[snsfalcon]

What kind of two-way radio system do you recommend?

 

[tinmandan]

I tried the Motorola Sprit GT with the VOX head set. Used it for a few minutes on a ride. Between the machine noise and the air blowing on the mic....never really worked very well. Maybe with a helmet it would work better. I will never know 'cause I don't wear one. (OH MY!)

 

[marine]

I don't wear a helmet either...you can say what you want and I might end up regreting it...but i DONT!

I do wear one when I am riding a sport ATV, Dirtbike, or streetbike though as these devices are more dangerous and usually include more speed!!

 

[bborgard]

Hello All,

My friend has some motorola 5720's and we are in the process of trying a couple VOX headsets. One from motorola and one from Jabra. we are testing them out this weekend on our ride at Finger lakes Park outside of Columbia Missouri. I will let you know the test results.

BB

 

[blue_grizzly_04]

We use to all have some Midland GMRS radios with the Vox and earbud mic set-up. The problem we found with the Vox activated, was that it would constantly pick up the motor noise(causing the mic to activate), no matter how you set the sensitivity. So we would all have to use it with the touch activated button on the unit, which sucks while trying to steer and ride. Plus the fact that the radios couldn't recieve transmitions very well when we were any distance apart was useless. We also tried some cobra 40 channel handhelds and results were not much better. Hills, mountains, different terrain, cause a weak signals for some communication radios. If riding close together(eyes view) they seem to work ok but get any distance apart and good luck trying to communicate. Now most of the guys just use the walkmans with earbuds and jam out when riding!

 

[marine]

I would think the best method to communicate would be to mount a CB radio with an antenna on each ATV...tune into the same frequency (ie. channel) and have at it! CB radios use a much higher carrier voltage level and different frequencies than the handheld types. They have the ability to go much further distances with less distortion...If you truly want to be able to communicate well then get some CB radios...I belive they even make handheld CB's with reduced transmition distance (to use the mounting ones you tap into your battery!!! now that is definitaly more power than 4 AA's!).

I have thought about this, but for the riding we do, we HAVE to stick together if we want to make it through some of the technical spots (ie. somone hanging off back rack while someone else drives to keep it from flipping off a 100ft cliff).

I have however, always wanted to mount a stereo on my bike...the stereo wouldn't be a problem but the speakers would be (to waterproof/mudproof them). I thought of using a front rack toolbox and put very small holes in the side facing the seat and then mounting speakers in there facing the seat with a marine waterproof stereo...but I am afraid that with the motor running ect I wouldn't be able to hear the speakers...so...I didn't try it

 

[calaski]

I always thought mounting a video camera to the front of the quad somehow would be wild... that would be some home video to show off! I figured some kind of platic housing would protect the camera, but how to keep the hosuing clean so the view is not blocked?

As for the communication... has anyone tried those communication systems that Motorcycles use? The ones that are inside the helmets? Is that a special helmet you have to buy or does the system fit into any helmet? I would think they would work pretty well.

Jim

 

[4x4rod]

My wife and I have the Chatterbox FRS-x2 units and love them. We ride sleds, dirtbikes sportbikes and now atv's and would not won't to ride without them.They are pricey but you get what you pay for .They use the same FRS channels as the handhelds so while riding you can communicate with a person driving the chase vehicle.They mount on the side of the helmet so there is no wires to mess with when you take it off,and the weight is not noticable.VOX or push to talk ,you set it up the way you want. You can even hook up a mp3 or your cell phone( not that it would be a good idea).They save alot of missed turns, warn about gravel on the road coming up, "I broke down come back and help","I need a P-- break", "on-coming Sleds ahead",Etc.....They take a few rides to get used to then you start using them without even thinking about it.A passenger can even hook their headset into the drivers and hear and talk just like the driver to everyone on that channel.I have been plowing a skating rink on the lake by our house and my wife used the handheld to let me know that diner was ready.Like I said ,alot of small uses add up to them being very handy.

 

[denis]

Has anyone ever tried out these Garmin rhino's? They're a GPS and GMRS radio in one. When you press the button to talk it shows on the everyones Rhino screen where you are. Kinda neat for hunting or being lost. I'd like to know if these really work good.

 

[starky]

If I didn't already have a GPS and a radio I would definately look into those. Do you know what the range is on the radio?

 

[denis]

Starky, they advertise 14 miles in the US and 8 in Canada. Our laws in Canada limit their range??!!

 

[starky]

14 miles is pretty exceptional for the radio, I wonder how good the GPS is. I saw these in the US Calvery magazine and they were about $300. You can probably get them at Cabella's cheaper.

 

[denis]

Out here in Canada the bottom end one is $200 and the high end (pictured) is $500

 

[beaterrider]

Try www.collettcommunicators.com They are made by guys that actually go riding, not in a factory overseas where no one has ever seen an atv or snowmobile. Very easy to use with 1-2 mile range.

 

[usmcgriz]

hey all, i have used the garmin rhino and it is pretty cool the one thing i found good was the ability to find another rhino user at the push of a button. the one bad thing i think is if one or the other goes bad you then have a large one use item. they also use a lot of battery power when you use both at once. i use a motorola gmrs and a motorola ear piece and if i dont use vox then with or without a helmet it works pretty good. like marine we ride close anyhow because of the technical spots and such so range is not really an issue for me. i have used it to link up with some friends that were riding on the trail before i got there and i found them with radio and met up with them for the rest of the ride. but like starky i have a gps and a radio and i like it. i keep my radio in a small pouch on my camelback and i just hit the ptt button to talk. my gps is mounted on my rack so i can see it and so it keeps getting a good signal. later, Marinegriz.

 

[starky]

Marinegriz, this is an old post, but how is the Rhino holding out. I was thinking about buying a set, but I already have 6 Motorola's and 2 GPS's.