Bluetooth technology has become ubiquitous in today’s digital world. There are now over four billion Bluetooth units in existence across the globe. They are also taking over the world of motorcycles. Riders can now use Bluetooth headsets to wirelessly communicate with one another in real-time on the road.
It’s the safest way to communicate on a bike. You can use the device to connect to your phone or music player while riding without taking your hands off the handlebars or your eyes off the road.
Use Bluetooth for Motorcycle Helmet Communication
What Is Bluetooth?
Bluetooth has been around for nearly two decades. These devices send information across short distances using radio frequencies, which allows them to virtually talk to each other without wires or cables. However, these radio frequencies aren’t the same ones that power your cell phone.
Bluetooth signals are around 1,000 times weaker than those sent from cell phone towers. They usually only extend between 10 and 100 feet. Obstacles and solid objects can easily disrupt the signal as well. Bluetooth devices often connect across short ranges with few obstacles. For example, Bluetooth headphones produce a signal that travels from your ears to your pocket, just a couple of feet away. In other cases, Bluetooth speakers and appliances may pick up signals from across the room.
Most Bluetooth devices set up a direct signal to the device they are trying to communicate with. However, the latest Bluetooth devices can connect to several additional devices at the same time to increase the flow of information.
What Is Bluetooth for Motorcycles?
You can use this same idea to communicate wirelessly on your motorcycle.
You’ll need to buy a motorcycle Bluetooth headset in order to do so safely. The kit comes with everything you need to turn your existing helmet into a wireless communication device, including headphones that fit over your ears and a receiver for picking up your voice. The receiver attaches to the bottom of your full-face helmet, ideally near your mouth, so the device can pick up your voice.
The receiver will then wirelessly connect to your phone, GPS, music player or another rider as long as they are within range. Your mobile device should be in your bag or pocket so the receiver can maintain a reliable connection. If you are traveling as a group, try to stay in formation to keep everyone connected. If someone falls out of range, they won’t be able to wirelessly communicate using Bluetooth.
Once your receiver is connected to the other rider’s receiver, you can speak just like you were carrying on a conversation. If you are trying to connect to your phone, GPS or music player, you can use your voice to issue commands to the device. The receiver will then send information from the device to your headphones so you can listen to your favorite song, listen for directions or call your loved ones on the road.
What Is Dynamic Mesh Communication?
There’s a new trend in motorcycle Bluetooth technology. Dynamic mesh communication (DMC) allows the receiver to connect to multiple devices at the same time, including multiple riders.
If you are riding in a group of more than two, you can use dynamic mesh communication to stay in sync with everyone in your posse.
Traditional Bluetooth devices can only connect to one device at a time. For groups of more than two, this means that the first rider will need to connect to the next closest rider. That person will need to connect to the next closest rider and so on until everyone is on the same thread. But the entire chain will collapse if one person falls out of range, forcing you to restart the process from scratch. Staying within 100 feet of each other can be difficult when you’re on a motorcycle. You may have to merge with traffic or fall into single-line formation when passing or turning.
DMC gets rid of this problem by establishing a direct connection between every rider in the group. Everyone can connect to every other rider, so the entire chain won’t break apart if someone falls out of range. Anyone who falls behind will need to reconnect when they rejoin the group, but the other riders can continue chatting without having to reset the connection.
Bluetooth motorcycle technology is changing the industry for the better. Start connecting to your fellow riders with a wireless headset today.
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teguh Hariansyah/Shutterstock.com
