then buying the Autocom later.I heard from guys that have the Starcom and are not happy with it, not sure what model they have.
 
jfheilman said:
In answer to your direct question I have not tried both.

However, I do have both on my ST. The Autocom handles the audio interface between the rider and passenger and the rest of the world.

The J&M CB 2003 handles just that CB radio and weather channel.

I have a Garmin 2820, somewhat similar to your 550 in capabilibities which handles the navigation, MP3s, XM Radio, and boothtooh interface if I want to do that.

I chose this combination because the J&M CB was the cleanest looking device. It does come with a hefty price tag but it functions as designed and is easy to use while on the bike.

The Autocom was selected primarly because of all the good press they get here and in other forums. It has proved to be a good value. I have the pro rider, I especially like the background noise sensor and the way it handles the audio volume, the higher the noise level the higher the volume.

The 2820 has a speed sensitive volume system but I find that it's operation is less than adequate.

I like the way the Autocom interfaces with the rest of the equipment, the small size of the microphones and their sensitivity. I don't like the in the helmet speakers all that much and just got a set of in the ear speakers (not exactly the right terminology but close) from Arizona Al. They are really a great investment.

Cost is an issue in all these systems.

The best you can do is ask a lot of questions and see what fits into your budget. I probably went over budget on my set up but I am very pleased with how it all goes together.

All I have to do is to turn on the GPS, fire up the bike, plug in the helmet cord and I am off. A simple turn of the switch on the CB gets me on the air and, if I want, I just go to the settings function on the 2820 and connect a bluetooh device. I rarely fool around with the volume controls.

The only real issue is connecting the J&M to the Autocom. There is no interface cable and you have to "roll your own". But I have a schematic that shows how mine is interfaced if you wish.

jim
Click to expand...

Jim

Could you send me a schematic of you J&m to autocom connector as I am toying with this idea.
Gary
:04biker:
 
I just installed an Autocom Active Plus rider kit with the dual input cable and the music interface and the volume is so low that I can not hear anything when I have ear plugs in, windshield in lowest position and a full face helmet on. I've tried moving the ear pieces around, and other things but nothing helps. Anyone else had this problem? I've spent well over $400.00 and its worthless at this point.
 
I have an Autocom (Pro M1) for rental bikes and the Valk CB on my ST1100s (similiar to the J&M system which copied it). I did pitch the J&M headset and went for the EDsets headset which is far superior. The big problem I have the Autocomm is the PTT switch. Every time it rained on my last trip to the Alps (yes it was installed as it should be according to Autocom), either it went on constant transmit or acted flaky. I am currently in communication with the US Autocom distributor, but the replies I'm getting such as 'It couldn't/shouldn't do that' are not too encouraging. You can get all the stuff you need for the Autocom, but you will buy it 'by the drink'. On the other hand, if you want to use something beside a CB on the J&M, you'll pay handsomely for that also. A friend of mine uses the Starcom (and I have been on several rides with him) and his worked great using a CB with no problems. YMMV.
 
MNwing said:
I just installed an Autocom Active Plus rider kit with the dual input cable and the music interface and the volume is so low that I can not hear anything when I have ear plugs in, windshield in lowest position and a full face helmet on. I've tried moving the ear pieces around, and other things but nothing helps. Anyone else had this problem? I've spent well over $400.00 and its worthless at this point.
Click to expand...

I have the same unit, I have my music in my GPS. Volume can get extremely loud. Tried my Ipod just for curiosity sake and it too had plenty. I do have extremely low volume on my phone, autocom says its a phone issue not a autocom.
 
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