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Cell Phone Hookup

4182 Views 19 Replies 15 Participants Last post by  Knobdy
haven't found quit what I need so need some real world help. I have an ailing mom and need to be able to use my Iphone while riding (answer calls and talk). I'm not interested in music or anything fancy but two things are important - comfort and good sound hearing and talking. I have a regular helmet without anything built into it. I'm looking for something that meets my needs without spending an arm and a leg - up $200 if that is what it takes. Can anyone help me out. thanks.

PS: I might add that I tried ear buds and find them very uncomfortable, need something better.
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splais said:
haven't found quit what I need so need some real world help. I have an ailing mom and need to be able to use my Iphone while riding (answer calls and talk). I'm not interested in music or anything fancy but two things are important - comfort and good sound hearing and talking. I have a regular helmet without anything built into it. I'm looking for something that meets my needs without spending an arm and a leg - up $200 if that is what it takes. Can anyone help me out. thanks.

PS: I might add that I tried ear buds and find them very uncomfortable, need something better.
Scala Rider Bluetooth will solve all your problems 100%
looks like they have two items I can afford, the V2 and Q2. the company has no phone contact info on their website. does anyone know the difference between these two units.
You could also look at SENA SMH10. http://senabluetooth.com/ I have SENA like it, some have scala. Web site WEBBIKEWORLD.COM did a review of three or four makers, take a read for yourself and pick the one you like.

Google is also you friend, bluetooth motorcycle headset.
FWIW, I just connect my iPhone via bluetooth to NAV III. There are two drawbacks.

1. If the phone is IOS5, you have to tell it how dumb the NAV III is by going into Settings > General > Bluetooth then BMW Navigator and turn Sync Contacts off. Otherwise, it will bind, connect then drop when it tries to send data to a dumb old box.

2. iPhone (IOS 5, 5.01, 5.1) does not have an auto answer. Cydia has one you can download if you jail break your phone and void the warranty. All I can say is that Steve Jobs did not ride.

The only think I can suggest is to find a mount for the iPhone where you can press the answer button.

From the NAV III, calls go into the K1200 intercom system. My wife and I both get to hear and talk from our NoLan N103 helmets with Bluetooth. The NAV III will display the call information and alert you if you do not hear the ring.

It works well, except for the lack of an auto-answer when in hands-free mode, which by design, they never are.

I love that when I am near but not in my Enclave and my Mustang with a Motorola t325. With my old Droid, whenever I was within range of bluetooth, it would give the call up to the car, which meant I would be talking to myself outside the car. The iPhone brings up a choice menu of as many options as it has connected too. It is normally nice to have choices, but on at 75 MPH on a bike.
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splais said:
looks like they have two items I can afford, the V2 and Q2. the company has no phone contact info on their website. does anyone know the difference between these two units.
Phone number etc available at http://www.cardosystems.com/about-us/contact-us
I've been using the TeamSet Pro for two yeras now. Very effective for communication with SO and with phone/GPS. Luckily, I don't need any of the functions accessed by the buttons on the units, as they are completely unusable when riding!
The install to the helmet is very clever, and does no damage, Very important to experiment with speaker location in helmet. Even an inch astray and volume plumets!
I also use a Garmin Zumo GPS. iPhone, Garmin and Cardo all work cleverly together - provided you pair them correctly!
Looked at the Scala links provided, and have a couple of remaining questions not addressed by the sites.

1) What kind of battery life is "typical" when streaming music, GPS and using as intercom? I sometimes ride 14-16 hours in a day and do not want to lose these feeds when battery pukes.

2) Is battery replaceable en route (after stopping, of course)? Same reason as #1, above. I could take along extra batteries and a charger, making sure I can charge an extra one or two per unit to get through the whole day.

3) Are the batteries standard sizes (AA, AAA, AAAA, or similar) that I could also use disposable piles if not wanting to dink around with recharging?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know three questions is not a couple. So what? ;)
We have the Sena 10 and it works well and can be used a looong time on battery and then can be tethered to a cigarette lighter socket charger and used on the go, charging. Pretty nice units.
Thanks, Larry. Do you get alternator hum or other electrical interference if you use whilst charging?
Tony, I've used my Scale for over 16 hours on one charge with music playing the whole time. The batteries are not replaceable but can be charged over night. My Scala G4 can NOT be used while charging but with over 16 hours play time there is no need to charge while riding. I did not like the stock speakers so I removed them & wired in a 3.5 mm female plug & plug my ear buds in.
Try IMCmoto.com they have helmet systems that should be able to hook to your phone, very resonable, maybe under $100
Tony, I haven't ridden with them long enough to have to plug them in. I was just saying they have that capablility. I can say they have good fidelity and sound level. I bought them after reading the webbike review and haven't been disappointed, yet. I also got a discount by joining the advriders group buy. [free to join...have joined too many biker sights, but....]
splais,
imcmoto.com HS530, $70. will install into your helmet, two speakers and a boom mike, 3.5 plug into your iphone, it's designed just for this, exactly what you asked for, nothing about music or nav or anything else, only what you asked for! :wave
Please PM me. I have an older Cardo system I will loan you while you deal with your mother's illness.

I will need it back.

I work on the BMWLT Honor System.

Bill
Steve Jobs did ride, and a BMW at that...

http://www.edibleapple.com/2010/03/19/steve-jobs-riding-a-1966-bmw-motorcycle/

Scala Rider G2/4 Bluetooth has auto answer and works like a dream. I use the G4 flawlessly for my iPhone connectivity, will even work with Siri.

Oh, and iTunes when I want it.
Easy answer. Sena. You can get the SMH10 or the new and cheaper model the SMH5. Both blue tooth to your phone so it can stay safely in your pocket with no cords hanging out etc. Most of the time when I talk with my wife while on the bike she can not tell I am riding, thinks I am still at work etc. Controls are very simple and very easy to use with gloves on. Sena is the best in my opinion.
deputy5211 said:
Looked at the Scala links provided, and have a couple of remaining questions not addressed by the sites.

1) What kind of battery life is "typical" when streaming music, GPS and using as intercom? I sometimes ride 14-16 hours in a day and do not want to lose these feeds when battery pukes.
Answer - Scala Rider lasts about 7-13 hours depending on the model (from their Website). Sena 8-12 hours depending on the model (from their website. From personal experience recently I rode with the Sena streaming music / intercom active for about 12 hours, and it was still transmitting at the end.

2) Is battery replaceable en route (after stopping, of course)? Same reason as #1, above. I could take along extra batteries and a charger, making sure I can charge an extra one or two per unit to get through the whole day.

Answer - ScalaRider & Sena No batteries are sealed. However Sena has the ability to recharge on the go, ScalaRider does not.

3) Are the batteries standard sizes (AA, AAA, AAAA, or similar) that I could also use disposable piles if not wanting to dink around with recharging?
Answer - N/A see point 2

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know three questions is not a couple. So what? ;)
I know some people are happy with the ScalaRider, I had the G4 and every time I went out I had problems with it. I currently have the Sena SMH10, and while there is an issue with the Mobile phone I am reasonably happy with it.
david_yancey said:
Steve Jobs did ride, and a BMW at that...

Scala Rider G2/4 Bluetooth has auto answer and works like a dream. I use the G4 flawlessly for my iPhone connectivity, will even work with Siri.

Oh, and iTunes when I want it.
Since I'm just about to give up on the wired solution I was hoping for, you might have just sold me on the Scala. The reviews were better for the other system but I'll do more with the phone than anything else...
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