I'm in the process of looking at communication options for the organization I ride with. Several times per year we do large group rides and the organizers (which I'm part of) like to stay in touch from the front to the back of the group (or possibly multiple groups) to organize traffic situations, cover any unforeseen changes in the ride, etc. The challenge is that there's a mishmash of communication options used by many of the members - some use Scala's, some use Sena's, and I think one uses Uclear. And I use the "V6" intercoms myself which have proven great, but again, different brand.
I know that there's supposedly a "universal" option on most of the above (including my V6's) that will allow them to all talk to each other in at least a basic form, but it looks like a real dogs breakfast getting that setup and working between all the different brands, and then returning people's headsets to normal afterwards.
Telling everyone involved to just standardize their units isn't probably a solution either - some prefer their chosen brands for various reasons and probably don't want to go through the hassle of selling their (already expensive) units to buy equally expensive alternatives.
So, I thought I'd look at a more universal solution instead, and suggested FRS for use during just these larger organize rides at a recent meeting. It's simple, they are durable, and they can be given out to those who need them at the beginning of a ride, used, and then returned at the end.
However, there's different challenges there, so I thought I'd pick on peoples brains for ideas from that perspective.
1- Using voice activation/VOX isn't going to be an ideal solution as needless to say changing noise levels are going to make such useless/frustrating, so some sort of boom mic/headpiece/earpiece solution with push to talk is going to be necessary. Further complicating things, some riders are full-face , and others use half helmets, so earbuds would be necessary I think so either helmet option works.
2- Push to talk is required but most I've seen use a lapel pin with cords that don't reach far. Mounting on handlebars is necessary IMHO so you don't need to remove your hands from the controls to push the button in busy traffic situations, etc.
3- Needs to be durable. I don't want any cheap garbage that falls apart the first time someone dismounts their bike and forgets to unplug or disconnect a wire or something.
4- Has to be loud enough to be heard over road and bike noise, and the mic needs to be decent enough to cancel out all the same.
I know this is a lot of "perfect world" stuff, but I thought I'd toss it out for suggestions/ideas.
Open to completely different options vs FRS as well.
I know that there's supposedly a "universal" option on most of the above (including my V6's) that will allow them to all talk to each other in at least a basic form, but it looks like a real dogs breakfast getting that setup and working between all the different brands, and then returning people's headsets to normal afterwards.
Telling everyone involved to just standardize their units isn't probably a solution either - some prefer their chosen brands for various reasons and probably don't want to go through the hassle of selling their (already expensive) units to buy equally expensive alternatives.
So, I thought I'd look at a more universal solution instead, and suggested FRS for use during just these larger organize rides at a recent meeting. It's simple, they are durable, and they can be given out to those who need them at the beginning of a ride, used, and then returned at the end.
However, there's different challenges there, so I thought I'd pick on peoples brains for ideas from that perspective.
1- Using voice activation/VOX isn't going to be an ideal solution as needless to say changing noise levels are going to make such useless/frustrating, so some sort of boom mic/headpiece/earpiece solution with push to talk is going to be necessary. Further complicating things, some riders are full-face , and others use half helmets, so earbuds would be necessary I think so either helmet option works.
2- Push to talk is required but most I've seen use a lapel pin with cords that don't reach far. Mounting on handlebars is necessary IMHO so you don't need to remove your hands from the controls to push the button in busy traffic situations, etc.
3- Needs to be durable. I don't want any cheap garbage that falls apart the first time someone dismounts their bike and forgets to unplug or disconnect a wire or something.
4- Has to be loud enough to be heard over road and bike noise, and the mic needs to be decent enough to cancel out all the same.
I know this is a lot of "perfect world" stuff, but I thought I'd toss it out for suggestions/ideas.
Open to completely different options vs FRS as well.