Bluetooth FRS/GPRS Radio?

[Inlaw1]

I would LOVE to go BT, as it would connect to my WM phone without the Autocomm and without any cables, but how would I talk over the radio? Does anybody make a BT dongle that would connect to a handheld FRS radio??

Has anyone used the bluetooth Chatterbox unit?

I was going to suggest the same, the Chatterbox bluetooth may be a solution. Since Brun has everything through the phone it can pair up with the Chatterbox. And it's the FRS radio part.

Problem may be, most folks I run into that have used the Chatterbox either love it, or hate it. I've had the same FRS unit for 6-7 years now and it gets some heavy useage. It's still working and does what I need it to do. Granted, sound is not the best, especially above about 80 or so, but it is an inexpensive solution for bike to bike, rider to pillion and listening to music.

 

[Inlaw1]

My experience with Chatterbox GMRS X1 is extensive. To use as a rider/passenger comm system, you must void the warranty on one unit by opening it up and disconnecting the antenna. Otherwise, the RF is too strong and the units will swamp each other.

Yes, that is one way if your trying to avoid having any wires between you and the pillion (I'm guessing that was your reason). Or, you can go a much less costly route and get an extra headset for the pillion and the coiled cord that chatterbox has available that plugs the pillion headset into the riders chatterbox. You then have a full duplex intercom system Vs a simplex system for a lot less. The pillion also gets to listen to any music your piping in.

The down side is, yes, you do have a cord connecting the rider / pillion but I've found it's not a big problem and my pillion doesn't really notice it.

 

[pcrdude]

Bringing this thread back to life in case anything new has come up.

I would like to throw an FRS radio with VOX in the glovebox or side case, keep an A2DP phone in my overpants, and be able to talk with a pillion all without wires. Later, I would like to add in radar detector alerts, GPS prompts, and anything else I can think of.

This is to be able to talk to the passenger, listen to stereo music receive phone calls, and communicate with other riders.

It looks like J&M is almost there if one uses a bluetooth dongle for a Midland FRS?

Maybe a bluetooth intercom function is available and I don't know about it yet.

Why keep a wire to the passenger if you don't have to?

Any thoughts?

 

[Bungie]

Any thoughts?

Most of the way there right now with MicroFone2 from Collet Communicators.

I've been running this now since the Spring and except for minor problems with my first set (VOX went out on the rider, speaker plug on the passenger) that was replaced no questions asked from Collett, the units have been flawless. No FRS, but you do have rider to rider comms with other Colletts.

Do a search for Collett on this site through Google; site:fjrforum collett and you'll find my ongoing review.

I can't recommend them highly enough.

 

[bluejag]

I agree with the need to be wireless from starcom ( my device hub) and the helmet I use the starcom wired to a 2820 that has everything I need, also use motorola BT phone to talk to friends (bike to bike) them using scalaQ2 All is good but to loose the

wires for wife and I and still have QAULITY stereo sound would be :yahoo: :yahoo:

 

[Kieth]

Hey guys no offense but you can hope that bluetooth works til you are blue in the face, the fact is it is not up to the task yet on a motorcycle. I have a heck of a time keeping mine paired with a headset in the car, let alone a whole audio system with good audio quality on a bike. Wait a while, do not be the lab rat on this deal. The quality is not there.........Autocom offers a dongle that works fairly well with a cell phone, and combined with a zumo550 it has its uses. But man it is expensive and besides who in the heck wants to talk on a cell phone while riding a motorcycle anyway. If you think cagers are dangerous while talking on a cell think about riding a bike and talking on a cell..............................NO THANKS Kieth in Tulsa :assassin:

 

[Bungie]

Hey guys no offense but you can hope that bluetooth works til you are blue in the face, the fact is it is not up to the task yet on a motorcycle.

Mine does cell, tunes, intercom, rider to rider, all wireless via bluetooth, perfectly. You just bought the wrong shit and you using your negative experience to paint all products with the same brush.

Course, I think all Fords suck wet wooly monkey dick so I guess were even.

Go check Collett, cheaper than the other equivalent solutions, works, and has a better warranty that they stand behind.

 

[Wingman]

Any thoughts?

Most of the way there right now with MicroFone2 from Collet Communicators.

I've been running this now since the Spring and except for minor problems with my first set (VOX went out on the rider, speaker plug on the passenger) that was replaced no questions asked from Collett, the units have been flawless. No FRS, but you do have rider to rider comms with other Colletts.

Do a search for Collett on this site through Google; site:fjrforum collett and you'll find my ongoing review.

I can't recommend them highly enough.

This looks promising. Now...If they will just make the bike to bike radio portion a separate plug and allow users to choose the type of radio system they use, instead of insisting users use their proprietary 900 mhz system. I think their sales would go up exponentially if they would just add frs and cb as an option.

Too bad someone doesn't just make a wireless headset adapter for use with existing systems like Autocomm, Starcom, J&M, etc. It doesn't have to be bluetooth, it just has to have stereo audio and simultaneous use of the microphone. Heck use the 900 mhz band to transmit and receive to the helmet for that matter. The unit itself would still need bluetooth to connect the new generation of phones that are not even capable of a wired headset.

I don't care how many cords and cables are required on the bike, the only important one to make wireless is the connection to the rider's helmet. I repeat: it doesn't have to be bluetooth, it just has to work.

I apologize for the rant, but it just seems like none of the manufacturers has it all together yet. It seems as though Collett is closer than most, if they would offer FRS I would buy. I just hope someone at Collett is listening.

David

 

[Bungie]

I apologize for the rant, but it just seems like none of the manufacturers has it all together yet. It seems as though Collett is closer than most, if they would offer FRS I would buy. I just hope someone at Collett is listening.

I agree a 100% with your sentiments wrt: 3rd party inputs, and it may just be that simple, add an aux input into the headset and you'd be done. Truthfully though, I just don't use the rider to rider capability, not because of a protocol issue, I just don't have the need. Perhaps a couple times per year at the most. The intercom/cell and to a lesser extent, tunes are my prime requirements. I don't think I'd spend the money to add a CB or FRS to the system regardless.

I know the owner of Collett has an FJR and frequents this forum. Lets hope he catches this thread.

 

[Wingman]

I apologize for the rant, but it just seems like none of the manufacturers has it all together yet. It seems as though Collett is closer than most, if they would offer FRS I would buy. I just hope someone at Collett is listening.

I agree a 100% with your sentiments wrt: 3rd party inputs, and it may just be that simple, add an aux input into the headset and you'd be done. Truthfully though, I just don't use the rider to rider capability, not because of a protocol issue, I just don't have the need. Perhaps a couple times per year at the most. The intercom/cell and to a lesser extent, tunes are my prime requirements. I don't think I'd spend the money to add a CB or FRS to the system regardless.

I know the owner of Collett has an FJR and frequents this forum. Lets hope he catches this thread.

Judging from some of the statements on their website about frequency congestion and such, I don't think we are going to change their minds about FRS/GMRS or CB addition. Unfortunately, the uncluttered aspect of the 900 mhz band is what makes it useless in my opinion. FRS/GMRS and CB are far better choices if you are in trouble and need help in an area with no cell phone coverage BECAUSE people are using them. Just about every trucker out there has a CB radio in his/her rig and FRS/GMRS is quickly becoming the standard comm for group rides.

With the Colletts, you can only communicate with other Collett users. No one I have been riding with uses them. I'm not fond of having that bulky system attached to my helmet, but would give them a try if they would give FRS/GMRS a shot.

I really prefer to keep all the wires and bulky electronics on the bike instead of on my helmet. Rechargeable and replaceable battery pack that last at least 10 hrs on the helmet, but everything else bike powered and mounted. I keep hoping someone makes a wireless headset adapter for the other wired systems that are out there. We have the technology to do just this, just need someone smarter than me to implement it.

David

 

[pcrdude]

I may go with the Collett. They have a sale on right now on the Snofone for $210 each. Does anyone know if two Snofone2 units can be used for a rider/passenger combo, or is that too close for the 900MHz radio to work properly? That seems like a better deal than the Microfone2.