Setcom vs PVP Motor-One Police Motorcycle Kits

Motorcycle communications kits help law enforcement safely talk and hear transmissions on their portable or mobile two-way radio. Police safety, especially on motorcycles, is every department's top priority. With crashes happening every day, being a motorcycle cop is a dangerous job. That’s why companies like Setcom and PVP Communications set out to create their own motorcycle communications kits to help improve officer safety while using their two-way radio.

In this article, we’ll discuss the differences between the Setcom and PVP Communications Motorcycle kits. We’ll be exploring,

• Systems
  • Speaker Mic
  • Helmet Speakers
  • Handlebar PTT
• Compatibility
• Pricing
• Specifications
• PVP’s Freedom Wireless System
• How to Order

Systems

In both the PVP and the Setcom system, you’ll find a similar setup. The PVP Motor-One Wireless System and Setcom System will include helmet speakers, a speaker microphone, and a handlebar push-to-talk (PTT) button. In both setups, your helmet speakers are connected to the speaker microphone (Shouldermic in PVP, and Liberator Supermic in Setcom) which is then connected to your portable/mobile two-way radio. When the speaker microphone is connected to the helmet speakers, the speaker mic is muted and all radio transmission goes into the helmet speakers.

The speaker microphone establishes a wireless link with the handlebar push-to-talk so when an officer presses the handlebar push-to-talk button on the motorcycle it keys up the radio. This means there will be no cable connection between an officer and their motorcycle. This lets an officer have the flexibility to move on and off their bike without removing cables. By having the push-to-talk located on the handlebars, officers don’t have to take their hands off the bike to respond to their radio, ultimately improving officer safety.

There are often a lot of questions about what the term Wireless means. The term is a bit confusing, and a lot of customers think the entire system is wireless but that’s not the case. The speaker microphone is used as a transmitter and receives from the handlebar push-to-talk kit.

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Speaker Mic

Both PVP’s Shoulder Mic and Setcom’s Liberator Wireless SuperMic come with a push-to-talk button that allows an officer to still communicate on their radio even when not wearing their helmet speakers/ boom mic.

Each speaker microphones come with a breakaway connector. In the event of an accident, this breakaway connector prevents the officer from being unsafely fastened to their speaker microphone. This helps improve officer safety by ensuring their helmet stays secure if flown from their motorcycle.

In addition to the breakaway connector, PVP’s speaker microphone can instead come with a built-in 12-pin Hirose connector.

Helmet Speakers

The headsets are equipped with helmet speakers and a boom microphone. This headset fits comfortably inside your ½ shell, ¾ shell, or full-face helmet. The headset is used so officers can hear and respond to incoming radio transmissions. Both speakers are noise canceling technology to block out loud noise like busy traffic or your motorcycle engine, even while traveling at highway speeds.

The built-in boom microphone is also noise canceling to cancel out loud noise around you, so your voice stays heard loud and clear.

Handlebar PTT

Each setup will come with a handlebar push to talk. The handlebar push-to-talk is wired onto the handlebar of your motorcycle and runs off the power from your engine. Having the push-to-talk button on your handlebar makes it easier to respond to radio transmissions and use Public Address (PA). This limits the need for an officer to remove their hands from the handlebar which in turn helps driver safety and keep them aware of their surroundings.

Compatibility

Both systems are designed to work with most helmets and motorcycles available on the market. Setcom has unique handlebar PTT brackets for BMW, and Harley Davidson, and offers a Universal push-to-talk bracket for less popular motorcycle makes and models.

As mentioned before, both headset systems will fit inside a 1/2, 1/3, or full-face style helmet. Popular helmets include Shoei, Super Sheer, Bell, and others.

The Speaker Microphone will connect to major radio models including Motorola, L3Harris, Kenwood, and others.

Pricing

Pricing for these systems depends on the type of configuration you need. For Setcom, pricing varies depending on whether you have a portable or mobile radio and the type of motorcycle (BMW, Harley Davidson, etc.) you have. Prices for Setcom, including the Liberator SuperMic, Handlebar PTT, and Helmet Speaker Headset, start at just under $2000 (2023).

While PVP Communication doesn’t directly have its prices listed, its pricing is also dependent on the configuration. Just for two parts alone, the motor kit, and the helmet headset runs about $1000 and that does not include the speaker microphone.

Specifications

PVP’s Freedom Wireless System

In addition to the Motor-One Series, PVP offers the Freedom Wireless Series. This system eliminates the need for cables between the headset and the shoulder mic and runs off Bluetooth. This system components will include a,

1. Wireless Bluetooth Headset
2. Wireless Bluetooth Shoulder Mic
3. Wireless Interface Kit*

*This is combined with the Handlebar PTT/PA Buttons

In this system, you’ll pair all three components together giving you freedom without cables. With the Freedom wireless system, you won't have the hardwired connection from the headset to the shoulder mic, like in the Motor-One Series. It is important to note the shoulder mic will still be hardwired to your two-way radio as a standard speaker microphone would be.

This system is ideal for officers who work off their portable radios and remove their helmets a lot. The headset comes with a sensor placed inside the helmet so once an officer removes their helmet, radio transmissions will be broadcasted through the shoulder mic. A downside to the Bluetooth setup is it will require charging the headset device.

The Bluetooth connection is secure and encrypted to the portable radio so no need to worry about eavesdropping on important conversations.

The pricing for the Freedom Wireless Series in 2020 was roughly around $2000.

Bluetooth is something Setcom has not ventured into yet.

What Do You Need to Order?

We want you to find the right communication equipment for your fleet of motorcycles. Finding the right configuration is easy. For Setcom, you’ll need to know the following.

1. Make and Model of the Motorcycle.
2. Make and Model of the Two-Way Radio (Portable or Mobile or both).
3. If you need a public address system.
4. If you want a Wired or Wireless Liberator SuperMic?
5. Brand of Helmet including if it’s ½, ¾, or Full Face.

First Source Wireless can help you add communications to your motorcycle fleet. We are an authorized dealer of Setcom Motorcycle Comms kits and we’d be happy to help find the right solution that fits your budget. Reach out to us today!