Comm System

[NancysToy]

Last week, late Thursday, I ordered a Starcom1 Advance comm system from England. http://www.starcom1.com/ I have an original Starcom1 on my BMW, and we have been very pleased with it. Now, with two bikes on the road, we needed a way to talk bike-to-bike instead of just rider-to-pillion. Starcom1 confirmed my order Friday, but I was shocked when the package arrived from England with the UPS truck on Monday. Can't beat that. Ordered the Motorola Talkabout 9500 radios last week, too, and received them from Amazon quickly.

Spent some time chasing parts to build a power bus and ground bus, similar to Lamont's. Set it up with a relay to shut off with the ignition. Took a bit more time to strip body panels and do everything than I expected, but the install went well. Probably easier to tap into the wire to the 12V outlet to trigger the relay if the outlet isn't actually installed in the trunk. Fortunately I have skinny hands and forearms. Working on a full-bodied motorcycle is a big pain...I prefer my naked old relics.

Installed the Starcom1 unit under the dash. Most protected spot I could find. It wouldn't fit under the seat like on my Beemer, no clearance. Purchased their headset bulkhead cable, and installed the outlet under the seat. Didn't install two since we never have ridden two-up on the Spyder. Haven't ridden two-up at all since my wife got her fabulous toy.

The unit works very well, just like my old one. Great to have tunes on the road again, by hooking up the MP3 player. Ran the audio and radio cables to the trunk. The player and radio fit neatly into the pockets on the trunk liner. Access to the comm unit itself, for adjustments, or to hook up a phone or navigation device (GPS, radar detector), is limited. Have to take the dash cluster out. I didn't add those cables since Nancy figured she wouldn't hook up her cell anyway, and I seldom do, since part of the purpose of riding is to get away from all that. Don't own a GPS or detector. Didn't order or intall a PTT switch, either, since the radios are equipped with VOX. Not a big deal to change later. Haven't tried the radios while riding yet, but the VOX worked well and the radio was clear as a bell in the driveway. The Starcom! noise reduction is superb.

Now I can talk to my wife on the road again. She is happy, I am happy, life is good!

-Scotty

 

[bjt]

That sounds great. dltang and I may be upgrading to something like that in the future. The Integratr is good for the time being but is still lacking in some areas, like VOX. Also, the Integratr is picking up ignition noise making an annoying whine while listening to MP3s. Does the Starcom suffer from this too?

 

[NancysToy]

That sounds great. dltang and I may be upgrading to something like that in the future. The Integratr is good for the time being but is still lacking in some areas, like VOX. Also, the Integratr is picking up ignition noise making an annoying whine while listening to MP3s. Does the Starcom suffer from this too?

Didn't have any noise issues when I rode the Spyder today with the MP3 s playing, other than a need to increase the volume a bit more than on my BMW. The Spyder is windier, with the stock shield, so my helmet was noisier overall. The Starcom1 Web site has an audio demo, and it is very true to the real thing. Best noise reduction system I ever tried. Better than the Autocom, IMO, and that is quite good. Never compared to the Integrator. Starcom1 also sells a power noise filter, but I didn't order it, and haven't needed it, even with the main power wire crossing within inches of one spark plug wire. I have had the Starcom on my Beemer a couple of years now.
-Scotty

 

[bjt]

Thanks Scotty. Sounds like Starcom is the way to go. :2thumbs:

 

[NancysToy]

Thanks Scotty. Sounds like Starcom is the way to go. :2thumbs:

I suspect there may be other high end systems that work OK. I had tried the Autocom a few years ago at a rally, and it was a bit noisy for my tastes, but maybe the new digital ones are different. Our BMW shop sells Autocom, so you may be able to try a unit locally somewhere. I also tried a couple of others, the names of which I cannot remember. One was great, but twice the price of the Autocom, which is already pricey. Seems that one was German...priced like a BMW.

The BMW Owner's News magazine had a glowing, in-depth review of the Starcom1, and gave it high marks. That's when I decided to try one. The exchange rate with England is not as favorable now, but it was still worth it to me. Not avialable through dealers in the US. The old model is still available too, and cheaper, but I didn't have much room on the Spyder, so went for the 2"x3"x1" Advance model, instead of the 3"x5"x1" standard. Didn't need the features of the digital model. Probably lots of things that work, and bike-to-bike it partly depends on the radios and atmospherics, but the Starcom1 has treated us well so far. If we can ever get in the same town at the same time, you can try it for yourself.
-Scotty

 

[hawkiii]

I have been reading up on this unit also. I decided to go with the Advanced model too. Just have to get around to ordering it.
Now if my Spyder would just get here...

 

[vendit]

Last week, late Thursday, I ordered a Starcom1 Advance comm system from England. http://www.starcom1.com/ I have an original Starcom1 on my BMW, and we have been very pleased with it. Now, with two bikes on the road, we needed a way to talk bike-to-bike instead of just rider-to-pillion. Starcom1 confirmed my order Friday, but I was shocked when the package arrived from England with the UPS truck on Monday. Can't beat that. Ordered the Motorola Talkabout 9500 radios last week, too, and received them from Amazon quickly.

Spent some time chasing parts to build a power bus and ground bus, similar to Lamont's. Set it up with a relay to shut off with the ignition. Took a bit more time to strip body panels and do everything than I expected, but the install went well. Probably easier to tap into the wire to the 12V outlet to trigger the relay if the outlet isn't actually installed in the trunk. Fortunately I have skinny hands and forearms. Working on a full-bodied motorcycle is a big pain...I prefer my naked old relics.

Installed the Starcom1 unit under the dash. Most protected spot I could find. It wouldn't fit under the seat like on my Beemer, no clearance. Purchased their headset bulkhead cable, and installed the outlet under the seat. Didn't install two since we never have ridden two-up on the Spyder. Haven't ridden two-up at all since my wife got her fabulous toy.

The unit works very well, just like my old one. Great to have tunes on the road again, by hooking up the MP3 player. Ran the audio and radio cables to the trunk. The player and radio fit neatly into the pockets on the trunk liner. Access to the comm unit itself, for adjustments, or to hook up a phone or navigation device (GPS, radar detector), is limited. Have to take the dash cluster out. I didn't add those cables since Nancy figured she wouldn't hook up her cell anyway, and I seldom do, since part of the purpose of riding is to get away from all that. Don't own a GPS or detector. Didn't order or intall a PTT switch, either, since the radios are equipped with VOX. Not a big deal to change later. Haven't tried the radios while riding yet, but the VOX worked well and the radio was clear as a bell in the driveway. The Starcom! noise reduction is superb.

Now I can talk to my wife on the road again. She is happy, I am happy, life is good!

-Scotty

Hey there! You mentioned that you purchased the bulkhead fitting for your helmet connection......where did you mount this? I am going to order a starcom advanced, but not sure where the best place would be to mount the bulkhead fitting. I thought about the left or right side of the dash, but when you turn the handlebars, I would think it would catch and pull the headset cord out?
Any suggestions would be much appreciated!
Thanks!

Mike

 

[NancysToy]

Hey there! You mentioned that you purchased the bulkhead fitting for your helmet connection......where did you mount this? I am going to order a starcom advanced, but not sure where the best place would be to mount the bulkhead fitting. I thought about the left or right side of the dash, but when you turn the handlebars, I would think it would catch and pull the headset cord out?
Any suggestions would be much appreciated!
Thanks!

I mounted it under the seat, as seen in this picture from my album. I did not mount a second one, since we never ride her Spyder two-up, but take separate cycles instead. I think the Y-panel around the steering head would also work, or the dash (where I have her Powerlets). I have connected my heated gear at the dash Powerlet via a coiled extension cord, with no problems getting tangled in the steering. I think the Y-panel beneath the handlebars, opposite where the foglight switch is installed, would work fine. I did not do that because taking the Y-panel off then becomes more difficult. The underseat panel seldom needs to be removed.

 

[vendit]

I mounted it under the seat, as seen in this picture from my album. I did not mount a second one, since we never ride her Spyder two-up, but take separate cycles instead. I think the Y-panel around the steering head would also work, or the dash (where I have her Powerlets). I have connected my heated gear at the dash Powerlet via a coiled extension cord, with no problems getting tangled in the steering. I think the Y-panel beneath the handlebars, opposite where the foglight switch is installed, would work fine. I did not do that because taking the Y-panel off then becomes more difficult. The underseat panel seldom needs to be removed.

Thanks Scotty! Do you plug your helmet cord into the bulkhead here under the seat? I guess I was thinking the plug was maybe the size of a cig lighter adapter. It looks like you just leave the coiled cord under your seat until you hook to your headset? Is this correct?
Do you see any reason to go with the digital unit instead? I spoke with Joe at spoiledbiker.com and the only thing he thought might help was the digital unit is quicker to adjust the noise level on the spyder. I ride one up, and have no need for additional inputs.

 

[moroccomole2004]

Scotty,

Does the StarCom1 broadcast via bluetooth or is it strictly a wired connection to the helmet? Reason I ask is that I have the Element Bluetooth helmet by O'Neil and would like to tie in my Zumo 550, cell phone and new Jensen JHD910 Radio to a common transmitter, like the StarCom. So AS I am reading it I would wire all devices audio out to the StarCom and would then love for it to broadcast via bluetooth to my helmet. Does or can it do just that?

Thanks!

Mole :spyder2:

 

[patdcop]

Starcom1 digital for me. :2thumbs:

 

[NancysToy]

Do you plug your helmet cord into the bulkhead here under the seat? I guess I was thinking the plug was maybe the size of a cig lighter adapter. It looks like you just leave the coiled cord under your seat until you hook to your headset? Is this correct?
Do you see any reason to go with the digital unit instead? I spoke with Joe at spoiledbiker.com and the only thing he thought might help was the digital unit is quicker to adjust the noise level on the spyder. I ride one up, and have no need for additional inputs.

I leave the coiled extension plugged in to the bulkhead, and store it under the seat. This connects directly to the short cable on the helmet. The bulkhead connector is small, maybe 1/2" or so in diameter. Saw no reason for the digital feature. I have the standard unit on my BMW, and it has worked fine. The smaller advanced unit was a help under Nancy's dash, where I installed it. Looks like my RT-S will need an advanced unit, too, since there is insufficient room under the seat, where I want to put it, for the standard unit.

Does the StarCom1 broadcast via bluetooth or is it strictly a wired connection to the helmet? Reason I ask is that I have the Element Bluetooth helmet by O'Neil and would like to tie in my Zumo 550, cell phone and new Jensen JHD910 Radio to a common transmitter, like the StarCom. So AS I am reading it I would wire all devices audio out to the StarCom and would then love for it to broadcast via bluetooth to my helmet. Does or can it do just that?

Starcom is wired. They were working on a Blutooth connection, but were not satisfied, the last I knew. You'd have to check the Starcm1 or SpoiledBiker web sites.

 

[Firefly]

Last week, late Thursday, I ordered a Starcom1 Advance comm system from England. http://www.starcom1.com/ I have an original Starcom1 on my BMW, and we have been very pleased with it. Now, with two bikes on the road, we needed a way to talk bike-to-bike instead of just rider-to-pillion. Starcom1 confirmed my order Friday, but I was shocked when the package arrived from England with the UPS truck on Monday. Can't beat that. Ordered the Motorola Talkabout 9500 radios last week, too, and received them from Amazon quickly.

Spent some time chasing parts to build a power bus and ground bus, similar to Lamont's. Set it up with a relay to shut off with the ignition. Took a bit more time to strip body panels and do everything than I expected, but the install went well. Probably easier to tap into the wire to the 12V outlet to trigger the relay if the outlet isn't actually installed in the trunk. Fortunately I have skinny hands and forearms. Working on a full-bodied motorcycle is a big pain...I prefer my naked old relics.

Installed the Starcom1 unit under the dash. Most protected spot I could find. It wouldn't fit under the seat like on my Beemer, no clearance. Purchased their headset bulkhead cable, and installed the outlet under the seat. Didn't install two since we never have ridden two-up on the Spyder. Haven't ridden two-up at all since my wife got her fabulous toy.

The unit works very well, just like my old one. Great to have tunes on the road again, by hooking up the MP3 player. Ran the audio and radio cables to the trunk. The player and radio fit neatly into the pockets on the trunk liner. Access to the comm unit itself, for adjustments, or to hook up a phone or navigation device (GPS, radar detector), is limited. Have to take the dash cluster out. I didn't add those cables since Nancy figured she wouldn't hook up her cell anyway, and I seldom do, since part of the purpose of riding is to get away from all that. Don't own a GPS or detector. Didn't order or intall a PTT switch, either, since the radios are equipped with VOX. Not a big deal to change later. Haven't tried the radios while riding yet, but the VOX worked well and the radio was clear as a bell in the driveway. The Starcom! noise reduction is superb.

Now I can talk to my wife on the road again. She is happy, I am happy, life is good!

-Scotty

Was this for your RT?

I thought the RT had some communication capabilities built-in?

 

[NancysToy]

Was this for your RT?

I thought the RT had some communication capabilities built-in?

This was on the GS. I plan on the same system for the RT. You can get a CB/Comm System for the RT as an option. You need to purchase the CB/Comm option, Entertainment Harness, and driver and passenger headsets or helmets. I wouldn't mind the integrated system, but it would mean changing the headsets in all the helmets, and the radio/cables on the other Spyder.

 

[Trickie Dick]

Scotty,

Does the StarCom1 broadcast via bluetooth or is it strictly a wired connection to the helmet? Reason I ask is that I have the Element Bluetooth helmet by O'Neil and would like to tie in my Zumo 550, cell phone and new Jensen JHD910 Radio to a common transmitter, like the StarCom. So AS I am reading it I would wire all devices audio out to the StarCom and would then love for it to broadcast via bluetooth to my helmet. Does or can it do just that?

Thanks!




:spyder2:

Scotty is right. The Starcom Advance and Digital systems are strictly wired. Starcom does make a bluetooth system
called the BT-Go. However it doesn't work with the Advance or Digital systems.
There is a system that will do what you want to do. http://www.openroad.com.tw/BikerCom/main.html
You can read about this and most of the other systems available today on webbikeworld.com They are a very good source of information on these as well as the Starcom systems.

 

[ThreeWheels]

I have the MIT-100.
Very similar to the Starcom, but it's only $199.
The only thing that troubles me is the way the RT-S radio integrates the radio and IPOD functions and controls them all with the ECC.
By using a separate mp3 feed to the intercom system, I lose the ability ti control the functions with the ECC.
In the best of circumstances, I'd like to break into the RT-S radio system and somehow turn the output of the radio into the MP3 input of my intercom system. That way I could use the ECC and play the music/IPOD through the headset.
Plan B is to use the external speakers just as they are for music, and then run cell, GPS, CB, and intercom through the helmet headsets.

 

[bone crusher]

I mounted it under the seat, as seen in this picture from my album. I did not mount a second one, since we never ride her Spyder two-up, but take separate cycles instead. I think the Y-panel around the steering head would also work, or the dash (where I have her Powerlets). I have connected my heated gear at the dash Powerlet via a coiled extension cord, with no problems getting tangled in the steering. I think the Y-panel beneath the handlebars, opposite where the foglight switch is installed, would work fine. I did not do that because taking the Y-panel off then becomes more difficult. The underseat panel seldom needs to be removed.

Scotty,

I have a different option that I use for music, navigation, and phone...however, I don't have a high windshield yet...how much of a difference does that make? Is it major? I have the original touring shield by BRP...a little higher than stock but nothing major. CHAD is in my future, I believe, esp. if it cuts down on wind noise/turbulence.

 

[NancysToy]

Scotty,

I have a different option that I use for music, navigation, and phone...however, I don't have a high windshield yet...how much of a difference does that make? Is it major? I have the original touring shield by BRP...a little higher than stock but nothing major. CHAD is in my future, I believe, esp. if it cuts down on wind noise/turbulence.

The effects of various windshields can vary. Their effect depends in part on the body mechanics and posture of the rider, and his/her choice in helmets. The turbulence from a windshield can not only make for head buffeting, but plenty of noise, partly depending on your helmet selection. I will say that on Nancy's Spyder the CHAD reduced noise for the most part, and made the engine noises seem louder. It would probably help with your audio. I am taller than she is, so I get more buffeting and wind noise, but it is still much better than with the stock windshield.

 

[ThreeWheels]

I have the MIT-100.

In the best of circumstances, I'd like to break into the RT-S radio system and somehow turn the output of the radio into the MP3 input of my intercom system. That way I could use the ECC and play the music/IPOD through the headset.
Plan B is to use the external speakers just as they are for music, and then run cell, GPS, CB, and intercom through the helmet headsets.

Any ideas from anyone would be greatly appreciated

 

[moroccomole2004]

There is a system that will do what you want to do. http://www.openroad.com.tw/BikerCom/main.html You can read about this and most of the other systems available today on webbikeworld.com They are a very good source of information on these as well as the Starcom systems.

Trickie,

That thing is right what I need! Problem now is where can you buy it? I sent an email to the vendor asking that very question and if they sold just the control module w/cables separate from the headsets. I have a bluetooth helmet - The Element by O'Neil and I am very pleased with it. Is there any other product out there like the BikeCom BlueTooth I can review as to see other options should I not be able to purchase the BikeCom?

Thanks!

Mole :spyder2: