Intercom hiss

[dtrider]

Ever since I got my bike (2012 Gl1800) I've noticed a hiss when the intercom was turned on. When I'm riding solo I turn the intercom off and the hiss goes away. I always figured that it was because of an open mic and was just something that I would have to live with. However since I recently got some molded ear buds, I also picked up an adapter that lets me plug them into the bike without the headset cable (lets me use them with my non-headset helmet). The hiss is still there even with no mic attached.

The hiss is only present when the intercom is turned on, and it doesn't change with engine speed or anything else. I wouldn't think that this would be a ground-loop problem, but what do I know. It's not a really big deal, but it might be nice if I could get rid of it. Any thoughts?

[eagle1wing]

I had the same problem on my 2012 GL 1800. It was more noticeable when the iPod was playing. My wife and I wear modular helmets and air comes up from around the neck. I put a second wind sock over the mic and turned to Intercom Mute down so only 1 bar was showing. That took care of it. Hope it works for you.

[dtrider]

I've thought about trying different socks since I do hear a little wind noise when my wife is on the bike, but in this situation I'm talking about a hiss that is there regardless of if the mic is even connected. If I turn the intercom off the hiss goes away, but if the intercom is on, the hiss is there even with no mic.

[WingAdmin]

For whatever reason, Honda decided that the microphone Goldwing's intercom should be open (hot) at all times. There is no muting circuitry. WHY they would not put a voice-activated muting system on it, so that the headsets don't continually pump amplified road and wind noise into your ears, is beyond me. Why does Honda do a lot of things?

You might want to look into the Mic Mutes product, which is an aftermarket microphone muting system.

[Wayne]

OP says the noise is there without a mic, using earbuds without mic. MicMutes will do nothing for him. What is being heard is more than probably amplifier white noise. All Honda intercoms have this problem to some degree. Due to mic amplifier being on all the time when using intercom, unlike a vox circuit which is turned on by the mic audio. When people switch from inefficient headset speakers to anything better I hear a lot of complaints about the white noise, especially from passengers who generally have better hearing than their partners. Wearing earbuds and using very efficient speakers really enhances the problem. No cure except going bluetooth or trade for M/C with vox system.

[WingAdmin]

OP says the noise is there without a mic, using earbuds without mic. MicMutes will do nothing for him. What is being heard is more than probably amplifier white noise. All Honda intercoms have this problem to some degree. Due to mic amplifier being on all the time when using intercom, unlike a vox circuit which is turned on by the mic audio. When people switch from inefficient headset speakers to anything better I hear a lot of complaints about the white noise, especially from passengers who generally have better hearing than their partners. Wearing earbuds and using very efficient speakers really enhances the problem. No cure except going bluetooth or trade for M/C with vox system.

Yeah, I had wondered if that was what he was talking about, but I figured with headphones attached, he more than likely also had a microphone attached.

The intercom amp is quite noisy, and is not well shielded from external noise either. Honda could really have done a much better job with the intercom on the Goldwing.

[PastoT]

DT, my 02 has the same white noise regardless of what I connect, even with nothing. Might help to turn down the treble a bit (makes it tolerable for me) but the noise is there regardless from the moment you turn on the intercom circuit. I chose to reroute my injected sources (radar detector/GPS) to the input on my GL2Way CB aux input that has less white noise. The intercom circuit is full of noise in our radios; have you noticed the horrid noises when you tap on the shelter (or drop the fuel door shut) with the intercom on?

[dtrider]

It's not horrible, but it is noticible. However I can pretty much ignore it after a few minutes of music. I was hoping that there would be an easy fix without having to tear into the electrical system and re-route everything. From what WA mentions, it sounds like even re-routing wouldn't be a guaranteed fix. I'll probably just learn to live with it.

[Steve F]

DT, my 02 has the same white noise regardless of what I connect, even with nothing. Might help to turn down the treble a bit (makes it tolerable for me) but the noise is there regardless from the moment you turn on the intercom circuit. I chose to reroute my injected sources (radar detector/GPS) to the input on my GL2Way CB aux input that has less white noise. The intercom circuit is full of noise in our radios; have you noticed the horrid noises when you tap on the shelter (or drop the fuel door shut) with the intercom on?

LarryM operates Wingconnect and specializes in GL1800 audio systems repairs and upgrades. He calls this problem "microphonics" and is something he fixed on my system along with an audio upgrade. Not sure if he has found a fix for the "hiss" though. Email him about it and see if there is something he can do.
http://www.wingconnect.com/

[Wayne]

2012 does not have the microphonics or whatever you want to call it, only 2003 and older had it. the Hiss goes back to the 1980 intercom and has always been an aggravation.

[WingAdmin]

Microphonics refers to the result of very poor design practice where electronic parts that can transduce mechanical energy into electrical energy (i.e. inductors/coils) are used in the preamp section of an amplifier. These components certainly perform their intended design purpose, but have the unwanted side effect of translating mechanical vibration into electrical signals, which is then amplified by the preamp.

[redial]

And here I was thinking that I had tinnitus (ringing in the ears)