Electronics

Electronics

If you like to take pictures and/or make videos you end up with quite a lot of electornical devices during a trip. Its the same in our case even if we try to optimise it (no double cables an so on) we travel with quite a lot of electro stuff.

In this chapter we would like to show you some of our solutions and why we chose them. ​

Power Supply

With all these gadgets you need a lot of power. If you travel by motorbike and plan to do a lot of camping, then this can be difficult because you need to figure out how to charge all this items. We already did some research and adjustments on our earlier trips and installed 12V DC sockets (on Xenia’s 660R with two USB sockets and on Martin’s bike a standard 12V socket) on our motorbikes.

On the 660Z Martin can also draw power directly from the battery via a USB cable. If we don’t sleep in the tent we can charge everything from a wall socket but even this requires some things.

Here the list with our power suppliers:

1. Tripple USB connector
2. Multi-way connector
3. Special cable battery -> USB
4. Dual USB 12V plug
5. Drone 12V charger
6. Universal Travel Adapter
7. Powerbank by Powergorilla with 21000 mAh
8. Powergorilla 12V charger
9. Drone battery (can be used as a USB powerbank)
10. Drone/USB adapter
11. Drone charger
12. USB plug for 12V
13. Powergorilla charger

With this set up we can charge all devices and powerbanks if we stay in a guesthouse in quite a short amount of time because we can charge seven devices at once (5 USB, 1 powerbank and one device via the powerbank). Provided that the fuse allows it in the guesthouse.

On the motorbikes we can charge up to five USB devices respectively three USB and one powerbank via 12V. Because we camp quite a lot its good that we can charge all our gear, even our laptops and Martins beard trimmer.

There is the possibility to charge the Powergorilla also with a solar charger, which is great if you are travelling by bicycle but because we have the motorbikes we don’t need this option.

Cameras

Next to our drone and the SENA 10C Pro cameras, we have following camera equipment with us.

1. Sony a6000 in a bag with 2 batteries and 3 lenses:

• 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 (kit lens)
• 55-210mm f/5.5-6.3 (kit lens)
• Samyang 12mm f/2

2. Olympus Tough TG4

• we have a diving case for this one but left it at home as the camera is water proofe till 10 meters

3. GoPro 7 Black (since April 2019, before we had a GoPro Hero 3 Black Edition)

• Incl. a underwater case, different mounts and a clamp for the backpack

4. GoPro Fusion (since May 2018)

Tripods

1. Siriu Easy Traveler Carbon
2. GoPro Grip of the Fusion which works as a tripod too (around 55cm high) and an adapter so we can put the Olympus Tough on this one as well.

Laptops

ACER Aspire V13

We decided that we both want to take a laptop and after beeing on the road for over 2 years, we are convinced this was the right decision.

Before we left we decided that we want a 13inch display and that it has to have enough power to work with all the Adobe and movie editing programs we work with. Also important was to have already quite a bit of hard disk space on the laptop itself and that this is an SSD to make sure it does not break while travelling. Therefore we went for the Acer Aspire V13 with 512GB SDD, 16GB Ram and an IntelCore i7-6500 CPU. So far we can say that the laptops are great and we did not have any issues with them.

We carry the laptops in our amazing Peli cases. More about them here.

External hard drives and back up solution

We started the trip with 2x 500GB Transcent Storejet hard drives, which hold up great. We have 3 of them and made sure that we could send one back and forth (either with parcels or friends) to Xenia’s parents.

After a while we had too much data therefore we bought another 2TB hard disk in Kyrgyzstan. In Australia we had to upgrade the 500GB ones to a new 4TB one by LaCie. Therefore we carry now a 4TB and a 2TB hard disk with us.

At Xenia’s parents place, we run an Apollo Server, which works like a cloud. Xenia’s dad uploads all the data there so we can access it anytime in case something happens to the hard drives. This way we have the data always stored in at least 2 different places.

Communication

SENA – 10C Pro bluetooth headset with action cam (in use since 2019)

We used and liked the older 10C as it was the first helmet action camera to record video and our conversation at the same time. It is an action camera, photo camera, communication system and it enables us to listen to radio, the GPS, music or make a phone call while riding.

In short it makes our life travelling and recording very easy!

The new features of the 10C Pro is a WiFi connection to your smart phone and the new app “Sena Camera”.

New features with the Sena Camera App:

• shows 10C Pro battery level
• camera live view
•  easy access to all camera setting
• preview camera angle, photos and videos
• download footage to smartphone for easy sharing

This makes the 10C Pro even easier to handle and more fun to use.

The Camera functions for pictures and video have been improved as well. The Pro is shooting now 2K videos (1440/30fps or 1080/60fps) with 3.7Mp, 16.9 aspect ratio and an increased 135° field of view.

To handle the 10C Pro even safer we pair it with the RC4 Handlebar Remote control. With this remote we can hang on to the handlebar with both hands and still control the 10C Pro. This comes in very handy, specially in rough terrain.

All o these features make the 10C Pro our first choice action camera and communication system!

SENA – 10C bluetooth headset with action cam (in use since 2016)

Since 2014 we only had positive experiences with the Sena SMH10. In February 2016 we visited Swissmoto again and went straight back to the booth of bikerheadset.ch to see what they news they had to offer. To our surprise the manager recognized us immediately probably because we had so many questions the last time when we visited them.

He introduced us to the latest Sena 10C product and patiently answered all our questions. We were very impressed with the progress of the communication system and even more with the integrated action cam. Thanks to the great support of Marco from bikerheadset.ch / e-performence.ch we were shortly afterwards proud owners of two new Sena 10C and two handlebar remote controls.

Since spring 2016 we are now riding with the Sena 10C and the handlebar remote controls and are more than happy with this set up!

Functions and facts of the 10C, which we love:

• The bluetooth headset and the video camera are very compact to mount as one device on the helmet.
• Lightweight construction, 94g.
• Full HD video and 3.5 Mp photo resolution
• Video tagging
• The camera angle is adjustable
• The lens is rotatable up to 30 degrees
• Radio range of up to 1.6 kilometers
• Smart Audio Mix – this allows our music and our voice to be mixed directly into the video and the same during the recording
• An app for our smartphones
• Advanced Noise Control
• Music sharing – we can both listen to the same music
• Optional handlebar remote control (not included)
• Easy operation thanks to push / turn knob (jog dial)
• Waterproof even in rain and snow
• Can be charged by USB or 12V during the ride
• The unit is mounted very close to the helmet which means less risk of gettin stuck somewhere and also the weight is less noticeable near the helmet than for an example a GoPro.

What makes the 10C better than the SMH 10 (our most important points):

• There are four devices in one (headset intercom, video, photo, music)
• Bigger range
• The app to make the configurations is very helpful
• Controllable with handlebar remote control
• Even longer talk time (10C 17h – SMH 10 12h)

Our input, specially for people who ride in a team: Buy a communication system and the SMH10 is a great choice, which we can recommend through our owen experience. Your nerves and vocal cords will be forever thankful!

SENA – SMH10 bluetooth headset (in use from 2014 – 2016)

On our first trip together to the Black Sea and back we had some communication problems. Three riders, three different motorbikes and tank volumes, three different opinions about directions and when it would be time to have a break. After a month and 6000 kilometres with gesticulating and stressed nerves it became clear that we need a communication system.

At the Swiss Moto 2014 we tested the products of Scala Rider and SENA and decided that SENA has the perfect product for us: The SENA – SMH10 Bluetooth headset and intercom.

Here the reasons why we chose SENA over Scala:

• Better sound quality
• Compact case, no antenna that could snap
• Easier handling: a small on/off button and a bigger push/turn button (Scala Rider uses for example six buttons in the same size), therefore the handling with gloves is no problem (even with thick winter gloves, we tested that in Iceland)
• Last but no least because of the great consulting of Marco and his team of bikerheadset.ch / e-performance

After two years and over 15’000km (Iceland, Morocco, smaller trips in Europe) we were still very happy with our SENAs.

The gadgetry have been often used in very harsh conditions (same as we). Dust, sand, mud, strong winds, torrential rain, snow, several crashes and temperatures between -5° and +38° degrees.
The strain was far above average but nothing could damage this two little gadgets. Until now we never had a single problem or a malfunction.

Function and facts about the SMH10 we like the most:

• Intercom, the communication between riders. Even if we only make a short stop to take a picture we don’t have to take our helmets off and yell at each other make sure the other understands us. Even on bigger distances we can give instructions for a picture or what to buy in a shop (yeah we go sometimes shopping with our helmets on)
• Range up to 900 meters
• Long battery time up to 12 hours
• The intercom can be charged while using, USB (Xenia) or via 12 volt power socket (Martin).
• It weights only 60g
• Free software updates, which are easy to install
• No annoying wind noises because of the helmet mount
• Connection possibilities from headset to headset, headset to GPS and headset to mobile phone – all at the same time and wireless! I listen often to music from my iPhone, which is fading out when an incoming message by another rider or the GPS.
• The SENAs are water resistant
• In the scope of delivery are more than enough components to mount the SENA on nearly every helmet type
• Even when we are riding by ourselves and don’t use the intercom we can listen to music, hear GPS directions or receive phone calls

You want your own SENA? Check out our store!