Lets talk Bluetooth

[Mo Lee]

Kinda curious what everyone is using and how satisfied you are with there performance.

Intercom performance how often you lose connection?
Cell phone connections?
Stereo from an bluetooth device an how dependable is the connection?

I recently purchase a low cost set and really like the sound and what they do, however it seems like they lose pairing too often mainly while playing music from bluetooth cell phone. The instructions say this will happen sometimes however I suspect they could be more dependable. I have read where other brands have the same problems so I'm trying to figure out what is the best set because I really like the features and freedom of bluetooth.

 

[Trickie Dick]

Hey Mo, check out Web Bike World- http://www.webbikeworld.com/
They are done alot of evaluations over the last several months on bluetooth headsets.
Dick

 

[GaryTheBadger]

My wife and I use Cardo Scala Q2 in our full-face helmets and the bluetooth works just fine for phone calls on her iPaq and on my BlackBerry.

However, the Q2 won't pair to her GPS, so she can't hear the spoken directions, because the fixed four-digit code in the Q2 doesn't match the GPS. Perhaps they fixed that in the newer Q4 model.

 

[kytten]

Second the Scala Rider Q2. It's clear as a bell. Can't even tell the other person is on a motorcycle. No wind, no motor noises, nothing. I was amazed.

 

[BillGargan]

If you are using a Garmin GPS . . .

They suggest that you clear all connections in your GPS first. Then pair the Audio device (Q2) to the GPS first then the phone. Clearly you cannot put in a code from the Q2 and the GPS wants one if you do it 2nd.

My wife and I use Cardo Scala Q2 in our full-face helmets and the bluetooth works just fine for phone calls on her iPaq and on my BlackBerry.

However, the Q2 won't pair to her GPS, so she can't hear the spoken directions, because the fixed four-digit code in the Q2 doesn't match the GPS. Perhaps they fixed that in the newer Q4 model.

 

[Dochands]

ICOM

 

[Firefly]

While the Scala Q2 works pretty good--- it's not stereo--- which I cannot stand for playing music. Plenty of ways to do it--- but lately I've just been been using my Earfuze buds and plugging them directly into the Garmin--- using old fashioned wires.:thumbup:

 

[superfly3]

I just bought a scala rider Q2 long mic helmet clamp and it came with mp3 connect wire:2thumbs:,you can connect to your ipod. But not stereo

 

[Bitten]

Just ordered the Element Fastrack Bluetooth helmet...
Read a ton of good reviews... Will be pairing it with my iphone, so I'll be testing music and call quality.

 

[Mo Lee]

Hey Mo, check out Web Bike World- http://www.webbikeworld.com/
They are done alot of evaluations over the last several months on bluetooth headsets.
Dick

Thanks Dick, looks like I have some reading to do. Thanks to all replys so far, the one I bought is BT Interphone advertised for bike to bike that myself and Xpeschon have been trying out they lose transmissions when you lose line of site and it seems every couple of hours lose pairing and you have to redo. I've had good luck with the cell phone connection and the sound is great, when I stream stereo from the cell to the interphone it has great sound however it cuts out frequently and seems to have to be repaired a couple of time before it will stay connected via bluetooth. My problems could be in the phone so I suppose when the wife gets back next week we will try her phone. Just wanted to throw this out there and see if other systems work similar.

 

[pjp623]

We also have the Scala Rider Q-2 Multiset and are very happy with it. :2thumbs:

 

[Silverwolf]

We use Scala Q2 set, and are now thinking about going to the Scala G4 power set. The only issue I have seen is that the comms between helmets seems to cut in and out at times. Other than that it works fine.

 

[Venym]

My buddy and I both bought the Chatterbox XBI2. We love em. It uses A2DP Bluetooth technology. Which is a better bluetooth than the regular bluetooth. I streams music in stereo. It has a longer range. I just got my new Garmin Zumo 660. It paired up perfectly. Every time I turn the devices on it links automatically. Sounds great music and voices. I can pair to my buddy and the garmin at the same time and just switch between the two by just hitting the intercom button. I love it. No wires!!! I can't wait to try them out on our trip to Chicago! :2thumbs:

 

[canam9]

While the Scala Q2 works pretty good--- it's not stereo--- which I cannot stand for playing music. Plenty of ways to do it--- but lately I've just been been using my Earfuze buds and plugging them directly into the Garmin--- using old fashioned wires.:thumbup:

Lets hear one for the old school!!:clap: Anyone know the diff from Q2 to the new Q4??

 

[bone crusher]

I had the Q2 and upgraded to the G4...it is MUCH better....louder, and stereo...huge difference in sound quality. I had a major issue with the zumo and iphone, but cardo cleared that up so now all is good.

You have to hook your ipod up directly to the G4 (wired for best quality sound) but the navi and iphone are done through bluetooth....just don't connect your phone to the G4 directly....creates a problem...the phone goes through the zumo to the G4...this is the proper way to do it...

 

[Mo Lee]

I had the Q2 and upgraded to the G4...it is MUCH better....louder, and stereo...huge difference in sound quality. I had a major issue with the zumo and iphone, but cardo cleared that up so now all is good.

You have to hook your ipod up directly to the G4 (wired for best quality sound) but the navi and iphone are done through bluetooth....just don't connect your phone to the G4 directly....creates a problem...the phone goes through the zumo to the G4...this is the proper way to do it...

So if you don't use a Zumo can you connect the phone to the G4 without problems. Another question come to mind if you connect Ipod by wire how do you connect it and will an incoming call or intercom conversation over ride it.

 

[Trickie Dick]

So if you don't use a Zumo can you connect the phone to the G4 without problems. Another question come to mind if you connect Ipod by wire how do you connect it and will an incoming call or intercom conversation over ride it.

There is an input on the headset for the connection for an ipod or other mp3 device. The G4 comes with the cord to connect these devices to the headset. The wired connection to the headset has the lowest priority so anything coming to the headset(phone, gps etc.) will interrupt it.
I would say there would be no problem connecting the phone to the G4 is you are not using a GPS. There is a conflict when you use both if you are connecting the phone directly to the G4 headset. You might want to call Garmin to make sure.

One of the issues the G4 had initially is that the music coming from the GPS was not stereo. That has been corrected with the update they released a few weeks ago. One of the nice things about the G4 is you can update it over the internet. I spoke to Garmin yesterday and they indicated there would be another minor update later this summer and then one with some enhancements in the fall. Hopefully they will continue to improve the product as it does have a few issues.

 

[adohring]

BlueAnt Interphone F4

I use the BlueAnt Interphone F4. So far its been very good. I have it paired with my iPhone and it works great with Voice Command for both music and calls. I have not paired it with another F4 or a GPS but have been told by others that those feature work great too.

I have noticed brief sound cutouts on specific stretches of freeway, not sure if there is more interference there or what. Its only dropped the connection once and I think that was actually the fault of my phone.

Here is a review: http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-intercoms/interphone-f4/

 

[Mo Lee]

There is an input on the headset for the connection for an ipod or other mp3 device. The G4 comes with the cord to connect these devices to the headset. The wired connection to the headset has the lowest priority so anything coming to the headset(phone, gps etc.) will interrupt it.
I would say there would be no problem connecting the phone to the G4 is you are not using a GPS. There is a conflict when you use both if you are connecting the phone directly to the G4 headset. You might want to call Garmin to make sure.

One of the issues the G4 had initially is that the music coming from the GPS was not stereo. That has been corrected with the update they released a few weeks ago. One of the nice things about the G4 is you can update it over the internet. I spoke to Garmin yesterday and they indicated there would be another minor update later this summer and then one with some enhancements in the fall. Hopefully they will continue to improve the product as it does have a few issues.

Thanks the wire feature sounds great on the G4 because low priority music is the way I would want it. The blue ant does have a great review so that also sounds like an option. The most important thing to me is I don't want a system that keeps losing connections and that is why I'm asking the Spyder family.

 

[spyderwoman]

unhappy with scala g4

Kinda curious what everyone is using and how satisfied you are with there performance.

Intercom performance how often you lose connection?
Cell phone connections?
Stereo from an bluetooth device an how dependable is the connection?

I recently purchase a low cost set and really like the sound and what they do, however it seems like they lose pairing too often mainly while playing music from bluetooth cell phone. The instructions say this will happen sometimes however I suspect they could be more dependable. I have read where other brands have the same problems so I'm trying to figure out what is the best set because I really like the features and freedom of bluetooth.

My husband and I are very unhappy with our new g4's. We rode 300 miles today on flat straight roads and we could not even get 1/4 mile away from each other without losing connection. That was on flat straight aways. We live in the mountains and our last trip to the dragon and skyway was horrible. We had two couples between us, newbies, so jimmy rode in front, me in back. We lost contact around long curves....ridiculous for a $360 com system. We got caught in a bad rainstorm across the skyway and could not even keep in contact with each other. Our old $150 collete snowmobile coms did alot better that this but alas i got a new shark modular helmet and the old system won't fit on my new helmet. had to get something small and sleek, that is why we got the scala. On top of that I can't even play music through my garmin's mp3 player. we have to wire the gps to the scala and when my husband talks to me i lose the music for good. i have to manually hit the A button to get the music back on. the music from my husbands radio turns my music off too, he has a fairing with a stereo so he plays it loud to hear it....so that turns on the vox which in turn makes my music turn off. :gaah: we even called scala and they had us to re-pair the headsets, but still they lose connection way too often. it takes along time for them to refind each other after they have been inactive too. are we just doing something wrong? everyone seems to be liking them and so far they have been horrible for us. the one plus is the phone feature and they are really clear when they are working! any suggestions?