Chatter Box XBi2 Wireless Intercom - Full-Face Kit Review

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(More customer reviews)I recently purchased a Chatter Box XBi2 Wireless Intercome with the full-face kit. I installed it into a full-face Scorpion helmet. The documentation provided with the Chatter Box XBi2 did very little in assisting me with the installation. By the way, the documentation with the Scorpion helmet did even less. If anyone purchasing the Chatter Box XBi2 feel they need instructions or doucmentation to help them figure out the appropriate way to operate and install the device, they will be greatly disappointed. If you can manage to get the Chatter Box installed and operating, it works just fine. Don't buy this item unless you are going to have it professionally installed or your mechanical/electronical skills are way above average.

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Blueant F4 Stereo Bluetooth Interphone Motorcycle Kit (Helmet not included) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have owned a pair of these since November (I bought them within a day of their availability in the US), and have lots of miles on them. Don's (Daugherty) review is excellent, and I won't repeat it. I have used these on both my custom Harley (loud) as well as a cruiser, and I can tell you that volume is fantastic, as is the fidelity. However, as Don notes, they are NOT iPhone friendly. The problem is not the A2dp compatiability (BlueAnt tech is using that excuse, but is using old iPhones), as only the first generation iPhones and iTouch's had that problem.
See this link for proof: [...]
The problem is that the BlueAnt F4 is NOT sending the "pause" code when it enters intercom mode. It does send the proper code when it enters telephone mode (the music stops playing and returns when stopped). You do get the music back when the phone call terminates. When an intercom "call" terminates, you can not get back to your music without taking out and fiddling with the iPhone.
Don noted that the external (redundant) Bluetooth adapter works (sort of true), in that the music returns. However, the music has continued playing while you were on intercom, proving that the F4 did not send the pause signal. If it HAD sent the pause signal to the iPhone (or iPod), you would not have to use the external Bluetooth device.
What is bad about the external Bluetooth device hanging on your iPhone? It costs extra, for one. More importantly, it absolutely drains your iPhone battery quickly (you are running 2 Bluetooths on the phone!), AND you can't have your phone plugged into the bike for power since the Bluetooth adapater is occupying the iPhone charging slot!
So, if you aren't using the iPhone as your music and phone device, I fully recommend the BlueAnt F4. However, if you are an iPhone user, you will be frustrated, as the 10h battery life of the BlueAnt means nothing when your iPhone craps out in less than 4 hours !!!
BlueAnt can fix this with a protocol change, and I surely expect them to. Until then, iPhone buyers beware.

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Sena Motorcycle Dual Bluetooth Headset and Intercom System Review

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(More customer reviews)I've never owned or used an intercom on a motorcycle before now, so I have nothing to compare this with.
The unit out of the box paired easily with the second unit, my Ipod touch, and one of our two cellphones. I can not get it to pair with my Samsung PDA (which I've successfully paired with other bluetooth devices.) Unit to unit works perfectly. It also works perfectly with my older Motorola razor cellphone. It connects, and allows music playback from my Ipod touch (3g). I cannot control the Ipod with the headset though. But perhaps the Ipod bluetooth doesn't support that (?) The problem with the Ipod is that if you talk too long to your passenger over the intercom, the Ipod will pause, and you can't restart it from the headset. It's too tricky to try and restart while I'm driving, so when that happens, I have to wait until my next stop or pull over. A work around on this is to use the supplied cables and plug the Ipod into the headset. But then, you're messing with cables, and it defeats the whole Bluetooth advantage. I have read reviews on other sites that claim the Sena unit sends a command to pause the Ipod. If that's accurate, then the problem is with the Sena unit, not Apple. However, if you just speak briefly to your passenger, the music comes back on as soon as you click off with the passenger. Also, music over bluetooth will only work with one or the other headset. Your MP3 can't drive both headsets via bluetooth. I mention this, because a lot of folks don't realize this.
Operation is simple, you can leave it on VOX, which will make you and the other rider connect when you speak. Or you can deactivate VOX, and press the side button to connect, then press again when you're done.
We use these with our half helmets. I wear hearing aids, and half helmets are the only helmet I can use my hearing aids with. I sometimes ride with only 1 hearing aid. Either way, with one or both hearing aid in, there is ample volume below about 65 mph to hear fine. Over about 65 mph, the microphone picks up too much wind noise to work well. Couple that with the wind rushing in to a half helmet, and it's only that much harder to hear. Before you buy this for half helmets, read some reviews of other types of intercoms. Some have a mic that touches your throat. Perhaps that would be better in a half helmet, but I really don't know. Anyway, I don't fault Sena for the wind issues in a half helmet. Although it would be sporting of them to mention it in their ad.
Battery life seems pretty good. We set out with two fully charged headsets today. We rode 5 hours with the intercom ON the whole time, with no issues. Recharge time later wasn't long, Less than an hour. Clicking it on and off should extend the battery life.
Bottom line. Except for the Ipod issue, it operates flawlessly. It's not the hot ticket for half helmets though, at least when riding out on the interstate.

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