[Jimm]

In order for 2 helmets to communicate via bluetooth, do both units need to be the same brand? If not, does anyone know what other things might prevent a Chatterbox XBi2-H from recognizing a Nolan N-Com?

I'm not particularly techy. For me it's not why tech stuff works, it's that tech stuff works.

 

[tmcgee]

Problems are mandatory with bluetooth. It's in the spec.

I've never owned any bluetooth gear that was problem free -- and yeah, I've had dozens of devices.

 

[Dread7]

In order for 2 helmets to communicate via bluetooth, do both units need to be the same brand? If not, does anyone know what other things might prevent a Chatterbox XBi2-H from recognizing a Nolan N-Com?

I'm not particularly techy. For me it's not why tech stuff works, it's that tech stuff works.

Here is an article from BikeWorld that can explain it better for someone that doesn't want to really know how it works.

Bluetooth Intercoms - webBikeWorld

 

[EC90T]

Ya know if I wanted to talk to someone (other than myself) when I travel, I'd drive my 'burb. Part of the riding allure is listening to the music my bike and mother nature provides.

 

[tmcgee]

Ya know if I wanted to talk to someone (other than myself) when I travel, I'd drive my 'burb. Part of the riding allure is listening to the music my bike and mother nature provides.

People have different needs, man. Better to have communication if you need it than to need it and not have it.

 

[EC90T]

People have different needs, man. Better to have communication if you need it than to need it and not have it.

Ya know, I do carry an iphone. I just don't feel compelled to be on it every last waking moment of my life.

 

[Fyrman]

I use a Scala Rider G4 along with a couple of buddies I ride with most and we love them. Travelling with others and using direct communication is especially useful for passing slower vehicles, warning of upcoming issues, or just pointing out some of our local sights, (I can't help but point out my favorite animal to watch for... the red-headed-doublebreasted-bedthrasher!). When I'm riding solo I keep the radio on as background noise. I enjoy having the radio on. I know many of you are dead set against it but it works for me and like everything else motorcycle related, it's all about choices.

As for pairing it with any other device, I've never tried, but if you want to meet up and see what we can figure out, I'd be happy to give it a shot, Jim.

 

[tmcgee]

I just don't feel compelled to be on it every last waking moment of my life.

I don't either, but I do need to be available to the very few people who have my number.

 

[biker128pedal]

+1 Especially my SO.

On your question I think Bluetooth is limited to about 30 feet so bike to bike is limited. The Scala G4 used another frequency/band for it's long distance..for bike to bike.

 

[DougInKY]

I have Scala Rider Q2's for my wife and I. We love them. Not too fond of the FM radio's in them as they are hard to work. Also find that the blue tooth semi-syncs with my iPhone - I get voice dial and talk with no problems but I can't listen to my phone's GPS or voice control my music, am told that it is because of a problem with the blue tooth (non) specs.

 

[rconti]

I find it invaluable to be able to communicate with my riding partners to say "hey, it's clear around this blind corner, go ahead and make that sketchy pass", or "where is that dinner stop ahead?", not to mention "watch out for the homicidal SUV maniac coming up behind you.. please get his plate number so we can report him to the state troopers and enjoy watching him stuffed into a squad car in handcuffs for trying to kill me" ...

yeah, those kinds of things.

enjoy your silence, but the techy sub-forum might not be the right one for you.

 

[DrPaul47]

I don't have Blue Tooth, I have Autocom that connects to my CB, GPS, Radar Detector and XM radio. Wife also has Autocom on her bike with CB and XM radio. By using my CB I can tell her where to turn, warn of radar, also talk about gravel on road, rest stops etc. Once when we were in some major city we got seperated by trafic and signals, by using my GPS I was able to give her instructions through the CB's as to where to turn and meet up with me. Another time traveling in Vermont my riding buddy and I were in some town and using my GPS and CB I was able to transmit directions to him as to where to turn next to get us to a road we were looking for. Very handy tool We do not chat just info exchange. When traveling alone, I can get road info from and hidden laser police raps fromtruckers while on major hiways and also road construction issues. Also using CB, allows me to talk with Goldwing folks and also some Hardley fellows with CB's built into their bikes. When my wife rides on my bike with me, she just plugs her helmet into my Autocom and we have communicats on bike. Been useing Autocomm since early 90's with CB. It is trickey to set-up but when set-up properly works very well. Two other fellows that ride Hardley wan-a-be bikes dont want this type of sytem because they do not want wires to the helmet. As posers it would ruin the effect of the cruiser ensamble. I find it a pain in the rear to try to communicate with them. On one trip my Buell broke down and the fellow I was with did not know about it far a long stretch because we were on a winding counrty road with lots of woods. My wife knew immediatly because I was able to CB her. Also if I need to take a break (My urologist says that I have a trophy prostrate, I know to much information), I can radio as such, with those fellows that think form is more important than function they just motor on in their blissful oblivion, and then need to come looking for me in the nearest rest room. That is my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

[FutureTruper]

Bluetooth, iPhones and Range, oh my!

Bluetooth (BT) isn't totally mysterious: it has pain-in-the-a.. written all over it, but usually that's only the setup.
1) Range: it's waaaaay more than 10' (earlier poster). With basic stuff, one should be able to walk about 100' without interfering sources. I've used my headset on the opposite corner, opposite floor of several different houses and apartments. The Scala "trick" was, I think, to loosely interpret the definition of the power-ratings, and accept a larger battery than the ear-weight units can tolerate.

2) iPhones: do not support all or even most of the Bluetooth profiles. The latest-and-greates (iOS and hdwe) have broadened that up alot, but Cupertino is still playing it pretty cagey with what they will/will not do. Unconfirmed: i though I heard that wireless sync will be possible in iOS5+Lion, which would actually mark a great leap forward, to the late 1990's.

3) Consider this: 2 cheaper Cardo Scalas, paired to cellphones with unlimited phone-to-phone time makes for a pretty damned nice full-duplex walkie-talkie. Battery life issues can be solved with a USB adapter on the moto: charge the phone while you ride & talk.

 

[OydnaR]

I don't have Blue Tooth, I have Autocom that connects to my CB, GPS, Radar Detector and XM radio.

I have (had) similar setup, connected to FRS/GMRS radio or CB, Zumo & V-1 also have the bluetooth plug in module that mates with my cell phone,

I say (had) cause I had some severe corrosion problems over the winter, the rider helmet cord (that is hardwired to the unit) got melted and now I am finding the only big negative with Autocom, repair service, where, who, no one knows, big chunk of change to throw away

been thinking of replacing with Starcom, same parent company, Starcom makes the same quality claims as Autocom

but again, is there readily available repair service like what you can get from Garmin or Valentine

 

[tmcgee]

but again, is there readily available repair service like what you can get from Garmin or Valentine

There was when you bought the Autocom. Mine is still okay, but I'm not the King of Winter.