Autocom Installation

[L3nny]

OK, so I took the plunge and bought an autocom system to compliment my Midland G7 radio. Which I use for Bike to Bike only (no-one is silly enough to go pillion on my bike). I have also bought the additional cable that lets you power the system from the bike.

Does anyone have any tips for installation of the Autocom unit and where is a good place to put the radio. I am not too keen on putting the radio in my pocket incase it ends up lodged in my chest if I come off.

I was thinking Autocom under front seat and radio under back seat or maybe even mount the radio in the tool kit box.

Also what is the VOX on these like, on the G7 itself it's useless so I have a PTT button mounted on the handlebar.

Pics of other members installations will get me very excited but just general tips, tales of problems you came across etc are also good.

Cheers Org.

BTW I have a k5 pointy S as in avatar

[The Guru]

http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=132606

[L3nny]

Cheers mate, looks nice, I can remember seeing that thread before but couldn't find it again.

I take it all the stuff goes under the rear seat

[The Guru]

Its hard wired in. All the wires and stiff go down the inside of the tail panels. The rider cable is fed down under the battery into the tool box. I cut a notch out of the side of the toolbox cover so the cable can be brought out for use. I then attach using a coiled cable that goes inside my jacket.

I also fitted a PTT switch.

Works well.

[beabert]

Did you buy it new, they fit free if you go to them.

[L3nny]

Got it from the Bike show, when I realised they were in Warwick I jokingly said I'll be round to get it fitted but they didnt offer to fit it. I'll get in tough with them.

Cheers

[Essex of Essex]

They do offer an installation service, I bought mine direct from them and rode in they fitted it and away I went; not much over an hour on my Sprint ST.

[The Guru]

To be fair it really is easy to fit yourself.

[Littlepeahead]

I have the box and radio under the pillion seat but the box is right forward out of the way. The radio you need easy access to as otherwise you'll forget to switch it off. Get Duracell Procell batteries and you'll fiind the radio works much better/clearer/longer range and they last ages.

I find the Vox pretty good, though as I have said previously, my husband does not always appreciate me singing along to music on my MP3. And at one point I plugged it in wrong and he not only got me signing but he got my music too. It was about 3 miles down the road when he pulled over and said if I didn't switch the Take That off he was going to divorce me.

I have found that the wires wear through where they poke out the bottom of the helmet and then you get a lot of interfrence and buzzing. A bit of electrical tape on the wear point should stop this happening and I wish I'd done that when I first got the system.

[L3nny]

Cheers for the advice, just found out my radio is knackered so I'm sending it back for a replacement, no point installing it till then.

[custard]

have mine in a tankbag = not leaving expensive stuff on bike and dont need to get the seat off to fiddle. :)

[independentphoto]

have mine in a tankbag = not leaving expensive stuff on bike and dont need to get the seat off to fiddle. :)

+1 for that.

On bike power from the Autocom "red socket" cable and just plug the whole lot in. The Kenwood radio takes power from the bike too via the Autocom box, so the batteries can never go flat on either. Lots of room for on bike video kit, first-aid kit, puncture repair kit and sausage rolls, cans of juice etc. That's a long run of course. Use the little part of the bag for shorter stuff.

Garry
:rolleyes:

[xXBADGERXx]

I sling all mine in a tankbag and power it off the battery . If I have an accident and bike is taken away I am bound to lose all that stuff to a breaker . The kit is only put on the bike once every few months .

[L3nny]

Any tips for a nice small tank bag, only want to put the intercom, plus maybe my phone and wallet in there.

I already have an Oxford humpback tank bag but never use it as it's too big.

Ideally one with a sholder strap so I could carry it around like a ladies handbag when off the bike.

EDIT: this looks ok

http://www.getgeared.co.uk/MOTO-DETAIL_Magnet_Office_Tank_Bag_5L

or this

http://www.motorbikesandparts.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=9682

[Nobbylad]

Could get a bum bag or summat

[xXBADGERXx]

I was thinking of getting a small Powerlet socket fitted onto my SV and then buying the Powerlet tankbag socket kit . "Held" do some small tankbags and you can cut into them with a soldering iron and then tidy it all up with the kit and leave all the gear in it . When you need it , sling it on the bike , plug it in and off you go :)

http://www.powerletproducts.com/products

On a side note , with all that expensive equipment in a tankbag , the very minimum I would accept is a tankbag that has a strap/lanyard that fastens around the headstock . I put my Autocom/Satnav/Phone/Bluetooth Adaptor in an Oxford Magnetic map holder ........ hmmmm , the damn thing took off and started flapping around at a speed I wouldn`t like to mention on an open forum . After that I took to keeping it in there and then holding it all down securely with a bungee web which was a pain at Petrol Stations .

[custard]

On a side note , with all that expensive equipment in a tankbag , the very minimum I would accept is a tankbag that has a strap/lanyard that fastens around the headstock . I put my Autocom/Satnav/Phone/Bluetooth Adaptor in an Oxford Magnetic map holder ........ hmmmm , the damn thing took off and started flapping around at a speed I wouldn`t like to mention on an open forum . After that I took to keeping it in there and then holding it all down securely with a bungee web which was a pain at Petrol Stations .

i too have experienced the map holder in the chest scenario and it aint fun. never had it with a bag though, think the extra weight keeps them down...

i would just check ebay for bags, i got a £60 givi voyager for £5, used twice...

and if you want any help/parts for autocom get hold of www.chainspeed.com had nothing but good experiences with them.

[The Guru]

... www.chainspeed.com (http://www.chainspeed.com) had nothing but good experiences with them.

Agreed. :thumleft:

[L3nny]

Could get a bum bag or summat

Something from my childhood completely put me off bum bags, what was it again? Oh yes.


http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll266/tinaturnover/mr_motivator.jpg

[L3nny]

Mr Badger, your idea sounds good. I can stick the whole lot into a tank bag, then when i need it just stick it on the bike and plug it in somewhere.

Any ideas of the best things to wire it to? If it's at the front of the bike would the headlight be a good idea?

This whole intercom thing is getting very expensive, all so me and my mates can make jokes about each other mums while on the motorway :rolleyes:

[xXBADGERXx]

Something from my childhood completely put me off bum bags, what was it again? Oh yes.


http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll266/tinaturnover/mr_motivator.jpg
Wanna know something disturbing ....... I actually owned a pair of those Reebok "Pump" Basketball boots he is wearing

[L3nny]

Another thing, would there be any way to power my Midland G7 radio from the bike?

It takes aa batteries and the power lead plugs in the headset connector so dont think i'd be able to use both at the same time.

[xXBADGERXx]

Any ideas of the best things to wire it to? If it's at the front of the bike would the headlight be a good idea ?

That Powerlet site I linked has a kit on there for all locations . I was going to run their "Battery" kit and either mount the Powerlet socket off my Yokes on a plate or .... and I like this one , Drill and place it into the Headlight access panel . That way , when it is removed you can buy a spare panel off eBay for a few quid and show no damage to the bike . I never worry too much about wiring things like that into a secure and ignition controlled circuit as the kit gets removed from the bike when I get off .

Now you don`t have to get a socket set from that site , you can make your own set up with bits from Maplins . I recommend the Powerlet type as it has a much more solid connection than a normal sized Ciggy Lighter Socket . As long as you run an in-line fuse as well for protection then a "Home-Brewed" kit is very easy to do . I`m no expert on this stuff and there is a limit as to what you can run off the circuit , the Powerlet site lists the SV650 as being able to run an Autocom , Cell Phone and MP3 player at the same time but that would be about your limit . They show the BMW Adventure bikes as being able to run compressors for pumping tyres up and even small elements to boil water in a cup :confused:

[xXBADGERXx]

Another thing, would there be any way to power my Midland G7 radio from the bike?

It takes aa batteries and the power lead plugs in the headset connector so dont think i'd be able to use both at the same time.

http://www.autocom.co.uk/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=121

I think this will let you power it directly off the Autocom mate

[L3nny]

Cheers Badger thanks for the great info, I promise I wont tell anyone about your Hi-Tops. If it's any consolation I wanted some of those but my mum refused to pay £100 for a pair of trainers.

[xXBADGERXx]

I got mine for £60 in a sale :) .... oh the shame .

[L3nny]

Bargain! I did manage to blag them to get me a pair of Air Max, that took a year of keeping my room tidy and doing the washing up. Amazingly they are still in fasion as well!

Anyway,

http://mybroadband.co.za/photos/data/500/derail2.jpg

[L3nny]

Bringing this thread back to life as I have just got hold of another radio and I have a new bike.

Am I right in thinking that the Autocom will power the radio if it is connected to the bike's power. At the moment it doesn't when running on AA batteries.

I have THIS LEAD (http://www.autocom.co.uk/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=121) Connected to the Radio and THIS LEAD (http://www.autocom.co.uk/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=49) to connect to the bike.

I want to fit the whole system under the pillion seat but be able to remove it easily when not in use.

[Luckypants]

Nope it won't power your radio. The leads that are capable of powering the radio have a fuse in them and I don't think they do one for the G7. There is also a limit that you need a 2009+ model Autocom unit.

[_Stretchie_]

If this is for the blade then I have two things to say:


Stop being a bird just pour it all in under the seats, you've got LOADS of room
Write a how to so I know 'how to' when we get around to getting on

[williamturner1]

There is also a limit that you need a 2009+ model Autocom unit.

Not true. All post 2005 autocom units have a 9v power out on Aux 1 to power the bluetooth adapter autocom offer. However, most units require the box to be unscrewed and a switch flicked (using a small pointy thingy) to activate the 9v.

Get a dummy AA cell from maplin, solder a + and - wire to the dummy cell, connect these to a 6v regulator which is wired to a 4pole 3.5mm stereo plug to insert into Aux 1 and you can power the radio from the autocom. nice and tidy. hmmmm.

Look at very end of document ... page 11 ... jst put a LINK to activate the 9v
https://www.topgearaccess.com/autocom/pdf/Super%20Pro%20Instructions.pdf

a 4pole 3.5mm stereo plug waiting to be soldered is <£2, maplin / bay of e

PS Midland g7 radio is UK legal as its sub 5watts in power .. but it sucks as its sub 5watts power. Midland GX or GXT series (american design spec) are not limited in power, eg Pair Midland GXT740 34 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Pair-Midland-GXT740-34-Mile-Walkie-Talkie-UK-Charger_W0QQitemZ110469381815QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK _ConsumerElectronics_SpecialistRadioEquipment_SM?h ash=item19b87cfeb7)mile!

got mine for £10, silly seller couldn't spell Midland. Work very well in London

[L3nny]

Ok, fitted the autocom at the weekend.

For Stretchie's benefit I fitted the unit under the hunge for the pillion and stuck some velcro to the back of the radio and velcroed that to the side of the underseat storage. I'll put some photos up if and when I can be bothered.

Wired the live to the rear light so it only comes on when the lights are on but I have my lights on all the time anyway.

I am not sure weather to have the cable for the headset running under the riders seat or have it behind me. It's a pain wherever it is and I find myself getting tangled up in it getting on and off the bike.

My mate and I went for a bit of a test run and it works well, much better than not having the unit at all. The VOX does seem a bit hit and miss sometimes and you do need to shout quite loud to activate it. This could be fixed with a PTT switch but I have sworn to myself I wont spend any more money on this thing.

If I know what I knew now I doubt I would have bought it, it's cost about £200 in all and after the initial novelty had worn off me and my mate didn't really speak to each other and when he did talk to me it was really distracting anyway.

When we do our Europe tour it will be usefull but on a normal weekend blast it's pretty pointless.

[Specialone]

Ive found with the autocom that if you get the mike close to your lips as poss, it works fine.

[Luckypants]

My mate and I went for a bit of a test run and it works well, much better than not having the unit at all. The VOX does seem a bit hit and miss sometimes and you do need to shout quite loud to activate it. This could be fixed with a PTT switch but I have sworn to myself I wont spend any more money on this thing.

Some things to check:-


Mic position, needs to be directly in front of the mouth and close enough to kiss it easily. Good information in the Autocom manual or on the website about this.
that the mic sensitivity on the autocom is set correctly, best done without the radio attached, with a pillion to provide feedback. Sensitivity too high and wind noise will activate it, too low and you need to shout to activate it.
Add the radio then adjust the TTT sensitivity setting. You should be able to get to match the Autocom.
There is always a delay in the TTT activating in any radio system. To get over this, learn to start a sentence with some noise. I tend to use an 'Errrrrr' until I hear myself in the earphones then start to speak normally. E.g 'Errrrrr... we need to take right junction in 500 yards'
Check out the Autocom website for good tips on using the bike-2-bike.


When we do our Europe tour it will be usefull but on a normal weekend blast it's pretty pointless.
Me and claire found it useful, especially when we got separated or preparing for junctions and the like.