Autocom

[loudpedal]

Hi

Anyone out there using Autocom with PMR bike to bike radio's.
I have searched the site and not found any posts re this.

I took my system of the last bike and hoped to fit it to my new S10.
Having looked under the seat there don't seem to be much room to fit this kit, maybe the autocom or the radio but not both.

Any ideas or even better pictures of your setup and where you have it would be a great help. Don't think I will need it for a few weeks yet, but it would be good to have it in place


Loudpedal

 

[Rasher]

I have a Kenwood radio and place it where the toolkit lives, mine is on a battery eliminator so power off autocom so I never need to get behind the panel to it, and of course with an S10 the toolkit is not really required

 

[Checkswrecks]

Holy Backflash Batman!
???
I actually think I still have one in a box somewhere. Took the Autocom setup off the FJR several years ago and the box went out of sight, out of mind.

 

[loudpedal]

I have a Kenwood radio and place it where the toolkit lives, mine is on a battery eliminator so power off autocom so I never need to get behind the panel to it, and of course with an S10 the toolkit is not really required

Thanks for that Rasher.
My Kenwood is also on a battery eliminator. I take it you also have the actual autocom beside the radio. Did you have to extend any of the leads?


Loudpedal

 

[Rasher]

Autocom is under seat with cable extender to get to Radio location.

 

[justbob]

When I was using a Starcom System on multiple bikes I made up a portable audio tankbag that worked out well.
The 2 plugs you see are the headset connections and you can see the knob for the volume control. The 12V supply was on a SAE plug and the audio inputs for xm radio and radar were plug-ins in the front of the bag.

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x118/bm1327/selling%20or%20ebaying/tankbag0357.jpg

 

[fjrden]

I took plastic cover out from under seat and have both radio and autocom in its place all has workd fine.

 

[loudpedal]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I like your idea Dennis of taking out the plastic cover and having both easily accessible.
No need to extend cables etc
Hopefully have a look at the over the next few days.


Loudpedal

 

[fjrden]

I have had that working now for two years no hiccups.. ::013:: ::021::

 

[Rainer]

If you need a longer distance rance, I would suggest an external antenna with magnetic feet. If you put the PMR with integrated antenna in a bag or case, the distance is not the best. If you want to use it for near field communication, it will work fine.
If you want to use it for a longer range, put an external antenna to the PMR (if this allowed in your country).
PMR 446 MHZ (70cm band) has another disadvantage, due to the high frequency. This frequency has an optical radioation behavior, so that is not possible to broadcast over a hill.
FreeNet radios work on the 149 MHZ (2m Band) frequency range, which have a better radiation behavior, but need a longer antenne.
Conclusion: If you want to use the PMR only for bike to bike in a distance of 500m, use PMR with integrated or external antenna. If you need more distance, choose a Freenet radio.
If you use an external antenna with magnetic feet, put it on a high amount of metal, because atennas need a propper grounding.

 

[Rasher]

I think the spec for my Kenwood indicates about 1km in towns / cities so I assume putting it behind some plastic panels is not going to restrict it too badly, for line of sight I think it is meant to be able to work for up to 3 miles, but I was wondering what happens in the mountains when even being a few hundred metres up the road could also mean a couple of hundred metres of granite mountain between the bikes.

One thin I do know is that it will sure go a whole lot further than a BT system in any conditions :exclaim:

 

[Rasher]

How does the plastic cover come out :question:

I found one screw but once loosened the cover is stuck under where the seat catch is, it looks like a full rear subframe stripdown to get to see what is holding it in place.

I also assumed underneath this tray would just be a big hole down to the swingarm, if it is a useable water resistant space I would like to get to it ::008::

 

[fjrden]

I cannot remember exactly but it does come out without to much effort from memory. A lot off space available. Now I have a new problem. Purchasing new Tenere and see that there is no space under seat now. ::010::