For easy reference while on the road, download the Pocket Guide from cardosystems.com/quick-guides/. This is version 1.0 of the FREECOM 2 Manual. The latest version of the manuals in your preferred language and various tutorials can be found at cardosystems.com/product-manuals/.
CONTENTS 1. Introduction 2. Charging the FREECOM 2 3. Getting Started 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 4 5 6 Getting to Know Your FREECOM 2 Switching Your Unit On/Off Different Ways to Operate Your FREECOM 2 Basic Functions Pairing Your Unit to Bluetooth Devices 6 6 6 6 7 3.5.1 Pairing through the Unit Buttons 3.5.2 Pairing through the Voice-Assisted Menu 7 8 3.6 Pairing the Bluetooth Intercom 8 3.6.1 Pairing the Bluetooth Intercom to other Cardo Units 3.6.2 Pairing the Bluetooth Intercom to non-Cardo Units 4.
1. INTRODUCTION Thank you for choosing the Cardo FREECOM 2 Bluetooth® communication and entertainment system for motorcycle helmets. This Manual describes the features of your FREECOM 2 and how to use them. We wish you a great FREECOM 2 experience and encourage you to write to us at support@cardosystems.com regarding any questions, suggestions or comments you may have.
2. CHARGING THE FREECOM 2 Make sure that your FREECOM 2 battery is charged for at least 4 hours before initial use. To charge the FREECOM 2: 1. ● ● Using the supplied USB cable, connect your computer or a wall charger to the FREECOM 2 USB port. Charging with the wall charger is faster than via a computer USB port. Charging your unit switches it off automatically. To use your unit while it is being charged, switch it on. (see Switching Your Unit On/Off on page 6).
3. GETTING STARTED 3.1 GETTING TO KNOW YOUR FREECOM 2 3.2 SWITCHING YOUR UNIT ON/OFF To switch your FREECOM 2 on: ● Press and for 1 second. The speaker plays an ascending tone and a voice message "Hello FREECOM 2". In all battery states, the LED flashes blue three times repeatedly, confirming that your FREECOM 2 is on. To switch your FREECOM 2 off: ● Tap and . In all battery states, the LED flashes red three times repeatedly, confirming that your FREECOM 2 is switching off.
To turn the volume down for current audio source: Tap ● . With each tap, a quieter tone is played on the speaker until you reach the minimum volume, as indicated by the minimum volume tone. To mute the microphone completely and lower the speaker volume to the minimal level when an audio source is active: Tap ● and . A descending tone is played on the speaker. Automatic Gain Control (AGC) adjusts your speaker volume according to ambient noise and riding speed.
● ● ● ● If pairing is not completed within 2 minutes, the unit automatically returns to Standby. If you have paired two different mobile phones directly to your FREECOM 2, set one as default for making calls (see Setting the Default Mobile Phone on page 21). Not all Bluetooth mobile phones broadcast Bluetooth Stereo music (A2DP), even if the phone has an MP3 player function. Consult your mobile phone’s user manual for more information.
3. On the other Cardo unit, activate Bluetooth intercom pairing mode (see the other Cardo unit user manual at cardosystems.com/product-manuals/). 4. The unit confirms that pairing has succeeded and the LED flashes for 2 seconds. ● To cancel the pairing process, press ● If pairing is not completed within 2 minutes, the unit automatically returns to Standby. ● To reset all Bluetooth intercom pairing while in Bluetooth intercom pairing mode: ● Press and for 2 seconds. The LED stops flashing.
● To cancel the pairing process, press ● If pairing is not completed within 2 minutes, the unit automatically returns to Standby. ● To reset all Bluetooth intercom pairing while in Bluetooth intercom pairing mode: ● Press and for 2 seconds. The LED stops flashing. for 2 seconds. The LED flashes purple 5 times slowly, confirming that pairing has been reset . To pair your FREECOM 2 with non-Cardo units through the SmartSet app: 1. Confirm your unit is in Standby mode (LED flashes slowly). 2.
4. BEFORE YOU RIDE Get the most out of your FREECOM 2 by changing the settings and customizing your unit according to your own personal preferences, using either of the following methods: ● ● SmartSet App on iOS / Android (see Configuring Your FREECOM 2 through the SmartSet App on page 14). Cardo Community on Windows / Mac - minimum requirements - Windows® 7 / Mac OS X 10.8 (see Configuring Your FREECOM 2 through Cardo Community on page 18). ● Unit buttons. ● Configuration voice menu on your device.
Object Default Value Description SmartSet App (iOS/Android) Cardo Community Configuration Voice Menu Click-to-Link settings (Enable/Disable) Enable Spontaneous way to instantly initiate one-onone intercom calls with a Cardo passenger/nearby rider, without being paired. ü ü ü Download the latest firmware upgrade N/A Stay up-to-date by downloading software updates whenever a new version is available (, see Configuring Your FREECOM 2 Basic Settings through Cardo Community on page 18.
Object Parallel audio streaming (Enable/Disable) Default Value Enable Description You can hear two audio sources simultaneously. For example, hear GPS while listening to music. SmartSet App (iOS/Android) Cardo Community Configuration Voice Menu ü ü ü ü ü ü ü û Limitations may apply when using certain iOS devices.
AGC and VOX performance vary based on environmental conditions, including riding speed, helmet type and ambient noise. For improved performance, minimize the wind impact on the microphone by closing the visor and using the large microphone sponge. 4.1 CONFIGURING YOUR FREECOM 2 THROUGH THE SMARTSET APP You can configure your FREECOM 2 through your mobile phone by installing the SmartSet app available at Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Group Description/Options MY DEVICE ● Change Device Name. LANGUAGE ● Set Language. Spoken Status Announcements ● Enable/disable. VOX ● ● AGC ● ● FEATURES ● ● Resets the unit to factory defaults. ● ● ● - manage devices and passenger/nearby rider. ● ● Enable/disable AGC Activation. Set AGC Sensitivity (low, medium, or high). Enable/disable Click-to-link. Enable/disable IC to Phone. Enable/disable Parallel Audio Streaming. Set A2DP/IC Priority (A2DP or Intercom).
3. Under FEATURES, scroll to FM Band Region and tap Worldwide or Japan as required. 4.1.2.2 CONFIGURING YOUR FM RADIO MANUALLY You can configure your FM radio preset stations manually or by using auto scan (see Configuring Your FM Radio Using Auto Tuning on page 17). To configure the six FM radio preset radio stations manually: 1. In the Home screen, tap FM. 2.
3. Enter the desired FM station's frequency and tap OK. 4. To delete a preset station, tap DELETE. ● ● Preset radio station 1 cannot be deleted. During a station scan, deleted preset radio stations are skipped. The station scan automatically advanced to the next defined preset station. For more information, see Listening to FM Radio on page 26. 4.1.2.
4.2 CONFIGURING YOUR FREECOM 2 THROUGH CARDO COMMUNITY You can configure your FREECOM 2 unit by connecting the unit to a computer with the supplied USB cable and running the Cardo Updater while your computer is connected to the Cardo Community website. The minimum operating system requirements for the Cardo Updater are: ● Windows® 7 ● Mac OS X 10.8 4.2.1 INSTALLING THE CARDO UPDATER ON YOUR COMPUTER To install the Cardo Updater on your computer: 1. Go to http://cardosystems.
If a new firmware version is available, follow the instructions on the screen to update your FREECOM 2 with the latest features. 4.2.3 CONFIGURING YOUR FM RADIO THROUGH CARDO COMMUNITY To configure the six FM radio preset radio stations using Cardo Community: 1. Scroll down to FM RADIO PRESETS section. 2. On FM Band: ● If you are in Japan, select Japan. ● Otherwise, select Worldwide. 3. On the preset station you want to edit, click . 4. Enter the desired FM station's frequency and press Enter.
Limitations may apply when using certain iOS devices.
4.6 SETTING THE DEFAULT MOBILE PHONE If you paired your unit to two mobile phones, you must set one of them as the default phone for outgoing calls. To set the default phone through the SmartSet app: 1. Confirm your unit is in Standby mode (LED flashes slowly). 2. Open the SmartSet app and tap 3. Tap 4. Tap PRIORITY for the default mobile phone. : . To set the default phone through the unit: ● During a mobile call, press for 5 seconds. 4.
5. ON THE ROAD 5.1 MAKING AND RECEIVING PHONE CALLS You can use your mobile phone normally to make and receive phones while paired to your FREECOM 2. 5.1.1 MAKING PHONE CALLS You cannot make phone calls during mobile calls. To make a phone call through the unit buttons: ● With your mobile phone's voice dialing - tap ● Dialing the default speed dial number - tap ● Redialing the last number called - press and . three times. for 2 seconds .
To end a phone call through the SmartSet app: 1. In the Home screen, tap PHONE. 2. Press END CALL. 5.1.5 TOGGLING BETWEEN TWO CALLS ON TWO MOBILE PHONES PAIRED TO YOUR UNIT Your FREECOM 2 can toggle between two calls on two mobile phones when both mobile phones are paired to your unit. To toggle between two calls on two mobile phones through the unit buttons: Tap ● twice. 5.1.
To add a Bluetooth intercom call to the current mobile call: To add the passenger/nearby rider to a call, tap ● . To disconnect the Bluetooth intercom conference call from the mobile call, do one of the following: ● To end the active Bluetooth intercom connection, tap . ● To use the SmartSet app: On the INTERCOM screen, disconnected the active channel. After disconnecting the Bluetooth intercom call, you can continue talking on the mobile call.
b. When the voice-assisted menu reaches "Music On", tap or use VOX. To stop music streaming, do one of the following: ● To use the unit buttons: press ● To use the SmartSet app: on the MUSIC screen, tap ● To use the voice-assisted menu: a. Tap and for 2 seconds. . . b. When the voice-assisted menu reaches "Music Off", tap or use VOX. To skip to the next track (while streaming music), do one of the following: ● To use the unit buttons: tap .
b. When the voice-assisted menu reaches "Scan Tracks Down", tap c. When you hear a track that you want to play, tap or use VOX. 5.3.1.1 SWITCHING MUSIC SOURCES If two music (A2DP) audio sources are paired, FREECOM 2 uses the audio source from which you last played music. To switch to the other audio source: 1. Stop music (A2DP) playback from the current device (see ) Listening to Music on page 24. 2. Play music (A2DP) from the other device (see (see ) Listening to Music on page 24).
To scan available stations and select your desired station: ● To use the unit buttons: a. Tap and . The FM radio plays each station that it finds for several seconds. b. When you hear a station you want to select, tap ● or use VOX. To use the voice-assisted menu: a. Tap and . b. When the voice-assisted menu reaches "Scan Stations Up", tap or use VOX. To store a scanned station in the active preset: ● To use the unit buttons: tap within 20 seconds of stopping the scan.
5.3.3 SHARING MUSIC AND RADIO You can share music and FM radio with a passenger. ● Music and radio can be shared with only one passenger/rider. ● Bluetooth intercom calls are disabled when sharing music. ● FM radio sharing opens a Bluetooth intercom call automatically. ● While sharing music, you cannot use Bluetooth intercom. ● ● ● ● If you paired your unit to two mobile phones, music will be shared from the mobile phone through which you last played music.
d. When the voice-assisted menu reaches: ● "Start Music Sharing", tap or use VOX. or ● e. "Start Radio Sharing", tap or use VOX. To stop sharing, do one of the following: ● FM radio - tap . The Bluetooth intercom call ends. ● FM radio or music - press for 2 seconds. If FM radio was shared, the Bluetooth intercom call remains on.
6. TROUBLESHOOTING 6.1 SOFT RESET If your FREECOM 2 stops responding, reset it by either: ● ● Turning it off and then on again (see Switching Your Unit On/Off on page 6). Using the supplied USB cable, connect your computer or wall charger to the FREECOM 2 USB port for 30 seconds. 6.2 RESET PAIRING This option deletes all paired units and devices. To reset pairing: ● Press and for 5 seconds. 6.3 RESET TO FACTORY SETTINGS This option deletes all paired units, devices and all configuration settings.
7. SUPPORT For additional information: : www.cardosystems.com * support@cardosystems.com ( USA and Canada: 1-800-488-0363 / International: +49 89 450 36819 Multinational E-commerce companies and online auction websites are not authorized to sell Cardo products and purchases from such sites are at your own risk. To receive warranty or customer service, you must submit original receipts from authorized Cardo dealers. Products that were imported from North America must be serviced in the USA.
8. GLOSSARY Term/Abbreviation Description A2DP Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (for music). A protocol for playing music over Bluetooth. AGC sensitivity AGC (Automatic Gain Control) automatically adjusts speaker volume according to ambient noise and riding speed. Click-to-Link Spontaneous way to instantly initiate one-on-one intercom calls with aother Cardo passenger/nearby rider, without being paired. Device Mobile phone, GPS or music player. IC Intercom.
APPENDIX A. FREECOM 2 MODES AND EVENTS - LED INDICATIONS Your FREECOM 2 operates in various modes. Each mode consists of a group of features currently available for your use. For example, when FREECOM 2 plays music, it will be in music playing mode, enabling features related to playing music such as skipping to the next and previous tracks. "Events" are considered to occur whenever you operate a feature and when FREECOM 2's responds. For example, turning on music is an "event".
LED Flashing Battery State Red/Green Alternating fast Normal Low Battery Charging Red/Green Alternating slow Normal, Low Battery Yellow For 2 seconds Normal Low Battery Charging Mode or Event ● Pairing Mobile 2 ● Pairing GPS 2 ● Intercom call attempted without microphone or audio kit connected. © 2017 Cardo Systems All rights reserved. Cardo, the Cardo logo and other Cardo marks are owned by Cardo and may be registered. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
