Cardo Connect Reviews

I wish I could give CardoConnect a negative star. We purchased the dual pack talks and every time we use CardoConnect it completely stops recognizing and renders the headsets useless! You can hear music and audio through the headset from your phone but you cannot talk to the other rider and frequently the other rider cannot hear you. Additionally, the headsets become ungrouped as soon as you start using CardoConnect and it completely frustrates you trying to re-sync them. The headsets work completely fine until you open this stupid crappy application! I have been so frustrated with it I completely decided to stop using CardoConnect altogether! It is a complete shame for the money these things cost that this is the best they can do with their supposedly “integrated” phone app. This is by far the WORST app I have ever used! I have been so frustrated with the experience I almost decided to return them and go with the Sena! If you do not plan on using the application then the headsets are fine but the minute you connect them using CardoConnect to your phone their garbage!!

Headset is great, but there are plenty of features locked behind CardoConnect . Wouldn’t be a problem if CardoConnect worked, but it completely stopped recognizing my headset after working fine for 2 months. I have the headset connected to my iPhone6 via Bluetooth, I’ve restarted my phone, deleted and re-added the device from my Bluetooth settings, reset the headset to factory defaults, but nothing makes CardoConnect sync with my headset. The headset works, my phone works, I can hear audio from my phone through the headset just fine, but CardoConnect doesn’t recognize my headset. Without CardoConnect I can’t adjust the voice recognition sensitivity, the non-voice volume adjustment when someone starts talking, or the auto-volume adjustment to compensate for background noise. This renders the headset useless in a lot of situations because I can’t control volume balance. For the amount of money this headset costs this is really unacceptable. It’s a shame to spend so much money and effort developing hardware to absolutely drop the ball on the software.

My wife and I have been trying to get CardoConnect to work correctly every time we use it. It’s worked correctly maybe once out of the numerous times we’ve used it. If we get the voice working then we can’t get it to switch over to the shared music. If we get the music working and sharing then we can’t get it to back to the voice again. We have to essentially sacrifice something every time we go riding and it is so obnoxious. Getting us paired over CardoConnect usually takes 2-3 times of closing out CardoConnect completely. If CardoConnect could just be fixed so that you can effortlessly switch from music to voice I would absolutely love CardoConnect but right now it’s completely pointless because we usually prefer being able to communicate with one another the whole time over listening to music and not talking which we can do without CardoConnect anyway. PLEASE work out these bugs.

I agree with what the other person wrote... it is very frustrating trying to stay connected with the units. I have one unit as “A” and the other as “B” so I can tell them apart. As the “A” unit, it doesn’t even give me an option to sync with the “B” unit. But it does tell me that the “A” unit is out of range when it is less than 24” from my phone. And what good is having a system between 2 people if you cannot listen to music and be able to talk through the intercom without hitting buttons to stop the music...that is just stupid. And now every time I open up CardoConnect on my phone, it tells me that a new firmware version is available, so I click ok. It doesn’t go to another screen or anything to allow me TO update. What the hell is that?? Please fix this!

Ok, not a beautiful user interface, but it needs to do its job with gloves on, and it does that pretty well. It works for what I need.

There’s one devious bug. There is a bug in the FM station presets. It limits you to 107.5 As the highest station it will allow you to save. At least in my area 107.9 is the highest station available. I can tune the unit to 107.9, even using CardoConnect , but when I try to save it as a favorite it reports “Station value is not valid”. The bug is devious because 107.9 is the best station on the radio!

cardo just cant get it right. your last app has an approving rating of crap so instead of updating it, you come out with another app that looks like my 2 year old drew it so you can start the review process over, then say you HAD to because of hardware changes...nice try but that 💩 don't fly.

Bluetooth is weak, every time I turn my head to the left the unit cuts out, hard to hook up...says its connected and paired but still no sound, controls are now so complicated and no require two buttons being held down to power off. Just flat out crappier than the older g9. its hard to imagine a company that goes backward but yet here it a perfect example of what happens when you screw with a good working system.

Main reason for this device is to be hands free and every time even if i am seating home on my couch wearing helmet n someone calls when i say Answer no response. So i have to press call physically while driving or just testing on my couch. 2nd Hey Siri doesn't work while riding. I tried 10 plus times n failed. Same thing on my couch out of 10 only 4 times worked. I have iPhone XR and yea firmware is all upto date. And same applies to freecom 4+.

Voice quality i liked it other cannot say they feel like i am in my car n taking on Bluetooth.

Otherwise built quality good features good jbl speakers awesome. I tested at 70-75mph n 10-15miles wind speed.

I guess say saying 'Hey' will easy for freecom to understand while answer.

My wife and I just got these and I’m not happy at all. The voice commands rarely work, once we updated everything the volume for whatever reason decreased so you can barely hear the music while driving down the road, the sensitivity on the mic has gone through the roof so with the slightest noise near the mic the music goes even softer. I’m not a fan so far, seriously thinking these were a waste of money. You would think for the price of these dam things they would be more user friendly, if you are able to get the music to start it will just shut off at random.....junk

CardoConnect is worthless. Every time I open it to use it the phone loses connection with the unit entirely, and I have to reconnect the phone with Bluetooth to the headset. Needless to say, this is unacceptable mid ride. Will not be using it if I can avoid it.

EDIT recent firmware update to my Cardo unit seems to have solved the previous app connectivity issues. Works pretty well now!

Note: you must connect to the community and update your firmware. Do this before you try using CardoConnect.

Once you’ve done that you’re gonna love the ease at which this works. In the past it’s been a pain using the older versions. Finally the engineers at Cardo got it right. Simple interface with powerful technology. A buddy and I, who has a Sena 30K used this to connect and had a great ride down the roads of central Texas.
Good luck and may all your roads be smooth!

Every time I connect to my phone via bluetooth, it takes a minimum of 3 connect/disconnects before it stays connected, if I try to use CardoConnect . The headset will connect to my phone, but CardoConnect won’t recognize that they’re connected, then once I get CardoConnect to finally see it, CardoConnect will immediate crash and disconnect my headset from my phone. Like I said above, I will have to do this a minimum of 3 times before CardoConnect will function properly and the Bluetooth connection will stay connected. It’s an absolute pain every time.

Been using Cardo Packtalk headsets and Connect App for over a year. The headsets have many user features and I haven’t quite figured out the voice control while in DMC intercom, but overall works well and I like how I can adjust the user settings from the connect app. I just wish it would connect quicker when I am already connected to the phone listing to music.

CardoConnect does a fair job updating settings on my Packtalk headsets, but has no ability to update the actual firmware of the headsets. This makes no sense, and forces owners to connect to a computer and update firmware via a totally non-functional web app. Seriously, the website has been broken for two months, at least.

Many headsets can be updated OTA through their companion apps (I know first hand, I worked on one myself), and Cardo should add this functionality so I can finally update my headsets and hopefully resolve the dropped audio and connections I’ve experienced.

Speakers blast the maps voice but the calls I can’t hear at all and I have everything turned up! It’s fuzzy too and I know I didn’t blow them. And then it shuts off for no reason!
I haven’t given up hope quite yet! Cmon Cardo make a great speaker in this unit! Thank you!

Freecom 4+ and 2+ The minute my Google maps or WAZE chime in for directions the intercom drops the other rider and I have to reconnect through CardoConnect . So I have to reconnect while riding. That makes this device dangerous. The voice command “hey cardo” never works.

I thought I was upgrading from a Sena for better sound and a newer version of Bluetooth. It really wasn’t much of an upgrade. I think I’m going to dump CardoConnect and connect by pushing the hideous tiny buttons. The Sena had real buttons. The more I think about the more I detest this thing.

Just bought Cardo Packtalk bold. Installed app and connected. It does not let you update firmware from an iPhone!? App just stopped connecting for no reason so I uninstalled app then reinstalled. It is connecting again but I can not update firmware! I called tech support and was on hold a long time, apparently they are having product issues, until they closed and computer hung up on me! I will try back tomorrow. if I don’t get customer service and get the device working with CardoConnect I will be returning it to Cycle Gear where I bought it. Not a happy new customer so far 🙁 Cardo

Been having problem with my freecom4+ the features are not working “hey cardo” doesn’t work for nothing I delete CardoConnect and reinstall CardoConnect again and nothing! On the headset also did a reset back to the normal settings and nothing! I had a Sena with better sounds and response. The hardware is beautiful but I really wish it would work so I wouldn’t have this problem so frustrating and this is a second unit received by the company! Hopefully this issue could be resolved ASAP!

I’m new to Bluetooth for riding and I have to say it’s so nice to have communication with other riders, enjoy music and navigation in ear...I love the voice commands and the ease of use...it takes a bit of reading to learn all the features, but it’s all pretty intuitive...totally recommended...enjoy! TJ from Colorado

Works great when it connects, however CardoConnect refuses to recognize my Freecom 2+ lately. I’m able to pair it to my iPhone 8+ Bluetooth but CardoConnect still says it couldn’t find a device. I’ve used the pairing button on my Freecom 2+ to pair it and yet, even though my phone connects CardoConnect doesn’t connect to my device. And without CardoConnect I can’t get the volume up. I’ve deleted CardoConnect and reinstalled it several times and still having the same issues.

I downloaded CardoConnect for my packtalk bold, I would open CardoConnect and it would disconnect my device, I reconnected my device and CardoConnect starts to work and then crashes within seconds. After multiple attempts to use CardoConnect , I opted to just delete it and not deal with it any further. Once CardoConnect is fixed I am willing to try it again. And I just download and installed the latest firmware for the device prior to downloading CardoConnect so there is no reason for it not to work.

Last night I tried to use CardoConnect it didn’t work last night so tonight I went into my iPhone settings and saw CardoConnect wants my permission to allow CardoConnect to run after that it works good no problems wish I knew that I had to go into my settings for it to work I’m happy now

The responses to people’s bad reviews are them saying there trying hard but Iv had a freecom 4 since the week it came out...updates are complete crap....both apps are complete crap.... oh and don’t even think about using your iPhone for gps or music while on intercom bc it does not work even though it’s advertised as it does it even has parallel audio button but nope don’t work. But don’t worry guys they have been trying...for what 3 years now. Everyone at Cardo needs to be fired so people that know what there doing can be hired

I love my Packtalk device and it’s so nice to see Cardo continuing to provide updates for their devices, rather than release half-baked hardware all the time (Sena). CardoConnect has a clean design and makes it easy to access the features and options of the headset. One request - please add a landscape orientation screen mode!

If you’re looking for a new comm system, go get a Sena. 20k or 30k’s work great. Bought 4 devices, 3 for my family and one for a friend, these things NEVER pair easily. We spend the first 30 minutes of every ride trying to get these dysfunctional gear to work properly. I wish I could get my money back. The application keeps disconnecting from the phone and you need to restart your phone for it to start up and connect again.
Absolutely awful products for the price.

Just purchased the Packtalk Bold JBL to replace a Freecom 4+. CardoConnect has all kinds of advanced settings for the Freecom 4+ but zero advanced settings for the Packtalk. I spent the money on Cardo’s “flagship” thinking it would be just that. It’s been nothing but a headache. Can’t connect to other Cardo units and when it does actually manage to connect, it loses connection frequently. Never had any problems with the Freecom 4+ which is $125 less than the Packtalk Bold JBL. Pretty disappointed to say the least...