Headset/Mike??

[crusader]

Well...I'm just about to delve into the ham radio realm and am considering gear...

My situation is that I want to get an entry-level (read that: "cheap") 2 meter or a 2 meter/70 cm mobile rig just to familiarize myself with ham radio language/procedures before moving up to a general class license where I can upgrade my equipment to something that'll be usefull for emergency communications in the bush.

My problem is that the rig will be mounted in my old Land Rover with a very noisy diesel engine. You can't really carry on reasonable conversations with passengers in this Rover, never mind hear a radio, so I'll need a one-ear headset and noise-cancelling mic that'll work with the type of radios I mentioned above.

Anyone familiar with any equipment that'll fill the bill? I imagine that rigs that are remotely controlled from the mic will be incompatible with my needs, but that's a presumption on my part...


Thanks!

--Mark

 

[SunTzuNephew]

Most any handheld will support a speaker/mic, they just plug in (get the right plug). I'd get a noise canceling microphone version.

Also, the newer radios often have bluetooth built in or addable, you can use any bluetooth headset, I guess. I haven't tried that myself.

 

[crusader]

Most any handheld will support a speaker/mic, they just plug in (get the right plug). I'd get a noise canceling microphone version.

Oops...Should have mentioned...I'm trying to avoid handhelds.

 

[1leglance]

Welcome to my frustration

One of the Disabled Explorers projects I have been working on is pretty much the same thing.
When a wheelchair guy is driving he has one hand on the steering wheel and one on the handcontrols and none left for the mic.

So I have looked around at some of the options and there aren't many.
Yaesu has the FT350 & the FT10 neither of which are cheap but will work with a cell phone style bluetooth head set

There are no other mobile rig headsets that aren't huge..

What I really want is a push to talk button that triggers a mic on the visor or other small boom and then feeds the audio through a speaker.
This will allow my passengers to hear and join in on the conversation, allow me to hear the radio out of the rig and be more normal.

I just have not been able to find the solution.

Pryme make headsets and I think I will need to contact them or a local Ham club to see if someone will create the solution.
With more pending laws against doing things while driving I think it would be a worthwhile solution.

 

[SunTzuNephew]

Oops...Should have mentioned...I'm trying to avoid handhelds.

Well, that'll be a bit more of a problem. There are some mobiles that have bluetooth like the Yaesu FTM-350R.

But you said 'cheap' - HRO is listing them for $570, plus the bluetooth headset (another $80)

Another alternative would be a mobile with external speakers, mounted on the B-pillar or something near your ears (I've seen it done in headrests, if you have them), and a noise-canceling microphone. It's also possible to hook the headset/boom mics used on handhelds to a mobile.

 

[xtatik]

Well...I'm just about to delve into the ham radio realm and am considering gear...

My situation is that I want to get an entry-level (read that: "cheap") 2 meter or a 2 meter/70 cm mobile rig just to familiarize myself with ham radio language/procedures before moving up to a general class license where I can upgrade my equipment to something that'll be usefull for emergency communications in the bush.

My problem is that the rig will be mounted in my old Land Rover with a very noisy diesel engine. You can't really carry on reasonable conversations with passengers in this Rover, never mind hear a radio, so I'll need a one-ear headset and noise-cancelling mic that'll work with the type of radios I mentioned above.

Anyone familiar with any equipment that'll fill the bill? I imagine that rigs that are remotely controlled from the mic will be incompatible with my needs, but that's a presumption on my part...


Thanks!

--Mark

None better! I'm sure these people will have a solution for you.
http://www.heilsound.com/amateur/products/travelersingle/index.htm

 

[KG6BWS]

http://www.planetheadset.com/noise-cancelling-radio-headsets.php
Scroll down to the COMET.

Maybe something like that, adapted to the radio of your choice. Im not sure who could adapt it. HRO might know of someone, or a race radio shop. I like to run doorless during the summer, so Im curious about the same thing. The speaker is the easy part. Its the mike that gives me trouble.

 

[Lynn]

Anyone know why bone conduction mics have never become widely available? I've seen a couple over the years, but they're pretty rare.

With a bone conduction mic it fits in/on your ear along with the speaker, but instead of picking up your voice in the air it picks up the vibrations of your skull when you talk.

Seems like the perfect solution for a noisy environment, if it works...

Or doesn't the military use throat mics?

ADDED: A quick search turned up this page with descriptions of both. Not specifically for your radio, but gives an idea what I'm talking about.

 

[PhulesAU]

Have you tried looking into Motorcycle set-ups? my external spkrs. are mounted on the main roll bar hoop between the seats, every body can hear them just fine with no top at highway speeds. ask the local ham club if they have riders in the group. Or check Bicycle club, that does big rides like the MS150 lot of hams pull duty as ride marshals. they may have a contact to these guys. And last but not least, skooter trash that hangs out at the PD/Sheriffs office.:bike_rider:

Hers some "Elmers" talking about blue toothing. http://www.eham.net/forums/Elmers/252962

 

[ntsqd]

PTT buttons are common in desert racing. They're used with full headphones and boom mics or with helmet inserts, so that part is less easily adapted/adopted.

The PTT buttons that I've seen come with a velcro mount. Might talk to someone in the biz of desert racing comms about what they might be able to do. I'll recommend John @ Mobile Radio Communications.

 

[lowenbrau]

I'm going to be looking for the something similar.

My province has just introduced a distracted driver bill that was aimed at cellphones but is going to cover hams. I'm going to need to convince somebody that my ham is a cellular telephone in hands free mode before I can use it or my CB while driving.

 

[gary in ohio]

There are several bluetooth to ham radio mods out there. I have one on my icom 746... A little soldering and your bluetooth connected.

 

[angusdevil]

I run a Yaesu FT7900 and need a PTT and headset.... so I made my own!

This way, I can use any standard 3.5mm headset I want but you can change that connector to whatever works for you. Made it all for about 9 bucks with parts from Radio Shack. I mounted it to my 4wd lever where my hand always rests so its works out quite nicely. I threw in an LED that lights up when I key in. This leaves me the flexibility to use either the headset full time, headset with external speaker or just unplug the box and run a standard mic.