Intercom 2005 vs 2012

[SHAPPE]

Hello
Is there any difference between the intercom system in the 2005 model and the 2012 model? Experienced the system in the 2005 so bad (constant wind noise) that I bak in 2006 bought an AutoCom Super Pro AVi which I then moved to our current 2012 when we bought it. Has worked very well over the years. I am also very fond of cable systems. I don't have to worry about charging Bluetooth devices. Will be fewer things that have to be included on our long trips.

Now we're going to change helmets and I'm now thinking about J&M headsets and start using "on board intercom" on our 2012. I experience the speakers in our Autocom headset as a bit old. Probably better sound quality in newer stuff. But is the system in 2012 decisively better than in 2005?
Greetings and thanks fore advises
Anders

[kwthom]

No change in the intercom system, having owned a 2006 and now a 2016.

There was a device marketed at the time that these bikes were being sold called Mic-Mutes. This shut off the microphones, until the PTT was activated. It also used the passenger PTT circuit if a switch was incorporated. I had that second switch on my 2006; my wife rarely used it. I didn't incorporate the secondary switch system on my 2016. The system, overall, worked quite well. Don't know if one might be sourced used anywhere. Since the device was patented, not sure there's any easy way of reverse-engineering the device for a one-off build.

Yes, I moved a substantial number of parts & pieces from the 2006 onto my 2016; the Mic-Mutes worked well. Sadly, with the advent of the 2018+ not having the wired intercom system, the individual that was marketing these went out of business.

So, here's what a buddy of mine did. The only time the noise level went up when when his wife was on the bike. It's well known that the airflow tends to hit the passenger right in the face, aws they sit on the bike slightly higher than the rider, while using a stock windscreen. If they wear any type of open-faced helmet (or a modular with the chin bar up), the air hits that mic first. He made a modification to her helmet, and incorporated a switch for the mic line. If she's not chatting, she does the switching of her mic on or off. The rider still has his mic on all the time, so it's a 1-way link.

There is another method, and that is to get a different windscreen. I'm currently using a laminar flow screen, made by Madstad Engineering, out of Florida. I managed to get mine used, but in great condition. Adjusting this was able to get the airflow adjusted so that it wasn't directly on my wife's face and striking the mic while her chin bar is up.

Hope that explains it.

EDIT: If you're continuing to deal with the Autocom, lookk up a place in the UK called 'ChainSpeed'. Apparently, one of the principals (Sam) used to be a key technical worker at Autocom. Good luck!

[SHAPPE]

Thank you very much for this message. Good to know before spending $$$ on various equipment that then might turn out to be a waste of money. Then I will stick to my current Autocom which has an excellent VOX system built-in. Maybe try to change speakers. However, it requires some research what type of speaker Autocom has in their headsets. Unfortunately, it seems that even they have to give up now that Sena, Cardo and a plethora of other players are completely on the Bluetooth line. We old cable enthusiasts are a dying species.
Thanks again
Anders

[kwthom]

Thank you very much for this message. Good to know before spending $$$ on various equipment that then might turn out to be a waste of money. Then I will stick to my current Autocom which has an excellent VOX system built-in. Maybe try to change speakers. However, it requires some research what type of speaker Autocom has in their headsets. Unfortunately, it seems that even they have to give up now that Sena, Cardo and a plethora of other players are completely on the Bluetooth line. We old cable enthusiasts are a dying species.
Thanks again
Anders

If you're continuing to deal with the Autocom, lookk up a place in the UK called 'ChainSpeed'. Apparently, one of the principals (Sam) used to be a key technical worker at Autocom. Good luck!

[kwthom]

I was in that mode of being a cable enthusiast...until the company that *I* was using went out of business during the early days of the pandemic.

Honestly, *I* was okay with being tethered to the bike, my wife wasn't. I was also not impressed with the audio clarity of the major player in the wired motorcycle audio sphere in this day and age. Something more like a limitation with the electronics of the bike. So, I chose to move on from wired gear. Yes, I *live* in the town that major player in the wired motorcycle audio started and builds equipment in today.

I was able to reclaim a small portion of the cost of going BT by selling off the remaining parts and pieces to others that want to hang on to that older (and yes still useful) technology.

Now, I will admit it did take a bit to get things figured out, but once I did...it works. Now, since my wife and I do long days in the saddle, it does take a bit of effort to manage the power of a BT headset.

I'm not really trying to convince you to go one way or another, but I went into the deal with an open mind. If it didn't work, there was the ability of reversing the process, and going back to a wire.

Good luck.