School me on Intercoms

Time2Dune

Time2Dune

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So the wife and kids rode in a car over thanksgiving that had a intercom set up, and now im being told we have to have them...  I have never had them in past cars so I am totally new.  I have been looking at the Rugged and PCI sights and the only thing I now is that this is going to cost me a LOT of money HAHA.

I already have a radio but that's it.

Any tips or pointers?

Thanks

 
What radio do you have as this may determine if you go with Rugged or PCI.   

If you buy a complete radio/intercom kit from either it comes with all the cables and everything you need.  

PCI has better sound quality if you want to listen to music through headsets or helmet speakers.

I run Rugged in my SXS.  I have the newer M1 radio which is weather/water resistant.

Both should have some holiday sales.  

 
Do you want wiz-bang stereo or normal... I would go with PCI....they have some cool Traxx  stereo stuff with one button mute for when you are in the car and people come up to you to talk...

 
My PCI intercom has a feature your going to want.

It's called driver Isolate, flip this little switch and the music comes thru and nothing else. No Co-driver, no Radio transmission nothing complete radio silence, yet I can speak and be heard.

I highly recommend this

 
I waited a long time to go with coms and after I did; it was a night and day difference.  We do a lot of night rides in oregon and we used to all get separated within 1/2 hour.  Only bummer is people bleeding on your frequency on busy weekends but i guess you can go to a custom frequency.  

 
Father in law just bought the Rugged 364 bundle kit.  Super cheap:

https://www.ruggedradios.com/collections/universal-communications-kit/products/364-ss-2phk

Couple of drawbacks compared to older setups (and maybe the more expensive version of this bundle):

1. Comes with paired cords for the front and rear rows (2nd row extra).  This means it's a Y-cable that you share between the seats.  Not terrible, but having discreet cables is somewhat better for routing.

2. Live mic for both seats when transmitting over radio.  That means you have to tell the passenger to STFU before transmitting unless you want everyone to hear them.

3. No gain function, so whatever Rugged uses for acceptable noise threshold to key the mic is what you get.  I didn't experience it on an actual run, so no clue if this is good/bad.  Depending on the noise level of your ride, this may suck, it may not.

4. No external PTT button.  This means the intercom has to be in reach in order to transmit over radio.  I run my PTT button on the steering wheel (like Fast and Furious NAAAAAAAAAWWWWS) so my hands don't have to leave the wheel.

Overall though, sound quality is good enough, and the price is pretty damned good.

 
If you already have a Radio then the Intercom might hook up,  

You do not need to link the Radio into the Intercom, you would just not be able to use the Radio with the head sets, Personally I do not keep the Radio on, I will turn it on when i need it, 

I like having the Head sets but dont really wear them anymore, I dont have a windshield so over 65mph they fly off, 

When i have my family in the Car i use the Intercom and I talk to my Daughter alot, 

One way to help the budget,  is purchase the radio separate,  I personally use the icom, it is super easy to program,  If you get a Icom 121 or 5021 let me know i can throw a program in it for you, 

I have used PCI and have great luck,  my Intercom has been the rain many times,  my System know is 17 years old with Zero issues,  it has been in 3 cars now, 

Icom IC-F121 VHF transceiver @15 #0 | eBay  this will save you about $250 on a setup if you want to add a radio 

Then you will need a package or 


Also Cheaper Radios than a Icom like a Kenwood, just harder to program the channels 

PCI full kit - NO Radio Elite Supreme Package – PCI Race Radios

 
While we are talking radios....Thread Jack.......  does anyone run the 450mhz bands?  I got an Icom in that range, but don't really need it.  

 
Do any of them work better if you just want to use it primarily for music?  I always drive with headphones, but don't want to sacrifice what I'm afraid would be poor quality headset speakers for my quality Sony earbuds. 

 
PCI Trax not as good as my apple ear buds but still night and day over the standard setup

 
I have Rugged Radios and have had them in a couple cars. I have been happy with them. Over about seven or eight years of having Rugged Radios I have needed tech help twice. Both times I called them, I was basically left high and dry and they couldn't do anything to help me. The second time I need tech help I was in Glamis and called them, sorry nothing they can do to help. Later that trip was at vendors row and saw PCI so I decided to ask them for help. They were glad to help and got me working again. PCI definitely has the customer service edge. Other than those two incidents, I have been satisfied with my Rugged Radio setup but will probably go PCI the next time around.

 
I sell about 500 set ups a year. Both Rugged and PCI.  I have been dealers for them for 10+ years.  Both have their positives and negatives. IMO, the Rugged headsets are a much better setup. Also, Rugged has the new STX hi-fi stereo set up (similar to PCI TRAX). Sounds great. Rugged also has the newer M1 radio that is waterproof. Can’t go wrong with either. I have a huge sale on Rugged right now. Message me directly. I can get you 20%+ off of everything except helmets. :ez:

 
pci or rugged doesn't really matter they both are good pci has a spot in glamis and was always there to help.   the intercoms have options standard or hifi    blue tooth for the phone connection or wired   and dsp digital speech processor takes all the back ground noise out great for a loud car.   any radio will work the make cables for just about all of them some radios they do a mod to so the external speaker on the radio will still work that nice if your out of the car or not using the headsets. i also keep the small radio mic connected. i do like my rugged headsets better they have volume controls on each headset pci might offer that as well. its nice to be able to hear a txt or answer your phone when your with a large group. the radios don't really work on big weekends to much noise everyone playing around

 
Tanks for all the advice guys, I think I'm going to stall the wife off and maybe do it over summer. 

I personally like listening to the motor and not all the back and forth on the radio...  

 
you dont have to do it all at once you can get a intercom and a head set or two. it is really nice being able to listen to music while driving. the booth at pci does installs there got to call them to set it up there dates for glamis is on their website

 
I love the sound of engines also. This year I had the opportunity to ride in a car with an intercom/radio system. It was nice to be able to talk to the driver and made the ride more enjoyable.

 
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