Advice for onboard comms

[fthurlow]

I’m looking for advice and experience with an on board comm system (ie: Walkie talkie w/ headset). I want to be able to talk with the Admiral and/or my son from the helm w/o yelling. What are you using? What do you recommend? Thanks

[ranger58sb]

Search thread for Eartech and SENA headsets, and also search for the words "marriage saver."

FWIW, we tried working with Family Radios with VOX headsets; found too much of a time lag at the beginning of every transmission. Had to start every sentence with "One, Two, Three, Four..." before saying something like "OK ties of the spring line now..." to manage with those.

We also tried cellphone with bluetooth earpieces. That worked better than the walkie talkies, but... it depends on being somewhere with decent cellular service... and we were sometimes in dead spots.

The Eartech and SENA headsets seem to have risen to the top...

-Chris

[GreenWave]

Originally Posted by ranger42c

Search thread for Eartech and SENA headsets, and also search for the words "marriage saver."

FWIW, we tried working with Family Radios with VOX headsets; found too much of a time lag at the beginning of every transmission. Had to start every sentence with "One, Two, Three, Four..." before saying something like "OK ties of the spring line now..." to manage with those.

We also tried cellphone with bluetooth earpieces. That worked better than the walkie talkies, but... it depends on being somewhere with decent cellular service... and we were sometimes in dead spots.

The Eartech and SENA headsets seem to have risen to the top...

-Chris

These things are really expensive, and the Sena one is hard to find.

[slug]

Originally Posted by ranger42c

Search thread for Eartech and SENA headsets, and also search for the words "marriage saver."

FWIW, we tried working with Family Radios with VOX headsets; found too much of a time lag at the beginning of every transmission. Had to start every sentence with "One, Two, Three, Four..." before saying something like "OK ties of the spring line now..." to manage with those.

We also tried cellphone with bluetooth earpieces. That worked better than the walkie talkies, but... it depends on being somewhere with decent cellular service... and we were sometimes in dead spots.

The Eartech and SENA headsets seem to have risen to the top...

-Chris

Yah... I frequently see folks using a mobile phone hands free setup

[Privateer01]

You could consider Bluetooth motorcycle intercoms.

[wingless]

When I am on the bow (usually managing the anchor) and the spouse is at the helm, we have developed a series of "butt signals" consisting of body movements to signal instructions.

So far these have received high ratings within the anchorage.

Also, after I bounced that same wife between the headliner and the master stateroom bed while handling really rough waves from the helm and she was incapable of relating her distress to me, there is now a switch in the area that activates a loud alarm at the helm.

[Tom_F]

We went with weather-resistant Motorola VOX-capable Talkabout FRS radios (model T260). Not as comfortable or high-quality as the stand-alone cruising headsets, but they work for us and cost for a 3-pack of radios and 3 headsets was well under $125. At that price, I care a lot less if someone drops one overboard than I would if someone donated an iPhone to Neptune.

Look at other discussions here for geographic restrictions and license requirements for FRS radios, but you're fine in the US.

[Redline452]

FWIW, most FRS radios will unsquelch (turn on the speaker) a bit more quickly if you turn off the “privacy code” ( tone squelch) so they don’t have to wait to decode a low-frequency tone. VOX may still be slow, but not as much.

[rfinklegal]

Search for either Sena Expand (about $150 each on Amazon) or the more expensive model, Sena SPH 10 (presently only $165 each on Amazon). The difference is the microphone boom. We got the Expand when the price difference was $50 a piece, and have been happy with them. You need one for each person, but can connect at least four.

[Heliades]

I have been wondering if I can buy one Sena unit and bluetooth to my smartphone with a headset. Any comments from Sena owners?

[Snore]

I have used cheap headsets and good ones

The one big difference I found was noise-cancelling. With the “marriage savers” one can speak low and calm yet be heard by the other person. With less expensive ones,
The wind creates background noise and you end up yelling or being misunderstood.

So why bother?

Easy test—-Try talking on your phone using the headset on a windy day.

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by fthurlow

I’m looking for advice and experience with an on board comm system (ie: Walkie talkie w/ headset). I want to be able to talk with the Admiral and/or my son from the helm w/o yelling. What are you using? What do you recommend? Thanks

I use HX380 handheld marine radios with headsets. They're waterproof (including the headset) and work great. No delay. Pick any of the marine working channels that aren't in use wherever you are, 69, 72, whatever (not 16). Also useful in a dinghy and as a backup. Can be used anywhere in the world. Sufficient range that you can use them between the boat and the ship store.

[nelly]

Is the concern with using VHF that you are polluting some channels?

When anchoring with a lot of noise we always use the VHF and tune to channel 69 or something - then use a spare radio on the bow.

[jmschmidt]

Good luck, family and friends aboard your boat never listen anyway no matter what you say or whatever piece of modern electronics you use to say it with.