Bike to Bike intercom

[Slingshot]

Does anyone have any experence in bike to bike intercoms? I'm thinking about getting a a couple of 2-way radios from Jaycar and making some sort of vox headset.
What I'm not sure about is if vox will actually work with wind/engine noise and also if you'd even be able to hear anything when speaking.
Ideas anyone?

[bluninja]

Used one and found they are useful on really long trips. Only problem I found was that I had to count aloud to 3 before talking or the first half of the sentence was lost. Still able to hear ok at 130 k.

TTFN

[Hitcher]

We've been investigating these. Most commercially-available models DON'T include the cost of the walkie talkies and the good ones are not only expensive but appear to require a bit of butchering to the innards of your lid. Hmmm...

There is a new model advertised in either the latest Kiwi Rider or BRM magazine with a web site that I must check out.

I have also seen another setup with a combo Earplug/mike that works off the vibration from your head bones. No vox activation or duplex facility though -- there is a "push to talk" button that slides on to your left index finger (over your glove) so you can push it with your left thumb. From what I observed this seemed to work quite well -- again plugged into a commercial walkie talkie. Costs and outlets -- I am none the wiser, if anybody can help...

If you want to get really carried away I see that there are a couple of helmet manufacturers who have built-in units that run Bluetooth. This would be OK with a cellphone but I haven't seen Bluetooth walkie talkies yet.

[Pickle]

We have bike to bike intercoms that we use on our adventure bikes which we find useful, they are push to talk with a button on the handlebars. Easy to install and relatively cheap. We got ours thru Pinfold Health services & the radios thru Dick Smiths. The range will vary depending on the terrain you are riding thru but we have had approx 5kms. headsets which includes everything except the radio costs approx $120 per unit & the radio should cost approx $100ea. They are clear up to 130km/h which is as fast as our trail bikes go 

web site to check out http://www.amalgamate2000.com/sale/products.htm

 

[LB]

Doug: we'll have to have a look at your system sometime. Hamish doesn't want to get a b-2-b system for two reasons:

(a) he says being on the bikes is the only time he gets any peace

(b) I often sing when I'm riding

Tho if I didn't push the button (b) wouldn't be a problem.

[Sycophant]

As I understand it, most people when they build their own get a VOX-capable radio. You then get the headset of your choice and install a normally-open push switch inline on the microphone.

Effectively the VOX is always active, but as you basically have the Mic disconnected when you aren't pushing the switch, it doesn't transmit.

The switch is normally remoted onto the handlebar or a small button on a glove.

I've been consider making myself one for a while, but I am broke and slack.

[Marmoot]

Somebody name Mike Pinfold in Rotorua does the PTT button mounted on handlebars. Very useful, better than VOX (unless you have a goldwing).
I used it for some time, only for long trips. Until my brother stopped riding.

I think I might still have a couple of the set (not including radios). I can dig it up and you can have it for $50 both. PM me if you're interested.

[Hitcher]

We have bike to bike intercoms that we use on our adventure bikes which we find useful, they are push to talk with a button on the handlebars. Easy to install and relatively cheap. We got ours thru Pinfold Health services & the radios thru Dick Smiths. The range will vary depending on the terrain you are riding thru but we have had approx 5kms. headsets which includes everything except the radio costs approx $120 per unit & the radio should cost approx $100ea. They are clear up to 130km/h which is as fast as our trail bikes go 

web site to check out http://www.amalgamate2000.com/sale/products.htm

 
Doug this is a dead link. Have you got one that works?
:buggerd:

[Pickle]

Doug this is a dead link. Have you got one that works?
:buggerd:
Sorry about that, try this one www.amalgamate2000.com/sales
This is from their ad in the latest Kiwi Rider Bike mart

[XRNR]

This one is available from northern accessories
http://www.forestedge-retail.co.uk/acatalog/INTERCOMS_AND_BATTERY_CARE.html
http://www.northacc.co.nz/site/pages/contact.htm

or
www.autocom.co.uk

[cruzer]

Does anyone have any experence in bike to bike intercoms? I'm thinking about getting a a couple of 2-way radios from Jaycar and making some sort of vox headset.
What I'm not sure about is if vox will actually work with wind/engine noise and also if you'd even be able to hear anything when speaking.
Ideas anyone?
Check out this link. I looked around a bit on the net and it seems these guys are in NZ and from what it looks, they are pretty on to it.
http://www.amalgamate2000.com/sales/Uniden%20system.htm

[Slingshot]

Thanks for the website.

For Christmas I was given a couple of the Radios that Jaycar sell along with the VOX headsets.

I've tried them out a few times and they work up to around 50kph, anything above that speed and one of the units will basically transmit constantly.

My old man is a bit of an electronics wizz and he's been talking about building me some noise cancelling microphones so once we get those set-up I'll report back and let you all know how well they work.

[Hitcher]

Mrs H and I recently purchased two headsets from Pinfolds at Rotorua (advertise in Kiwi Rider magazine and others) which connect to Uniden 044 walkietalkies. These are a breeze to fit into your helmets (slim speakers with velcro that grabs your helmet lining), microphone velcros to the chin bar of your helmet, they have a push-to-talk button on a velcro band that goes around your LH grip. Easy to assemble and you're away. Helmet wind noise (and earplugs) mean you can hear bugger all at highway speed, but they're brilliant for speeds up to 70km. Range is whatever your walkietalkie is rated at.