A Basic Couple of ?? on Communications

[Papa]

This may be very basic question :dontknow:. I have an 2010 RTAC and am interested in a comm unit. I have been following the thread and think a Starcom 1 has good press on these forums. Heer are my very basic questions:

1) If you get one of the kits, is there anything else on the RT I need (like one of their communication cables)?

2) I assume this could integrate with the AM/FM/Aux currently installed?

3) Since rates vary by dealer does anyone have an estimate to install one of these units (in hours)?

Thanls in advance for any help.:thumbup:

 

[NancysToy]

The Starcom1 is a self-contained, wired comm system. You would need nothing else, but you would need to find a place to put the comm unit, and places to run the cables. You will have to install their headset(s) into your helmet(s). You may need additional electrical isolators or isolated cables to quiet engine noise, depending on where you place the unit, run the cables, and what input devices you choose to use. You may also wish to add an auxiliary fuse block to provide power, altough there is a power harness included. The Starcom1 is not able to be integrated with the RT audio system. I am not aware of any system except the factory system that can be integrated. You at at the dealer's mercy as far as installation...especially with an unfamiliar system. Some dealers may refuse to install it at all.

Before you choose any system, research it thoroughly. There is a lot of variety out there, and what you choose depends on your needs and desires, as well as the type of other equipment you may wish to communicate with. We love our Starcom1 systems...but they are not for everyone.

 

[Papa]

Thanks very much. So the only way to listen to the integrated radio via headset is by using the BRP CB and Communication package with their entertainment kit and headsets? Thats a very expensive solution.

 

[sinkhole]

Audio to bluetooth...

I've been wondering for a while now if it's possible to tap a Bluetooth sending unit into the basic Spyder audio system. This way all standard peripheral equipment... GPS, Ipod, and the Spyder radio, could be sent to a Bluetooth headset without having to install the CB unit. Anyone have any ideas?:helpsmilie:

 

[Y Rider]

I've been wondering for a while now if it's possible to tap a Bluetooth sending unit into the basic Spyder audio system. This way all standard peripheral equipment... GPS, Ipod, and the Spyder radio, could be sent to a Bluetooth headset without having to install the CB unit. Anyone have any ideas?:helpsmilie:

Someone posted an idea on this earlier using a Sony TMR-BT10A bluetooth transmitter. Only issue is tapping into the speaker system and connecting to a line converter to get the correct levels to the Sony transmitter input. Also you would need to run power to the Sony so you wouldn't have to remove it for recharging. Nice thing about the Sony is that it shuts off automatically after 30 minutes of inactivity.

 

[ThreeWheels]

Thanks very much. So the only way to listen to the integrated radio via headset is by using the BRP CB and Communication package with their entertainment kit and headsets? Thats a very expensive solution.

Yes. The only way to listen to the BRP CB is through the OEM system.

You CAN, however, hook up a CB to the Starcom.

I've had both. I put a Starcom system into my RT when I first bought it. I was unable to get a whine out of the system and went with the OEM system afterwards.

It seems, however, that I was the only one unsatisfied with the Starcom. Everyone else seems quite happy with the Starcom.

To this day, I don't know what I did wrong.

 

[Mr. White]

I have a RT-S on order and will have the dealer install a CB and GPS. While I am an amatuer radio operator (WB5WFW), the Air Force taught us how to operate the radios, not how they operate or to fix them. If we had a probem in the air, we had backup radios to switch out. That is why I am having the dealer do it (at a negociated price at purchase) rather than myself.

My question is what is this Starcom 1 and some other radios I see you folks talk about. Are these for passenger comm, comm with nearby trikes that have the same radios and frequencies, etc.

As we all know, CB frequentices are in the 11 meter band and are limited to very short distances...maybe 1 mile and in rare times, 1 1/2 miles or so. Oh, I know, some shoot skip using high power amplifiers. I always wonder why they don't get a license and talk the world. (Rant over)

 

[ThreeWheels]

The Starcom 1 is a system, not a radio.

It's a base unit that you add options to.

As a base unit it comes with a Rider headset. It comes with a series of additional connections, so you can then add to it, a passenger headset for intercom, a radio input, either GMRS or CB, depending on which cable you purchase, a 3.5 mm jack for MP3 or Radio input, a Cell Phone input and a GPS input.
The base unit manages all these inputs so they don't interfere with each other.

Frankly, feature for feature, I think it's a better system than the BRP one, except for two things:

The BRP system is completely integrated with the control buttons on the left hand grip. Specifically, if you want to increase the volume of the intercom, you can do it with your thumb and all the settings appear graphically on the display panel. The starcom requires you to access the base unit and manipulate a setting. Admittedly, this is not a major problem since once you finally get the Starcom adjusted, you should probably not need to touch it any further. Same with the inputs. Any radio or MP3 volumes must be manipulated individualy at each device, instead of the left hand control buttons.

The second is, as I said, in my specific case, with no other reported instances, I couldn't get a whine out of the system, The whine altered tone with engine speed, so i think it had something to do with the ignition, but I couldn't eliminate it no matter how many filters I put in, or how many times I rewired it. But that is my epic failure. Everyone else seems to have made a successful install.

 

[Papa]

Blueant F4

For what I am looking for the Blueant F4 seems to be a good fit (still doing homework). I was looking for GPS, driver to passenger, iPod as must haves.

Does anyone have any inout on this unit?

 

[Mr. White]

ThreeWheels, thanks for the info. I got the CB as I ride alone or with a group of retired, mostly military, with CBs and no passengers, so the CB is all I need for my rides. I do enjoy chewing it with the truckers on trips so it meets my needs. Thanks again.

Sorry about the engine whine...it can be a real problem.

 

[Extreme10]

extreme10

I am at the moment considering purchasing the RT. and have just come across this thread. I , we, ride a Goldwing Trike at the moment which we also have used the starcom on. No matter what I have tried I have not been able to fully reduce the engine interference which you get with these head sets. Fortuntaely on the goldwing you can still use the handle bar controls to vary the volumes etc. Having used another system before, which had to be controlled from the main unit, the starcom works far better. We will shortly be changing over to Autocom. This unit has vox which closes off the mics when not in use. They also allow ear phones as well as helmet speakers to be used. They also work with GL controls.

Has anyone got info on the Spyder head sets and their use. Feed back etc.

We are to take a ride shortly on a RT -S , weather permitting.
Our final destination will be to purchase it in the states for a trip to Alaska and then back to the east coast. We have done the trip across the USA twice before on our USA purchased trike.

Hope to find some really twisties .

 

[TicketBait]

I am at the moment considering purchasing the RT. and have just come across this thread. I , we, ride a Goldwing Trike at the moment which we also have used the starcom on. No matter what I have tried I have not been able to fully reduce the engine interference which you get with these head sets. Fortuntaely on the goldwing you can still use the handle bar controls to vary the volumes etc. Having used another system before, which had to be controlled from the main unit, the starcom works far better. We will shortly be changing over to Autocom. This unit has vox which closes off the mics when not in use. They also allow ear phones as well as helmet speakers to be used. They also work with GL controls.

Has anyone got info on the Spyder head sets and their use. Feed back etc.

We are to take a ride shortly on a RT -S , weather permitting.
Our final destination will be to purchase it in the states for a trip to Alaska and then back to the east coast. We have done the trip across the USA twice before on our USA purchased trike.

Hope to find some really twisties .

I have used the can-am helmets and they work great, I have even washed the lining and put the earpieces back in , good quality stuff. If this helmet fits you (most important) great, but they do sell the helmet wiring separately also. The vox works awesome, and if everyone got BRP's system we could ALL communicate via CB. The only downside is no cell phone. I still see the call coming in thru my GPS, and from caller ID know who is trying to reach me. Sometimes i pull over and call back.


I did a helmet review :http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23860

I still have not been able to use the CB much because none of the RS ryders have the BRP comm system

 

[TicketBait]

This may be very basic question :dontknow:. I have an 2010 RTAC and am interested in a comm unit. I have been following the thread and think a Starcom 1 has good press on these forums. Heer are my very basic questions:

1) If you get one of the kits, is there anything else on the RT I need (like one of their communication cables)?

2) I assume this could integrate with the AM/FM/Aux currently installed?

3) Since rates vary by dealer does anyone have an estimate to install one of these units (in hours)?

Thanls in advance for any help.:thumbup:

My dealer quoted me 2 labor hours for CB which I think they got from BRP. for their communication center. My dealership has given me breaks on labor install when I have the tupperware off for other things being installed or serviced