Instruction manual

The voice activated (VOX) pre-set control does the following:
1 Turns the microphones off
when you are not speaking, when set correctly. IE not too low (too far clockwise).
2 Mutes the optional music
about 50% when you speak, unless set too high (too far anticlockwise). NOTE if the
music does not mute when you speak, it is because the VOX is too high and so you cannot operate it. OR the
VOX is too low, in which case the microphones are already on and the music is already muted.
3 NOTE any optional music
will mute about 50% when you receive adequate speech from an optional bike-to-bike
transceiver. The VOX pre-set does not effect this, only the volume from the transceiver.
4 NOTE
When you receive adequate speech levels from an optional mobile phone, (plugged into the Aux socket
on the front panel), both the music and transceiver sounds are cut, as is the VOX transmit for the transceiver.
These will come back on after 10-20 seconds of not receiving sound from the phone. The VOX control does not
effect this, only the volume from the phone. This short delay is present each time that you power up the Pro-7-
Sport.
The Pro-7-Sport has a HIGH/LOW Speech socket
WARNING only use the high setting if using earplugs. An
optional handlebar remote high/low speech switch is available from your stockist (Part 164) use this to boost the
speech volume about 9dB (300%) for use with earplugs. A shorted 3.5mm stereo or mono plug, plugged into this
socket will also do this.
Correct headset installation and use is critical
to comfort and ease of use. Please read, understand and follow the
headset instructions carefully. It is not unusual for first time users to misunderstand how important this is, or to find
it difficult to solve on their own. As such we recommend that you consult your suppler for assistance.
Some types of earplugs
can be used, however as a guide, those that attenuate about 20dB or less usually work
best. Many others that attenuate much more than this can impair sound quality and level.
Unplug any accessory leads
from the intercom if they are not being used, as they can encourage any airborne
interference to be picked up and amplified. Try to keep the phone and/or transceiver as far away from the Pro-7-
Sport and other electrical devices as possible. Note some digital phones may cause undesirable interference.
When using any device that transmits
such as a phone or bike-to-bike radios, it is essential to check with you
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bike manufacturer/supplier that it is safe to do so. Some bikes can be effected by such transmissions, in particula
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those with ABS or other computer controlled systems.
Some other vendor’s equipment such as personal stereo/CD players, phones and transceivers may worker bette
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than others. Please check with your suppler for advice about Autocom accessories and the compatibility of any
other equipment before using it with this product.
Some bikes may radiate interference. A whining sound related to engine speed may be caused by a noisy
alternator, while a ticking sound relative to engine speed may be caused by a noisy HT ignition system spark
plugs/leads. If you experience any such noises, please contact your supplier for advice.
Note when this unit is bike powered it can power some recommended transceivers via an optional interface lead
The Pro-7-Sport will become warm to touch when using it this way. If mounting the intercom on to a bike, the best
place to position it is normally under the seat. Take care to protect the leads from sharp edges and not to
trap/crush the leads between frame/seat/panels etc. Also watch that you do not snag the seat locking/release
mechanism.
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dditional information and setting up tips.
Basic principle of an intercom system & why Autocom is different.
The basic principle of an intercom is a microphone, amplifier and speaker. (Of course the phone and
transceiver are just wireless extensions of the system, which interface into the main control box along with
other inputs such as music). The microphone picks up the sound of your voice and the amplifier amplifies it to
the speakers. The problem with basic systems is that the microphone also picks up all the helmet noise and
amplify it to your ears, adding to the helmet noise, making it much louder, resulting in the need for more
amplification to hear the speech. Having a volume control to be able to turn this up also turns up the unwanted
amplified helmet noise. Catch 22, and why we do not fit a volume control. Our systems are set to the optimum
level and so adjustments won’t help other than to compensate for incorrect set-up and use, resulting in poor
performance.
The fact is that you need a very special microphone
combined with specially designed filters and speakers that
are all tuned and matched to the system. (A race car cannot win races with just the best engine alone, it also
needs the best brakes, chassis, tyres and of course the all important driver. We have designed and provided all
but the good driver bit, and so now all we need do is help you understand how to set-up and use our systems
properly.
Remember, if a microphone can pick up the sound of your voice when it is away from your mouth then of
course it can also pick up any sound in between, i.e. helmet noise. Therefore one cannot expect a system to
work at higher speeds if the microphones can pick your voice up when they are away from the mouth.
Autocom’s high tech microphones effectively do not pick up any sound, or very little, when away from your
mouth and so if not used correctly they can effectively cut out the sound of the users voice along with the
undesirable helmet noise that they are designed not to pick up. The solution is to find and use the microphone’s
LOUD SPOT
, as everything’s been carefully balanced and tuned to this. See the headset section for more on
this.
Obviously if you want the best sound out of the speakers you also need to get them directly over your ears, as
if you were holding them there. This helps provide the speaker sound directly to the ears, in front of the helmet
noise. Moving the speakers away from the ears allows the powerful helmet noise to over power the speaker
sound.
You should test the system out of the helmet before installation, with speech (using the microphone loud spot)
and preferably also with good quality music so that you have a good understanding of just how good it can be
at its best. If it then does not sound as good after installation, you need to adjust the microphone and/or
speakers to suit. You will find that when set-up and used this way it is extremely good, although slight losses
can be expected in a helmet, especially at higher speeds/noise.
The microphone and speaker positioning is the key to getting the best performance out of the system.
VOX & Microphones settings; (using Pro-7-Sport)
Plug the boom microphone into the main headset speaker loom and plug this into the rider’s lead of the Pro-7-
Sport (longest lead) ensuring that the Pro-7-Sport is properly powered.
Set the VOX to about 3/4 anticlockwise, (with the flat vertical, to the left of the knob). This is a high VOX setting
for speeds of typically up to 150+ mph using a full-face helmet. Position the microphone so that it is touching
your lips and project your voice through it in a positive manner, as if to someone 20 ft (6-7 meters) away. You
will discover that by carefully moving the microphone about while speaking you will find a more sensitive spot
where it is loudest and easiest to operate the high VOX setting. We call this the ‘LOUD SPOT’ (don't worry if
the speech breaks up as the VOX is set deliberately very high to help discover a principle).
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