Starcom1 is full Duplex Full time a good idea....?

[Imapilot]

First let me say hi to the new site.  One of my old sites appears to be dying off and this looks like a healthy community .  

I am planning a ride down to deals gap from NJ next month.   And being our first ride over two hours or so together i thought it was appropriate and enrichening to get a communication system so we can talk during the trip.   I bought a Starcom1 should be here Friday.   I really hope the speakers fit in my caberg 104's as it appears they dont have pockets.....

BUT the big thing on my mind.  the starcom1 will be delivering background audio durring the trip via an Mp3 player.   But everything that is said in my helmet goes to hers and vice versa.......  No more singing to myself.  or talking like a schizophrenia patient???   I kind of wish the intercom had a push on push off intercom feature.    

Anyone else have a full time open mic?  any thoughts on the topic?

[BMW_Ken]

That is the way the Autocom intercoms operate except the microphone is theoretically not "open" all the time.  It is VOX activated on the Autocom.

[Imapilot]

i guess i can always turn the volume down,   it has a little bar mounted volume knob.  but then i loose my music too.   cranking the Vox up will at least not mute the music when one of us talks.  set it to where you need to "pop" the mike to quite the music.  I guess i'll find out

[Cablebandit]

Just use a push to talk button.  Not sure if the Starcom 1 has that feature.  The digital model does.  I have a Starcom Digital I'll probably put up for sale if you're interested.

[Imapilot]

I should have specified it is rider to pillion.  I believe the PTT only works with the bike to bike radios.  I have my new advanced showing up tomorrow but let me know what you have and what your looking to get for it.  i might still be able to return the advanced before i open it.  

[Imapilot]

Got the Starcom1 Advanced today. installed in my helmet.  I don't think it is perfect ideal placement of the speakers but it is where the pockets in my helmet are.

I feel like i'm eating the mic,  So i guess thats where it wants to be.  I wired up a battery and one helmet and took the bike out for a spin.

With earplugs in,  i could hear the music playing.  but even at home with no ambient noise i had the volume fairl high up.  when riding i got to about 60-75 before what i assume was wind noise really started coming thru and breaking up the song.  I haven't touched the mic sensitivity controls yet.

I consider myself a bit of an Speaker geek,  And with my home stereo i am constantly turning bad quality tracks down because distortion tweaks my wires.  These speakers sound to me like they are straining which makes sense with such small drivers.  

But i guess that is what they are designed to do???   I am thinking nirvana is those molded sets of ear plug speakers?    It will not be until tomorrow that i get the SO on the bike to try a conversation.  

[Andrew]

Mic is always on, Starcom is great for one person but add a pylon and you will get all the Mic all the time with music

For me it works great, but I almost never have a passenger (who has a helmet to plug in)

Buy extra cables, starcom cables really SUX , I have lost count on how many I have had to buy over the years.

P.S. I started out with the Starcom 1 and now have the Starcom Digital (Yes the sound is GREAT for the rider (no passenger)  Best I have ever tried. I use ER6i's

[Cablebandit]

Yup, in-helmet speakers suck.  Get the headset that allows for  ear buds.

[Imapilot]

My choices when buying this Starcom1 unit were this,  or the Sena SMH-10.   How does the volume output of the Sena unit compare to Starcom1 for anyone who is lucky enough to have tried both?  

[Cablebandit]

Again, if you use helmet speakers you most likely wear earplugs as well.  I've had both, and helmet speakers are inadequate.  Save yourself some frustration and just get the earbuds installed.  It will sound like the person is inside your head then.  

[Imapilot]

Do i really want my SO "inside" my head?   She tries already,  down a hall might be a bit safer mentally  

[Imapilot]

Starcom1 automatically mutes the music while you talk and then for two seconds after you stop talking.  I had the first test of the intercom with my SO.   The music never played in the whole 15min ride.  It accually became a joke because as soon as a blip of music starated up someone opened there mouth again...  

So the system does work.  Volume is not quite what i was hoping for (full face with earplugs)  I can hear them,  but if i set the speakers to a comfortable listening level it distorts the sound,  i figure they will blow eventually like that so i'll keep them low for now.   Now we just need to keep out mouths shut so we can enjoy some tunes.  It did make my solo hour ride to work go quicker.  

Also interesting observation.   If you are the type to sing to yourself in your helmet this system is not for you.  As soon as you "poorly" start singing along the music stops.