Scala G4 users

[Isorg]

Isorg here, Blotar's Son.

I recall there were a few of yall at the wild game dinner that were using Scala g4's, and there was one group that were having problems getting theirs to work right.

scala just came out with a NEW 3.0 update for the G4's and it might fix some of the problems.

http://www.cardosystems.com/download/release-notes/g4

[f-Stop]

Well, if these new features actually work, I'll upgrade my end user G4 score from a D+ to a C-.

Thanks for the heads up!

[Willie]

It sounds like you would not recommend the scala system....

I am looking to get a system for out helments...  any recommendations??

[Isorg]

Well, if these new features actually work, I'll upgrade my end user G4 score from a D+ to a C-.

Thanks for the heads up!

I just wish i would have gotten to the motel a little bit earlier to help yall out.  I have nothing but good stuff to say about the older Q2's.   The newer G4's seem to have some new product bugs, but one of the great things that really sold me me the G4's was that you can update the software, and perhaps fix those bugs.

I upgraded my Q2 to a G4 for a trip to Arkansas that i never did go on last year.  On a 2 week trip from Houston to Washington, my riding buddy didn't have a G4 (he was running a CB).  I have done some weekend rides, paired my g4 with older q2's and.... there have been some quirks...

1.  those who are trying to use a bluetooth GPS, and want to play music through that GPS, please note that the GPS will take top priority and all other audio sources will be overridden.  (so you will not be able to use the intercom while your GPS is talking, or playing music.)

audio channels in order, Highest to Lowest

• Mobile Phone audio or GPS instructions
• Intercom / Click-to-Link (same priority level)
• A2DP audio source
• FM Radio (built-in) 
• Auxiliary Line-In Port (for corded connection e.g. MP3 players).

If you want to listen to music, I would suggest plugging your MP3 player into the audio in plug on the back of the scala, for the most trouble free configuration.

Also, i found a "Feature" on the zumo that caused me a little bit of frustration.  When playing music through the zumo, it will override all other audio channels.  BUT!  just pressing STOP on the zumo, would not tell the zumo to release the audio channel.  The zumo would only release the audio channel when you "rewind" back to the beginning of the song that you were playing.

2.. the VOX setting on the G4 seems to be set way to low... this means that you would have to yell very loud to get the vox setting to kick in.  this new 3.0 update, now has a vox sensitivity setting, and hopefully this will fix this annoying feature of the G4.

3.  While the speakers for the G4 are nice and and even louder than the Q2, I like to ride with earplugs, and this would make listening to anything from the G4 very hard.  Recently i have taken to using a set of noise canceling audio ear plugs, and i listen to my mp3 player straight though the earplugs.  I am using a set of ER6i's.  The use of the er6i's and the scala speakers was just not cutting it, so i had a buddy of mine preform a speaker mod, replacing my speakers with a audio jack for my headphones.  Here is a really good mod (Scala speaker mod)

4.  For best scala performance, i really suggest a full face helmet, or at least a helmet with a face shield that will cover your mouth.  If you have a really good wind screen and wind protection on your bike, perhaps this will work too.  Point is, hanging your mike out in the wind at freeway speeds... it will just not work.  You will be frustrated, people will not be able to understand you, and your mike will always be on.  Please keep in mind that i am talking about DIRECT wind right at the mic.



Now i have not had my new 3.0 updated g4 on the road yet.  But already just sitting here in the office, i have noticed that the electronic whine/buzz that has been in the left ear since day one is gone.  It is working great when paired to my phone, and blue-tooth music from my iphone is working like it should.

Right now my current scala setup is blue-tooth pairing to my iphone only, since my zumo 550 does not support blue-tooth stereo music.  I am giving up the turn by turn directions from the zumo, and the on screen phone interaction, but i am not missing them.

For those who are looking for a good alternative to the scala, take a look at the SMH10  It is getting a lot of positive reviews.

Isorg

[f-Stop]

I have had the G4 since last June and its first road trip was to InZane last July.  I pair the G4 with my iPhone which has GPS.  I can listen to my iPod, GPS and take calls simultaneously through the blue tooth feature.  Occasionally, I can make calls using the VOX feature.

The G4 is very light and the battery lasts for ever.  Recharges very fast, too.  The noise canceling system works great and when I receive a phone call no one knows that I'm on the bike unless I tell them.  Easy install and can be moved from helmet to helmet in a matter of minutes - one is installed on an Arie RX7 and the other is on a Shoei RF1100.

When I first tried using the G4 I almost took it right back.  Audio was distorted beyond recognition and it would just un-pair itself from the iPhone after a few minutes.  Luckily, there was already a firmware update available that solved that initial situation. 

Out on the road the G4 would still just un-pair itself from my phone and I'd have to go through the whole pairing procedure at the next fuel stop.  Another feature that would occasionally happen - and still does - is that while just listening to the MP3 a call would come in and the G4 would un-pair itself at the end of the call or it would stay paired, but turn off the MP3 audio from the phone. 

While on my trip I was able to download another update and the random un-pairing surprises seemed to improve.  Also, the G4 started pairing with my phone automatically...like it was supposed to do in the beginning.

My two units were supposed to come out of the box paired to each other, but my wife and I always have issues and they still like to suddenly un-pair themselves from each other as well as our phones.  They have not worked well - at all - rider to rider.  Also, I tried unsuccessfully  to pair up with a Q2 system.  We were initially able to pair up fine, but lost it by the time we were at the end of the driveway.

One other issue that really bugs me is that the speakers are really terrible.  I have devised a system to easily move the speakers around the ear well of the helmet using velcro and foam to make sure they are placed right on top of my ear.  The overall fidelity starts off pretty bad and there is absolutely no bass.  When a call comes in the fidelity is worse and then distorts loudly by the time I'm able to hear something.  So, on those phone calls that I sound loud and clear to the caller, I can't understand a word the caller is saying.  (When I use another bluetooth devise with my phone it always sounds loud and clear, so I know it is not the phone.)  Aslo, I ride with an OEM windshield and Baker Airwings.

Once while riding for hours in the rain the G4 manual controls went haywire.  This has only happened once.

The radio works, but not well.  There are some 100,000 Watt FM stations here in the Austin area and the G4's radio won't make a 20mi radius.  My truck goes up to 75mi with these stations.  I rarely use the radio because of this.

Nevertheless, I use the Scala Rider G4 every time I'm on the bike.  Typically, just so I can receive phone calls.