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You're right! Wow - that is strange. Everything else in the package is identical (except the cover of the User Manual). I wonder why a USB power cord would have a 3 circuit pin?Quote:
Originally Posted by ChinaV
Yes, the MP3 plays in stereo through the BT unit (using the included cable that attaches your player to the rear of the mounting bracket on the helmet).
guys in motorfans.com.cn recommend using this:
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=10244389190
Just to chime in with a quick remark : I glued the Cardo system on both my Bell Helmet and my gf's helmet. On mine the mount came loose after 2-3 months, it had unglued (if that's a word...) ! I just stuck it back, pressing on it for some minutes, and now it has been ok for 2 weeks, but I'm not really confident it will hold for a long time... Maybe related to the wet weather in Shanghai ?Quote:
Originally Posted by ChinaV
Did someone experience the same problem ?
Hi Fred - read your post & them went to check my glued mount - mine seems fine, but you've given me something to worry about. It would be a huge bummer if that thing flew off while riding. I doubt it would survive being bounced around the tarmac.
Lao Jia Hou, I need to precise : when it came off, I was pulling the microphone from under my full face helmet so that I could remove the helmet. It's still not supposed to come off so easily after being glued, especially considering I'm always very gentle when bending the microphone to put it under the helmet (near my mouth) or removing it from there, but at least it didn't fall off while riding !
When it unglued, I checked the part still on the helmet, and it was still sticky enough to decide to stick it again. I'm now even more gentle when bending the mike, keeping 1 finger on the base of the system to be sure it doesn't come off, but I don't think I could lose it while riding, except of course if I crash on it ! ;-))
If the plate unglued itself while riding i reckon the cables that connect the two ear pieces to the unit would keep it hanging from the helmet, at least long enough for you to stop and deal with it!
Good point - one less thing to worry about ... kinda.Quote:
Originally Posted by felix
Time to give something back to the community.
I finally had the chance to properly test this bluetooth intercom system on a one week ride two-up with my Panda. I bought a pair with 500m range for just under 900 yuan.
http://img01.taobaocdn.com/imgextra/...!!64496619.jpg
The good:
They work.
They both easily installed on our helmets using the screw clamp, no need to glue anything on.
The bad:
The real range is about 20m, even with clear sight between the units. I don't know if i got some bad ones, but communication breaks down very fast at small distances.
Lots of noise in my ears, especially annoying at high speeds. The mic from the other helmet picks up everything and blasts it into my ears, with a slight delay. That means when me and the panda are sitting on the bike and someone is talking to me, i can hear them twice and can't understand what they are saying.
Can't hear each other at high speed (70kph and up)
Battery doesn't last a full day of riding, get about 7 - 8 hours before they die.
There's more bad than good and frankly i don't know if they are worth the money, but here's the thing; it was an absolute pleasure to have them anyway. For the first time i was able to talk to my girlfriend whilst riding and it was just really nice! Even with all the wind noise and other annoyances, without them i would have missed such gems as: (i don't censor my girlfriend, read at your own risk)
'that tree looks like massive vagina'
'those rocks are such dicks, they're like "i'm a big fucking rock and i'm just gonna be here and nobody gonna move me" '
'dragon flies can suck my ass'
Honestly i never want to ride with panda again without hearing what she has to say. For that reason alone i'm happy i bought the intercom.
By the way, there were questions earlier in the thread about charging these things via USB. It can be done. I bought two of these on taobao and used them every night to charge the units off my laptop. Same connection, same output, works just fine and saves lots of space!
Great review, Felix.Quote:
Originally Posted by felix
I can guess where the panda learned her English. Say, you sure those aren't just your own comments coming back after a particularly long bluetooth delay?
I'll say again, that model you've pictured is a dead ringer copy of the Cardo system I used with ryanjpyle prior to his long ride brotherly ride, so identical in fact that I figured the Cardo is made in China and these are coming from the same factory. But the performance is very different. The Cardos have almost no wind sound, and provide very clear connections up to several hundred meters, even without line of sight. During periods when we were not talking, but had the units on, they were silent, apart from the standard noise inside the helmet, of course. So I was often startled when Ryan's voice would suddenly appear as if from nowhere.
I'm hoping you got a bad set, as I've been wanting to get a pair myself. Is there any chance of warranty service?
Has anyone else tried this Taobao set?
cheers!
Felix - sorry to hear about your experience.
I have the same set and have found them to be reasonably quiet. I tuck the mic under the chin curtain in my full face helmet with the flat part of the mic pointed to my mouth, as does my sweety. When she wears an open faced helmet (with a face shield), I get a lot of wind noise from her set. When she wears a full face, the wind noise is minimal.
Distance? Never really measured it, although we've been separated at different intersections (whatever the distance would be between two major intersections) and the units have worked.
Duration? Again, never measured it, as I don't really use them for more than a few hours at a time.
Frankly, though, you get what you pay for. After owning them for a few months, I find that I rarely use them because most of my riding partners do not have an intercom system.
One annoyance that I haven't quite figured out is the auto-telephone-answer. If I am using bluetooth to listen to tunes (from my Nokia phone) on long stretches, and my phone rings, it automatically answers it. I wish it wouldn't do that - too many cold calls from people trying to sell something. Because I usually have the mic positioned outside the helmet when I am not using it as an intercom, whomever calls undoubtedly gets a blast of wind until I manage to tuck the mic by my mouth.
Dear LJH,
Regarding the phone calls, when I use the Cardo system, I have both the Cardo and my iPhone syncing with my GPS, in my case a Garmin Zumo 660. When a call comes in I can see it on my GPS screen, and can answer by touching the screen with a gloved finger. Or decline to answer it. The phone is tucked away in my pocket undisturbed (although this runs down its power pretty fast).
Not sure if you can engineer a similar setup, but this potentially could end your auto-answer problem.
cheers
Well i guess maybe i got a shit pair. Wouldn't count on any kind of warranty if they have your money already.
The process you describe of syncing all those things already sounds too complicated for you, how the hell will LJH do it?
Has anybody already tried HBs suggestion?Quote:
Originally Posted by humanbeing
http://www.buhel.com/en/img/reception.png
HELMET COMMUNICATION SYSTEM D01
UNIVERSAL WIRELESS COM SYSTEM FOR HELMETS BLUETOOTH®
Buhel D01 helmet communication system is a totally new concept in Bluetooth® handsfree
helmet communications.
Using a revolutionary vibration driver, patented, Buhel D01 induces the helmet shell itself
to create a robust, clear, 3D-like audio inside the helmet.
Buhel D01 allows you to phone, listen the music and get gps informations with any ears covering helmet.
Buhel D01 can be fitted directly to the outside of the helmet without any further assembly operation,
as it has no wires and no earphones. Buhel D01 can be removed at any time just pulling,
so no risks when you leave your helmet locked to the motorcycle.
http://www.buhel.com/en/img/d01_group.jpeg
BUHEL D01
can be connected to Bluetooth® enabled cellular phones, mp3 devices and gps..
can be used on all kinds of helmets ears covering.
is very easy to fit. It has no wires and no earphones, so it can be fitted directly to the outside of the helmet without any further assembly operation.
has two heavy-duty, noise cancelling microphones that virtually eliminate wind noise.
allows you to manage very easily several helmets with only one device
can be fully removed from the helmet just pulling.
Pretty cool idea. Turning the whole shell into a speaker sounds cool as balls.
Only gripes are that it can't be used as helmet-helmet intercom, only phone-helmet system, and the only review on amazon says the sound is rubbish above 50kph.
Sounds perfect for the Changjiangs. Your fellow rider is already on your bike (so no need for helmet-helmet intercom)....Quote:
Originally Posted by felix
and the 50kph issue is certainly not a problem for that machine! :poke haha
But I'm thinking. You know these guys who love to put speakers all over their bikes to share their music with the rest of the world when riding? Particularly at stoplights? Well I'm wondering what happens if use use this "Bone Conduction Technology" and extend it throughout the whole bike, not just the shell of the helmet?
If I can get the tech to work in this manner, I won't need to do this to the JH600 - see below (The speaker project has been on my to-do list for some time):
Attachment 11734
Haha, 'bone' conduction through the seat, genius! I'm pretty sure i've never listened to music through my knob before.