Fodsports Mesh Helmet Intercom Comparison: FX7 VS FX 10C
Fodsports FX7 vs FX 10C: which one will you choose?
Fodsports, a well-known name in the intercom world, offers two popular mesh intercom models: the FX7 and the FX 10C. Both are mesh intercoms, but they have unique features that set them apart.
The FX7 is the latest Bluetooth mesh intercom from Fodsports, released in July 2024. It is packed with advanced technology for a seamless communication experience.
The FX 10C is a high-end mesh intercom that has been a favorite among riders for its performance and ease of use.
In this blog, we'll compare the FX7 and FX 10C to help you decide which one is the best fit for your riding needs.
About FX7, I would like to say some more words about several of its main features.
Firstly, its dual Bluetooth chip design is very outstanding in the market.
One of the chips will focus on Bluetooth audio, the other one will handle Bluetooth intercom.
The task separation design makes sure both the audio and intercom functions operate efficiently and seamlessly.
Secondly, the 3 quick pairing modes of Fodsports FX7 are also very functional.
The two-rider intercom mode supports a secure intercom between 2 riders. When you and your partner use this mode, no others can enter into your intercom. Whether you're riding with a partner or a friend, this mode ensures a private and clear communication line.
Another pairing mode is the multi-rider intercom friends mode. It is designed for group communication among multiple riders. Under this mode, you can ask the riders that are familiar to join and form a group. The others who are not in this group will not be able to join in.
The multi-rider intercom mode allows all riders to automatically join your group to intercom.
Thirdly, I must stand for the Fodsports FX7's audio and sound quality.
Equipped with CVC+ENC noise reduction tech, plus with HIFI microphone and speaker, the FX7 will bring you a clear and pure sound effect.
The stereo high-resolution sound quality has been adjusted by Fodsports professional audio debugging technical team and senior tuners.
Fourthly, the multi-rider mesh AD-HOC NETWORK is also a worth mentioning feature.
Fodsports FX7 multi-rider AD-HOC network feature
When a group of riders intercom with FX7, any rider who leaves or enters the group will not affect the intercom with other friends.
This is because all the riders are connected with each other in this group. No matter who leaves, the other riders are still connected and will not get influenced.
FX7 brings much more to riders. Due to space limitations, I will not introduce them one by one here.
Interested riders can go to the Fodsports FX7 page for more details. You can also read the following introduction articles about the FX7 product launch:
The Fodsports FX 10C is a popular mesh intercom that has been sold worldwide. It is a true intercom with mesh technology.
The FX 10C is designed for motorcyclists who want reliable communication on the road. Packed with user-friendly features, the FX10C is perfect for both casual riders and serious enthusiasts.
Here are the main features of Fodsports FX 10C mesh intercom:
The most outstanding feature of the Fodsports FX 10C mesh intercom is its dynamic communication ability.
Its intercom number is not limited. This means, that no matter how many riders are riding together, they can all pair and stay connected by FX 10C.
Besides, it can support as many as 10 mesh intercom channels, so the riders can freely switch channels.
With the Fodsports FX10C, you can communicate with other riders over long distances.
It offers a range of up to 1 kilometer in open terrain. This makes it ideal for group rides, allowing everyone to stay in touch even when spread out.
The FX 10C's sound quality is another top feature I want to applaud.
It features noise-canceling technology that filters out background noise, ensuring clear and crisp audio.
Even when you are riding in high speed, your intercom quality and clearance will not get reduced.
The wind noise, engine noise and other environmental noise will be reduced to make sure your intercom audio is pure and clear.
You can enjoy conversations, music, and GPS directions in a high sound quality.
The FX 10C also supports you to listen to music and navigation while you are intercom.
Some riders prefer to listen to music while riding. But the music may stop when you are intercom with other riders.
However, the Fodsports FX 10C supports this! You can keep on listening to music, the GPS navigation guidance and communicate with your accompanies at the same time!
Fodsports FX7 vs FX 10C Comparison
The FX7 and FX 10C are all mesh communication systems. But they have several special features and advantages.
Mesh technology
The first one is the mesh technology difference between them.
The Fodsports FX7 uses Bluetooth mesh, while the FX 10C uses mesh intercom technology.
They have different pairing ways and networking methods. I believe you can understand from the above two photos. They show how FX7 and FX 10C connect with other intercom devices.
Fodsports FX7 vs FX 10C connection way compare
Connection Stability
Theoretically, the mesh intercom method of FX 10C can support countless intercoms connected together. For large group riding, such as more than 10 riders, FX 10C has a great advantage.
These riders intercom in series with each other, so even if everyone is far apart, FX 10C can stay connected to others in the group through the intercom connected to it. However, if one rider leaves the group, the other riders in this group may be influenced.
FX7 is different from FX 10C. FX7 is connected to every rider in the group. This ensures that it can communicate with each rider individually.
When any rider in the group leaves or joins, it will not affect the communication between other riders.
I have tested the Fodsports FX7 with my friends, it can pair as many as 10 riders. But I recommend you to control the intercom number at 8 riders most.
As you know, the intercom stability and quality may go down with the intercom numbers increase. The more intercom numbers, the lower the stability. That's why I do not recommend you pair with too many riders together. (Both FX7 and FX 10C)
Functions
Both Fodsports FX7 and FX 10C has their own special functions.
Firstly, I will show the common functions they both have:
As I have mentioned in the above, FX7 is equipped with AD-HOC Network technology.
If a rider falls behind during riding and loses intercom, the intercom communication between the other riders will not be affected.
When the rider returns to the group, he will automatically join the group. During the joining process, the communication between the other riders will not be affected at all.
🔥2. Power Display on Your Phone
The Fodsports FX7 gets an upgrade on the power display.
When pairing the FX7 with a smartphone, the battery percentage will be directly displayed on the phone. You can monitor the battery level of your FX7 easily and conveniently.
🔥3. Waterproof level
The FX 10C is equipped with an IP65 waterproof level, while the FX7 has a higher IP67 waterproof level.
I have tested placing a Fodsports FX7 in a water tank to test its waterproof performance. I connect it to my smartphone and let it play music continuously. (So that I can know it is still working normally when I am doing other things.)
It still kept playing the music normally until my phone ran out of battery about 3 hours later. And then I stopped the test.
From this test, I believe that you can know how excellent the FX7's waterproof performance is!
FX7 vs FX 10C - Which Mesh Intercom is Best?
Actually, both the Fodsports FX7 and FX 10C are Fodsports's featured motorcycle helmet mesh intercoms. They have their own features and advantages. By reading about this Fodsport FX7 vs FX 10C comparison article, you can choose according to your specific demand.
If you usually riding in wet environment, or rainy/snowy days, I recommend you to choose the FX7. Its IP67 rating allows you to use it with confidence in rainy and snowy weather.
If you ride in a larger group, like more than 10 riders, I recommend you to choose the FX 10C. This mesh intercom will make sure you always stay in connection with other riders in large groups.
So, evaluate your riding style and group size to make the best choice. The FX7 and FX 10C can all offer excellent features tailored to different needs.
With over 10 years of experience working on cars and trucks Item Training Supervisor Richard Reina is known around the office as one of our technical experts & real an "automobile person".
His rate of interest began, in his very own words, "at the age of two when his father educated him the distinction in between a Chevy and a Ford. Since then it's been cars regularly."
As a serious lover of practically all things with a motor Richard can address nearly any kind of inquiry related to car upkeep, fixing, or restoration & is a fact professional in electric motor background.
The article does not really answer the most important questions.
I do actually own an FX10c and FX7 now. The mesh intercom function is not compatible (no surprise here). However I am unsure if the "Bluetooth Mesh" of the FX7 refers to the Bluetooth Mesh standard so it will be possible to pair to other brand Bluetooth mesh intercoms in the future (none known to me yet). Currently it's only usable alongside multiple FX7.
Music sharing for some reason does not work in universal 1:1 Bluetooth intercom mode, even though I don't see a technical limitation to support it
The 2 USB-C connectors on the FX7 has pros and cons. Pro is that you can theoretically charge it while using it (mostly impractical anyway) and CON is that 2 connectors might suffer water ingress issues. The rubber plug on the charging port is slightly too small to fit most standard USB-C cables. So you need to carry a special cable despite the standard USB-C port. This is pretty bad design. Making the cap/port slightly larger to fit any universal USB-C cable would be much appreciated.
The FX7 also does not seem to store multiple device pairings. With my FX10c I can pair up with one friend, then with another and next time it's still pairing with my first friend. On the FX7 I always need to re-pair. Really uncomfortable if not always riding with the same person.
The FX7 allowing for better volume adjustment on intercom (at least on my FX10c I struggle adjusting intercom volume at all).
Also the dual-bluetooth mode is great. Listening to navigation directions while talking on the intercom is a huge plus compared to FX10c which cannot do this (either intercom or mobile/navigation, not both at the same time).
I don't like the jog-dial turn knob of the FX7 but this is rather my personal preference. I would have preferred push-buttons. Specifically as the round dial is actually just a 2-way button. It is not a rotary knob allowing for easy and fast volume adjustments. It can only be tilted left/right and acts as 2 buttons (plus push button function). Also when turning left/right briefly (short press) it will not change the volume but will actually execute media next/prev function. For me the function I use most is to increase/decrease volume. On the FX7 I need to press and hold the wheel to the left/right to adjust volume. Holding a button is bad while ridding as you need to take your hand from the handlebar longer. On the FX10c I can quickly touch the button to adjust the volume. On FX7 I need to hold the button/dial. Very bad for safety and usability.
The speakers of both FX7 and FX10c are pretty good. The FX7 however has more amplified low frequency. A bit too much for my taste.
The microphone on both is good but has a flaw. I it does not perfectly stick in place. I am using a flip-up helmet with flexible microphone and when not using the microphone I am stowing the mic away on my left chin. Both the FX7 and FX10c microphones will not stay in place and end up in front of my left eye usually. I am also owning a Fodsports M1S-Plus and this microphone perfectly staying in place everywhere you drag/push it to. I wish the FX series had the same microphone arm.
Nice plus on the FX7 audio system is that the speakers are connected using standard TRS jack and are actually interchangeable. The microphone proprietary micro-connector however is of questionable quality. On my FX7 it's actually broken from factory (sometimes works, sometimes doesn't) and I am waiting for a replacement to be shipped.
In general I would recommend the FX7 due to more modern dual-bluetooth architecture and feature to use intercom and phone/navigation connection at the same time. Universal pairing however is cumbersome as you need to re-pair more often and I would have preferred buttons rather than flimsy dial wheel.
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The article does not really answer the most important questions.
I do actually own an FX10c and FX7 now. The mesh intercom function is not compatible (no surprise here). However I am unsure if the "Bluetooth Mesh" of the FX7 refers to the Bluetooth Mesh standard so it will be possible to pair to other brand Bluetooth mesh intercoms in the future (none known to me yet). Currently it's only usable alongside multiple FX7.
Music sharing for some reason does not work in universal 1:1 Bluetooth intercom mode, even though I don't see a technical limitation to support it
The 2 USB-C connectors on the FX7 has pros and cons. Pro is that you can theoretically charge it while using it (mostly impractical anyway) and CON is that 2 connectors might suffer water ingress issues. The rubber plug on the charging port is slightly too small to fit most standard USB-C cables. So you need to carry a special cable despite the standard USB-C port. This is pretty bad design. Making the cap/port slightly larger to fit any universal USB-C cable would be much appreciated.
The FX7 also does not seem to store multiple device pairings. With my FX10c I can pair up with one friend, then with another and next time it's still pairing with my first friend. On the FX7 I always need to re-pair. Really uncomfortable if not always riding with the same person.
The FX7 allowing for better volume adjustment on intercom (at least on my FX10c I struggle adjusting intercom volume at all).
Also the dual-bluetooth mode is great. Listening to navigation directions while talking on the intercom is a huge plus compared to FX10c which cannot do this (either intercom or mobile/navigation, not both at the same time).
I don't like the jog-dial turn knob of the FX7 but this is rather my personal preference. I would have preferred push-buttons. Specifically as the round dial is actually just a 2-way button. It is not a rotary knob allowing for easy and fast volume adjustments. It can only be tilted left/right and acts as 2 buttons (plus push button function). Also when turning left/right briefly (short press) it will not change the volume but will actually execute media next/prev function. For me the function I use most is to increase/decrease volume. On the FX7 I need to press and hold the wheel to the left/right to adjust volume. Holding a button is bad while ridding as you need to take your hand from the handlebar longer. On the FX10c I can quickly touch the button to adjust the volume. On FX7 I need to hold the button/dial. Very bad for safety and usability.
The speakers of both FX7 and FX10c are pretty good. The FX7 however has more amplified low frequency. A bit too much for my taste.
The microphone on both is good but has a flaw. I it does not perfectly stick in place. I am using a flip-up helmet with flexible microphone and when not using the microphone I am stowing the mic away on my left chin. Both the FX7 and FX10c microphones will not stay in place and end up in front of my left eye usually. I am also owning a Fodsports M1S-Plus and this microphone perfectly staying in place everywhere you drag/push it to. I wish the FX series had the same microphone arm.
Nice plus on the FX7 audio system is that the speakers are connected using standard TRS jack and are actually interchangeable. The microphone proprietary micro-connector however is of questionable quality. On my FX7 it's actually broken from factory (sometimes works, sometimes doesn't) and I am waiting for a replacement to be shipped.
In general I would recommend the FX7 due to more modern dual-bluetooth architecture and feature to use intercom and phone/navigation connection at the same time. Universal pairing however is cumbersome as you need to re-pair more often and I would have preferred buttons rather than flimsy dial wheel.