Which communication system??

[MinnetonkaAl]

I'm looking into buying a communication system for my '02 Lt and have norrowed it down to three:
1. Starcom1 Advance
2. Autocom
3. Baehr

The Baehr has been rated as the top amoung members, so my question is this: Are there any members that have been happy with #1 and #2? I know you get what you pay for, but I don't think I can swing $1200 for the Baehr right now. Thoughts? Comments?

Thanks,
Al

[cfell]

Intaride RP1.. oh, that isn't an option.. sorry.

[jorawro]

I had the Autocom- didn't like the fact that the mic had to be almost chaffing my lips and, IMHO the speakers were inadequate no matter how many times I re-positioned them. I switched to the Baehr (basic model) and I love it. I will probably "buy up" to the LT specific model this winter.

[bigbear]

I have the basic Baehr Verso unit ($500) and am very happy with it.

NOTE: Things to consider;

1) What items do you intend to connect through the com system?
GPS, Cell Phone, Satellite radio, I-Pod, etc.

2) Do you want bike to bike capabilities:

3) CB Interface.

4) How electrically & mechanically gifted or challenged are you. The Baehr LT system is plug and play, the others may require removing of body panels, cutting and soldering wires etc..

I am about as far from an expert on com systems as you can get, but these are things you should consider before putting your money on the counter.

[BLBantz]

I agree, don't forget the cost of installation at the dealer if you are not going to do it yourself. It can run $800. When I was shopping my wife said that if the intercom didn't work perfectly it would be one of those things that would ruin our trips with frustration. I bought the Baehr and it works perfectly. The LT version is plug and play but if money is the issue, I have heard the basic models work just as well with fewer bells and whistles. You can later transfer it to another bike too. (By the way, my brother lives on Lake Minnetonka in Greenwood. I just rode out there in July and it is a beautiful area.)

[jsralston]

I recently replaced my M-1 system with the new Super Pro AVi. It is so much better. The individual controls for volume, vox, fader really let you dial the system in. Both my wife and and I are completely satisfied with the new system.

[tmgs]

I'm looking into buying a communication system for my '02 Lt and have norrowed it down to three:
1. Starcom1 Advance
2. Autocom
3. Baehr

The Baehr has been rated as the top amoung members, so my question is this: Are there any members that have been happy with #1 and #2? I know you get what you pay for, but I don't think I can swing $1200 for the Baehr right now. Thoughts? Comments?

Thanks,
Al


oh no here we go....... <g>

We have autocom, and i'm tired of cable problems in over 100k miles it has been a PITRE.

Tom

[MinnetonkaAl]

Thanks to everyone for all their insight! I guess I have even more to consider now!!

Al

[Texas42]

I have the Starcom 1 Advanced with the bluetooth adapter, it works great no problems at all. It was easy to hook up, I have the stereo, phone, GPS , radar detector, and a Motorola GMRS/FRS radio hooked up, everything works as advertised. It varies the volume with background noise, the VOX works, lowers the volum when we are talking, shuts it off when the phone rings or the GPS provids instructions.

[cfell]

Intaride will sell an RP1 and will "trade" for the price difference to upgrade to the Bluetooth when they have it available.

[lenny]

im not all that crazy about the intaride....a gust of wind from a passing truck sets the mic. off,,cutting out the radio,,sound quality is ok,wife complained one speaker wasnt working to well,,now one of mine seems to be fading away

[dandiver]

I installed the Aurocom several years ago on my 2002 and have been pleased with the way it works and the ease of installation. I only use it to listen so I cannot tell you about how it transmits.

[cfell]

im not all that crazy about the intaride....a gust of wind from a passing truck sets the mic. off,,cutting out the radio,,sound quality is ok,wife complained one speaker wasnt working to well,,now one of mine seems to be fading away

Lenny, sorry you're having the troubles.. guess I got a "good one".. the folks at Intaride have made steady progress on their quality.. especially for the ambient noise..

[mjkuhno]

OK - can't resist adding my $.02 to this one as I'm now looking for a new system as well.

I bought the Autocomm a few years ago (my wife insisted so I didn't have to turn back to talk to her - made her nervous) and have never been happy with it.

The speaker quality is awful when listening to music through the headset. There's very bad bass - speakers 'crack' - almost sound blown out when listening to anything that has more midrange/bass than treble.

A few phone calls to Autocomm (first suggestion was get the speakers closer to ear w/ the extra foam standoffs and adjust properly) and they still sounded bad.

I basically gave up and only used it when absolutely necessary (wife on bike - no music) until a month ago when I started calling again to see if they had any other suggestions. Still nothing more - then said maybe I should try in ear phones.

My thoughts are - for what I paid for the unit it should sound good and I should want to use it.

As it stands, I think I'll be looking for something else...unless someone else can give me good reason why the speakers should sound this bad (will probably still look for something else anyway).

Has anyone had similar experience w/ audio quality??

[cfell]

First try changing the speakers. you can do it easily ... lots of folks change out to the drivers from a RadioShack headphone set. Earphones, well, you can make them from some Sony "earbuds" and some of the stuff you make your own earplugs out of. There is a link here, somewhere about making your own.. just form the stuff around it and it fits in your ear like a "monitor". I'm gonna make some up like that for mine..

[BUGKILLER]

OK - can't resist adding my $.02 to this one as I'm now looking for a new system as well.

I bought the Autocomm a few years ago (my wife insisted so I didn't have to turn back to talk to her - made her nervous) and have never been happy with it.

The speaker quality is awful when listening to music through the headset. There's very bad bass - speakers 'crack' - almost sound blown out when listening to anything that has more midrange/bass than treble.

A few phone calls to Autocomm (first suggestion was get the speakers closer to ear w/ the extra foam standoffs and adjust properly) and they still sounded bad.

I basically gave up and only used it when absolutely necessary (wife on bike - no music) until a month ago when I started calling again to see if they had any other suggestions. Still nothing more - then said maybe I should try in ear phones.

My thoughts are - for what I paid for the unit it should sound good and I should want to use it.

As it stands, I think I'll be looking for something else...unless someone else can give me good reason why the speakers should sound this bad (will probably still look for something else anyway).

Has anyone had similar experience w/ audio quality??

Hey Mike, I purchased the Autocom ,dealer installed when I got my 05LT. I had the same scratchy sound from the speakers. My speakers were actually too close for my comfort. I hollowed out the foam and got the speakers a 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch away from my ear. Once positioned correctly I used a good size drop of clear silicone sealer to the back of the speaker glueing it to the foam in the helmet. This will increase the bass response and tone out the mid range scratch. Hope this helps.

[mjkuhno]

Interesting - Autocomm told me I needed to have the speakers closer to my ears....

I guess it'll be easy enough for me to remove the extra foam spacers I bought from them and try it on the ride today....

Still, should one have to go through this aggravation!?

[Steve_R]

I replaced the standard Autocom speakers with the speakers from these (http://www.radioshack.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=titanium&origkw=titanium) from Radio Shack. I'm not the first to do this, but it makes a major difference in the way the Autocom sounds. YMMV.

[mjkuhno]

I replaced the standard Autocom speakers with the speakers from these (http://www.radioshack.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=titanium&origkw=titanium) from Radio Shack. I'm not the first to do this, but it makes a major difference in the way the Autocom sounds. YMMV.

Hey Steve,

Thanks for the suggestion - but WHICH speakers did you use? The link is to a whole mess of stuff....

Thanks,

[Ares]

guess I got a "good one".. the folks at Intaride have made steady progress on their quality.. especially for the ambient noise..
Ditto :)

[mjkuhno]

Well, at the suggestion of Autocom I disconnected my radio lead this morning and tried out my old system w/ an iPod in the oddments box on the LT.

I'd noticed that although treble comes through fine on the helmet speakers w/ my radio, anything with any bass comes through crackly - like the speakers were blown. Autocom suggested it might be a bad connection to the radio, so I tried the pod.....

Well, in short - it still sounds bad, so it's not the radio - either the helmet speakers are questionable, or possibly something flaky with the unit itself.

Some on this site have mentioned replacing the helmet speakers w/ others (or in-ear buds), but my question now is concerning the '06 version of the Autocoms.

How have you found these new units? Do they use the same speakers as the older ones? How about the speed volume adjustment - does it work, or gimmick??

My '07 GT is coming soon (not soon enough) and I want to put a system on it, but trying to determine which.....

Your suggestions will be appreciated!

[Steve_R]

Hey Steve,

Thanks for the suggestion - but WHICH speakers did you use? The link is to a whole mess of stuff....

Thanks,Sorry, the very first set shown.

[motorhead]

:rolleyes: Quality is a relitive thing .... Buy a cheaper unit, do all the upgrades to get it working right & still only have a so-so unit :o

The $1200 Baehr price tag was a bugger to swallow up front, but now after @ 2 seasons & 20K miles using it ... No regrets at all !!

O' ... sound quality is Most Excellent :yeah:

Scott

[dfinazzo]

I have a 2002 with an old Autocom Pro-M1 - using ear monitors. I my opinion the only way to fly. The music, tone quality, bass, stereo are excellent and besides your ears get a rest since you are running in a sealed environment. The RPM's on the bike go up about a 1000 rpm, fatique is put off, you concentrate on riding skills more and you can decide to run with or without music, talk radio, Audio Books, cell phone and GPS.

I am getting ready to hook my wife with ear monitors and we are expecting great results for bike to pillion communication and I have used them as well on bike to bike (FRS).

Ear monitors are the only way to go - sort of like a GPS once you experience you cannot go back to maps - thus I could not return to speakers - too much noise!!

I think the ear monitors will make a marginal system great and a great system even better!!

Good luck . . .