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Purchased new 17 Ultra Limited and purchased second rider headset. Rider and passenger can both hear radio/bluetooth music but we cannot hear each other on intercom despite that being turned on, volume adjusted, and intercom icon on screen illuminated when either of us speak. We also hear the music volume lower when either rider of passenger attempts to speak. Very frustrating and annoying, particularly since Harley makes you purchase second headset.
stubandt - congrats on the new bike. Please don't get frustrated. It just takes a little time to understand the Boom system.
emu309 is correct. The fact that you hear the radio and that the vol goes down when you talk tell us that the system is working. As he mentioned, please adjust the headset volume while talking.
Do this... both put on headsets. Rider talks into the mic..and while the rider is doing that, the passenger turn the vol up from the rear.
Next, passenger talks into the mic..and while talking, the rider turns the vol up.
All of your audio works that way including the CB (if you have one). Make the adjustment while using that particular component.
Let us know how you make out...and, enjoy the bike.
Be sure the headset cord is fully seated into the headset. I have one headset that it keeps working loose on. It only has to be out a little bit to prevent the intercom from working.
Because you are seeing the intercom icon on the screen, you have the intercom turned on. That does not mean the vox (intercom) is active. The intercom icon changes between on & active.
If vox sensitivity is high enough to activate the intercom, the icon changes. This adjustment will be critical if you are using speakers for radio/music; too high & it will activate vox (intercom) w/o speaking, too low & vox won't activate (no intercom). Also if vox is set too high, wind noise will activate the intercom.
Microphone placement is also critical to proper operation. Adjust the microphone boom to place the end of the boom to the left corner of your mouth, just touching the lip at the edge of your jmouth. You will need to talk at or slightly above normal speech volume for proper operation.
When you have the vox working properly, while talking (vox & intercom active), adjust the volumes for the rider & passenger. Note: intercom volume adjustment requires the vox (intercom) to be in the active mode.
Our '14 Limited has CB & driver PTT switch. When my wife & I ride alone (not in a group) we turn the CB off & use the PPT switches to activate our intercom. We usually listen to music on the bike's speakers & have the vox sensitivity adjusted low so that it won't activate w/o using PTT.
Be sure the headset cord is fully seated into the headset. I have one headset that it keeps working loose on. It only has to be out a little bit to prevent the intercom from working.
headsest plugs are a PIA - most NEED to be either zip tied OR run back UNDER the clamp - IF cable/plug is left to dangle - IT WILL pull and shut OFF communications... confusing but you will eventually get it
Hammz, thanks for the info. I have done all the things outlined except using PTT. I will try that. I recently purchased a new upgraded headsets plus cords from J&M for myself and my wife. During our last ride, the mic kept activating. I adjusted the VOX thinking it was wind but this was different. It was more stable intermittent activation then just frequent wind activation. Seemed like every 5 seconds it would activate. I checked both connections at the helmet and at the mid section of the cords plus bike connections.
Weird but wondering if you had any ideas. We have a 2015 Limited Low. Prior to that an 02 Ultra with no issues so we have a few thousand miles.
Thank you,
Jay
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Intercom Communications
