two way radios

J

jmeirhofer

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Joined
Jan 3, 2009
RO Number
30972
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2,127
We have been looking at two way radios for docking. Has anyone tried Peltor MT53H7A4900 LiteCom Two-Way Radio Headset? Or recommendations of something else?
 
Never used those. A tad bulky IMO. Take a look at Eartec and Mariner 500 radios.

But honestly, on a 44 foot boat I can't imagine the need for them. With a little practice hand signals and/or clear calm verbal instructions should be more than adequate I would think.
 
Thanks for the recommendations. It is not so much for the admiral to hear me but vice verse as I am hard of hearing. We are also looking to use them while we are riding bikes just to make communication easier.

I will give the eartecs a look.
 
I bought a set of Eartecs (not the newer version mentioned above) from a fellow RO here and we have never got them to work for us. Of course, I started out float testing one when it turned out the clip didn't really clip too well. Got a replacement from Eartec, then you have to go through this funky 48 hour "drain the battery then charge it" routine all the time, and then I just said the heck with it and they have been stashed away for months ever since. I didn't like all the cables involved either. We see a lot of people using them, but more hassle than benefit in our opinion. We are back to using hand signals.

George
Hatteras 56MY
Boston Whaler 130 Sport.
 
quote:
Originally posted by jmeirhofer

Thanks for the recommendations. It is not so much for the admiral to hear me but vice verse as I am hard of hearing. We are also looking to use them while we are riding bikes just to make communication easier.

I will give the eartecs a look.

Click to expand...


I've also been shopping for a pair of two-way radio's....for when we're out on the bikes......just can't find anything decent.....or with good reviews. Thinking a true 4-5 mile range (in the woods) would do it.

Seems the Eartec are only good for 400' ?
 
If your looking for range a pair of FRS/GMRS radios are the way to go.
Anyone who would like a pair PM me you pay shipping I'll send them for free. I traded one of my collection cars for 4 expensive watches and 200 pairs of FRS/GPRS handhelds, they are brand new sitting in the box. (Motorola) I need to get rid of them before they run out the shelf life (the batteries) they come with a dual AC charger.
Bill
 
quote:
Originally posted by Double DI've also been shopping for a pair of two-way radio's....for when we're out on the bikes......just can't find anything decent.....or with good reviews. Thinking a true 4-5 mile range (in the woods) would do it.

Click to expand...

Definitely not the intended use of the Eartecs - they are short-range communicators.

You probably won't get 4 - 5 miles unless you're biking in open fields, but there are good FRS radios that can be used with voice-activated headsets that will get you very decent range.

Beacuse the Eartecs headset is cabled to the belt-pack (the wire is like what you see on a basic set of headphones) it can be cumbersome if you don't take a bit of extra time to fashion the wire so it's out of the way - I wear it down my back instead of how it is more commonly worn and it stays out of my way. There is also a clip on the wire to keep it from flopping around too much. And the belt clip is not perfect so you do need to take care with the pack's placement or it can fall off. Clipping it inside a pocket is a good solution. For me, small considerations weighed against the overall benefits.
 
John,
The next time you are at the marina, ask Mike. I think he and Linda have radios for the same purpose and you know he has the same problem you have, only worse.
 
You can get the small marine handhelds and add the mini remote mic/speaker or even headsets. We use those a lot on the larger boats. Just clip the radio on your side towards your back and run the cord up your back and clip the mic/speaker to you shoulder or collar area.
 
Thanks Charles. Mike is the one that gave me the idea. Then the boat behind us was winterizing with him below and her on dock watching the thru hulls. They had the Peltors. When I started looking them up I found a few posts in biking forums where riders were using them to talk to one another and, well here I am...

I like the ear muff headsets with the built in electronics. I also want them to be full duplex. With a push to talk system it is just one more thing to have to do when the hands can be doing something else. Riding a bike, push to talk would be a challenge for my wife.
 
I would be careful with VOX or voice operated transmit out boating the wind is usually blowing and one unit usually gets stuck on transmit when you least need it to happen. Full duplex can be nice but to do full duplex your range will be limited to using fairly high frequencies limiting the effective range of the devices.
Bill
 
Motorola FRS radios work OK, but there are a couple small issues to work around:

1) There's a slight time lag before transmitters -- either via the main push-to-talk button or via the "automatic" voice-activated headset microphones -- actually begin transmitting.

2) If handheld (i.e., not VOX), the unit can be in the way a bit, clipping it to belt, putting it in a pockets, resting on dash (or foredeck?), etc.

We usually use them as handheld radios, for planning or unexpected/complicated communications... and rely on normal hand signals for normal activities.

-Chris
 
My wife and I like the Eartec units. The biggest benefit is that they are full duplex meaning you can both talk at the same time just as in normal conversation. No need to say " over" and wait for a reply. Also completely hands free operation.
 
Everyone who contacted me the units are going out tomorrow via UPS 3 day shipping. I will forward the UPS tracking information.
We use them on our boat but mainly use hand signals. We pretty much have it down to a routine.
There should be no delay when using them in simplex mode push to talk.
Bill
 
quote:
Originally posted by Billylll

Everyone who contacted me the units are going out tomorrow via UPS 3 day shipping. I will forward the UPS tracking information.
We use them on our boat but mainly use hand signals. We pretty much have it down to a routine.
There should be no delay when using them in simplex mode push to talk.
Bill

Click to expand...


Ummm... good point. The delay we experience when using the Motorolas in hand-held push-to-talk mode is much less noticeable than when using either of the two the voice-activated mics styles. Say a 1 count versus a 3-4 count.

I could have also said both conditions are manageable, once used to it.

-Chris
 
Here ya go. I found this on the trawler world email list buy/sell list:

"Message: 1
Date: Tue, 29 Nov 2011 07:14:21 -0500
From: Mark Doyle <markrb2rb2@gr5tgr5tsemi-local.com>
To: "trawler-buy-sell-traderb2rb2@gr5tgr5tlists.trawlering.com"
   <trawler-buy-sell-traderb2rb2@gr5tgr5tlists.trawlering.com>
Subject: BST: Eartec Simultalk 24G Mutli-Station Wireless Headset

 <snip>

So now we've got an essentially new pair of Eartec Simultalk 24G Mutli-Station Wireless Systems to sell.

You can see the details here:

www.eartec.com/FullDuplex/24g2systems.html

Our set includes:

(2) 24G Radios
(2) Cyber Headsets
Batteries, Chargers, Padded Case
Full Duplex, Simultaneous Talk

Cost $300; sell for $250 plus shipping.

Please let us know if you're interested in them.

Best,

Mark Doyle"
 
Do I need an anchor to use PM ? I tried to PM Billy about the radios and it jut sends me back to the index page???

Billy, PM me :)
 
Without anchor, we can not send OR receive PM.

I asked a friend to PM or email BillyIII about radios but it doesn't seem like we connected.
 
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