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Wind noise from BT module?

DJ_DC

Well travelled
Location
Northern VA, USA
Hi all,

My ride is a 2022 Meteor 350. New rider, new bike!

I installed a Cardo Spirit BT system in my helmet (Bell Qualifier) and everything works great, sound is sufficient for what I need (mainly audio to give voice directions w/ Tripper), and the system installed cleanly in the helmet and pads. However, I quickly discovered that, as soon as I'm running over 40 mph or so, maybe even a little less, I get a nasty wind whistle around the external Cardo module.

Any experience with this same issue, with the Cardo or other BT systems? Any fixes to suggest to reduce the noise (apart from earplugs, which I'll have anyway once I'm moving to longer and faster rides)?
 

Ike208

Well travelled
Location
Boise, ID, USA
Similar issue here, but it ended up being a rubber band that I had added to hold the unit into the mounting bracket. At speed, the rubber band was vibrating and making the sound. If I hadn't found that as the issue, the next idea I had was to relocate the unit forward or aft on the helmet to change the way it presented to the airflow. Did you use the clip or adhesive mount? Moving the clip mount around would be easy enough, the adhesive mount would obviously be more of a challenge. Barring that as an option, maybe taping up different bits of the unit to see where the actual turbulence is coming from may help, i.e. the leading edge of the mount or the backside of it, whatever it takes to break up the airflow.

Side note on earplugs: I actually don't use the Cardo headphones and instead use a set of "plugfones" from Amazon. They're perfect, providing NRR and speakers. They plug in to the Cardo just like the helmet speakers. This won't resolve the whistling but I love them as a solution for hearing protection and speakers.
 

DJ_DC

Well travelled
Location
Northern VA, USA
Thanks for the feedback and tips! I use the adhesive mount since the clip mount doesn’t work with the neck skirt in my helmet. I see what you mean about just shifting the angle on the module- if it’s forward just enough to take the tip out of the wind, it might solve the whistle.

I like the headphone idea! I may try this with some simple Apple earbuds. I don’t like most of the earbuds or earplugs out there that stick well into the ear canal. So this solution might address both issues with better sound to boot. Thanks so much!
Similar issue here, but it ended up being a rubber band that I had added to hold the unit into the mounting bracket. At speed, the rubber band was vibrating and making the sound. If I hadn't found that as the issue, the next idea I had was to relocate the unit forward or aft on the helmet to change the way it presented to the airflow. Did you use the clip or adhesive mount? Moving the clip mount around would be easy enough, the adhesive mount would obviously be more of a challenge. Barring that as an option, maybe taping up different bits of the unit to see where the actual turbulence is coming from may help, i.e. the leading edge of the mount or the backside of it, whatever it takes to break up the airflow.

Side note on earplugs: I actually don't use the Cardo headphones and instead use a set of "plugfones" from Amazon. They're perfect, providing NRR and speakers. They plug in to the Cardo just like the helmet speakers. This won't resolve the whistling but I love them as a solution for hearing protection and speakers.
Similar issue here, but it ended up being a rubber band that I had added to hold the unit into the mounting bracket. At speed, the rubber band was vibrating and making the sound. If I hadn't found that as the issue, the next idea I had was to relocate the unit forward or aft on the helmet to change the way it presented to the airflow. Did you use the clip or adhesive mount? Moving the clip mount around would be easy enough, the adhesive mount would obviously be more of a challenge. Barring that as an option, maybe taping up different bits of the unit to see where the actual turbulence is coming from may help, i.e. the leading edge of the mount or the backside of it, whatever it takes to break up the airflow.

Side note on earplugs: I actually don't use the Cardo headphones and instead use a set of "plugfones" from Amazon. They're perfect, providing NRR and speakers. They plug in to the Cardo just like the helmet speakers. This won't resolve the whistling but I love them as a solution for hearing protection and speakers.
 
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