Hand Held CB radio for Nomad

[trosco]

There are many $350-$700 solutions out there for between bike comunications. J&M's unit is a good example. I had a goldwing with all the goodies so I know how useful interbike comunications can be even on short trips.
Those of you that know me know I am always looking for a simpler & cheaper way. I have a handheld Cobra CB that is just a tad bigger than a blackberry excluding the antenae. It will run off batteries or a power outlet (cig lighter) and has a 2-3 mile range. I thought it would be a ideal portable solution if it could be adapted to the bike. Who's done that? How'd you do it? How's it work?

[coacha]

I have a couple friends that have done that. They bought simple head set to plug in. If you want, I can put you in contact with them.

[blowndodge]

I'm very interested like Trosco too Coach! Trip's setup is really nice but I'd like something that I took only on very long rides that I could mount or take off simply.. Wouldn't need more than a mile or two of range. Thanks in advance..

[mcdaddy]

J&M offers this Midland solution .. you can find them even cheaper.
http://www.jmcorp.com/ProductDetail.asp?ProductID=MDCB-822&PF=31

You can go with a J&M headset or Motocomm offers these headsets MC551 fits the Midland for full face and MC751 for open face helmets.
https://www.rflimited.com/Site.asp?CID=3

Motocomm also offers this Mixer to add music etc into your CB headset
https://www.rflimited.com/Site.asp?CID=3

The tricky part is the antenna .. either use the rubber ducky on the radio or get a good "no ground plane" antenna.

[trosco]

Ron, I am interested in how they mounted and powered them. What hand held they used, the head set/mic combo they used, how they controlled volume/channel/squelch and could they hear them and so own. I'd welcome the chance to pick their brains.
BD: As far as components on the cheap; when you stop at truck stops on the interstate take a quick look at their CB display. They regularly offer handhelds for $39.99 or $49.95 and I got my Cobra 38XT from travel america for $39.95. Also Radio shack had a push to talk / up-down channel changer / headset volume control for $14.95 and a monorail headset with boom mic for $11.95 that works with it so I got both. The set up works in the car just fine. (In the corvette clubs when we caravan we use the CB's for much the same purpose I would on the motorcycle).

I've been thinking about how a guy (like me) who is just interested in having access to a CB along the the way on trips could make a "chap" for one of the bag guards with a pocket for the CB and that would let you use the little antennae that came with the handheld. I already have a lighter socket behind my left side cover so powering it from there would be easy. I don't care about music being part of the system as motorcycle has stereo in fairing. But the radio shack mic is sensitive to noise and I don't think this setup with be loud enough at 75MPH in the helmet on the bike.
My goal is to have a system in place by the time I take my "bucket list trip out west" next year. There have got to be others who have blazed this trail already so...enlighten me.

[strobe]

Something like this may work for holing the CB. A RAM mount on the handle bars.

http://www.ram-mount.com/CatalogResults/....5/Default.asp x (http://www.ram-mount.com/CatalogResults/PartDetails/tabid/63/partid/082065077045072079076045085078052085/Default.aspx)

For headsets check here...

http://www.truckers-store.com/store-categories-MotoComm_3224232.html

I can't vouch for either, I went with the J&M CB2003, but may give you some ideas.

[blowndodge]

Trosco, my concern would be on the headset. Hands free mics suck on motorcycles. I'd like to be able to push a button to talk and then have the speakers inside my Helmet. I've had no succes with hands free with FM recievers. No mic sensitivity setting works worth the beans that I've ever used....

[Dave]

The tricky part is the antenna .. either use the rubber ducky on the radio or get a good "no ground plane" antenna.



http://www.sierra-mc.com/products.asp?id=101

[dandantmm]

I can't vouch for either, I went with the J&M CB2003, but may give you some ideas.

So tell me about the CB2003. I too had a GL1800 with a CB and I got spoiled for sure. My riding buddy has been without a MC for 2 yrs now (sold his Wing when I did) and he is about to get another ride real soon. We both want to get some form of comm again and I like the CB. We both have a Chatterbox unit that we used on our 2002 Nomad's but I really prefer the CB and I think he does too.


How clear/loud is that unit?[/*:m:io6w8wkg]
Can you use other headsets besides the $$$ J&M units? I had a headset on the GW that I cut the helmet speakers off of and used an EdSets EdApter for ear buds. I would like to do that again but don't want to cut on a $$$ J&M unit. [/*:m:io6w8wkg]
Does it have good range?[/*:m:io6w8wkg]
How does it work with an MP3 player plugged in? Sound quality still good?[/*:m:io6w8wkg]
Do you have the passenger setup? If so what does the passenger have for PTT access? Does the driver control all of that?[/*:m:io6w8wkg]
They say it's "water resistant", do you really have to cover it up in the rain? If so that kinda sucks for what you pay for that unit.[/*:m:io6w8wkg]
Is the mic trigger easy to access over the throttle like that?[/*:m:io6w8wkg]
Does the install interfere with the mirror?[/*:m:io6w8wkg]
Where did you hide all the excess cabling? [/*:m:io6w8wkg]
How big of an antenna do you have? Does it interfere with luggage/bags placed on the sissy bar rack?[/*:m:io6w8wkg]
If you had to do it over again would you buy the same unit?[/*:m:io6w8wkg]
Besides the unit + mounting bracket + antenna + antenna mount + headset, what else did you have to purchase to get it working.[/*:m:io6w8wkg]


Ok, I think that's enough questions for now. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[coacha]

# How clear/loud is that unit? Works great sound is fine.
# Can you use other headsets besides the $$$ J&M units? I had a headset on the GW that I cut the helmet speakers off of and used an EdSets EdApter for ear buds. I would like to do that again but don't want to cut on a $$$ J&M unit. I know Sierra sells the headsets that work
# Does it have good range? Range is ok, when I use it in our group we are good to 2-3 miles
# How does it work with an MP3 player plugged in? Sound quality still good? MP3 works well, my iPod is always on it. Sound is good, not much bass but I'm ok with what is there
# Do you have the passenger setup? If so what does the passenger have for PTT access? Does the driver control all of that? Not really an issue. The PTT is ok if they want to talk on the CB, but you can't hear what the other says over the CB, it cancels out the other user.
# They say it's "water resistant", do you really have to cover it up in the rain? If so that kinda sucks for what you pay for that unit. I have had mine in rain but never a deluge. It comes with a cover that works good. You can still have it on.
# Is the mic trigger easy to access over the throttle like that? If you put it on the left grip, it doesn't interfere with anything.
# Does the install interfere with the mirror? It fits right on the stem of the mirror. I have the J & M and my cruise on that side and no problems.
# Where did you hide all the excess cabling? Trip told me how to hide it, basically down the frame rails under your tank.
# How big of an antenna do you have? Does it interfere with luggage/bags placed on the sissy bar rack? I have the antenna that came with the unit when I bought it (got it second hand). It is attached to the license plate. Seems to work ok for me. I think Trip has a bigger antenna on his though (insert joke here about size).
# If you had to do it over again would you buy the same unit? Yes.
# Besides the unit + mounting bracket + antenna + antenna mount + headset, what else did you have to purchase to get it working. Nothing, if you get all that. If you buy the unit, I think you get all the cords too.

Hope this helps.

[huskers]

I've got a Cobra handheld radio http://www.cobra.com/products/handheld-cb-radios/hh-38-wx-st-hand-held-cb-radio-with-weather-soundtracker, that I use. I just ordered a bunch of rechargeable AA batteries, bring a spare set with me, and swap them out when they die. They usually last 4-5 hours.
I've got the radio mounted in a Ram-Mount with a universal finger grip holder: http://www.ram-mount.com/CatalogResults/..../Default.asp x, (http://www.ram-mount.com/CatalogResults/PartDetails/tabid/63/partid/082065077045072079076045085078052085/Default.aspx,) mounted to my handlebars.
For a headset, I use this, from IMC: http://www.whitehorsepress.com/product_info.php?products_id=5272. I always wear a half helmet, but they make them for full face as well. The push to talk switch is mounted on the handlebars.

- Bernie

[coacha]

Ross, email me at allan.rl@gmail.com and I will email my friend with your questions. They had hand helds for quite some time before they went to the J & M and some of the guys still do. They may have one that you can get on the cheap to see if you like it.

[dandantmm]

# Can you use other headsets besides the $$$ J&M units? I had a headset on the GW that I cut the helmet speakers off of and used an EdSets EdApter for ear buds. I would like to do that again but don't want to cut on a $$$ J&M unit. I know Sierra sells the headsets that works

that helps a TON. I need to research the passenger intercom piece to see how that works. The GW had a nice setup for that. I went and did a little research on the EdSet site and they have EdApters that will let me plug the 5 pin GW headset I still have (I hope) to the 6 pin J&M cord. That's cool as it will save me the cost of a headset! Now I gotta save me pennies....

[coacha]

The actual intercom is VOX in nature...simply talk and you are heard. The tricky thing was getting the volume set, I didn't know that there was a pull out nob that controlled the intercom volume. All this time Taminator wasn't talking because I couldn't hear her and all I had to do was pull out the knob and wallah, more volume. Now, if your rider is bitching, simple pull knob out, turn volume down and "What honey, I don't know why but I can't hear you no more"...kinda like an old Donnie Iris song, lol.

[strobe]

I'll add to coach's comments...

# How clear/loud is that unit? Works great sound is fine.
+1

# Can you use other headsets besides the $$$ J&M units? I had a headset on the GW that I cut the helmet speakers off of and used an EdSets EdApter for ear buds. I would like to do that again but don't want to cut on a $$$ J&M unit. I know Sierra sells the headsets that work
-Have not seen a lot of non J&M headset that work - you need a lower cord that is compatible. You could look at getting the others parts, the clamp, mic, and upper cord as separate parts, may not be any cheaper though

# Does it have good range? Range is ok, when I use it in our group we are good to 2-3 miles
-Depending on the antenna used range can vary a lot. 2-3 miles is definitely possible, but also about the best range

# How does it work with an MP3 player plugged in? Sound quality still good? MP3 works well, my iPod is always on it. Sound is good, not much bass but I'm ok with what is there
-Just my opinion, but the sound sucks through the J&M speakers (even the Elite headsets). Using the earbuds improves that greatly.

# Do you have the passenger setup? If so what does the passenger have for PTT access? Does the driver control all of that? Not really an issue. The PTT is ok if they want to talk on the CB, but you can't hear what the other says over the CB, it cancels out the other user.
-Passenger has their own PTT. Like coach said though I think this is the most annoying thing given that the GW and Harley systems all allow the other person to hear when the PTT is used. Talked to J&M about that but they seem to have a lack of understanding on this.

# They say it's "water resistant", do you really have to cover it up in the rain? If so that kinda sucks for what you pay for that unit. I have had mine in rain but never a deluge. It comes with a cover that works good. You can still have it on.

-Mine died this summer after a 6 hour rain storm we rode through. The result was a defening feedback tone that was literally painful, actually had my wife in tears it hurt her ears so bad. They replaced the head unit on warranty. It is always covered now in the rain with only the PTT sticking out of the cover.

# Is the mic trigger easy to access over the throttle like that? If you put it on the left grip, it doesn't interfere with anything.
-It quickly becomes second nature, don't even have to look to use it, it is really well placed.

# Does the install interfere with the mirror? It fits right on the stem of the mirror. I have the J & M and my cruise on that side and no problems.
-No big issues, does block the Low/High beam switch a bit, but not so it is unusable. Can be moved to fix that but I did not like the PTT placement in any other place.

# Where did you hide all the excess cabling? Trip told me how to hide it, basically down the frame rails under your tank.
-Not really a lot to hide. If you use a NGP antenna there are requirements on how tightly the extra is looped and stored though.

# How big of an antenna do you have? Does it interfere with luggage/bags placed on the sissy bar rack? I have the antenna that came with the unit when I bought it (got it second hand). It is attached to the license plate. Seems to work ok for me. I think Trip has a bigger antenna on his though (insert joke here about size).
-I had the 3' firestik antenna mounted using a license place mount. it did not interfere with my luggage at all. I did bend the mount a bit to follow the same angle as the sissybar though.

# If you had to do it over again would you buy the same unit? Yes.
-It is the only fully integrated unit I have seen and really does a good job. If I was starting over, I may consider the StarCom1 Digital (http://www.starcom1.com/therange.htm) unit. It is not integrated like the J&M but has some great features like allowing the rider and passenger to have their own music sources. Controls for a lot of it are not convenient like on the J&M unit though.

# Besides the unit + mounting bracket + antenna + antenna mount + headset, what else did you have to purchase to get it working. Nothing, if you get all that. If you buy the unit, I think you get all the cords too.
+1 that gets you all the stuff to get the system working. I bought all my stuff at Sierra-MC (http://www.sierra-mc.com/default.asp) which seems to have the best overall pricing I have seen and they are great to deal with. If you want to add other stuff to it it does get expensive though because you need the CFRG-D integration module which is +$300, plus the cables for the devices like cell phone, etc.

I will add that there is no such thing as a truly pre-tuned antenna. The antennas sold say that but they are not setup for any particular bike. You really need a SWR meter to properly tune the antenna to the bike. Not doing so can actually cause damage to the unit if the SWR is not in spec.