Autocom goes 'auto static'...fedup

[jakfrost]

I have spent and inordinate amount of time trying to sort out the source of the intermittent static, ( crackling, poping, etc. ), coming in thru the headset on my Autocom and think its time to explore alternative solutions.

 

Like a new system

 

I use currently use the Autocom for passenger intercom, XM tunes from my Garmin 376c and incoming cell phone calls, ( I am on 2 hrs callout 14 days at a time and need to know if dispatch is trying to reach me...).

 

All sound comes in thru my Etymotic 6I's using the Autocom part designed for 3.5mm jacks.

 

Anyone having good luck with a bluetooth system yet?

 

Jim W.

[John Bentall]

I have a hunch that the intermittent crackling may be coming from one of the 3.5mm stereo (or mono) jack interfaces, where the plug is a sloppy fit in the socket. Have you gone through all the usual stuff such as disconnecting each input in turn to see whehter the crackle disappears? Have you tried a different helmet without the ER6i's plugged in but using helmet speakers? Have you cleaned all the plugs with electrical contact cleaner?

 

 

[CT_Rider]

I have a similar setup 'cept with a Zumo. Static went away when I finally moved the ground from the frame to the battery. Crackling subsided/went away when I used some compressed air in the Zumo mount jack input/output.

[ShovelStrokeEd]

It may not be the Autocom at all.

 

My first set of ER6's did that to me. Turns out the very thin cord had frayed internally, right where they split into the two individual wires.

 

The new ones (ER6i) have not had that problem but, I now route the wire for these under my jacket so that the wires are not flopping around in the breeze.

[jakfrost]

Hey John, haven't seen you on the board for awhile...but I've been busy like crazy at work and so not here so much myownself.

 

Thanks for the reply, I have a 200 km ( 'round trip ) commute to work and so have lots of time, ( depending on traffic...), to play around with connections trying to isolate the source. I thought I had found the problem last month when it seemed the point where the line to the helmet is compressed at the helmet edge was causing the noise. Problem is it is so damn intermittent...snap, crackle, pop and then nothing. Wiggle everything I can get my hands on while riding, nothing. Relax. Wait. Snap crackle pop, snap crackle pop, snap crackle pop. Nothing. Finally when I dug the cell phone out of the glove box and unplugged the 3.5 lead to the Autocom it went quiet. Ok....found the problem. Turn head left for a lane change shoulder check, SNAP CRACKLE POP. Damn, double damn. So not the cell phone connection. Wiggle the lead into the helmet, all connectors. Nothing. Grr. Quiet. Plug phone back in, slight faint crackling, unplug again. Quiet. Then suddenly SNP again.

 

Since I can't seem to replicate it while the bike is stationary it is a problem to troubleshoot it only while driving.

 

Getting really fed up with the noise and it seems to be getting louder. To the point where I just can't stand it, it is so distracting while driving. Which means if I can't use my cell to take incoming calls from work my summer riding just got a lot shorter!

 

So I'm going to remove all the plastic, check all connections ONCE AGAIN, and if it is still there I guess I'll look for another Active 7, or whatever the current system is called...

 

And thanks to Bill also...I have learned from past experience to always ground audio stuff to the battery, it just eliminates another source of potential problems.

 

Jim

[markgoodrich]

I think Bentall has the right suggestion. If I understand your setup, you have three jacks going into your Autocom box, plus the Etymotic jack, plus the cell and gps, for a total of six different connections, each of which can cause the Rice Krispie effect.

 

I don't know where your Autocom unit is located, in a tank bag or under the seat or worse, under the fairing, but I think you might find your problem by systematically disconnecting accessories at the Autocom, one at a time.

 

I'm not an electronics whiz, but I've had my share of problems with bad jack connections on all sorts of electronic gizmos. The vibration inherent in any motorcycle application exacerbates the potential for the relatively weak jack connection to fail, intermittently or completely.

[jakfrost]

OK, got it all apart and back together and the culprit is the 3.5 stereo jack that connects the cell phone to the Autocom.

 

Here is the problem: the bluetooth I was using was a Motorola HF800 that resided in the glovebox and plugged into the line from the Autocom from under the rear storage area. I had to give up on it since the battery was constantly going dead and wouldn't hold a charge. So I plugged the phone directly into the Autocom line, put it on auto answer and that worked fine. Except I had to do some micro soldering to get the connector to allow the 'auto answer' function to work. That is what has now caused the intermittent static. My lousy soldering job...

 

The line from the Autocom has a black wire and a white wire plus the bare ground. I can't find a combination that will allow a 3.5 stereo jack to activate the 'auto answer on the phone.

 

Does anyone know of a bluetooth unit that I could connect directly to the Autocom and be self powered? By the Autocom ideally...Then I could leave it in the storage area next to the Autocom, and have the phone in my pocket...

 

Jim

[EffBee]

So, just for the sake of clarificaion. Was it the Autocom's fault? Was it a bad unit or a lousy product you were "fedup" with? Are you still dumping it and getting another system?

 

As for a Bluetooth dongle that works and is powered off the Autocom, try Autocom part #1276. Not cheap, but it works and it can be set up to be powered off the power input wire into the Autocom. It will be grounded through the plug that goes into Aux-1.

[jakfrost]

Just for 'clarification' as I stated in my previous thread, " seems to have been my lousy soldering job" that caused the problem.

 

Sorry if I seemed to be 'dumping' on a wonderful system like the Autocom. This is my third system from Autocom, been using them exclusively for the last 5 or 6 bikes, and must have promted at least a few of my fellow riders to invest in the Autocom system. Probably just my frustration coming thru. Nothing like an intermittent problem you have to live with for 1 hr morning and night to raise your irritation level.

 

I will check into part # 1276...thanks for the information, just what I was looking for.

 

Jim