OK, I'm just about done dicking with my StarComm. It works just fine for single rider use, but I cannot find a good sweet spot for use with as an intercom. The VOX is just fucked up and the mic's are too sensitive. If it can hear me to activate, it hears the road noise too.
So I'm looking at J&M, and picked one up used. I kind of also like the idea of having a working CB for solo rides. It seems to me that bear reports could be useful.
I was laying it out last night and am not sure where to connect the extra ground strap for the antenna. this unit came with the rack mount bar (would go under the Givi mount).
Ideas?
-MD
Mine is grounded to the subframe under the passenger seat. Just make sure the paint under the bolt is scraped off so the terminal end makes good contact.
One thing you may want to add to the system is a mic mutes
Mic Mutes it shuts off the mic when not in use. You will need a pus to talk button for your wife to tap to enable the mic if she wants to talk, or have her tap you so you can enable the mic.
You will find that you have all of the volumes lowered even more. The sound quality is great, this makes it even better. I use the big ear custome era plugs with speakers built in. Cable routing is just as imporant with the J&M as with any other system. I routed mine up the left side of the airbox then out side the frame to the area under the glove box and just behind the left front turn signal behind the lower fairing. Then it is a matter of bundling all the cables to keep them neat and out of the way. The only noise I have left and it is not even noticeable if the mic is open, is the slight static from the HID lights that are installed in the normal head light area. Nothing I can do about that.
If you go the route of the mic mutes and the custom ear plugs, you will have a rattle that occurs at speed due to vibration of the switch on the J&M (on off knob, etc.) you just need to make something that touches it (I'll get a picture when I can of how I stopped it) so it doesn't vibrate. If you are riding along, all you have to do is touch it to stop the vibration.
With out that slight vibration, it sounds like a full blown concert going on. Best sound I have found anywhere by far. The communication between rider and pillion is very clear, if you have a phone in your system, it is very clear, the CB works great, the FRS radio works great (once you get the push to talk button plugged in correctly
)
And the best part, you don't have to continually buy cables that seem to be failing all the time with other systems.
EDIT: fixed the link to mic mutes
