Second of five parts
Being able to hold a two-way radio in your hand goes from awesome to annoying the minute you start doing a chore that requires free use of your hands. That’s why earpieces and headsets are such popular accessories for two-way radio users. They set the hands free.
A great way to explore these accessories is to walk through the features of an existing model. For instance, Motorola Solutions makes a head-hugging
headset called RMN4049A that has a host of high-tech features:
Bone conduction — This model transmits sound vibrations to sensors that rest against the skull. The ear can still perceive these sounds while allowing the eardrums to hear sounds as well. Traditional earpieces can blot out critical background noises like the sound of a machine that has suddenly malfunctioned, so bone-conduction headsets can make sure the user is not losing any listening capacity.
Intrinsically safe — The headset does not emit any sparks that can trigger an explosion in volatile environments.
In-line push-to-talk — Most headsets have a push-to-talk button in the cabling. Other models, however, may be voice-activated. Sometimes the simplicity of push-to-talk trumps the capabilities of voice activation. If you want to talk without transmitting over your radio, push-to-talk is a better option. But if the user’s entire job entails talking over the radio, voice-activation may be the better option.
Noise-canceling boom microphone — You want your mike to transmit the user's voice and filter out everything else, especially in loud environments.
Note this is one of the most sophisticated models on the market, so it might be a lot more than you need. Many light-weight headsets use a basic D-clip earpiece and a cord that plugs into the radio.
Heavy-duty headsets
Some jobs require a radio user to communicate in extremely loud environments, such as baggage handling on airport tarmacs or supervising manufacturing processes that do a lot of hammering or pounding.
For instance, the 40416G-51
heavy-duty headset from Dave Clark provides 23db of noise reduction. It also has a water-resistant boom microphone and a behind-the-head design that’s compatible with helmets or other headgear. It’s also designed to be compatible with popular Motorola radios.
Top considerations for headsets and earpieces
Comfort is king — No two heads are shaped the same, so a model that feels fine
on one person might drive another one crazy. Earpieces in particular can bedevil some users. Let your people try them on before you commit to them.
Factory vs. aftermarket — Many top manufacturers of radios also design headsets to go along with them. However, many aftermarket companies can provide for specialized needs your manufacturer might not cover. The headsets may be compatible with a broader range of radio brands. It all comes down to what you need.
Connections matter – Some headsets may require adapters to connect to the radios in your fleet. Don’t assume a headset will just plug right into your radio. You need to consult with BearCom to avoid mismatches.
A handy way to match radios and accessories
BearCom developed a convenient web tool to
find the accessories available for a specific radio model. You start with a category of wireless product, then click on the brand and the individual model, and click “Go.” That takes you to a product page for the radio model that includes links to all of its available accessories.
The
reverse lookup operates the other way around: If you know the name of the accessory, it can
show all the radios that are compatible with it.
MOTOROLA, MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS and the Stylized M Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Motorola Trademark Holdings, LLC and are used under license. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2014 Motorola Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.
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