i have a chatter box question

I'm sure you guys have talked about this before and I am sorry, but I was wondering if or how they work

Originally Posted by TheShowOff

I'm sure you guys have talked about this before and I am sorry, but I was wondering if or how they work

There are always at least 3 riders in my riding group and we all use Chatterboxs. The X2 models seem to be the best compromise for features and price. Nothing says, hey, check out the size of those...... like a bike to bike communicator. It also saved us the other day when a moron decided to turn around on a single lane street right in the middle of a blind turn. The first guy ran wide and radioed to slow down. I was no. 2 and got the warning just in time. They work great up to about 65mph, then it becomes a strain to listen. The vox system works good, until you go WFO, then it keys down on it's own. I also like not having to remove any wires from the helmet when getting off the bike.

[CBR929RE]

Originally Posted by ULEWZ

There are always at least 3 riders in my riding group and we all use Chatterboxs. The X2 models seem to be the best compromise for features and price. Nothing says, hey, check out the size of those...... like a bike to bike communicator. It also saved us the other day when a moron decided to turn around on a single lane street right in the middle of a blind turn. The first guy ran wide and radioed to slow down. I was no. 2 and got the warning just in time. They work great up to about 65mph, then it becomes a strain to listen. The vox system works good, until you go WFO, then it keys down on it's own. I also like not having to remove any wires from the helmet when getting off the bike.

me and my friends have always wanted something like this but the question we came up with is, can you all talk to each at the same time? or more specifically can you talk to the group rather than just one other rider at a time?

That's an easier question to answer if we know what kind of lid you have.

If you have a quiet helmet, they work great. If you have a cheap lid that's noisy, they aren't worth crap.

You can either have them in VOX mode (voice operated) or PTT (push to talk). Personally, I prefer VOX, but others prefer PTT.

If you don't have a quiet helmet, you are better off with PTT mode, but remember the wind noise affects the sound quality.

I use an MP3 player with mine and love it, even with Wifey plugged into my headset.

Edit:, ""Talk to each at the same time?"" If you speak and are all on the same channel, all can hear you. However, if two people speak at the same time, the squelch can be deafening to all listening.

[CBR929RE]

Originally Posted by Newfie TLR

That's an easier question to answer if we know what kind of lid you have.

If you have a quiet helmet, they work great. If you have a cheap lid that's noisy, they aren't worth crap.

You can either have them in VOX mode (voice operated) or PTT (push to talk). Personally, I prefer VOX, but others prefer PTT.

If you don't have a quiet helmet, you are better off with PTT mode, but remember the wind noise affects the sound quality.

I use an MP3 player with mine and love it, even with Wifey plugged into my headset.

Edit:, ""Talk to each at the same time?"" If you speak and are all on the same channel, all can hear you. However, if two people speak at the same time, the squelch can be deafening to all listening.

yeah I meant just like be able to talk as a group not really everyone talking at the same time cause that doesn't even work when you're all standing in the same area. thats good to know.

While you're researching these, take a look at Collett's Communicators . They aren't compatible with Chatterbox frequencies but they work quite well. My group of friends have used up to 6 at the same time without trouble. VOX works well and it's loud enough that even with earplugs you can hear it at highway speeds (including one of my friends who wears hearing aids when not wearing earplugs while riding).

One thing to remember, at first it's a fairly big distraction from riding. Takes a little while to get your brain trained to stay focused on riding. But once you get use to them, they work great for warning riders (like CBR929RE's example).

We don't constantly talk while on the ride, but mostly:
Just after a close moment,
Where shall we stop,
Hey where did you guys go,
Is my bike smoking? ETC.
We usually go over a month without needing to recharge the batteries.

I'm in the pro-communicator camp...they can really add to the enjoyment of group riding...

The Chatterbox is a mid-grade solution, AutoComm is better. Take a hard look at it before you make a purchase decision.

thank you for your help i will look at all the opions for me and my friends, does anyone know of any kind of deal if i order 7 sets?

I would have gone a different route than Chatterbox had I known the VOX feature on them was a joke. If you get the Chatterbox units make sure you have the PTT remote switch included.

More here...
http://www.fireblades.org/forums/sho...ght=chatterbox

Originally Posted by TheShowOff

thank you for your help i will look at all the opions for me and my friends, does anyone know of any kind of deal if i order 7 sets?

Collett Electronics sells them for a discount ($20 I think) if you order 6 or more. Plus they will give you a club channel just for you group of communicators free. They are 2 channel communicators, so you get the standard channel plus instead of just getting channel 2, you get a frequency only programmed into the 7 you buy.

Looks like they are also throwing in either a second battery pack or passenger intercom until mid-october.

Originally Posted by cbr99xx

I would have gone a different route than Chatterbox had I known the VOX feature on them was a joke. If you get the Chatterbox units make sure you have the PTT remote switch included.

More here...
http://www.fireblades.org/forums/sho...ght=chatterbox

This was very true on the old X2 models as they didn't have the dual, noise cancelling mics. It will also not work properly if your mic is not placed directly inline with your mouth. It works decient enough for me. It only goes a little off when WFO. Then, you just turn the gain down a little. Not to hard to do, as I have been doing it for over a year, every Sunday. JM2C

The only down side to the Collett units is the frequency choices. One, and only one. They also don't work with standard FRS units, so it was not an option for me and my buds. Some still use a standard FRS unit with a cord attached.

Originally Posted by ULEWZ

This was very true on the old X2 models as they didn't have the dual, noise cancelling mics. It will also not work properly if your mic is not placed directly inline with your mouth. It works decient enough for me. It only goes a little off when WFO. Then, you just turn the gain down a little. Not to hard to do, as I have been doing it for over a year, every Sunday. JM2C

I have the GMRS X-1 model and have played with the mic until I was ready to throw the whole thing in the garbage. This was also installed in a HJC helmet that was designed with Chatterbox in mind. Their website still touts the unit I have as top of the line.

http://www.hjc-chatterbox.com/

Originally Posted by cbr99xx

I have the GMRS X-1 model and have played with the mic until I was ready to throw the whole thing in the garbage. This was also installed in a HJC helmet that was designed with Chatterbox in mind. Their website still touts the unit I have as top of the line.

http://www.hjc-chatterbox.com/

so you wouldnt recomend??? does anyone make one that goes on the inside of the helmet and dont look so stupid

Originally Posted by TheShowOff

so you wouldnt recomend??? does anyone make one that goes on the inside of the helmet and dont look so stupid

Just as most people have stated, in the two threads on this subject that are active right now, the Chatterbox works fine with the PTT feature. The Autocom sounds like the best system but also sounds like big bucks. The Collet system that Eatin' recommends is an unknown quantity as far as I am concerned, it (Collet) sounds good and maybe warrants some research.

So.... If you have plenty-o-money, I'd go Autocom. If not check out Collet or... I know the Chatterbox works fine with the PTT; just don't depend on the VOX.

Also... as has been stated the Chatterbox can be remotely mounted relieving the need to have a growth on the side of your helmet.

VOX is all technique and mic placement. with a chatterbox (or any other system) you need to set the mic up in the quiet part of the helmet. This may take some trial and error. (cheek rest works most of the time) Then you adjust the sensitivity. IT takes some training but once you get the hang of it, you dont need PTT. We usually say "BREAK" really loud, then say what we need to say quickly, any pause and the VOX quits. So you compose ahead of time, break the VOX squelch then communicate. Works fine, lasts a long time.

Originally Posted by figment

VOX is all technique and mic placement. with a chatterbox (or any other system) you need to set the mic up in the quiet part of the helmet. This may take some trial and error. (cheek rest works most of the time) Then you adjust the sensitivity. IT takes some training but once you get the hang of it, you dont need PTT. We usually say "BREAK" really loud, then say what we need to say quickly, any pause and the VOX quits. So you compose ahead of time, break the VOX squelch then communicate. Works fine, lasts a long time.

With Collett's VOX you don't have to spend anytime setting up the mic. It's a tube mounted directly to the communicator. Just bend it inside your helmet infront of your mouth. It works on open face helmets too. But because of that you can't remotely mount it. It has to be on your helmet.

Collett makes a great unit for sure, but unless you all have them, you can't talk to one another.

An AutoComm or Chatterbox with FRS/GMRS is more flexible with other riders. You can easily create a pool of mixed communicators, as long as they are FRS/GMRS.

There is some argument that FRS can get crowded due to all the walkie talkies out there...but in practice this is seldom the case. Also sub-channels or GMRS can solve this problem when it does occur.

Disclaimer
Let's not start a GMRS rego war here....

At any rate, if you want maximum compatibility with other riders, it's best to go FRS/GMRS imho....