After a great
deal of searching and product evaluation, Precision Tandems located U.S. & Taiwan based
electronics manufacturing companies to supply the power unit and headsets
that comprise the Tandem-Com
communication system.
Is riding in the rain a
concern?
We suggest
carrying a Ziploc bag in case of a true downpour to provide protection
for the entire system. Excessive moisture from a soaking rain could potentially
cause damage. Should your unit inadvertently become wet, turn the
unit off immediately and let it dry out with the battery cover removed for 3 or 4 days before
turning it back on. Remove the microphone cushions during this time
as well.
Why is the Ultra
Headset so comfortable?
There are a
couple reasons but mainly because it is an external speaker type which sits outside of the
ear and there is NO contact with the sensitive tissue in or around the auditory
canal . The headset remains in place via a simple loop that goes
behind the head and placed over the ears, like putting on a baseball cap.
Will the Ultra
Headset block out normal hearing?
No. The
headset is comprised of an external speaker that does not seal off the auditory canal. You will hear ambient traffic sounds
and be able to carry on a conversation with a rider next to you without
difficulty unlike ear bud type headsets.
Can I expand my
Tandem-Com system for use on a triplet or quad!
Not at this
time. We offer the Tandem-Talk for these applications.
Are the Ultra Headsets
compatible with the Tandem-Talk?
Yes, we use them
routinely on our triplet, quad and quint with the Tandem-Talk.
Are the Tandem-Talk Headsets
compatible with the Tandem-Com?
Yes, we have
tested and used them with the Tandem-Com.
May I purchase the
Tandem-Talk with the Ultra Headsets?
Yes, add $35 to
the price of the Tandem-Talk.
Which unit is best?
We
prefer the Tandem-Com for 2 seat tandem riding but must use the Tandem-Talk for triplet, quad or quint
riding. We use and sell both
with confidence.
How long will my two AAA
alkaline batteries last?
We have been
amazed at how this little unit sips the current ever so slowly from the
batteries. We are able to get 90+ hours out of alkaline batteries before
some garbling of sound and a dimming of the LED with lower volume
was noted.
How does music play
through the system?
As far as we
know, any CD player, MP3, tape player, or transistor radio will play
through the system. Simply plug in the music system to the
Tandem-Com 'Audio' port using the player's
headphone jack.
Does
the Tandem-Com have a warranty?
The Tandem-Com
and the Ultra Headsets are guaranteed to be free from defects in
materials and workmanship for a period of 120 days from the date of
purchase. Should you experience difficulty with your Tandem-Com,
please thoroughly read the User Instructions.
We have an RV and desire to use the unit
in a remote location or need longer headset cords due to the width of our
coach. Is it okay to use an extension cable with the headsets?
Yes. These may be
purchased from any Radio Shack in different lengths. It is also possible
to make your own by purchasing wire and 3.5mm audio stereo connectors.
Take the headset with you to insure you get the proper extension.
Feel free to call us at 913-962-8866 to discuss
any concerns.
USUALLY SAME DAY SHIPPING IF
ORDER RECEIVED BY 3:00 P.M. C.D.T.
The pictures and
chart below
will help explain.At
first glance, size and headset design are the most recognizable
differences with the Tandem-Com being nearly half the size and half the
weight.
POWER UNIT
COMPARISON
HEADSET
COMPARISON
TANDEM-COM
ULTRA HEADSET
TANDEM-TALK
EAR BUD HEADSET
Chart below
helps explain known differences.
QUESTIONS
TANDEM-COM
TANDEM-TALK
Weight with
Battery?
62 grams
124 grams124
grams
Battery Life?
~90 hours
~40 hours for 2 headsets, less for
3, 4, or 5 running simultaneously
Battery Type?
AAA alkaline
~$1.50 per pair, half the cost with 4 times the life nets out at
88%
dollar savings
9V ~$3 each
Dimensions?
2.5" x 2" x .675"
3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1"
Independent Volume
Control?
Yes
No
Ease of Volume adjustment
by stoker when on the fly?
Yes, just like an old transistor
radio
No, must use either screwdriver or
attempt to turn small protruding slotted knob with fingernails
Power inadvertently turns
on draining battery?
No, Combination rotary dial and
volume control
Yes, Toggle switch easily bumped
Squeal when plug in with unit on?
No
Yes
Power 'On' LED?
Yes
No
Microphones Directional?
Yes
No
Come with Headsets?
Yes - Ultra Headsets with
external speaker, a $75 value each
Yes - loop over ear & ear bud
in canal type, a $17 value each
Factory made?
Yes - Automation produces
consistent results. Case is molded & optimized for its contents
Appears to be hand assembled with
contents in a project box
Batteries included?
Yes
Yes
Belt Clip?
Yes
Yes
Warranty?
120 days
120 days
Audio Port?
Yes
Yes on comparable model
Sound Quality?
Good
Good
Hear your own voice when you speak? (side tone)
Very low sidetone.
The auditory distress from hearing your own 'AMPLIFIED'
voice is removed!
While not a user of either system, I
would note that Tandem-Talk was the "original" person-to-person
communication system for tandems. Mark Johnson used the Tandem-Talk
extensively as do many folks with kids who ride the super-long quads and
quints, and slowly but surely worked through what he perceived to be
short-comings in the original, e.g., headset fit, background noise from
omni-directional mikes, volume control issues, etc...
In short, the Tandem-com is a second generation
device that "fixed" the things that Tandem-Talk users cited as
problems. Well, that and technology has changed in the 5 or 6 years that have
followed the development of the Tandem-Talk, allowing for the reduced size,
use of AAA batteries, directional microphone, a more comfortable headset,
dual-volume controls, and the like.
Of course, at last check, the Tandem-com can
not be daisy-chained for use on triplets, quads, and quints... for that you
must use the Tandem-Talk device. However, the Tandem-Talk device can be
purchased from Mark at Precision Tandems with the improved mics, which will
result in some cost savings as almost everyone we know who uses the
Tandem-Talk has had to go in search of a more comfortable headset to replace
the OEM models.
04/27/08
Thanks again for your exceptional customer service. We really enjoy riding
without having to yell back and forth. It makes riding much more enjoyable
and safe!!!
03/29/08
Tandem intercom, the most important component on a tandem! I'd rather leave home
without my water bottles than forget this gizmo, worth every penny! ...
11/24/07
We really like our recently purchased Tandem Com communication system. We
have been a tandem team for 20 years, and the addition of the Tandem Com has
really added even more enjoyment to our rides.
10/05/07 Received
tandem.com today and it looks like it works even on my partially deaf left ear.
I think it’s going to work just great!!!!
09/28/07
We received them and enjoyed them on a ride yesterday!
09/06/07
After almost 500 miles of riding we
are very happy with our tandem com! We wouldn't think of riding without it!
07/31/07
Thanks for getting our Tandem-Com to us on short notice.
How did we ride so long without this?
It's so nice to be able to share a normal conversation while we ride, and my
wife/stoker appreciates the subtle communications when in traffic or difficult
situations.
06/20/07
We really enjoy our Tandem-Com!
06/18/07
I got the Tandem-Com at work yesterday, I will buy extra batteries for the units
and wrap it up for Father's Day. I am so glad this worked out and that I
met the lovely couple who raved about theirs.
06/18/07
I think you will learn to love your tandem-com. We won't ride without
ours;
yelling "what?" all the time gets so tedious.
05/18/07
After many rides with the Tandem Com, we like it very much, to the point
that I don't think we would like to be without it.
05/11/07
Hi Mark/Sue,
Just
wanted to let you know how much we're enjoying the tandem-com headsets. Adds a
whole new dimension to the ride. They were definitely worth the wait.
05/04/07
BTW, I (we) love the Tandem Com headsets that my stoker got us for my
birthday. It makes communication sooo much easier. It is well worth
the
added stuff we now have to take on a ride.
05/01/07
Just used my new Tandem Com last week with my wife. What a neat deal. I
can't say enough good things about the product. Really. Being able to talk in a
normal tone without the usual yelling was priceless. It was the first time
in the year we have owned our tandem that we could truly relax and ride. No more
yelling " bump" or " car" and then wondering if my stoker
has enough time to react with me. We even plugged in her ipod shuffle and
listened to music together . ( I did catch her on several occasions dancing in
her saddle , makes for a interesting ride )The wind noise was only evident when
we had a strong cross wind and I mean strong but was a minor nuisance at
the most. It was remedied somewhat by turning the earpiece down a notch.
That was only with strong winds, the majority of the time the sound was perfect.
Earpieces were comfortable and the unit was unnoticeable in my back jersey
pocket. The separate controls worked perfect. What a blast being able to talk
and laugh during our ride. We love riding our tandem and now it is complete.
Thanks and to those reading this , I'm really not being paid , I just love it
when things work as promised or in this case : Better.
12/14/06
We also have the Tandem-Com unit, and love it! As relatively new
tandemists (less than a year) I find it so much better for communication than
trying to yell and being frequently misunderstood, like yelling
"Whoa!" (OK, we're from Texas, alright!?!) and my stoker hearing
"GO!" We can speak in full sentences instead of 2 or 3 word
shouts, all at a normal volume. It really adds to the enjoyment of the
experience, especially riding somewhere new like a charity ride or touring...
We don't find the wind noise to be
intolerable, and when we're traveling at anything approaching about 30 MPH, I
don't want to do a whole lot of talking anyway! We did try a cell phone
headset once with the Tandem-Com when one of ours was broken, but the wind noise
was so bad it was unusable, so we did without the unit until Mark Johnson at
Precision Tandems (precisiontandems.com) kindly replaced our broken headset
(which was already out of warranty I might add!).
Our solution to the comment below is that
I run my wire down my back, inside my jersey, and the Tandem-Com unit slips into
my center pocket. My wife plugs in when she gets clipped in, and
"usually" remembers to unplug before dismounting. A little
inconvenient but well worth it my opinion... Bottom
line for us is that the Tandem-Com is an essential part of our tandem gear and I
expect to always want the level of communication that it provides...
05/08/06
Once again I want to tell you how pleased we are with our Tandem-Com. We
have used a Tandem-Talk for five or so years, and although we were generally
satisfied, I was not happy with the earpiece. It didn't fit me well, and
as a consequence, I experienced a lot of interference from wind noise.
The
Tandem-Com has completely eliminated that problem while providing several
superior features. The light, compact unit is more comfortable in my
jersey pocket, and the easy access, separate volume controls solved a problem we
had almost forgotten because we just gave up on it. My hearing is pretty
poor, while my wife's is fairly acute. Now e can each set the volume to a
comfortable and effective level. It's just an all-around great system.
And
then there's your wonderful offer to credit us upon delivery of our Tandem-Talk
which is enclosed. Please credit my VISA card for the $35.
Thanks
for everything.
02/24/06
Thanks for the note for the credit on the trade-in program for Tandem-Com.
We were able to go outside for a couple of hours yesterday (windy but 42
degrees) and it worked great. Very little (no) wind noise, - most of the
wind noise was simply the air passing over our covered ears.
02/21/06
Enclosed is one complete Tandem-Talk (only used a couple of times) - Really like
the features of the Tandem-Com. [I] understand you can credit [my] charge
card account for $35 on receipt of the Tandem-Talk.
10/01/05
We
just returned from a weekend ride with the Cascade Bicycle Club (The largest
club in the nation).All of the
tandem pairs were using your Tandem-Com wired intercoms.None were using the Tandem Talk units although one couple had replaced a
Tandem Talk with your Tandem-Com wired intercom to get the improved reliability
of sturdier cords and improved volume control.
We
first experienced the joy of free communications without the annoyance
caused by even a few feet of separation and wind while riding our tandem.
Being able to make small comments about interesting sightings or road
conditions added a new dimension to our tandem riding experience. Amazingly,
this weekend my wife and I were on our single bikes and achieved the same
carefree communication by using wireless Tandem-Com units.
We could effortlessly speak and hear simultaneously without button pushing
or voice delays. The increased enjoyment and safety has made our
Tandem-Com an essential part of our riding equipment.
08/30/05
We've also been using a Tandem Com and love it. It makes it much easier for
her to hear me. Conversations are effortless and I can concentrate on
piloting.
You can get more information on the Tandem Com at Precision Tandems (http://www.precisiontandems.com).
(Look for intercoms.) It consists of 3 parts: two headsets, and the intercom.
The headset has one earpiece and a microphone. They are very light and are no
more uncomfortable, for me, than wearing glasses. (I wear both). The intercom
itself is very small, about the size of a matchbook, but thicker. I clip it to
my jersey pocket and Kris can adjust the volume for both of us. The volume
controls are independent.
Jim
08/17/05
Thank you so much! I have heard great things about the Tandem-Com and
can't
wait to get ours.
Mary
07/11/05
Mark, we used the Tandem Com for the first time yesterday. Works
perfectly; don't even know its there (except that we don't have yell at each
other!).
We find that we talk a lot more because it is so easy -- and comfortable.
Good product!
John.
07/08/05
This unit is a VAST improvement over Tandem Talk.
John S.
07/04/05
As promised, an update on our trip to Le
Mans and the suitability of the Tandem-Com.
Well, hard as the ride down was we made it
in 3 days,285 miles, the intercom was brilliant especially while we
cycled into a headwind, without the unit I would not have heard
instructions/complaints from the stoker!! The audio port worked excellently
with our mp3 player and kept us singing on the most arduous roads, that is a
real bonus. Another bonus is I can now hear the stoker's stentorian breathing
so I know she is working as hard as I am!!! All in all I have recommended the
Tandem-Com to many other riders, I hope it will bring you some extra orders.
05/08/05
I am totally infatuated with our set of Tandem-Com headsets and unit. It
is lightweight, clear and has improved our communication and pace-line skills.
And Posted on T@H email list: Some couples who
responded to my earlier request for paceline communication skills suggested
the tandem-com unit. It has been a complete revelation and has improved
our ability to converse at a low-volume level to keep the energy input at a
balanced level. The
remainder of our communication topics have improved our overall experience as
well as our handling skills. Thanks,
mark cook / cheryl prudhomme
Team JETStream
Calfee Tetra
04/14/05
Hi guys, we received the tandem
communications headsets on Thursday and put them to use on Saturday for the
"Jubilee Joy Ride" in Pendleton SC. We were able to really test them
as we had periods of high winds, and... they worked great. Money well spent.
My wife likes them, and my two children who stoke with me like them. I
really enjoy being able to talk conversationally and hearing what the other
has to say. Thanks Tom Hutton, Easley SC
04/25/05 From
Switzerland!
From a Tandem-Talk owner needing more
comfortable headsets, "After a first test they are much comfortable than
the one I already own."
04/02/05 From
the UK!
Tandem intercom received 1st April, many thanks!
I am amazed at how light it is and how comfy the
headsets are!
I am itching to try them out but as this is a
pressie for the stoker's birthday it will have to wait a few days.
The great thing is that we will be able to use
them in our 1955 TR2 as it is very difficult to talk when traveling behind
aero-screens, a real bonus!
Nik
03/08/05
The Tandem-Com works great!
Paul T.
02/23/05
We rode for only a few months before we realized that we missed the spontaneous
way we normally converse - and unfortunately sometimes interrupt each other
(we're still working on that... ) So, we have been delighted with our purchase
of a Tandem-Com.
02/11/05 from
Australia! It's one of the better
things that we have bought for our cycling. I take Marian to and from work on
the tandem a few days a week which gives me about 75-80kms for the day. Marian
gets fairly nervous in traffic and being able to chat quietly with one another
whilst informing her of what's happening with the surrounding cars, obstacles,
bumps, etc., is the best. Now that we are used to having the tandem-com we
just wouldn't even contemplate riding without it.
Cheers
Geoff
01/24/05
My daughter and I have found it difficult to carry on a conversation while
riding until our first ride using the Tandem-Com! Our time together is now
more meaningful as conversation is effortless. The headsets are
surprisingly comfortable to the point we forget we have them on. Thank you
for making a pleasurable activity even more enjoyable. It has added so
much to our riding experience that we use it all the time. Thanks for your
prompt service in getting it to me.
Ron
01/06/05 from
Australia!
Hi Sue,
Item received in 7 days, works well.
thanks
John
12-20-04
Dear Precision Tandem folks,
We got our Tandem-Com intercom system in the mail last week and,
after using it on a few rides, we had to tell you that we are delighted with it!
Thanks for recommending that particular unit to us. It works great
and has really added a new dimension to our tandem rides. And it certainly
increases our safety factor by being able to talk back and forth like that.
We're going to recommend it to the other tandem riders in our Desert Bicycle
Club.
By the way, your shipping was super fast and we appreciate that,
too. Especially knowing how well it works!
Regards,
Annalisa & Roger Hahn
10-21-04
The thing that we found puts my stokers mind at ease when we are riding through
traffic is the Tandem-Com
that we bought from Precision Tandems. I'm a foot taller and double the weight
of my better half so she can't see around me at all. I keep up a constant update
on the traffic, who's doing what, what potholes we are about to hit and what we
are going as in turns etc,. I cycle about 35kms a day with Marian on the
back and the same again by
myself on the commute to work 3 days a week
Geoff Semon
(from a post made to T@H)
10-04-04
We bought our Tandem-Com earlier this year and what a great addition to riding a
tandem. From the first ride, it's been wonderful to talk to one another in
normal tones. As for battery life, I have no idea how long it will last...
we've put many hours on ours and haven't change the battery yet. Since seeing
our Tandem-Com, at least 2-3 other teams have purchased them... and love theirs
as well. Our newest addition has been to plug in our i-pod to the auxiliary
input... outside, riding together, ease of communication, our favorite tunes....
does it get any better????
Les Wooldridge / Alice Nash
Nashville, TN
07-10-04
Just wanted you to know we received the Tandem-com yesterday and tried it
out - and it is great! It will take us a while to quit yelling after 10+ years of
having to do
that - but it certainly adds to the tandem experience.
07-07-04
Intercom:
We've used our recently purchased tandem-com (from Precision
Tandems) on our last few rides. This is our 10th season of tandem riding,
and it's easy to think that if we have done ok without an intercom for so
many miles, we don't really need one. I am however very pleased with the
difference the intercom makes on each ride. We are able to communicate
over
the wind noise on fast descents and can talk quietly without everyone else
in the group hearing every word. When we stand & climb, I call
"and... sit"
when it's time to sit back down. Since I'm usually out of breath by that
point, it's nice to be able to just whisper it instead of trying to find the
breath to call it out louder.
With the volume properly adjusted there is no noticeable wind noise over the
headset. The microphones are directional and noise-canceling, so it is
important to point them the right way. I've quickly gotten used to hearing
my stoker breathing in my ear. My stoker hasn't as quickly gotten used to
the fact that I can hear all the names she likes to call me under her breath
when I push the pace!
07-06-04
I want to congratulate you, by the
way, on a dramatic improvement over the Tandem Talker.!
05/31/04
The more we ride, the more we like it.
05/01/04
This has got to be the best piece of
gear since we bought the tandem itself!!
Who makes the Tandem-Com?
