Transceiver Options & Set-up

There are a few options for Transceivers/CBs with the Autocom systems.  The main differences come down to physical size and power output.

The recommended, and most commonly used brands are Uniden, Icom, GME, & Motorloa

All these models are handheld/portable transceivers (CBs). Some offer 38 Built-in Privacy (CTCSS) Codes, which allow two or more riders to communicate in private.

All of the above brands of Transceivers require separate leads to connect to the Autocom systems.

A commonly asked question regarding the Bike-to-Bike options is how far do the transceivers communicate.  Unfortunately this is a difficult question to answer, as the general nature of UHF is reliant on several variables such as surrounding terrain, buildings, atmospheric conditions, frequency or channel traffic, and so on.  For further details on each transceiver, it's best to talk to your local communication retailer before deciding on a particular model.

More information can be found at the Bike-to-Bike section.

Please Note: A general bit of information on UHF Transceivers.  There are TWO emergency channels allocated on the Australian UHF CB band, they are Channels 5 and 35.  Please refrain from using these channels except in the case of an emergency.

Reference:  A great source of information for UHF is ExplorOz. They have a very detail web site on UHF information, travel information, and mapping.

http://www.exploroz.com/Vehicle/Accessories/UHFRadio.aspx

Transceiver Set-up & Setting the VOX (and Radio use)

It is quite common for first time users to have some difficulties, although it seems quite simple, and it is, there are some tricks it getting it right. So lets go through a few pointers.

Before riding, set the system up on the bikes and practice some radio disciplines. It can help if you practice on one bike while listening on the other transceiver with the volume turned up and the leads unplugged from the side so that the transceiver speaker works. Someone else can talk back to you on the other transceiver by pressing the PTT button on the side of the transceiver. If they listen carefully they will hear the short delay after you finish speaking and before your VOX switches off and you stop transmitting. It is important that you understand this VOX delay, as it is pointless trying to transmit back to someone else if they are still transmitting. One has to have a short VOX delay so that the system reliably stays on during normal speech, which may have short pauses and you don't want a transceiver bouncing between transmit and receive, with the small losses of speech that you get in between.

When you first speak you need to draw out the first word or use a key word to get things going. We recommend saying "OK" at the start of a conversation because although the VOX is instant, transceivers have to go from standby to transmit and also standby to receive, the other end. So there is a 112 second or so delay. DON'T TURN LEFT may come over as TURN LEFT, so its good practice to use a key work like OK then say what you want such as OK, DON'T TURN LEFT. Its also good practice to say OVER when you have finished speaking, as if after saying OK TURN LEFT the other person replied with OK, OK, they may well have transmitted over you trying to say something like AND THEN TAKE THE NEXT RIGHT. Of course if you wait to hear OVER before giving a reply you can help avoid this, but even a well seasoned user will occasionally jam, which is when two people transmit at the same time.

Practice makes perfect and it's much easier to practice while close together and not riding and worrying about other things going on.

Please refer to the download section about VOX settings, as well as microphone and speaker positioning. Correct VOX settings will make all the difference to a flowing two way conversation (one way at a time with bike-bike) as the higher the VOX setting the quicker the switching off of the mic's, which allows for faster return transmissions. To help get reliable speech with the highest VOX setting one MUST set up and use the mic's loud spot. Speaker positioning is also very important as with the speakers out of position the sound level will be much lower, this will tend to make you turn the transceivers receive volume up and if too loud it will cause VOX bounce to warn you that something is wrong and protect the speakers. VOX bounce is where the VOX switches in and out during conversation normally because the incoming speech is set too loud (normally associated with excessive transceiver volume, to compensate for incorrect speaker positioning or over attenuating earplugs) To test this hold the speakers over your ears, turn the transceiver volume down and slowly turn it back up to a comfortable level, then the VOX should not bounce.

Typical problems are due to misunderstanding the importance of correct setting up; some users turn the VOX setting too low (clockwise) to compensate for not properly using the microphone loud spot. With the VOX set too low the microphone may accidentally switch on at higher speeds, causing your transceiver to transmit, which of course you don't want to happen when trying to receive a transmission from the other bike.

Obviously the faster you go the more likely the helmet noise is to false trigger the VOX, which can cause you to have break-up in conversations, but with a correct (higher counter clockwise) VOX setting, which is easily activated when using the microphone LOUD SPOT, you will avoid false VOX operations at any speed.

With correctly positioned speakers you will find you can turn the transceiver receive volume down, which will avoid VOX bounce.

With practice your radio discipline will get better and you will avoid clipping the first part of the sentence by using a key word such as OK, then educate the other users to not return comments until you have said OVER, Plus then also allow a one or two second delay to allow your transceiver to switch back to receive before they return the speech, remembering that they must start with a keyword or OK and again end with OVER.