keithaba
Well-known member
Got a passport X50. Want to hook it up either to the headphones or using a visual alert. Let me know if anyone has either of those.
Keith
Keith
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Mix it or Visual Alert for Radar
- Thread starter keithaba
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paisano
Active member
madmike2
Shtirrenuppenmeister
Headphones. I already had an Autocom for the GPS w/ XM, so adding the X50 was an easy decision.
OTH, several others in NorCal who do not run "Com" systems use the LED visual alert and they work great for them.
OTH, several others in NorCal who do not run "Com" systems use the LED visual alert and they work great for them.
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Geezer
Parsimonious Curmudgeon
Headphones. Personally, I took the speakers out of a cheap pair of headphones and velcro'ed them into my helmet.
What else you listening to? You don't need a MixIt unless you want to listen to more than one thing. The X50 puts out a mono signal so you'll need an adapter to go from mono to stereo if you want to use a stereo headset.
In fact, if you want to listen to a second mono device, like a Garmin 2720, you could listen to the X50 in one ear and the Garmin in the other ear. One thing you might not want to do is use a simple Y cable to combine the output from two devices without a Mixit or other appliance in between. If you do you may get output from one device feeding back into the other and that can cause damage.
What else you listening to? You don't need a MixIt unless you want to listen to more than one thing. The X50 puts out a mono signal so you'll need an adapter to go from mono to stereo if you want to use a stereo headset.
In fact, if you want to listen to a second mono device, like a Garmin 2720, you could listen to the X50 in one ear and the Garmin in the other ear. One thing you might not want to do is use a simple Y cable to combine the output from two devices without a Mixit or other appliance in between. If you do you may get output from one device feeding back into the other and that can cause damage.
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Rickster
Well-known member
I'd vote for the Visual alert -- works all the time, and it's dedicated to the radar detector.
If I decide not to use the audio -- I still have the radar detector.
I used it for a long time, worked great!
If I decide not to use the audio -- I still have the radar detector.
I used it for a long time, worked great!
Mix-it...or more precisely audio.
Although one can translate frequency of light pulse into signal intensity you can't divine what type of radar. The tone helps add information for your threat assessment.
Although one can translate frequency of light pulse into signal intensity you can't divine what type of radar. The tone helps add information for your threat assessment.
MixIt! Visual clues only work when you see the display. if you're looking through a corner or there is any sort of thing that has you looking elsewhere, you miss the warning. On top of that, a visual queue is a beacon at night for others to see (non-stealth).
Audio warnings are there no matter where you're attention is focused when it fires off. It can't cause you to lose your night vision. It isn't a beacon out there for others to see when it fires off; more stealthy. On top of that, when used with the V1, there are various bogie sounds that tell you a lot of things.
Audio warnings are there no matter where you're attention is focused when it fires off. It can't cause you to lose your night vision. It isn't a beacon out there for others to see when it fires off; more stealthy. On top of that, when used with the V1, there are various bogie sounds that tell you a lot of things.
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TheAxeman
Well-known member
Isn't he looking to buy one or the other not necessarily looking for advice?
Geezer
Parsimonious Curmudgeon
OK, so somebody actually noticed that this is in the WANTED section. I think you're right Axe. Guess that's what happens when I simply browse through the new posts.
Either I'm hallucinating or the text of the original message has been altered. I would have sworn it was a formal question.....and was it always in this area? And I didn't move it.
Hmmmm. I think it's me in this case. :blink:
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RenoJohn
Well-known member
I have an X-50 and I use both. My answer is: "It Depends"
I prefer the Marc Parnes Led light and have it strategically located. I use this about 90%+ of the time. I prefer it because:
- I like visual displays. My eyes are always scanning my environment. My ears are not always so active and I often tune-out music, gps, road noise etc
- Some times I don't want to mess with earbuds, I'm down to one helmet now with built in Autocom speakers and I just don't always want or have earbuds and/or speakers ...with the visual alert you are covered. I find myself taking out earbuds for certain riding condition ...when I really want to hear my surroundings ...dense traffic, wet roads etc
- The frequency (as iggy mentions) does help you decipher signal strength, but like iggys says it will NOT identify Band. I only have a couple of bands active in my x-50 and when I get a hit i glance at the radar to see what band it is ..subconscience so no big deal.
When I do audio:
- When partaking in very spirited or hard riding when I absolutely want to know what my radar is saying without a thought of taking my eyes off of the road ...no visual distractions with audio.
- BRIGHT sunlight which when at the right angle can make the visual hard to see
Should you do both and go back-and-forth, BE VERY CAREFUL TO KEEP THIS IN MIND:
- AUDIO use you'll have the volume on the x-50 set very low
- VISUAL you 'll need the volume on the x-50 cranked up high to activate the LED's
SO, when switching,
-turn down the volume when going to audio so you don't fracture your eardrums
AND,
- turn up the volume when going to the visual, or you'll never see it.
Not doing the latter, which no doubt cost me this encounter:
I went from audio to visual, didn't turn up the volume and while my radar was doing it's job sniffing this guy out ....I never saw it. I then realized what I had done, but it waq too late.
I prefer the Marc Parnes Led light and have it strategically located. I use this about 90%+ of the time. I prefer it because:
- I like visual displays. My eyes are always scanning my environment. My ears are not always so active and I often tune-out music, gps, road noise etc
- Some times I don't want to mess with earbuds, I'm down to one helmet now with built in Autocom speakers and I just don't always want or have earbuds and/or speakers ...with the visual alert you are covered. I find myself taking out earbuds for certain riding condition ...when I really want to hear my surroundings ...dense traffic, wet roads etc
- The frequency (as iggy mentions) does help you decipher signal strength, but like iggys says it will NOT identify Band. I only have a couple of bands active in my x-50 and when I get a hit i glance at the radar to see what band it is ..subconscience so no big deal.
When I do audio:
- When partaking in very spirited or hard riding when I absolutely want to know what my radar is saying without a thought of taking my eyes off of the road ...no visual distractions with audio.
- BRIGHT sunlight which when at the right angle can make the visual hard to see
Should you do both and go back-and-forth, BE VERY CAREFUL TO KEEP THIS IN MIND:
- AUDIO use you'll have the volume on the x-50 set very low
- VISUAL you 'll need the volume on the x-50 cranked up high to activate the LED's
SO, when switching,
-turn down the volume when going to audio so you don't fracture your eardrums
AND,- turn up the volume when going to the visual, or you'll never see it.
Not doing the latter, which no doubt cost me this encounter:
I went from audio to visual, didn't turn up the volume and while my radar was doing it's job sniffing this guy out ....I never saw it. I then realized what I had done, but it waq too late.
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RenoJohn
Well-known member
LOL, ditto. ...and to cover the bases: No, i don't have earbuds or visual indicator for the x-50 to offer. Iggy, you go to public schools too?? (that's my excuse)
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turbodave_98
TurboDave_98
With my Passport X50, which I have two, one mounted on my 06 FJR AE and other on my 05 FJR.. On AE use the built in audio set to high, works great. No problem hearing it with OEM mufflers. On the 05 I use a radar screemer which is a great audio warning source.
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Wolfhound
Wildman
I like the X50 thru the Autocomm into custom earbuds - can't miss it, even with music . . . :good:
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Greg E.
Well-known member
Absolutely!!! I have Sirius radio on my bike and the audio from the X-50 rides right over it. You can miss the visual, but you won't miss the aural, unless you turn it off.
-GSE-
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Jagermeister
Well-known member
I've had three detectors in the past, all of which were far louder than necessary. Even my current piece-o-crap-Beltronics is more than loud enough at 1/2 volume to be heard when riding 80+mph.
Only if you're wearing earplugs will you want visual alert.
Bike Effects
Well-known member
I prefer to run it through audio. I use the Starcom. But if you want visual.....
H.A.R.D. System from Bike Effects
Please note discount information link below.
H.A.R.D. System from Bike Effects
Please note discount information link below.
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Geezer
Parsimonious Curmudgeon
FWIW, I wear earplugs and have small speakers in my helmet. I have no problem hearing my X50 with the earplugs in if I have the volume up to max.
painman
Well-known member
Don't have either to offer up but I run the Visual Alert and don't have any problem seeing it in the daylight. If looking at the road it is well seen ie. don't have to look down to see l.e.d.'s. Nightime just turn the volume down to lower light intensity. I really don't care if anyone could see the lights going off whoever that would be? The Mix it route is good as well especially if using the StarTrax or Autocomm but right now I don't like the cord to the helmet routine unless on a long trip. And keep in mind the H.A.R.D. system is battery operated and uses a small boom in the helmet. Matter of personal preference really. Hope you find the one that works for you. PM. <><
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