CAJW
Well-known member
Let me preface this rant in clarifying that I HATE wires,hate em'. Rant on - I'd used a Collett Communicator for about 6 years with varying degrees of success in getting a decent balance of VOX two way communications, bike to bike and so so helmet speakers that I played my GPS MP3 unit through with wires. Their units worked ok, but needed "freshening up" about every 2 years or so, but since only shipping was involved, it was tolerable. About a year ago, I learned that Collett had gone Tango Uniform and was no longer available to supply parts or repairs. Ever since, I've been researching radios to meet my specs as I've committed aviation for many years and know how a good VOX system is supposed to work. My closest hit to this mark was the Collett, but since they're gone I've been looking for a replacement. I have a list of wants that many units out there possess maybe 50-75% of these characteristics, but none of any I've researched seem to hit the bulls eye. I thought I'd found the unit that closest meets my requirements in the Chatterbox, but sadly after trying out their latest and greatest today, I'm throwing in the towel and going back to a Campbells' soup can and string!
The X1 Slim seemed like a good fit, but alas, it clips conversations as the VOX won't open without shouting, even with max sensitivity, then it holds the mic open for about 3 -5 seconds which is long enough to make me forget what I was going to tell the wife! The speaker sound quality is crap, distorted and then a triple tone starts going off to indicate a phone call is coming in, even when the phone is turned off! This annoying tone continues until you turn off the unit and reboot. In 5 attempts, I got one ph call to work, only change was I turned the unit off and rebooted. The wife's unit did the same thing whereas she had to turn her's off due to the same annoying tones continuing. We tried different channels, settings etc.. but no consistency in operation. Music played via bluetooth from my phone was ok, but when I piped it in from my GPS, it was so distorted that it was unrecognizable as was many of the clipped conversations with the Mrs. so the X1 Slim is going back. This is after I'd spent many hours fiddling with their lower priced model the Xbi2 which paired up better and worked better with my 2820, but the wind noise and lack of an adjustable VOX killed that unit's contention so back it went. I'd already sent the Xbi2 back directly to Chatterbox to assure it was up to factory specs, but the wind noise and echo in both headsets persisted. I was told that the echo in the side tone was normal, but I told the tech that is NOT normal and was a fault of their unit if that is how they designed it to work. As one can see, (if you're still reading this) I'm a tad peeved that we can send a man to the moon in 1969 with a Commodore 64 as his wingman, but we can't get a BT radio set up to work on a motorcycle. WTF!!!!
Here's my list that really shouldn't be that difficult to attain in one unit and I'm sure that the 2 wheeled public would beat a path to whoever s door that produced such a product. All the riders who have different units (or even the Chatterbox) and like them, I'm happy for ya, guess I'm just spoiled using aircraft quality avionics for 20 years. One would think that type of technology would find it's way into our 2 wheel world, but alas, I'm still looking. Maybe one of the forum's techno types would like to tackle this, but it's nuts that this technology isn't in one package by now. If I've missed something on the market that satisfies the list below, please let me know!
Rant off-
List of requirements.
Waterproof/ rugged enough for dual sport use (short rubber duck antenna etc..)
Able to communicate with FRS/GMRS
Blue tooth to include stereo connections to phone, gps/mp3 player, with additional input for Radar
5 mile range
Adjustable VOX, with no need to toggle between music or ICS, which would be active all the time
Li-po battery (replaceable), with 10 hr. talk time
BT (wireless) ICS (intercom system)
Music mute when ICS, ph call or GPS directions activated
Share stereo music between rider & pillion and/or separate music inputs
AVRCP (Audio/Video Remote Control Profile)
Stereo BT compatible with Droid, Iphone, Blackberry, etc.. and wide range of GPS units
Software upgrade via usb port
Selectable audio priority, i.e. RD overlays phone call, which trumps ICS or music. Ability to change priority.
12 V charger capable of charging while unit is in use.
Unlimited number of units on frequency
U.S. Manufacturer with good Customer Service
3 + year warranty
3.5mm jack for using earbuds if desired, plug and play headsets, (ideally noise cancelling)
Tactile buttons, Operable with gloved hand
Small profile unit, easily detachable, self contained (with internal battery) mounted to helmet
Infinitely adjustable volume, from 0 to 10 linear in adjustment
Quality speakers that fit in small ear pockets afforded in helmets, i.e. Shoei
Did I mention, NO WIRES?
The X1 Slim seemed like a good fit, but alas, it clips conversations as the VOX won't open without shouting, even with max sensitivity, then it holds the mic open for about 3 -5 seconds which is long enough to make me forget what I was going to tell the wife! The speaker sound quality is crap, distorted and then a triple tone starts going off to indicate a phone call is coming in, even when the phone is turned off! This annoying tone continues until you turn off the unit and reboot. In 5 attempts, I got one ph call to work, only change was I turned the unit off and rebooted. The wife's unit did the same thing whereas she had to turn her's off due to the same annoying tones continuing. We tried different channels, settings etc.. but no consistency in operation. Music played via bluetooth from my phone was ok, but when I piped it in from my GPS, it was so distorted that it was unrecognizable as was many of the clipped conversations with the Mrs. so the X1 Slim is going back. This is after I'd spent many hours fiddling with their lower priced model the Xbi2 which paired up better and worked better with my 2820, but the wind noise and lack of an adjustable VOX killed that unit's contention so back it went. I'd already sent the Xbi2 back directly to Chatterbox to assure it was up to factory specs, but the wind noise and echo in both headsets persisted. I was told that the echo in the side tone was normal, but I told the tech that is NOT normal and was a fault of their unit if that is how they designed it to work. As one can see, (if you're still reading this) I'm a tad peeved that we can send a man to the moon in 1969 with a Commodore 64 as his wingman, but we can't get a BT radio set up to work on a motorcycle. WTF!!!!
Here's my list that really shouldn't be that difficult to attain in one unit and I'm sure that the 2 wheeled public would beat a path to whoever s door that produced such a product. All the riders who have different units (or even the Chatterbox) and like them, I'm happy for ya, guess I'm just spoiled using aircraft quality avionics for 20 years. One would think that type of technology would find it's way into our 2 wheel world, but alas, I'm still looking. Maybe one of the forum's techno types would like to tackle this, but it's nuts that this technology isn't in one package by now. If I've missed something on the market that satisfies the list below, please let me know!
Rant off-
List of requirements.
Waterproof/ rugged enough for dual sport use (short rubber duck antenna etc..)
Able to communicate with FRS/GMRS
Blue tooth to include stereo connections to phone, gps/mp3 player, with additional input for Radar
5 mile range
Adjustable VOX, with no need to toggle between music or ICS, which would be active all the time
Li-po battery (replaceable), with 10 hr. talk time
BT (wireless) ICS (intercom system)
Music mute when ICS, ph call or GPS directions activated
Share stereo music between rider & pillion and/or separate music inputs
AVRCP (Audio/Video Remote Control Profile)
Stereo BT compatible with Droid, Iphone, Blackberry, etc.. and wide range of GPS units
Software upgrade via usb port
Selectable audio priority, i.e. RD overlays phone call, which trumps ICS or music. Ability to change priority.
12 V charger capable of charging while unit is in use.
Unlimited number of units on frequency
U.S. Manufacturer with good Customer Service
3 + year warranty
3.5mm jack for using earbuds if desired, plug and play headsets, (ideally noise cancelling)
Tactile buttons, Operable with gloved hand
Small profile unit, easily detachable, self contained (with internal battery) mounted to helmet
Infinitely adjustable volume, from 0 to 10 linear in adjustment
Quality speakers that fit in small ear pockets afforded in helmets, i.e. Shoei
Did I mention, NO WIRES?
h34r: 
