Although the editors of Dirt Toys Magazine love to install and test new products, when something comes that has a lot of wires and gadgets, we sometimes look like deer in the headlights.
So when TheCom sent us its UTV TheCom PH Kit radio system, we were somewhat skeptical of the “plug and play” description. After all, when you have radios, headsets, antennas, mics, and cables everywhere with buttons and knobs, this just seems way too complicated for a person with a journalism degree.
And somehow we’re expected to hook this onto our side-by-side and have it actually work? Shut up.
Well, after studying the parts (and we mean way over-studying the parts) for about 20 minutes, we took the two roll bar clamps, slipped them over the bar and attached TheCom to the clamps and tightened them up. Then we plugged the cable into our power outlet (what we used to call the cigarette lighter), and ta-dum … it worked.
It actually took us longer to study the parts than it did to install the system.
Now when it came to figuring out how to use TheCom, again it looked much more complicated that it actually was. The challenge was to not over-think anything.
First, you need to have the radio switches set right. The power switch (on the right bottom) needs to be toggled to the left. The Radio Connect switch (on the left bottom) can be in either position. However, if it’s set to “On” then you can communicate with other radios by pressing the “talk” lever which you attach to your shift bar. Although you can hear all the radio chatter on that frequency, outside radios won’t pick up your private conversation with your passenger unless you press the lever.
Picking a channel (frequency) is the key to working the unit. And again, you can over-complicate things since there are five buttons that can be activated. You basically select your frequency and leave it at that.
Finally, you have a volume control … or better yet, five volume controls. One, on the middle/left side of the unit, controls everything. You really want a soft setting here so you don’t blast out your ears. Then there are two dials on the bottom portion of TheCom that control the driver (right) and passenger (left) headsets. Finally, you have individual dials on each of the headsets.
Once you have the volume dialed in how you like it, the conversation between driver and passenger doesn’t have to compete with engine noise or anything else. In other words, you don’t have to be constantly yelling at your spouse (although my spouse is usually yelling at me to slow down and not take the corners so fast).
The noise cancellation really works well. With the headsets on, the engine noise seems like a faint background sound. You seldom get the wind whistle through your mics and the conversation is carried out without the need to raise your voices.
Now if you want to tune into other units, all you need to do is to match their channel with yours. You may consider having an extra set of walkie-talkies programmed to your system so you can connect other riders in your group. We had a Links two-way radio which we gave to a couple who didn’t have a radio system. We were able to keep in contact with them throughout the ride. TheCom was very compatible with the Link.
We found that the range of reaching other units via walkie-talkies was dependent on the power and range of the walkie-talkies. However, if you’re trying to reach riders with TheCom or another brand of two-way radio with better range, you can reach them up to 10 miles away, depending on the terrain.
On our initial test ride with TheCom, the two users (myself and Clint Wheeler) were much like the two old guys on the Muppets—Statler and Waldort. Neither one had great hearing and both had the tendency to offer sarcastic remarks throughout the ride.
With TheCom, both could hear and communicate without shouting … and the sarcasm flowed throughout the ride, making for a much more entertaining day.
TheCom worked better than we imagined. The only downside we found was the dangling wires for the headsets were occasionally in the way.
So if you prefer interesting conversation to shouting, engine noise and wind noise, you may want to check out TheCom.
Price: $799.99.
For more information visit www.utvcom.com.
