Wilsons Sandbox

My friends and I just purchased the Chatterbox FRS-HJC and have been pleased with it. Although the units that we bought do not have the cell phone capabilities, there are other models that due. All that being said, do not expect to find a full-face model in the entire DFW area. We searched, and called EVERYWHERE to no avail. We finally ended up ordering them from http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com hope this helps. ~Kris Christie Dallas, Texas KLR 250 "I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one: "Oh, Lord, make my enemies stupid." And God granted it." -----Original Message----- From: wschase@... [mailto:wschase@...] Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2001 8:37 PM To: cog@...; DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_klr650] Bike Communicators I am just starting my search for some type of bike to bike and maybe intercom communication. Right now I am leaning toward the Collett CellMate 900. It seems to work great with VOX only setup and will hook into both a cell phone and a music source. I am just learning about the various types of setups but want a helmet type (I think) because I have several bikes. Any input would be helpful! Semper Fi ! Steve Dallas, Texas 99 Concours (COG# 4641) 00 KLR650 (AMA #418281) 00 Buell Blast (BRAG) 01 ZX6R (HSTA) "Ride Often, Ride Far, Ride Safe" [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Visit the KLR650 archives at http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 Support Dual Sport News... dsneditor@... Let's keep this list SPAM free! Visit our site at http://www.egroups.com/group/DSN_klr650 To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@egroups.com Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

>I am just starting my search for some type of bike to bike and maybe interc= >om=20 >communication. Right now I am leaning toward the Collett CellMate 900. It= >=20 >seems to work great with VOX only setup and will hook into both a cell phon= >e=20 >and a music source. I am just learning about the various types of setups b= >ut=20 >want a helmet type (I think) because I have several bikes. Any input would= >=20 >be helpful!

I too am looking but want to go the FRS handheld with PTT or VOX, 2 mile range so I can chat with another rider and have the flexability of off bike use. Any suggestions or radios to stay away from? == Rev. Chuck :^)>+ A13 http://KLR650.WWW.50Megs.Com/ http://DualSports.OnWeb.CX/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ _____________________________________________________________

I've experimented with a bunch of these FRS radios, and I have discovered the following: Certain Radio Shack FRS radios are better than Motorola. Much quieter, and battery life is at least twice. Motorola FRS radios will even drain the batteries in the off mode. I have six talkabout Motorola radios and am not happy with them. 9 Radio Shack of various models and like them all. Out of three of the over $200 Motorola models, only one would work; sent them all back. I think Motorola is still having problems in their consumer lines. Buy an FRS radio that uses three batteries, not four. Radio Shack not only has portable units, but also has base units (120VAC) that make the best intercoms ever when used with the battery portables. We use them from house to shop to orange grove. Use rechargeable Nickle-metal hydride batteries (not NiCad) and buy them and charger from Wal-Mart. (cheapest) They will power a radio or digital camera about twice as long as an alkaline battery, and can be recharged hundreds of times. We use Chatterbox FRS radios on the bikes and they work on two channels, communicating with any of the multi-channel FRS radios. We presently use 9 base units and about 15 portables, besides our Chatterboxes, and find them to add up to the best and most universal communications system we've ever had. But then we live out in the country amongst the orange groves, cattle ranches, and wild turkeys. None of our neighbors use FRS, except to communicate with us. I heartily recommend you visit Radio Shack and check out their collection of FRS radios. By the way, the one with the headset doesn't have enough audio to drive the speakers necessary to hear inside your helmet. Don't waste your money. They do work well from car driver to Chatterbox. I have no connection with FRS, Motorola, Radio Shack, the Mormon Church, or anyone that has money, influence, or a titty bar. -- bierdo "Rev.Chuck" wrote:

> >I am just starting my search for some type of bike to bike and maybe interc= > >om=20 > >communication. Right now I am leaning toward the Collett CellMate 900. It= > >=20 > >seems to work great with VOX only setup and will hook into both a cell phon= > >e=20 > >and a music source. I am just learning about the various types of setups b= > >ut=20 > >want a helmet type (I think) because I have several bikes. Any input would= > >=20 > >be helpful! > > I too am looking but want to go the FRS handheld with PTT or VOX, 2 mile range so I can chat with another rider and have the flexability of off bike use. Any suggestions or radios to stay away from? > > == > Rev. Chuck > :^)>+ > A13 > http://KLR650.WWW.50Megs.Com/ > http://DualSports.OnWeb.CX/ > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >

-- Dan (BIERDO) Oaks, President Formtech Services, Inc. '01 KLR650 '99 DR650 '82 XL250R '78 TC90 '91 Yammy 4 stroke golf cart 2 bad dogs and a sled Mfr. of Printing Equipment & Supplies formtech@... bierdo@... http://www.formtechservices.com Mfr. of 4x4 POLY Motorcycle Parts bierdo@... http://www.dirtly.com 2970 Robins Nest Ct. Saint Cloud, FL 34772-8182 USA 800 522-6257 407 957-7887 (fax)

>Certain Radio Shack FRS radios are better than Motorola. Much quieter, and >battery life is at least twice. >Motorola FRS radios will even drain the batteries in the off mode.

Jezus Dan! Don't keep us in suspense, what are the RS part numbers?! Also you mentioned that the internal amp isn't powerful enough to drive the headset when used in a helmet... Is this limited to the RS units or have you tried this with the Motorola TA's? Have you tried different headsets (i.e. ones designed for motorcycles like the ones found at http://www.alfenterprises.com/motorcyle_communication_headsets.htm )? I really want to get an FRS setup, but I haven't wanted to shell out the clams for the HJC units. ------------------ Zack SE DC KLR650A5 "Buster" ZG1000A1 COG #4664

No, I meant the RS model that comes only with a head set. It has just enough power to drive the ear piece, not a pair of speakers. Any of the models that come with speakers can be modified. The RS models that we have e found to be exceptional are: 21-1845 Base Station (about $50) and 21-1812 battery operated FRS (about $79). Unfortunately, I don't think they carry the latter any more, but you might get some sort of a cross reference to another model from them. Caution: a few of the RS FRS units are Motorola manufactured. I have never tried other headsets with the portable radios. Correction: Radio SHack Nickel-Metal Hydride chargers are generally better but the batteries are usually cheaper at Wal-Mart. Regardless of which motorcycle unit you buy or build, take my word for it; helmet radios open up a whole new world of enjoyment and safety for you and your friends. I wish I sold them. -- bierdo Zachariah Mully wrote:

> >Certain Radio Shack FRS radios are better than Motorola. Much quieter, and > >battery life is at least twice. > >Motorola FRS radios will even drain the batteries in the off mode. > > Jezus Dan! Don't keep us in suspense, what are the RS part numbers?! > > Also you mentioned that the internal amp isn't powerful enough to drive the > headset when used in a helmet... Is this limited to the RS units or have you > tried this with the Motorola TA's? Have you tried different headsets (i.e. > ones designed for motorcycles like the ones found at > http://www.alfenterprises.com/motorcyle_communication_headsets.htm )? I > really want to get an FRS setup, but I haven't wanted to shell out the clams > for the HJC units. > > ------------------ > Zack > SE DC > KLR650A5 "Buster" > ZG1000A1 > COG #4664

-- Dan (BIERDO) Oaks, President Formtech Services, Inc. '01 KLR650 '99 DR650 '82 XL250R '78 TC90 '91 Yammy 4 stroke golf cart 2 bad dogs and a sled Mfr. of Printing Equipment & Supplies formtech@... bierdo@... http://www.formtechservices.com Mfr. of 4x4 POLY Motorcycle Parts bierdo@... http://www.dirtly.com 2970 Robins Nest Ct. Saint Cloud, FL 34772-8182 USA 800 522-6257 407 957-7887 (fax)