Updated helmet comms advice

[GraemeW]

I am looking to get some comms for my helmet for passenger comms, sat nav. music from iPhone and possibly talking to other drivers. Ive looked through various historical threads and there's some good advice there, but some of this is 4 or 5 years old. Has it changed with newer products etc?

I was wondering what the current recommended solution is to the requirement above? Anyone recently bought anything for this, that they can recommend? Most of the older threads recommend various Sena or Cardo solutions

Thanks

[Hedge]

The Missenden Flyer was championing a set up recently. Cannae recall which, I’ll look it up. Looked trick, though.

Cheers,
Hedge.

[GraemeW]

Thanks Hedge. Think I found it; the Cardo Packtalk Bold? The DMC mesh technology looks good for group rides, but it requires all to have it and wearing of helmets. This isn't alway the case as weather and type of trip dictates. It would be great on a longer European trip. Have you used them on earlier trips? My one and only trip to Portugal we just used walkie talkies

[PaulF]

I've got a Sena 20S evo on my helmet (bluetooth connection to my phone) and a Sena 5 on a passenger helmet. Works decently well on low speeds and has good battery life, but over 80 kph (50 mph) wind noise blocks all conversation. Can still hear my phone's sat nav over the bluetooth though.

[dunny]

Hi Graeme,
George (deepdiver) has this job weighed up and already use throat mics to get past (i presume ) wind noise at high speed.I am sure he would give you the low down. I must get a set myself.
D.

[Fastlane]

I bought the Cardo Q1 Teamset nearly new from Amazon for £62. Used it a couple of weeks ago with a friend for a day out in the Atom, both wearing helmets. The noise cancellation works well even at speed (80mph+).

[autobackup]

You might consider having a look at the Stilo DG WRC kit - quite expensive but absolutely fantastic - I use the noise cancelling headsets but there are helmet kits available.

My passenger and I could converse normally with each other while doing over 160mph down the straight at Silverstone!

[GraemeW]

Thanks all

[Hedge]

I bought the Cardo Q1 Teamset nearly new from Amazon for £62.+).

62 sheets is a billy bargain. I’ve just looked & they’re 145 on Amazon at the mo.

Cheers,
Hedge

[Fastlane]

I bought the Cardo Q1 Teamset nearly new from Amazon for £62.+).

62 sheets is a billy bargain. I’ve just looked & they’re 145 on Amazon at the mo.

Cheers,
Hedge

It was, but the £145 is a bit silly as they are quite old now - they came out in 2013 and have long since been replaced by newer models.

[Hedge]

You might consider having a look at the Stilo DG WRC kit - quite expensive but absolutely fantastic - I use the noise cancelling headsets but there are helmet kits available

These are fab. I've got the headsets in the Nomad, works brilliantly. The sole downside is that the non wireless (much better) set up for the lids isn't waterproof.

Cheers,
Hedge

[autobackup]

Hedge

I have mounted my Stilo DG10 WRC controller using velcro and always carry a 'ZipLock' plastic bag so if, and when, it rains I simply pull off the controller and put it in the ZipLock bag (the buttons are still usable) and place it somewhere with the zip at the bottom (i.e hanging down) and the rain just runs off without harming/affecting the controller!!

In the photo below you can see the plate the Stilo is mounted on using velcro plus the ZipLock bag (red zip) peeking out from where it is handily stored should I get caught out in the rain!

The only downside (as these units are built for LHD cars) I have to use the co-drivers lead to connect to my headset i.e so the press button controls on the right hand side of the controller head are the controls for my headset!

Post edit - It connects flawlessly to both my phone for music and my TomTom Rider 550 via Bluetooth - but NOT at the same time!

It defaults to voice guidance from the TomTom but if I want to listen to music I have to put the TomTom to sleep first and then connect my phone manually via Bluetooth - once the music is running I can turn the TomTom back on and simply use visual guidance (ie. no voice turn by turn instructions).

This is how I usually use it - with music and use the TomTom to navigate visually!

[Hedge]

Thanks, Mr. ABU. Mine shall be going into the A4 so I’ll let Ariel decide where’s best to locate it. I’ve not ordered twat nav so that’s one less issue to deal with. No rush yet, though she’s in build.

Interesting solution to the potential water ingress conundrum. Thanks

Cheers,
Hedge

[autobackup]

Hedge

The main reason for having the 'twat nav' is to plan exciting mountain drives - for which the TomTom Rider 550 is absolutely brilliant - and not for navigating from A to B something, for which, there is little call for in Cyprus!

In conjunction with MyRoute Gold I can easily plan a mountain drive on my desktop computer using my 35" hi-def monitor and then simply send it by wifi direct to my TomTom 550 with a click of a button via the MyRoute Drive cloud - it simply appears in the TomTom 'available routes' next time I start up my Atom!

In the images below you can see the 'back roads' route that I created in MyRoute Gold on my desktop for MSG from Thruxton to the Bicester Hotel for this year and uploaded into the Ariel Club routes dbase for the use of anyone who wished to use it
- the second image shows all the available Map types available for both TomTom and Garmin devices.
- the third image shows all the file types available for export including (at the bottom of the list) the link to the MyRoute Gold MyDrive Cloud (Beta)

[Hedge]

Aye, I’ve had twat nav in previous Atoms. Decided to go without for this one It was dead useful in the Nomad though, in terms of seeking off road routes.

Not too many mountains to navigate round here in the South East, regrettably

Cheers,
Hedge