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Communications Connecting - internet cafes, laptops, smart phones - how to connect, use, which one, and intercom/radio systems.
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  #1  
Old 7 May 2006
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Changchun, Jilin, PR China
Posts: 73
Anyone have experience with StarCom?

My wife and I have finally decided to bite the bullet and hook up a rider to pillion communications system. I had a system on my K1200LT when in the States and it was ok but...

I'm sure technology has improved and from the StarCom1 (Standard or Advanced) website and their brochure this certainly seems to be true; however I would appreciate anyone's input as to their experience with this device OR...

If you can recommend a unit that you are using with success it will help to make an informed decision.
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  #2  
Old 8 May 2006
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Location: Poole, UK
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Thumbs up Autocom

We use the Autocom (www.autocom.co.uk) system. Extensively as rider to pillion and now as bike to bike. Works perfectly and clear up to 70mph. Need to turn up volume if faster than that.

Can also connect mobile phone, mp3 player, gps.

I wont go back to the dull hissing sound of wind around my helmet.

Note that vox and volume is adjustable in the evnt of your getting tired of the missus voice.
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  #3  
Old 8 May 2006
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Location: Oslo, Norway
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I also use autocom. I have no idea how it compares to others, but it works perfect. I do think its manufacturing quality looks poor, and switching between bike power and battery is far too complicated. I also wish it had an on/off switch (If it does, I have not found it).

One thing though, there is a lot of plugging and unplugging wires if you have a lot of gadgets you can't live without, or you can't leave everything on your bike for lengths at a time. Items such as the gps, mp3 player, and phone, are items I like to bring with me when I leave the bike, sometimes even the radio tranceiver. Some of the items I like to take with me even for really short stops, such as the phone. It is a pain in the butt with all this plugging and unplugging, with wires and cables everywhere! In the future I hope that all these items will be produced with blue tooth wireless interfaces. I am seriously considering upgrading to a blue tooth interface for the phone and dropping all other gadgets but the transceiver. I'm also looking into purchasing a phone which double as a transceiver, but am yet to find one with blue tooth. If I was to do this again, I'd go the simler and much cheaper route, to forget about all the other gadgets and just have the transceiver, no communication box, no mp3 player, no sound from the GPS, no phone, just the bare minimum... in fact, if it was up to me, I could live with out the chit chat of the pillion or other riders.

As more and more phones come with built in GPS and MP3 players, there is a coming, in not too long, when all you will need is this one gadget. I can't wait, because I really hate, and I'm using the word hate here about technology, all this hassle with wires.
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Old 8 May 2006
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Changchun, Jilin, PR China
Posts: 73
Thanx

We will be riding a very simple bike, a BMW powered Chinese Chang Jiang which is a copy of a 1938 BMW R 71 which doesn't have an electrical output equivalent to the Hoover Dam or loads of space to hide miles of wires. All we want to do is communicate with eachother once in a while so I doubt that we will carry an MP3 and fortunately my GPS can't talk. Finally, I refuse to connect a phone to the bike. If I need to make a call, it is easy enough to stop and make the call otherwise I will have the phone shut off.

I know the Autocom is a good unit but I have the abvility to get the Starcom on a deal and that's what I think I'll do. The ad says it is clear up to 100 moh but since our bike can only do 120 kph max, I don't think that will be a problem.

Thanx for the help.
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  #5  
Old 31 May 2006
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Mumbai, India
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Your answer...

Quote:
Originally Posted by flashy_cj
My wife and I have finally decided to bite the bullet and hook up a rider to pillion communications system. I had a system on my K1200LT when in the States and it was ok but...

I'm sure technology has improved and from the StarCom1 (Standard or Advanced) website and their brochure this certainly seems to be true; however I would appreciate anyone's input as to their experience with this device OR...

If you can recommend a unit that you are using with success it will help to make an informed decision.
You can get your answer here.

http://www.ironbutt.org/forum/forum_...p?TID=615&PN=4

Am planning to purchase the same as well.

Cheers.

Arnob
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