CB Radios?

**wanpo** · 18th April 2010, 00:38

Yo,
Thinking of doing a bit of a tour around NZ with a friend, and it would be great if I could actually talk with him during the ride.
Anyone tried CB radios? Was thinking of getting
http://jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?...6&form=KEYWORD
with a
http://jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?...c&form=KEYWORD

Any input would be awesome. (don't quite feel like shelling out 250 bucks, for a motorbike designed set)

**Urano** · 18th April 2010, 05:57

if, as said, you don't want to spend money on a bt set to fix on the helmet, that could be a good idea.
take a closer look to the mic/earphone plug, and search for a boom mic with the same plug.

make sure the radio has the vox function.

**CookMySock** · 18th April 2010, 07:02

Those should be ok. Bone mics in your ear might be a better solution than throat mics. Also if you tour for hours I think you will learn to hate vox - better to have a push-to-talk button on your bars so you don't have to put up with the vox' incessant button-pushing.

Steve

**wanpo** · 18th April 2010, 10:50

I figure wearing a buff or something over the top of the mic will stop most interference, and I'll probably try to wire up the radio talk button to the pass trigger (shouldn't be too tricky)

**CookMySock** · 18th April 2010, 11:00

Originally Posted by wanpo

I figure wearing a buff or something over the top of the mic will stop most interference, and I'll probably try to wire up the radio talk button to the pass trigger (shouldn't be too tricky)

An ordinary mic will get utterly clobbered by the wind over 80k, no matter how you protect it.

Pass button should be ok, but I'd be tempted to mount something else on the bars and leave the pass for emergencies.

Steve

**SMOKEU** · 18th April 2010, 15:26

Originally Posted by DangerousBastard

An ordinary mic will get utterly clobbered by the wind over 80k, no matter how you protect it.

I wonder how the biker cops use their radios at speed.

**CookMySock** · 18th April 2010, 16:43

Originally Posted by SMOKEU

I wonder how the biker cops use their radios at speed.

Probably they dont use ordinary mics.

Steve

**Urano** · 18th April 2010, 20:33

guys... think the simple way...

i've got an intercom, and the solution is just to put the boom mic (with a little sponge around it) INSIDE the helmet chin...

that's it, working pretty good 'till 130-140kmh...

**CookMySock** · 18th April 2010, 20:38

Originally Posted by Urano

INSIDE the helmet chin... that's it, working pretty good 'till 130-140kmh...

It is possible that will work. I tried a bluetooth headset inside a helmet and it was VERY noisy up to about 70km/hr, and above that it was completely useless.

Steve

**Hitcher** · 19th April 2010, 21:04

Cops use the hugely expensive Baehr system. Not only is this hugely expensive, the only distributor/installer in New Zealand is in Henderson. Bugger that for a joke.

When it comes to bike-to-bike intercoms, cheap is as cheap does. We've had several goes at using CB radios using the Pinfolds kits, which are actually imported from China, rather than made by Pinfolds in Rotorua. These systems are useless, as all of the components (speakers, mikes, PTT buttons and connector plugs) are all woefully underspecced and won't last more than a few weeks under the sort of conditions Mrs H and I expose gear to.

**CookMySock** · 19th April 2010, 22:42

Originally Posted by Hitcher

...rather than made by Pinfolds in Rotorua.

Just to keep things in perspective, Mike Pinfold is an electronics hobbiest (has been for 20 years) who makes his income as a dentist. He is also a lifestyle biker like you and I. He is not some importer trying to rip bikers off - quite the opposite, he doesn't care if he makes his second million from selling electronics, he's already made his first million from dentistry.

Steve

**Hitcher** · 19th April 2010, 23:04

Originally Posted by DangerousBastard

Just to keep things in perspective, Mike Pinfold is an electronics hobbiest (has been for 20 years) who makes his income as a dentist. He is also a lifestyle biker like you and I. He is not some importer trying to rip bikers off - quite the opposite, he doesn't care if he makes his second million from selling electronics, he's already made his first million from dentistry.

That explanation, while enlightening, doesn't improve the quality of the bike-to-bike intercom kits he flogs off.

[Pointless addition of first name here]

**wingnutt** · 21st April 2010, 10:04

this is in the usa: http://www.jmcorp.com/Static/jmcb-2003.htm they made for bikes, not cheap, but I know riders here who use them, and they work well.

**CookMySock** · 21st April 2010, 22:10

Originally Posted by Hitcher

That explanation, while enlightening, doesn't improve the quality of the bike-to-bike intercom kits he flogs off. [Pointless addition of first name here]

You are completely unable to resist being insulting aren't you? Never let an opportunity go by..

Steve