Lets talk about bike comms

[tigersaw]

As a radio amateur, you'll know that a 10db increase will get you nowhere at UHF line of sight, even worse if the antenna is close to the users body. UHF is pretty useless as a point to point medium, few buildings and the signals lost. Even VHF fares little better. I'm not the original poster so I'm not sure what he is looking for, but my intention was a simple means for a group of 3-4 bikers to be able to communicate on a run - I need fuel, I need a ****, I'm hungry, that was a bit close.. that kind of thing, I assumed they would all be more or less within eyesight. If the distance between riders is to be miles apart, I'd dismiss radios altogether and start looking at cellular phones with voicedialing or quickdial.

I bought a pair of helmet speakers & mics from Maplin just before christmas for much cheapness. They have the very thin speaker that goes in behind the helmet lining and mic goes at the front. Anyway, they are fitted with a quick disconnect plug and have a PTT switch for the handlebars. They are compatible with Cobra (also BT), Icom & various other - see online or catalogue.

I have a set of BT freeways which have rechargeable batteries and drop-in charger. Will hope to test these out in a month or so, since not much riding just yet.

Worth a look.

Garry

[RingDing]

I used a set the same as these:
http://www.martleyelectronics.co.uk/radios.htm#value
for a ride down to Lands End with a mate before Christmas. I thought they were great. PTT but I've heard reports that VOX ain't always so great on a bike. They were cheap, had good range (I think about a mile and a half but that's a guess). Certainly good enough to stop us getting bored on the motorway bits.

HTH

P.

I got a set the other week from maplins that was on offer, two Cobra radios, two helmet speakers and mics with waterproof PTT for £60.

Order
1 xN22BG
2 x DS34M and they reduce the total down to £59.99

Haven't used them bike to bike yet, only bike to car to test them. For riding in groups they should be ideal cos you'll probably be in eyeshot and certainly in radioshot with each other. Not sure how fast you have to go before it all gets too noisy though. I know, I'll find that out tomorrow! In the name of research of course officer.

hmm ok so a few suggestions there .....cool

Originally Posted by tigersaw

As a radio amateur, you'll know that a 10db increase will get you nowhere at UHF line of sight, even worse if the antenna is close to the users body. UHF is pretty useless as a point to point medium, few buildings and the signals lost. Even VHF fares little better. I'm not the original poster so I'm not sure what he is looking for, but my intention was a simple means for a group of 3-4 bikers to be able to communicate on a run - I need fuel, I need a p*ss, I'm hungry, that was a bit close.. that kind of thing, I assumed they would all be more or less within eyesight. If the distance between riders is to be miles apart, I'd dismiss radios altogether and start looking at cellular phones with voicedialing or quickdial.

Point taken. which is why I said that the antenna would be the most effecient way to increase range. However, a 5 watt UHF handheld, in your jacket should give you up to a mile range. UHF is not as line of site as the text books say, hence it's use it towns, it bounces off buildings etc.

The only use for bike to bike comms should be for warnings or advisory comments "We gotta turn left here", "Can we pull in at the next services", "Fred, your bikes on fire...." That sort of thing.

And agreed, if you want anything more than a mile range then use mobile phones, it's easier.

I'd like to hear how you guys with the "cheap" (for want of a better word) headsets get on. Topcat & I tried it a couple of years ago and anything more than 30 MPH was a nightmare, hence me getting the Autocom.

.

[RingDing]

Jelster,

I was pleasantly suprised as my mate and I could converse at 70mph on the slog back up the M5. When I got my Ma and Pa to try it out Mum couldn't hear my Dad above 30mph. This got me to thinking that the acoustics of the helmet makes a difference. My mate, Pa and I all have XR1000's and the ear piece fits neatly into a recess in the padding. My Ma's lid didn't have this so it was pressed up against her ear. I think this makes positioning of the ear piece a lot more crucial. I also think that the recess may have helped a bit by acting like the volume inside a speaker case.

Anyway I thought they were great, especially for the low outlay. We had good natters about the scenery and random stuff on the more open bits of road. On the tight and twisties they were usefull for "look out fo that sheep" and " clucking hell there's mud everywhere!" type of exclamations. Also great if the leader manages to overtake as he can then give "All Clear" signals for the shotgun rider.

P.