Cardo Packtalk Pro Communication System
Women Riders Now has always been a fan of helmet communication systems because they add safety and enjoyment to every ride. WRN editor Tricia gives us her impressions of the Cardo Freecom 4x here. The Cardo Packtalk Pro is the company’s most recent release, and packs in all the features found in the Freecom 4x and much more.
Cardo Packtalk Pro—Safety First
Like the “SOS” button we mentioned in our recent reviews of BMW’s F 900 GS and R 1300 GS, motorcycle and gear manufacturers are leveraging the latest technology to keep us safe, and Cardo is no exception. The most innovative feature of the Cardo Packtalk Pro is what could be life-saving crash detection capabilities.
If the Packtalk Pro unit detects the rider may have been involved in an incident, it automatically sends a text to the rider’s predetermined contact. The text will read “URGENT! [Name] may be involved in an accident and requires your attention” and includes a link to a Google Maps geolocation. The rider’s contact may then choose to call 911 or try to contact the rider to ensure they are ok. Through the Cardo Connect app, you can select your contact, and they will have a one-time requirement to accept. The rider can change the contact at any time through the app as well.
Help When You Need It
Personally, when riding with others I will set the emergency contact to a riding buddy who’s traveling with me. This is the best person to determine whether an incident has occurred or not and choose the next course of action. When riding solo, I set it to be my significant other and ensure he knows to call me first before assuming it’s a 911 situation. Thankfully there is also a voice command (just say “Ignore”) you can use within 30 seconds of detection to prevent the text if you accidentally drop your helmet. You can also press any button on the unit or press “ignore” in the Cardo Connect app.
Because the feature is via text, it does require that your phone have service and a data connection. However, if your phone is destroyed in an incident, the feature still works because it is essentially running via the cloud. The Cardo Connect app knows where you are at all times and can look 15 or 30 seconds back for your location.
Cardo’s crash detection is based on g-force, velocity, acceleration, and deceleration. Because of the nature of off-road riding, Cardo recommends the crash detection feature be disabled for the dirt. This can be done easily through the app, and each time the unit powers up it will alert the rider that “crash detection is disabled.”
Favorite Features
Have you ever forgotten to turn off your comm system and find it’s out of battery just when you want to start to ride? Well, Cardo has a solution for that, and it’s one of my favorite features of the Packtalk Pro. With Auto ON and Auto OFF, when the unit detects it is no longer moving it will automatically shut off after a few seconds. Then when you’re moving again it powers on.
I also like how easy it is to take the unit on and off the helmet for charging. Cardo calls it “air mount,” as the unit connects to the helmet mount magnetically.
The buttons and roller dial on the Packtalk Pro are intuitive, but I find the easiest way to control the unit is through voice commands. While it takes a little getting used to them, once you’ve said, “Hey Cardo, End Call” a few times it becomes second nature. And you can always tape the quick list of commands to your tank bag to get you started.
Bring on the Tunes
I love listening to music while riding, and the Cardo Packtalk Pro is an excellent tool for this task. A simple Bluetooth connection to my phone, then the command “Hey Cardo, Music On” and you’re riding with tunes. Cardo uses JBL’s 45mm speakers which it also uses in its Pack Talk Black. Typically I have to fiddle a bit to get the speakers installed in the correct place even when riding with helmets that have speaker cutouts. But once in place they are very loud and provide excellent voice and audio clarity.
Talk to the Pack for Fun and Safety
The Packtalk Pro connects up to 15 riders using a dynamic mesh system that doesn’t rely on just one rider as a hub. And it’s fun to talk to friends during a ride and discuss the shared scenery. But even more important is the safety aspect of being able to talk to the group. If one rider sees a threat—a deer for example—they can quickly alert everyone else. The group can easily share directions or discuss your next ride stop. I also find there are more shared laughs when you are connected to one another via voice and not just isolated in a helmet.
Do you ride in groups and while also carrying a pillion? Cardo knows there may be times you’d like to talk to your passenger privately without the full group hearing your conversation. With the Cardo Connect app, you can pre-determine a passenger or a private chat partner within the riding group and speak privately with that person. Just another great feature of Cardo's latest communication offering.
Learn more and purchase the Cardo Packtalk Pro here for $459.