iPhone, corded headsets and riding

[angellr]

Ok, am trying to find perhaps the best way to do this ... so I ask the collective group for input.

Have an iPhone and listen to music via riding while wearing a set of Etymotic ear buds (some have microphone for phone calls, the others are older higher fidelity pair). I would also like to answer calls ONLY if/when the phone rings. Another data point is I am going deaf and bluetooth or helmet speakers are just noise while I ride. I need to wear a pair of isolation ear buds. Would like a boom mike of some sort to allow me to speak while riding, etc.

Have looked at a few "systems" - SENA, BlueANT, etc.

Given the above, what would you use, recommend? It would also be nice if I could AUTO ANSWER the phone "hands free".

[sweatmark]

Based upon a long successful realtionship with Autcom corded-helmet-headset gear, I would consider:

1. Buy a 2nd-hand Easi-Plus or Active-Plus Autocom system;
2. Create a 4-conductor 3.5mm iPhone-to-Autocom patch cord as described here:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=276870
3. Curse those zany Apple folks for not including auto-answer & auto-disconnect from the iPhone operating system*;
4. Hack the Autocom's helmet wiring harness to install 3.5mm stereo (3-conductor) socket;
5. Install regular Autocom mic + harness in your helmet;
6. Insert the Etymotics, put on helmet, plug the Etys into the socket**;
7. Connect iPhone to Autocom via the patch cord.

Notes:
* I'm not an iPhone user, but a quick google re: auto-answer suggested that early iPhone versions did not have such feature.
** Autcom now offers a headset harness with 3.5mm stereo socket included, but I've hacked an older harness myself with good result... note that the "Plus" series of Autocom gizmos included volume control for both rider and pillion that helps manage in-ear speaker performance.

FWIW - I've also looked into a throat mic with 3.5mm stereo socket that might be used with Autocom or better yet, directly with smart phone. Here's info:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=546172
http://www.iasus-concepts.com/... these folks have an iPhone unit.
I've read mixed reviews for motorcycling throat mic applications in general, but remain intrigued by the idea.

[angellr]

Thanks, will begin looking into what you suggest. I have also been looking at the IMC stuff to "hack", as I would need to provide a separate jack for headset *and* microphone boom. Still hoping to find an "off-the-shelf" option.

[sjbmw]

I just picked up a Scala Q2 Multiset from motorcyclegear.com on closeout.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle- ... set-q2.htm

•MultiSet includes two intercom systems.

•Bike-to-bike Intercom up to 1,640 feet.

•Cell phone connectivity along with FM and MP3 audio.

•500 meter (1640 foot bike-to-bike intercom range and cell phone connectivity

•Rider-to-passenger communication

•Optional receiving of GPS voice instructions or music from an MP3 player (cable included) or embedded FM radio

•Headset automatically adjusts the sound level

•Incoming calls may be rejected or accepted by voice-control

[angellr]

Thanks, Herb.

[sjbmw]

The only thing it does not have is speaker jacks. I can't think of any Comm system that allows the replacement of speakers /conversion to headphones.

[sweatmark]

The only thing it does not have is speaker jacks. I can't think of any Comm system that allows the replacement of speakers /conversion to headphones.

As mentioned above, Autocom has come up with 3.5mm headphone/earbud socket conversion cords, but the Autocom system boxes (at least the older versions) do not have speaker sockets.

The neck mic + earbuds option I mentioned is appealing for simplicity's sake: nothing would need be installed in helmet, only the neck mic fastened snugly and earbuds plugged into the corresponding socket. Concept of using phone for both music and occasional communications is appealing.

Excess earbud cord is a problem - at least for me when using the Autocom adapter - when the cord either gets caught in helmet chinstrap, or if the cord vibrates due to wind and transmits mechanical noise into ear.

Simplicity seems difficult to achieve with these bike comms systems, especially when the number of connected gizmos increases. I constantly struggle with too much comms system fiddling with current combination of Autocom + FRS radio + iPod + phone + GPS, all in tank bag.

[angellr]

The only thing it does not have is speaker jacks. I can't think of any Comm system that allows the replacement of speakers /conversion to headphones.

As mentioned above, Autocom has come up with 3.5mm headphone/earbud socket conversion cords, but the Autocom system boxes (at least the older versions) do not have speaker sockets.

The neck mic + earbuds option I mentioned is appealing for simplicity's sake: nothing would need be installed in helmet, only the neck mic fastened snugly and earbuds plugged into the corresponding socket. Concept of using phone for both music and occasional communications is appealing.

Excess earbud cord is a problem - at least for me when using the Autocom adapter - when the cord either gets caught in helmet chinstrap, or if the cord vibrates due to wind and transmits mechanical noise into ear.

Simplicity seems difficult to achieve with these bike comms systems, especially when the number of connected gizmos increases. I constantly struggle with too much comms system fiddling with current combination of Autocom + FRS radio + iPod + phone + GPS, all in tank bag.

All good points. The neck mic looked promising, however, don't know how comfy it would be. Wonder if a "splitter" would work somehow. Off to the geek drawing board.