INTRODUCTION

   Thanks to movies like the entire range of Smokey and the Bandit series one of the things that i wanted to own as a kid growing up in the 80's was a CB radio. Little did i know that even if i did own a CB radio things just wouldn't be anywhere near as exciting as the Bandit talking and enlisting the help of truckers to evade the police but yes, this communication equipment was something that had piqued my interest. Well time went by and even though i never did get to own a CB radio (it was also illegal to mount one on a personal vehicle when i first got my license) i did own a few long range walkies/radios which i used while on road trips to communicate with friends who came along. This is also why till this day communication systems are of interest to me and since i have many friends who i ride bikes with today I’m testing yet another such device and more specifically the PackTalk Edge Duo Mesh & Bluetooth Communication System by Cardo.

   Cardo Systems specializes in the design, development, manufacturing and sale of state-of-the-art wireless communication and entertainment systems for motorcycle riders. Since inception in 2004, Cardo has pioneered the vast majority of innovations for Bluetooth motorcycle communication systems. The company’s products, now available in over 100 countries, are the world’s leading communication devices for the motorcycle industry.

   Just like with my previous communication system reviews the PackTalk Edge Duo includes two intercom devices (single version also available) for use with two helmets (i always test pairs to know exactly what each model offers, using one model with a different one would obviously produce inaccurate results). The Edge Duo sports a tough waterproof design (strangely enough it's not IP certified like the Bold) and each unit comes ready with two 40mm JBL HD stereo speakers and two microphones, ah compact one for closed/full face type helmets and a long flexible noise-cancelling boom microphone complete with a wind screen for open/flip-up type ones. It also features Bluetooth v5.2 connectivity, automatic volume (based on ambient noise), natural voice support (just say hey cardo followed by various commands), over the air firmware update, 900mAh lithium-polymer battery pack (up to 13+ hours) and since it's Cardo's 2nd generation dynamic mesh model it can also be paired with up to 15 other units (DMC mode) and has a maximum optimal range of up to 1600 meters (1 mile). Needless to say, you can use the PackTalk Edge for a variety of functions including answering/ending calls, merge calls with the intercom (so others can participate), create private intercom channels, share your music with everyone else (via your smartphone), listen to FM radio stations (RDS is supported), control your standalone GPS device and more (most commands are voice, button and app controlled). On paper the PackTalk Edge sure sounds impressive, let's see if that's really the case.