Discussion
So, I am eagerly awaiting the build completion of my Caterham in early March, and planning to get an intercom fitted whilst they are busy plumbing in the 12v socket.
I have looked at rally style intercoms (Terratrip, Peltor) and bike style intercoms (Autocom, Starcom), and the bike ones seem to come with more options/features but can be pricier. At the moment Terratrip look to be the cheapest, but not sure on the sound quality.
I'm planning a trip this weekend to my nearest stockist of Terratrip and Peltor, but thought I would throw it out to the PH massive to see if I can get any advice.
My key requirements are:
Driver and passenger separate volume
Driver and passenger rally/practise headsets (with noise cancelling mikes) - preferably in white
Ability to bluetooth music/phone (although happy with that to be a separate addon)
Driver full face helmet headset
Needs to run off 12v car supply
Needs to be small enough to locate in an easily accessible place in the car
Preferably have the ability to detach it if necessary
Budget is not a huge consideration, although I am after a relatively simple set-up so looking for the cheapest that fits the above needs.
So, any advice/hints/pointers as to which would be a good option? Anyone already got a set-up in their car, and if so where did you place the amplifier unit?
I have looked at rally style intercoms (Terratrip, Peltor) and bike style intercoms (Autocom, Starcom), and the bike ones seem to come with more options/features but can be pricier. At the moment Terratrip look to be the cheapest, but not sure on the sound quality.
I'm planning a trip this weekend to my nearest stockist of Terratrip and Peltor, but thought I would throw it out to the PH massive to see if I can get any advice.
My key requirements are:
Driver and passenger separate volume
Driver and passenger rally/practise headsets (with noise cancelling mikes) - preferably in white
Ability to bluetooth music/phone (although happy with that to be a separate addon)
Driver full face helmet headset
Needs to run off 12v car supply
Needs to be small enough to locate in an easily accessible place in the car
Preferably have the ability to detach it if necessary
Budget is not a huge consideration, although I am after a relatively simple set-up so looking for the cheapest that fits the above needs.
So, any advice/hints/pointers as to which would be a good option? Anyone already got a set-up in their car, and if so where did you place the amplifier unit?
I've got the Starcom unit, with practice headsets; mine sits in a Jill Judd draft reducer between the seats, power cable tucked under the tunnel cover to 12v socket under the dash (after being heat shrink protected).
I believe the Starcom meets all your needs Bluetooth is an add on I think, but you could use a 3.5mm aux cable, it also has ability to attach 2-way radio for car to car comms.
Hope that helps
Russ
I believe the Starcom meets all your needs Bluetooth is an add on I think, but you could use a 3.5mm aux cable, it also has ability to attach 2-way radio for car to car comms.
Hope that helps
Russ
We've got an Autocom Super Pro Auto for road use and a Stilo WRC DES for track. If I didn't have a Stilo helmet we might well have gone Peltor.
The two environments give rise to two quite different sets of requirements.
On the road you want peace and quiet with maybe some music overlayed, then a VOX cut voice channel from other person in the car. Maybe even add in a phone channel for handsfree and/or a PMR channel for car to car if you're so inclined. Gear like the Autocom and Starcom allow for this quite easily and for reasonable money (even if some of Tecstar's prices are a little OTT). Out of the two, Starcom has slightly better mics and build robustness, but Autocom has a greater wealth of accessories and configurations available.
On track you don't mind so much about noise isolation, but you want to be sure you can hear what the other bod is saying, so the rally intercomms come into their own with aggressive filtering, but no VOX. The output to each helmet then has a volume control so you can set the level as a trade off between comfort and clarity.
That's what we've found anyway.
The two environments give rise to two quite different sets of requirements.
On the road you want peace and quiet with maybe some music overlayed, then a VOX cut voice channel from other person in the car. Maybe even add in a phone channel for handsfree and/or a PMR channel for car to car if you're so inclined. Gear like the Autocom and Starcom allow for this quite easily and for reasonable money (even if some of Tecstar's prices are a little OTT). Out of the two, Starcom has slightly better mics and build robustness, but Autocom has a greater wealth of accessories and configurations available.
On track you don't mind so much about noise isolation, but you want to be sure you can hear what the other bod is saying, so the rally intercomms come into their own with aggressive filtering, but no VOX. The output to each helmet then has a volume control so you can set the level as a trade off between comfort and clarity.
That's what we've found anyway.
Starcom Advance is brilliant! Will do all you need and if you are a member of Lotus Seven Club You'll get 10% off. Mine is powered straight off the battery, (lead and fuse supplied in kit). I then ran the power lead through a switch on the dash, under the tunnel cover, and fitted the unit in the boot. Then all it needs is two small holes to run the headphone cables into the cockpit.
AutoCom Super Pro Automatic (with Peltor Headsets) installed today - very impressed - had a run out with clear speech and the iPod on in the background.
Ran a cable from the battery (with fuse) down under the tunnel top, and terminated it in the SFBS Draught Reducer pouch.
Expensive, but you only get one set of ears!!
Mike
Ran a cable from the battery (with fuse) down under the tunnel top, and terminated it in the SFBS Draught Reducer pouch.
Expensive, but you only get one set of ears!!
Mike
I use a Scala Q2 multiset in my car http://www.cardosystems.com/scala-rider/scala-ride... it is totally wireless and connects to your phone / gps / mp3 player.
I went for the wireless option as I knew that at some stage I would jump out of the car without disconnecting the intercom and end up breaking it
I went for the wireless option as I knew that at some stage I would jump out of the car without disconnecting the intercom and end up breaking it
michaeljclark said:
AutoCom Super Pro Automatic (with Peltor Headsets) installed today - very impressed - had a run out with clear speech and the iPod on in the background.
Ran a cable from the battery (with fuse) down under the tunnel rip, and terminated it in the SFBS Draught Reducer pouch.
Expensive, but you only get one set of ears!!
Mike
Mike, did you have to do anything special to connect the Peltor headsets to the Autocom unit, or were the connectors the same?Ran a cable from the battery (with fuse) down under the tunnel rip, and terminated it in the SFBS Draught Reducer pouch.
Expensive, but you only get one set of ears!!
Mike
I assume Michael just means that he got the Autocom headsets, which are based around Peltor Optime I ear defenders (the yellow ones).
We've actually removed the gubbins and fitted them into Optime II (the dark green ones) to afford a bit more deadening. The yellow ones seem to allow a bit too much of the cruising drone through, especially for the person on the exhaust side - the driver in our case.
We've actually removed the gubbins and fitted them into Optime II (the dark green ones) to afford a bit more deadening. The yellow ones seem to allow a bit too much of the cruising drone through, especially for the person on the exhaust side - the driver in our case.
Intercoms really come into their own when you use custom moulded in-ear monitors. I have some Duocom Communicator from Hearing Protection. Superb bits of kit: http://www.hearingprotection.co.uk/index.php?optio...
Nicodema said:
I assume Michael just means that he got the Autocom headsets, which are based around Peltor Optime I ear defenders (the yellow ones).
CorrectNicodema said:
The yellow ones seem to allow a bit too much of the cruising drone through, especially for the person on the exhaust side - the driver in our case.
oddly enough when I got home from the last section a 140 mile Sunday blat, I had slight muzzyness in my right ear (closest to the exhaust - Sigma powered car) which I attributed to me having possibly knocked them at one stage - I also had a beanie on in the last 10 miles which I guess may have not helped the deadening propeties.But I have to say much better than ear plugs as you can have a conversation with a passenger or listen to some tunes (esp on the Motorway)
Mike
I've had Autocom (now obsolete Pro-7) in the 7 since 2004 and it's been great, with the following observations:
Their "practice headsets" are based on a fairly shallow ear defender can (as mentioned above) and can press on your ears. The head strap can also press down on the top of your head. These are OK for short trips, however for runs of an hour or more I find them very uncomfortable.
Also, if driving in hot climates they can be quite sweaty.
I changed to Microcom lightweight earsets with custom moulded ear pieces from Sensorcom http://www.sensorcom.com/product.asp?P_ID=1288&...
Great device and really comfortable with the custom ear moulds, and they will supply them with Autocom or Starcom plugs if you ask. They seem to suggest Starcom is a better bet.
The only thing I would suggest is wire in a "mic cut" switch so you can disable each mic if driving with doors off or an aero - although the newer systems have noise cancelling mics, I'm not convinced they'd be up to cancelling reliably on a long journey down through France for example, where a passenger might want to get some rest but still retain hearing protection, and be woken up when needed (to pay the tolls!!).
For info, Autocom were bought by Tecstar, who own Starcom, so in my view it's likely that the ranges will begin to merge more in the future (although there are a hell of a lot of Autocom systems out there that they will have to support).
Back to the intercom, I have it powered from an ignition switched supply on the car, so I don't need to owrry about leaving it turned on running off a PP3 battery.
I use an Autocom bluetooth adapter for the mobile which is great as it just autoconnects when I get in and turn on the ignition.
Also have car-to-car PMR radio via the Autocom, and an as yet unused satnav audio input as well.
I've located the unit in the boot on the back of the bulkhead, and fitted some sockets through the bulkhead above the tunnel to plug in the headsets: https://picasaweb.google.com/helluvaname/7Mods#547...
Hope that helps
Their "practice headsets" are based on a fairly shallow ear defender can (as mentioned above) and can press on your ears. The head strap can also press down on the top of your head. These are OK for short trips, however for runs of an hour or more I find them very uncomfortable.
Also, if driving in hot climates they can be quite sweaty.
I changed to Microcom lightweight earsets with custom moulded ear pieces from Sensorcom http://www.sensorcom.com/product.asp?P_ID=1288&...
Great device and really comfortable with the custom ear moulds, and they will supply them with Autocom or Starcom plugs if you ask. They seem to suggest Starcom is a better bet.
The only thing I would suggest is wire in a "mic cut" switch so you can disable each mic if driving with doors off or an aero - although the newer systems have noise cancelling mics, I'm not convinced they'd be up to cancelling reliably on a long journey down through France for example, where a passenger might want to get some rest but still retain hearing protection, and be woken up when needed (to pay the tolls!!).
For info, Autocom were bought by Tecstar, who own Starcom, so in my view it's likely that the ranges will begin to merge more in the future (although there are a hell of a lot of Autocom systems out there that they will have to support).
Back to the intercom, I have it powered from an ignition switched supply on the car, so I don't need to owrry about leaving it turned on running off a PP3 battery.
I use an Autocom bluetooth adapter for the mobile which is great as it just autoconnects when I get in and turn on the ignition.
Also have car-to-car PMR radio via the Autocom, and an as yet unused satnav audio input as well.
I've located the unit in the boot on the back of the bulkhead, and fitted some sockets through the bulkhead above the tunnel to plug in the headsets: https://picasaweb.google.com/helluvaname/7Mods#547...
Hope that helps
Fergus, as it happens I rang Autocom today to chase up our custom molded earpieces. Should be with us by the end of the week. Tell you what it was nice sitting on the Autocom stand at Autosport International having impression material syringed into our ears. It made the madding crowd dissolve. 
These are Stilo fit for our helmets, but if I can work out a suitable mic arrangement I intend to make some none helmet setups to use them with. Maybe something that clips to a baseball cap? Dunno, the jury's out.
These are Stilo fit for our helmets, but if I can work out a suitable mic arrangement I intend to make some none helmet setups to use them with. Maybe something that clips to a baseball cap? Dunno, the jury's out.
Gassing Station | Caterham | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff