intercom - cheap - prdouct review
 

We got this a few days ago, and used on yesterday's ride: http://www.amazon.com/GSI-Waterproof...ef=pd_sbs_hg_1 .

It uses a pair of AAA batteries, and comes with a couple of ear buds with microphone booms.

The good:
* the box is small, we clipped it to the back of my shirt collar - at the label. Good location so that Diane could plug in/out when she got on/off, and I did not even feel it.
* we could hear each other, even along the road with heavy traffic.

The not so good:
* the ear bud mic combo is intended to be velcro'd inside an full coverage motorcyle helmet - doesn't work so well on a bike.
* the hook up (single three conductor 3.5mm plug) is different from our computer (Skype) head sets.

We have ordered a couple of different kinds of headsets to try.

You can also attach a CD/MP3/whatever to it for both people to listen to. We probably will never use that feature.

Bottom line: great price, works well, but plan on spending some more money on different headsets. Even then, it will be a sub-$40- communications solution - a great bargin in my book.

Thanks for the info
R&J

Kool...... keep us informed as to what "headsets" you try and work better with this set up. I might just give it a try!! Thanks

the two alternative headsets are problomatic. The Cellet handsfree comes with a 3.5mm TRRS plug - the box has a 3.5mm TRS - the ear peice speaker works great, the mic not. The Jabra C510 comes with a 2.5mm TRS plug and an adapter to a 3.5mm TRRS. Again, ear piece speaker works great, but no mike. Bought a 2.5mm TRS to 3.5mm TRS from Radio Shack - still no mic.

http://www.amazon.com/Cellet-211555-...9642452&sr=1-5
http://www.amazon.com/Jabra-C510-Cor...642483&sr=1-44

Next step is to make an adapter where I can try different circuits or take one of the nicer ones apart to adapt the microphone. I am not looking forward to either option. Next trials will be in August when I get back from a long business trip.

What I would do is work on the problem of getting the OEM ear bud/mic to work with a regular bike helmet. I don't think it is the circuit if you are getting audio. It is more likely some kind of impedance mismatch with the microphone. Modifying an expensive headset/mic IMO defeats the kool factor as there are probably existing tandem cyclist talk units that work, out of the box, for an equivalent amount of money.

H

So far, I have spent $15- on the original box, another $20- on different headsets/earsets and an adapter for $4 from Radio Shack.

After discussions with the Rear Admiral; I am going to mechanically modify one of the new earsets to hold the original earbud/mic for her. For me, I found that the original one works pretty well with my helmet.

After some issues; I took it apart, found a cold solder joint, reflowed, now works great all the time.