Doing lots of research and reading the last couple months regarding intercoms. In particular Autocom.... Have a few questions, and looking for any advice.

Questions..

Can a non-bluetooth phone be used in the autocom using the headphone jack from phone going into the autocom?

Same question for a non-bluetooth Nuvi GPS using it's headphone jack?

I would like to add a small marine bar mounted radio as my FM and MP3 source. Is this adaptable?


I read through every post here and most of ADV, VSRI, FJR, and ST1300 forums.

I had it down to the Scala rider Q2 (wireless) and the Autocom (wired).
From what Ive read, about 70% are happy with the Q2, others complain about no stereo, bad FM, charging, few buttons with many applications, etc.
Everyone loves the portability though and no wires, but if you want to add MP3, you add the wire.

98% are happy with their autocom (several different models) and the few that are not happy, seem to upgrade speakers. And just deal with the wire.

Many go from other systems to autocom, none from autocom to the others....

So, autocom seems the logical choice, IF I can get one at decent cost equivalent to the Q2, which is about 240 bucks. This would put me into the Active plus range ( I think).

Thanks for the help.

Ken

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2007 DL650 Gray

 

Yes on all accounts - assuming your radio thingie has a headphone output jack.

However, be aware that there are electrical grounding issues if you power both your equipment and the Autocom from the bike.

These issues can eaisily be overcome by buying one of Autocom's isolation transformers (they make a couple different ones depending on what you want to do and imho are overpriced) or by getting a cheap car stereo isolation transformer from Radio Shack (which is what I did - about $16).

OR you can just power the Autocom from a 9v battery and not have to worry about the grounding problems, but you will have to worry about having fresh batteries on-hand. Personally, I like the $16 Radio Shack solution which will be cheaper in the long-run than buying expensive 9v batteries and putting them in all the time.

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K7 Wee
92 DR350S
07 TT-R125LE (son's)
07 Shadow VLX (sold)

"The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." - Theodore Roosevelt

I can't speak for Autocom, but you can do what you are asking with the Starcom unit. The only requirement for a phone is it must have the autoanswer function.

Price wise I have the middle range starcom, not the digital, and love it.

Good Luck

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09 DL650 ABS - Shad 37L top box / OEM Center Stand / Garmin 60CSX / Givi Bars / Caribou 37L Top Load / OEM Handguards / Madstat / AirHawk /GenMar up and back / Sirius Radio /Starcom1/More to come

I have had a two Autocoms and it was fine with phone, TomTom GPS and it was a beaut system, but the drawback was it was an expensive item to replace. I went through two of them due to the cable getting caught in the back wheel when not connected, my error, but still an issue to deal with.

I tried the Q2, rubbish for music great for everything else.

I now use the Camos Bluetooth stero system, it has done a great job since I started this trip and that is over a year ago

That said, the Autocom is definitly a great audio system once the speakers are placed correctly, so personally I would disregard the Q2, if you don't want wires, then an extra $50 will get you perfect music and stereo to boot from Camos. Ther eis a newer one out since then which is better again, but more buck as well

Cheers
TS

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www.TravellingStrom.com

if these guys ship to Canada i don't think you'll beat this price on the basic system. order as much as you can from them because they're just unloading their inventory. theu used to be the U.S. importer. call them. much easier to understand exactly what you need when you talk to them.

http://www.topgearaccess.com/autocom/

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Somtimes it sucks not being in the loop. HUH??

I have an Autocom for "two" and it works quite well. Note, they are currently in financial trouble, though.
CVBruce

"Financial trouble" is a bit of an understatement.

Autocom UK has folded and is undergoing liquidation. Not bankruptcy or receivership, liquidation. This happened right before Christmas and is all over various UK internet groups.

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=212522

http://www.zzr-rg.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=7&p=46071

The official legal notice of liquidation from a London business journal.

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issu...otices/1003832

Their stuff was pricey due to the pound-dollar conversion, but it worked very well. I've had their systems on 3 bikes. Too bad. On the other hand, now's the time to pick up some accessories and units at good prices.

http://www.topgearaccess.com/autocom/

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Rich D
Athens, GA

'09 DL650A
'96 KLR250

Old news. It has been bought and is now owned by the same people that own Starcom:



..Tom

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Road Toads Charter Member - 2006 V-Strom DL650
2nd Annual Ontario Strom Gathering!



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Thanks for the info folks. The questions I asked were answered the way I hoped. I now have an Autocom Active Plus on the way.

Searching around the net last night I found a slightly used one that will come with rider and passenger headsets, extension leads, 9V power adapter, a Kenwood FRS/GMRS and cables. Motorola radio cables, PTT buttons and related cables, and 4 other cables for phone, GPS and MP3. So were looking pretty good I think!!!

Now, the installation questions. I was thinking of having it mounted either in my tank bag (I'll power it, if so) or under the seat. Any pros/cons of each, any recommendations otherwise? I hear it's best to mount the radio on the bars and not keep the bag as the reception is much better?

Anything else you can add please do so..

Thanks again

Ken

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2007 DL650 Gray

My autocom is mounted under the seat. For me there are no negatives to it although I have heard of some people getting the odd bit of electrical noise there (I never did.).

I am trying to get all bike riders to use channel 7, and "privacy code" 14. 7 is a channel that all frs/gmrs can use and it would be nice to have bikes use a common "hailing" frequency.

..Tom

__________________
Road Toads Charter Member - 2006 V-Strom DL650
2nd Annual Ontario Strom Gathering!



Why Cars don't see bikes (SMIDSY)
SMIDSY detailed report