Cardo Scala Rider G9 Review

The Cardo Scala Rider G9 is the latest addition to the Cardo family that includes significant updates from its predecessor the G4. One of the most innovative bluetooth communicators out there for motorcyclists, the G9 utilizes advanced technology that really packs a punch with all its great features. 

Check out our Cardo Scala Rider G9 Review:

Starting off with the construction of the device itself, you'll notice right off the bat the larger buttons on the console which provide for easier navigation while wearing gloves. This is a big advantage to those that want to have convenience while riding and don't feel like fiddling with their gloves as they try to talk to their moms or set up music. Another great thing about the design of the Cardo G9 is that it comes with two microphone options. You can use a boom microphone that wraps easily under and into the helmet or you can simply set up a wired low-profile microphone directly on your helmet if you're going to be using it over and over again. 

Now let's go into some of the technical features of the G9. The system allows for up to nine people at once to be paired together. This is great for those of you riding in larger packs, but the system only allows for up to four riders to be able to talk at once in conference mode. It comes with a solid talk time of 13 hours and a standby time of a week just like the G4. The G9 is also capable of making mobile phone conference calls that allows the caller and both the rider and passenger to talk. The pairing system is really a breeze because it uses flash technology where you simply bump or touch the devices together and they automatically sync to one another. One of the more interesting features I found was the ability to find other G9 users and set up social groups based on a location or riding group through the social networking options.  

Riders should be aware that the G9 system does come with all the great features of the G4 system, and if you currently own a G4 you can upgrade your current system to match the G9. Some of the features of the new G9 include A2DP and Mp3 connectivity for stereo music, a built in FM radio with RDS smart scan, a noise cancelling microphone for clear conversations, a weather and dust resistant design providing ultimate functionality, a range of up to 1.6km in normal terrain, and upgradeable firmware for any system updates Cardo may put out in the future. 

In the end, if you're looking for a good, large or small group bluetooth communicator the G9 will cover all your needs and deliver much more. The makers at Cardo keep updating their systems and each time we like the improvements we've seen and can honestly say you won't be disappointed with this investment.

Keep on riding,

YoungZilla

Related:
Interphone F5 Bluetooth 3.0 Intercom Review
U-Clear HBC100 Bluetooth Communicator Review 

Interphone F5 Bluetooth 3.0 Intercom Review

The Interphone F5 Bluetooth 3.0 Intercom is the latest addition to the Interphone family and delivers a powerful package in comparison to its predecessor and competitors. What you're going to get is an Intercom system that provides great coverage and compatibility with a wide range of other Bluetooth devices.



Check out our Interphone F5 Bluetooth 3.0 Intercom Review:



Designed to be used for motorcyclists who like to travel in either pairs or groups, the F5 provides excellent conference communication for over 6 users. A great selling point to the F5 is its compatibility with other devices. You'll be able to link up with other Interphone F5 users, your cell phone, a GPS Bluetooth navigator, stereo music through the FM radio, and IPods or other MP3 players thanks to the 3.5 mm jack hook up. A nice feature to the radio is that it will automatically mute when a phone call is received giving the rider the ability to listen to music, but still be in touch with the outside world while riding. You're also going to be able to save up to 8 stations in the F5's memory for easy access to all your favorite music.

The range for the intercom system is going to change depending on how many riders you have at once. With a full conference of 6 riders on 6 different motorcycles you'll have up to 1.49 miles of communication, but with only two riders in conference mode you're restricted to a little less than a mile. (At the bottom is a detailed chart that goes over the range of communication per rider.)

The F5 has Voice-Activated commands when using your mobile phone functions which enables you to call, answer, or reject without having to hassle with any buttons while on the move. This provides a lot of convenience for any rider who wants to have complete hands-free control over their communication system.

Some other key features to the F5 are the Bluetooth 3.0, it's installable on any helmet, includes software that can be updated through a computer as Interphone releases them in the future, and provides 11 hours of talk time with a standby time that lasts over 700 hours! The F5 itself only takes about three hours to charge completely and comes with a chargeable lithium battery and battery charger.

Available for sale as a Single Unit or a Twin Pack, the Interphone F5 offers a lot to riders looking for the best communication system.

Be sure to check out our comparable choices in our Motorcycle Bluetooth Communicators section!

Keep on Riding,
YoungZilla

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U-Clear HBC100 Bluetooth Communicator Review
Interphone F4 Review

U-Clear HBC100 Bluetooth Communicator Review

We got our hands on the brand new U-Clear HBC100 Bluetooth Communicator, the industry's first boomless bluetooth communication system, and picked through its features. Beyond the fact that the HBC100 utilizes a technology that eliminates the clunky boom microphone that oftentimes gets annoying in the chin bar area of a helmet, what we found impressive about this unit is how simple it is to install. As you'll see in the video below, the most difficult part of the installation is actually the cheek pad removal of whatever helmet you're installing the unit into. The HBC 100 also uses all of the newest technologies permeating the bluetooth communication industry now, so you're not sacrificing any sound quality or features.

Check out our U-Clear HBC100 Bluetooth Communicator Review:

First and foremost, let's address the microphone in this communicator and how it operates. Proper placement of the speakers is key as the mic is actually built into the speaker. So how does it work to actually pick up the voice and not all the noise associated with riding a motorcycle at speed? Utilizing a patented process, Digital Signal Processing technology, the HBC100 filters out all extraneous noise (wind sound, motorcycle noise) and delivers the highest quality vocal fidelity. This four-stage process was developed for the military and essentially identifies all unwanted sounds being picked up by the mic, eliminates them, and optimizes the user's voice only by the final stage of output. This technology works flawlessly at speeds up to 147mph (or 238km/h).

Beyond the clarity of voice communication, let's take a look at some of the other features and benefits of the UClear HBC100 unit. The speakers sit flush within the helmet and deliver hi-fi stereo sound that will assure clarity of sound even in extremely noisy riding situations. The design of the unit itself is resistant to water, dust, dirt and all other nasty weather elements. It supports voice commands, which allows you to place and receive calls without having to push any buttons. The HBC-100 also operates with up to 10 hours of talk time and 2 weeks worth of standby time. The A2DP technology allows any A2DP-ready unit (mp3 player, GPS system, smartphone) to communicate wirelessly with the unit while the AVRCP technology works in conjunction with A2DP, allowing multiple devices to be operated with a single controller.

A new era of bluetooth communication has arrived, and U-Clear has put the onus on other manufacturers to catch up. If interested in more, please visit our Motorcycle Bluetooth Communications section.

-RetroZilla

Related:
U-Clear HBC100 Bluetooth Communicator First Look
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Cardo Scala Rider Q2 Pro and Multiset Preview
Schuberth C3 Helmet Review