BT Multi-Interphone bike-bike intercom

[bwillielv]

Yes these are very nice and great for the price. I got mine at www.cyclecoms.com They are inexpensive and provide a 1 year warranty.

[Pretorian]

I've just purchased the 6-rider version of the BT Interphone. I haven't tried it bike-to-bike yet, but I've tried it with my cellphone, listening to music and receiving calls. It works really well and has some nice features like the ability to automatically answer calls and automatically switch back to whatever you were doing before the call came through (listening to music or intercom).

However, my big complaint with the 6-rider version is the size of the buttons. It's virtually impossible to figure out which button is which when you're wearing bulky gloves. There are 9 buttons in a space smaller than a matchbox. If you have tiny fingers and well fitting gloves you'll probably be OK, but I've got large hands and winter-weight leather gloves and I can't find the volume buttons while riding, instead accidentally calling another rider or deactivating the intercom or phone instead.

In hind-sight, I should have bought the 2-rider version because it's only got four buttons and would be a lot easier to use by feel.

[Ntoxcated]

I bought a pair of the cheap ones ($230) about 6 months ago and found them to be good enough for the purpose. Riding alone I had mine paired with my cell-phone and a BT transmitter plugged into the radar detector. When paired with my wife's, I didn't bother with the detector and stayed in constant communication. I doubt we ever got them to work over 500m, but clarity was fine. I don't think I had mounted the boom mic particularly securely however and I think the constant bending when putting on and taking off the helmet took its toll and I ended up buying a replacement mic. Then unfortunately both units just stopped working within a week of each other about a month ago. They refuse to turn on.

In summary, they worked well while they worked, but I think you get the quality you pay for, and I am now looking to import a pair of the Bluant models.

[Hawkeye]

I bought a pair of the cheap ones ($230) about 6 months ago and found them to be good enough for the purpose. Riding alone I had mine paired with my cell-phone and a BT transmitter plugged into the radar detector. When paired with my wife's, I didn't bother with the detector and stayed in constant communication. I doubt we ever got them to work over 500m, but clarity was fine. I don't think I had mounted the boom mic particularly securely however and I think the constant bending when putting on and taking off the helmet took its toll and I ended up buying a replacement mic. Then unfortunately both units just stopped working within a week of each other about a month ago. They refuse to turn on.

In summary, they worked well while they worked, but I think you get the quality you pay for, and I am now looking to import a pair of the Bluant models.

Yeah! I got a pair of these just before xmas (can connect 3 units together). The first unit came off the helmet while going around a roundabout. Turned my head to shoulder check and the collar of the jacket lifted it out of it's housing. That happened 2-3 times before but just hung on the cable. The 4th time it came off and the unit got ran over by a cage.
Surprisingly, only the on/off button was damaged. Waiting to see if it can be repaired. The other unit failed when I got caught in a huge storm. Filled with water and it's now f&*ked.
Sent both units back to the provider who have agree to try and repair the 1st one and replace the other under warranty.
I was very impressed with the quality and ease of use. Used it to listen music and paired with the cell.
Don't have the issues others have stated here re: putting helmet off/on. Still use the speakers for MP3 at the moment and don't even notice the speakers are there. Mike also stays put. Looking forward to getting the units back.

[Ntoxcated]

Sent both units back to the provider who have agree to try and repair the 1st one and replace the other under warranty.

Who was your provider? I bought mine from Mustek here on KB so just assumed no warranty.

[Hawkeye]

Who was your provider? I bought mine from Mustek here on KB so just assumed no warranty.

Got mine from TM - The Gadget Guy's (Auckland based).
They give 3 months warranty.
They have been great about it and were very concerned about finding out how the unit came off the helmet and also how the other unit got water in it.

Oh! and mine only cost me $209

I unfortunately opened the unit up (cage damage) to check the curcuit board expecting it to be completely screwed, which invalidated the warranty. But I can live with that if they can actually get it working again. I was impressed that a cage wheel drove straight over the top of it and the only damage was the on/off switch.
And they have agreed without any hassle to replace the water damaged one as part of the warranty.

Great guy's to deal with.

[NZsarge]

In summary, they worked well while they worked, but I think you get the quality you pay for, and I am now looking to import a pair of the Bluant models.

Have a look at the Sena SMH-10, available through www.ramsolutions.co.nz
Edit: there's plenty of vids on you-tube if you what to get a more detailed look at it and it's features.

[Ntoxcated]

Got mine from TM - The Gadget Guy's (Auckland based).
They give 3 months warranty.
They have been great about it and were very concerned about finding out how the unit came off the helmet and also how the other unit got water in it.

Oh! and mine only cost me $209

I unfortunately opened the unit up (cage damage) to check the curcuit board expecting it to be completely screwed, which invalidated the warranty. But I can live with that if they can actually get it working again. I was impressed that a cage wheel drove straight over the top of it and the only damage was the on/off switch.
And they have agreed without any hassle to replace the water damaged one as part of the warranty.

Great guy's to deal with.

I opened one of mine as well - bloody hard to get into. Gadget Guys look ok. Although with a three month warranty mine still wouldn't be covered. But buying these cheap ones did tell me was that they are really useful, so now I don't mind spending more on some hopefully better ones.

Have a look at the Sena SMH-10, available through www.ramsolutions.co.nz
Edit: there's plenty of vids on you-tube if you what to get a more detailed look at it and it's features.

Thanks, I'll check them out.

[jasonzc]

hey, so are these things full duplex? As in can you and the pillion speak at the same time?

[awayatc]

but......
Why would you want to...?

[jasonzc]

but......
Why would you want to...?

was just wondering.. otherwise one guy would speak.. the other one also speaks.. long awkward silence.. cause the other person who spoke at the same time would of thought he said sth.. the origional guy is hears nothing and still waiting for response.. then they both speak together again because of the silence.. ends up in more silence..

might be a funny situation..

[onearmedbandit]

Both can speak at the same time.

[peg]

If $230 is ok, and then $209 is better... how about a two pair set shipped to NZ for NZ$105! See this link here to DealExtreme.

I've bought a bit of cheap stuff from DealExtreme over the years. Some of it's very good quality... some not so good. The reviews usually give a good idea, and they seem fairly positive. At that price, who cares.

I must admit that I'm way more tempted myself by the new Interphone F5, but at about one fifth the price - these BT Interphones from DealExtreme look like a good starter pack for those people wanting to try the technology out?

[kiwigjt]

If $230 is ok, and then $209 is better... how about a two pair set shipped to NZ for NZ$105! See this link here to DealExtreme.

I've bought a bit of cheap stuff from DealExtreme over the years. Some of it's very good quality... some not so good. The reviews usually give a good idea, and they seem fairly positive. At that price, who cares.

I must admit that I'm way more tempted myself by the new Interphone F5, but at about one fifth the price - these BT Interphones from DealExtreme look like a good starter pack for those people wanting to try the technology out?

Well I am struggling to find a better deal than this. Can anyone see a "catch" with it???

[Akzle]

vox UHF CB with headsets. jaycar has em.

infinite number of riders, range better that bluetooth (like, 2km better) plug into 12v....
and if you stick it on the roadies channel you can hear the roadworks boys you're about to drive into...