[Braada]

Recently I bought a Chatterbox FRS multisport off eBay. I figured it would be nice to be able to communicate with other riders when in a group, listen to music on highway trips, etc, etc.
I asked around before buying and everyone recommended the MultiSport system. The only complaint anyone had was that at over about 50mph the VOX feature would kick on from wind noise and make it useless. You have to either use the Push To Talk button (PIA) or set your sensitivity to high and then turn it back down to low when you wanted to talk (or scream like a madman) also a PIA.

Well back to eBay, I bought a very nice condition used set that had the main unit, headphones for my helmet and a set for my wifes. Of course I didn't ask enough of the right questions so when it came in, of course with my luck (I had a 50/50 shot) the headphones were for an open faced helmet and had boom mics. %$*^$% I thought, now I need to spend another $50 to get the right headset for a full face. Then it occured to me that maybe that flexible boom just might fit inside my helmet so I tried it.......and it worked!!!!

I tested the system out on a nice ride yesterday and at 80mph on the highway with my VOX sensitivity set at about half my mic only kicked on when I wanted it too. Just exactly the way it is supposed to.

So for anyone out there that has a Chatterbox full face system that is tired of the PTT button or reaching up to your helmet every time you need to say something this may be a solution for you too. The boom easily moves out of the way for helmet on/off and tucks inside nicely right in front of your mouth. I found it doesn't bother me at all being inside and I can only even tell it's there if I jut my chin out and bump it. Even then it has a nice thick foam cover on it so it's not irritating.

 

[Louis]

I've heard that this is is the Shiznit:

http://www.collett.mb.ca/

The Communicator itself attaches to the side of the Helmet with a Velcro patch. It stay's where you put it and none of us have ever had an issue with it moving around or falling off of the helmet. The Velcro holds it there excptionally well. As far as installing them goes. A Drunk Chimp could do it in 10 Minutes

As for Road noise and hearing. I have loud ppes. (not LOUD as in Harley LOUD but noisy all the same) and I don't have issues with hearing anyone or anything. The "speakers" velcro into the inside of the helmet in the ear holes and you cannot feel them once you've done the initial fiddling around to get them set right.

As for the Passenger, well My Pillion thinks it a great thing we can have the tunes going and chat as we ride along. Good clear communications to and from the Pillion.

There is only one battery needed for both the Pillion and the Rider, it's Nm-Hi Which means it does not develop a memory and last for a good full day's ride. Three of us did the Calabogie Boogie over the Aug. Long weekend and didn't run out of Battery power. We all have an extra battery but have never had need of them so far. NOTE: the charger is a Trickle charger so it's 8 hours to re-charge which is about the only negative thing I can say about them.

The Units are VOX (Voice Activated) which does take a bit of getting used to, however with two of us crusing along the 417 near Castleman at 110 with the visors OPEN we had no problem chatting along as we went. Two of us wear full face helmets and one of us have one of those flip uf HJC's. No problems with installs on any of them.

By Default they come with two channels, That big black button on the side of it switches between channel one and two, pretty simple. If you have the pillion unit plugged into it Press and hold the button and it dis-ables the "Transmitter" of the unit so you can save on battery life.

None of us have felt any 'Drag' or 'Pulling' due to the communicator being on the side of the helmet. All in all it's an excellent bit of kit.

As a side note. When we were originally looking for a bike to bike communicator, we first tried those "Sports Ear Comm" Push to talk in the ear, bone conductive things and have alot of problems with them. We then did the tour of ALL the bike shops in town and could only find the FRS ChatterBox units which were about 3 Bills each if I remember correctly. However not one of the shops would let you try them out, not even for half an hour to see how well they worked. All sales final, no returns. these folks have a 30-day money back guarantee! who could ask for anything better.

As far as warranty goes, we did have an issue with one of the units power connector. I called them up and explained the issue and they expressed post two replacement cords to me overnight! I couldn't believe it! Service from these folks is amazing to say the least.

 

[Braada]

I looked at the collet systems and heard a lot of good things from the Canadian crew on KP, nice but a little pricey and I don't think there is anyone in the US dealing them. I paid $110 shipped for my setup (I love eBay sometimes).


On the VOX subject I should also mention that I am running a D&D full system, so wind and exhaust noise at 80+ are simply unreal.

 

[Louis]

I'd like to restart this topic. Anyone using some form of communication device except one's fingers?

 

[Trapper]

I wonder if anyone's tried motorola "walkie talkies" with the VOX feature and the head sets (boom mic and ear bud)

 

[SoCalMike]

if wind noise is a problem, check out throat microphones

 

[Pinhy]

have you guys ever seen the show American Thunder?

their field correspondent Steve Nat uses a mike to talk while riding, and i NEVER hear wind noise or engine noise (and he is usually on a custom chopper of some sort). No clue what setup they use, but he has a boom mic in front of his mouth with a pretty large foam cover.

 

[Louis]

Nope never seen that show.

 

[Pinhy]

its on Speed tuesday nights at 9 or 930 (cant remember). i watch 2 wheel tuesday, that and Corbin's Ride On.

 

[inspiron]

Over here, they offer fairly cheap (under $20) voice-activated communications for talking with your pillion, basically you're both wearing a small earphone and boom microphone that fits inside a full-face helmet, connected with about 3 feet of cable to a small amplifier.

If you want to talk to other bikers, you need something that transmitts radio signals (obviously), and these get expensive quickly.

Here's an example from Louis.de - http://louis9.louis.de/katalog2005/pages/305.pdf This kit has about a 3 mile range, but it costs EUR 199 (about $260).

 

[LayinLo]

I'm definitely interested in knowing who rides with a chatterbox and how well they like it.

 

[Louis]

Personnally, I'd prefer something that doesn't have to be velcored to my helmet...