Bike to Bike Bluetooth

General discussion of the BMW R1200RT/R1250RT
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MikeS
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Bike to Bike Bluetooth

Post by MikeS »

Just looking for for a bit of info/ recommendation on what systems people are using for bike to bike bluetooth comms.

My friend has recently rejoined the biking world and wants to go out for a few rides early next year, he's keen to have some form of bike to bike communcation. It's probably time to upgrade my Sena SMH 5 and so I'd be happy to halves on a duo pack ( or whatever the term is).


Ideally don't want to spend too much in excess of £300 for the pair but could increase the budget if somethings highly recommended.


Tried looking at reviews on YouTube but to be honest it was information overload. Rather hear from people on the forum that have spent their own cash on the products.


Thanks


Mike
Last edited by MikeS on Sun Nov 24, 2019 1:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Casbar
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Re: Bike to Bike Bluetooth

Post by Casbar »

I've had a Pactalk Bold for around 5 years now, been faultless, there is a new Bold out now and there is a re-seller on this forum. I use it for Bike to Bike and have found it very good in DMC mode, which is mesh network. People seem to either be Sena or Scala fans, so guess I'm in the Scala group
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Re: Bike to Bike Bluetooth

Post by MikeS »

Forgive my ignorance. What is MESH network?
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Re: Bike to Bike Bluetooth

Post by BoB21 »

Use interphone myself bulky unit but buttons easy to find, easy to use and its ip67 waterproof some are not.also long battery life can charge on go as well.
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Re: Bike to Bike Bluetooth

Post by Casbar »

MikeS wrote: Forgive my ignorance. What is MESH network?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ef8D8IiVNY
MikeS
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Re: Bike to Bike Bluetooth

Post by MikeS »

Thanks, need to do a bit more research. Things seem to have moved on.


Is there any advantage when there's just two of you rather than fifteen?  Is it all about the ability to reconnect automatically?
Last edited by MikeS on Sun Nov 24, 2019 4:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Casbar
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Re: Bike to Bike Bluetooth

Post by Casbar »

MikeS wrote: Thanks, need to do a bit more research. Things seem to have moved on.


Is there any advantage when there's just two of you rather than fifteen?  Is it all about the ability to reconnect automatically?

I think it is clearer than just bluetooth and if you setup two of you in a group, it just seems to connect as soon as you activate the group. I use DMC all the time, even for rider to pillion comms. It was a lot better than my old Scala, but that just could be the tech has moved on. The Sena and Scala are probably equal if you buy the top spec sets. I have never owned a Sena
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Re: Bike to Bike Bluetooth

Post by Arek »

One more for Cardo packtalk. Great units. No issues at all. I have 3 of them for entire family. No matter which ones at this moment online connection is instant and fully automatically.Rider - pilion or rider - rider. doeasn't really matter.
Had before Interphone Tour. However after replace two sets of helmet headsets I gave up. maybe I used it to extensive, or just the idea of having detachable cable with socket did not worked for me.Also my Interphone very often lost connection between units when I used it with my navigation (TomTom Rider 550). Whcih did not happen ever with Cardo later on.
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Re: Bike to Bike Bluetooth

Post by PeteM »

Casbar wrote: People seem to either be Sena or Scala fans, so guess I'm in the Scala group

I think that is because they don't play well together. I bought a Shoei Neotec II and as I was thinking about new comms bought the Sena SRL dedicated comms and an S20 evo for my wife, about the same time my mate upgraded his Scala kit. We can talk but it is not possible for me to call him, he has to call me.


So my advice would be to check what anyone else you might want to talk to is using and go for that. If there is no one else go for which ever of those two makes you fancy.


For what is worth I am really impressed with the S20 evo, not only is it good sound (all the decent makes pretty much are),it is very easy to control with gloves on which is not true of all units.
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Re: Bike to Bike Bluetooth

Post by beemerboy9 »

MikeS wrote: Just looking for for a bit of info/ recommendation on what systems people are using for bike to bike bluetooth comms.

My friend has recently rejoined the biking world and wants to go out for a few rides early next year, he's keen to have some form of bike to bike communcation. It's probably time to upgrade my Sena SMH 5 and so I'd be happy to halves on a duo pack ( or whatever the term is).


Ideally don't want to spend too much in excess of £300 for the pair but could increase the budget if somethings highly recommended.


Tried looking at reviews on YouTube but to be honest it was information overload. Rather hear from people on the forum that have spent their own cash on the products.


Thanks


Mike

I would go for something with Mesh functionality as the range is greater and also not so rigidly "line-of-sight" as a Bluetooth connection.


Cardo or Sena or Interphone - take your pick. Maybe support your local retailer but ...


... the best bargains are to be had at the motorcycle shows - I heard 30% off at the NEC.


Although the integrated comms are a super-elegant solution, that big investment can't easily be moved between one brand of helmet and another.
Last edited by beemerboy9 on Tue Nov 26, 2019 9:52 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Bike to Bike Bluetooth

Post by Gogs11uk »

Hi, I'm a lover of the Interfone systems. Been using an XT3 and an XT5 for a few years now and they work well. Just upgraded mine to the newer Tour version and all ok so far.
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Re: Bike to Bike Bluetooth

Post by MikeS »

Thanks for the helpful replies. Back to YouTube now I've got a bit more insight.


Mike

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Re: Bike to Bike Bluetooth

Post by AwesomeDad »

MikeS wrote: Thanks for the helpful replies. Back to YouTube now I've got a bit more insight.


Mike
I just picked up a dual pack of the Cardo SmartH cheaper than just the single Pactalk units and latest firmware added more riders to the network...
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