How Cardo + Starlink Changed UTV Race Communications at King of the Hammers

At King of the Hammers, silence used to mean trouble.

Johnson Valley, California, is infamous for swallowing radio signals whole. Between high-speed desert sections and granite rock canyons, even the most expensive VHF and UHF race radios often dissolve into static. Teams scream into microphones. Pit crews guess. Chaos follows. Learn How Cardo + Starlink Changed UTV Race Communications at King of the Hammers.

But at the 2026 King of the Hammers (KOH), something changed.

Two UTV teams — Cole Clark of 24 Racing and Dustin Robbins of Team All Things UTV — scrapped traditional race radios and deployed a hybrid communication system built around Cardo Systems’ helmet communicators and Starlink satellite internet.

The result? Crystal-clear communication anywhere on course — at a fraction of the cost of traditional race radio systems.

And it may permanently change off-road racing communications.

ALSO SEE: Cardo Packtalk Edge Review

How Cardo + Starlink Changed UTV Race Communications at King of the Hammers

The Problem With Traditional UTV Race Radios

For years, competitive UTV race teams have relied on:

• Hard-mounted VHF/UHF radios

• Tall pit antennas and signal repeaters

• Heavy 12-volt battery towers

• Expensive satellite phone systems

The problem? Johnson Valley doesn’t care how much you spent.

Rock formations block line-of-sight transmission. Signals fade in canyons. Static overwhelms audio. And even high-end wired radio systems — often costing $3,000+ per vehicle — still struggle with reliability.

As Clark put it during KOH 2026:

“You end up having this giant tower in the pit… big heavy 12-volt battery… and it still doesn’t work.”

For small- to mid-sized race teams, traditional race comms can be cost-prohibitive and inconsistent.

That’s where consumer-driven tech stepped in.

ALSO SEE: Cardo Packtalk Edge Review

How Cardo + Starlink Changed UTV Race Communications at King of the Hammers

The Hybrid System: Cardo + Starlink + Zello

Instead of fighting terrain with bigger antennas, both teams used a smarter digital chain.

1. Inside the Helmets: Cardo Packtalk Edge ORV

Each driver and co-driver wore Cardo Packtalk Edge ORV communicators mounted to their helmets. Use  discount code UTVOR, or hit this discount code link for great deals on all Cardo products.

Using Cardo’s Dynamic Mesh Communication (DMC) technology, the system creates an always-on mesh network between riders:

• No wires between helmets

• No push-to-talk required inside the vehicle

• Open-line conversation at normal speaking volume

• Advanced noise cancellation

In a 1,000+ horsepower UTV environment, that matters.

Instead of yelling, drivers talk.

Instead of chaos, there’s clarity.

2. The Bridge: Zello App

The Cardo units were paired via Bluetooth to a hard-mounted smartphone running the Zello app.

Zello acts like a digital two-way radio — transmitting voice data over internet rather than radio frequency.

This eliminates terrain-based signal loss.

3. The Backbone: Starlink Satellite Internet

Each vehicle carried a Starlink system for internet connectivity anywhere on course.

• Clark used a magnetic-mounted Starlink dish he could transfer between vehicles in minutes.

• Robbins hard-mounted a Starlink Mini to the roof of his CT Race Works-built Can-Am Maverick R X RC.

The result: uninterrupted internet across Johnson Valley — regardless of canyon depth or line-of-sight.

4. Push-to-Talk Integration

When communicating with the pits, drivers used Bluetooth PTT buttons:

• Clark ran an ASUS Bluetooth button paired to his phone.

• Robbins used a steering-wheel-mounted button.

Simple. Clean. Reliable.

How Cardo + Starlink Changed UTV Race Communications at King of the Hammers

Real-World Performance at King of the Hammers 2026

On race day, the system proved itself.

Clear Audio = Smarter Pit Strategy

Instead of static-filled guesswork, pit crews could hear detailed mechanical feedback in real time.

Clark’s father, Khan, noted the difference immediately:

“Before it was… screaming. Now I can hear there is an issue with the driver’s side rear tire.”

That clarity allowed the team to prepare specific parts before the UTV even reached the pits — turning pit stops from reactive scrambles into calculated operations.

Lower Stress Inside the Cockpit

Cardo’s advanced noise cancellation created an unexpected advantage: reduced driver stress.

Robbins described the cockpit as “peace and quiet” compared to previous race experiences.

Lower heart rate.
Clear communication.
Better focus.

In endurance off-road racing, that’s a competitive edge.

ALSO SEE: Cardo Packtalk Edge Review

The Game-Changer: Wireless Freedom During Rock Sections

Traditional wired race helmets disconnect the moment a navigator exits the vehicle.

Not here.

With the Cardo mesh system:

• Navigators could exit the UTV

• Walk significant distances during spotting

• Continue seamless communication with the driver

During a winch section, team members coordinated movements outside the vehicle without yelling — something spectators couldn’t believe.

This isn’t just convenience. It’s performance-enhancing tech.

How Cardo + Starlink Changed UTV Race Communications at King of the Hammers

Cost Comparison: Traditional Race Radios vs. Cardo Hybrid Setup

For grassroots teams, that difference is massive.

Why This Matters for Recreational UTV Riders

While proven at KOH, this setup isn’t limited to race teams.

Recreational riders who explore remote terrain — from Moab to Baja — face the same communication challenges.

For those running Polaris Pro R, Can-Am Maverick R, or other modern sport UTVs, helmet-mounted mesh systems may soon replace traditional intercom wiring altogether.

(Internal link suggestion:

• Polaris Pro R review page

• Can-Am Maverick R feature

• UTV communication gear buyer’s guide

• King of the Hammers event coverage page)

If you’ve already reviewed Cardo products on UTVOffroadMag.com, this is a strong contextual anchor moment.

How Cardo + Starlink Changed UTV Race Communications at King of the Hammers

Is This the Future of UTV Race Communications?

The 2026 King of the Hammers proved something important:

The harshest one-day off-road race in the world can now be run with consumer-based wireless tech — and win.

Both Clark and Robbins secured top-five finishes.

And neither relied on traditional race radios.

As satellite internet becomes more compact and wireless helmet tech advances, the era of screaming through static may finally be ending.

Sometimes the best way to conquer the most primitive terrain on earth… is with the most advanced technology in the sky.

Be sure to use discount code UTVOR, or hit this discount code link for great deals on all Cardo products.