In boat communications

[Richard.C]

Here's one option if you haven't seen these before, look much more bulky than the Sena but this one review rates them better in windy conditions on a boat:

https://www.altendorff.co.uk/archives/tag/bluetooth

http://eartec.com/ultralitepg1.html

 

[pks1702]

We have been using the see marine system for a year or so which has worked well.

https://www.see-marine.co.uk/crew-intercom/boat-and-marine-wireless-crew-intercom

The headphones are starting to give up the ghost as they are a little lightweight. Searching for repalcements I have got myself mega confused. The units the headphones plug into connect via Bluetooth but I am unsure if a set of Blue tooth head phones could be used with these units that currently connect via a jack plug. If we do need to connect via a jack plug then presumably the headphones must be duplex rather than PTT.

Any ideas?

 

[Richard.C]

We have been using the see marine system for a year or so which has worked well.

https://www.see-marine.co.uk/crew-intercom/boat-and-marine-wireless-crew-intercom

The headphones are starting to give up the ghost as they are a little lightweight. Searching for repalcements I have got myself mega confused. The units the headphones plug into connect via Bluetooth but I am unsure if a set of Blue tooth head phones could be used with these units that currently connect via a jack plug. If we do need to connect via a jack plug then presumably the headphones must be duplex rather than PTT.

Any ideas?

Yikes, I hadn't seen that Sea Marine item but another example of raping the marine customers.

That looks identical to the Vnetphone V4C intercoms that I just purchased. Open Comms between up to 4 units, I purchased 3 units for £121. A little over £40 each which is very realistic for what it actually is.

In regards headphones, I think these are just combination headphone and microphone units. You do not want Bluetooth headsets and you do not want PTT. I'm not sure what plugs are on regular telephone headsets (used in call centres etc) but worth taking a look.

Richard

 

[markc]

That looks identical to the Vnetphone V4C intercoms that I just purchased.

I have these and they work well. Only advice is that the mic lead is too sort to keep the unit in a pocket, so I bought some armbands.

 

[Richard.C]

I have these and they work well. Only advice is that the mic lead is too sort to keep the unit in a pocket, so I bought some armbands.

The V4C is sold for sports referee use and comes with over the ear headset and arm band to hold the unit. So should be everything you need.

 

[pks1702]

Yikes, I hadn't seen that Sea Marine item but another example of raping the marine customers.

That looks identical to the Vnetphone V4C intercoms that I just purchased. Open Comms between up to 4 units, I purchased 3 units for £121. A little over £40 each which is very realistic for what it actually is.

In regards headphones, I think these are just combination headphone and microphone units. You do not want Bluetooth headsets and you do not want PTT. I'm not sure what plugs are on regular telephone headsets (used in call centres etc) but worth taking a look.

Richard

Definitely the case Richard I found that while searching around over the last couple of days - grrr. Still I have to say they work well but the Ear Piece and Mic are not the most robust hence the need to replace. My thinking was along the lines of your view i.e. not PTT - Thanks.

 

[Piers]

As I've indicated before, the SENA was really good but only whilst the batteries were good. But the batteries quickly began to lose their ability to hold charge and are now next to useless sice you cannot replace the batteries, and neither can the UK dealer - they have to go back to the US.

From experience, separate headset and transmitter (whether on the belt or otherwise) is a pain, as is PTT. My preference is now leaning towards the Eartec Ultra Lite which fulfils both key criteria. My only reservation is whether they may fall off when leaning froward doing fenders. Any user experience of this?

 

[IDAMAY]

As I've indicated before, the SENA was really good but only whilst the batteries were good. But the batteries quickly began to lose their ability to hold charge and are now next to useless sice you cannot replace the batteries, and neither can the UK dealer - they have to go back to the US.


Interesting comment Piers. We have had SENA units for three years now and they still seem to be going strong. How long did the batteries survive for you? A bit of a piece of string question given none of us will know how much they have been used.


BTW I agree entirely that single units and definitely no PTT are essential. Best boating accessory we have ever invested in.

 

[Piers]

As I've indicated before, the SENA was really good but only whilst the batteries were good. But the batteries quickly began to lose their ability to hold charge and are now next to useless sice you cannot replace the batteries, and neither can the UK dealer - they have to go back to the US.


Interesting comment Piers. We have had SENA units for three years now and they still seem to be going strong. How long did the batteries survive for you? A bit of a piece of string question given none of us will know how much they have been used.


BTW I agree entirely that single units and definitely no PTT are essential. Best boating accessory we have ever invested in.

Less than one season which is why I'm so disappointed. Sabreleisure did all they could to try and find how to change the batteries and with which battery, but the US was unhelful. At the moment they will last about 10 minutes before becoming scratchy and 5 minutes later, failing.

So form my point of view, I will not be buying SENA again. hence, looking at Eartec although their headsets are nowhere near as ergonomic for boat use.

 

[Andy Cox]

Yikes, I hadn't seen that Sea Marine item but another example of raping the marine customers.

That looks identical to the Vnetphone V4C intercoms that I just purchased. Open Comms between up to 4 units, I purchased 3 units for £121. A little over £40 each which is very realistic for what it actually is.

In regards headphones, I think these are just combination headphone and microphone units. You do not want Bluetooth headsets and you do not want PTT. I'm not sure what plugs are on regular telephone headsets (used in call centres etc) but worth taking a look.

Richard

Richard, can I ask where you bought your V4C units at that price?

Thanks
Andy

 

[Richard.C]

Richard, can I ask where you bought your V4C units at that price?

Thanks
Andy

I purchased from Ebay, there's a number of them on there, I purchased from Ebay seller called "techdelivery_world"

They are in the UK and mine arrived in 3 days.

Richard

 

[Andy Cox]

I purchased from Ebay, there's a number of them on there, I purchased from Ebay seller called "techdelivery_world"

They are in the UK and mine arrived in 3 days.

Richard

Thanks for the info.

Andy

 

[Richard.C]

Definitely the case Richard I found that while searching around over the last couple of days - grrr. Still I have to say they work well but the Ear Piece and Mic are not the most robust hence the need to replace. My thinking was along the lines of your view i.e. not PTT - Thanks.

Not sure what smart phone you have but I just tried the ear buds that came with a Samsung S5 as it has the same plug and the Samsung buds work with the V4C units.

Richard

 

[TwoHooter]

We loved our Sena headsets when we bought them in March 2016, but ours are the same, batteries seem to be on the way out. We can't rely on them to hold a charge for more than 24 hours and they seem to die after being on for an hour or so.

If I was in charge I would outlaw electronic devices which don't have user-replaceable batteries and I would make it obligatory to say what the cost of battery replacements is when devices are sold. I am looking for a new laptop and phone and very high on my list of requirements is user replaceable batteries at a reasonable cost. It's quite surprising how many options get deleted by that requirement.

 

[Richard.C]

Not sure what smart phone you have but I just tried the ear buds that came with a Samsung S5 as it has the same plug and the Samsung buds work with the V4C units.

Richard

I may have spoken too soon on this, ear buds work great to listen but either the microphone doesn't work or is so weak it's worthless, my wifes iPhone ear buds work the same.

 

[Richard.C]

Just thought I'd report back initial thoughts.

The units seem to work quite well, I'm please with performance for the cost.

My wife doesn't particularly like the headset so I am looking for an alternative. I have also found out that the TRRS plugs have 2 different standards that interchange the mic and ground rings so correct format headset is required. May explain issue with Samsung headset having no microphone audio. Adapters are available and have ordered one to try.

I will report back again with any findings on headset options.

Richard

 

[TwoHooter]

I can't see the point in starting a new thread so I'm using this one to say that sadly our Sena headsets are just landfill now simply because the batteries have completely failed (one of the pair now holds a charge for just 10 minutes) and it seems to be impossible to get the correct batteries in the UK. The manufacturer also states categorically that the batteries are not replaceable.

I had an exchange of correspondence with the UK distributor, Sabre leisure, which terminated in the comment 'Sena’s only suggestion is to buy a new set, but they would say that!'.

I repeat what I said above, this business practice is inappropriate. How can it be right with all we are now told about the pressure on environmental resources to sell products which must be consigned to landfill simply because the batteries are worn out? What is going to happen in 10 years' time when all the electric cars start needing new batteries? It could be five years for high mileage vehicles that can't be operated with less than 85% capacity.

Meanwhile does anyone have any current suggestions for replacement headsets?

 

[ontheplane]

I repeat what I said above, this business practice is inappropriate. How can it be right with all we are now told about the pressure on environmental resources to sell products which must be consigned to landfill simply because the batteries are worn out? What is going to happen in 10 years' time when all the electric cars start needing new batteries? It could be five years for high mileage vehicles that can't be operated with less than 85% capacity.

Most electric car batteries are "managed" i.e. heated and cooled to make sure they are not compromised. My Soul is about 9 months old now and the battery is still able to hold 100% of what it did day one and I think Tesla's are the same - they reckon Tesla's are losing less than 1% per year - so 15 year old one will still be good for 85% of it's new ability which for owners of 15 year old cars, I reckon 220m or so range will be fine....

The early Leaf's and Zoes are not so good - their batteries seem to be suffering - so it's like so many things - about the quality of the components used as much as anything.

 

[longjohnsilver]

I can't see the point in starting a new thread so I'm using this one to say that sadly our Sena headsets are just landfill now simply because the batteries have completely failed (one of the pair now holds a charge for just 10 minutes) and it seems to be impossible to get the correct batteries in the UK. The manufacturer also states categorically that the batteries are not replaceable.

I had an exchange of correspondence with the UK distributor, Sabre leisure, which terminated in the comment 'Sena’s only suggestion is to buy a new set, but they would say that!'.

I repeat what I said above, this business practice is inappropriate. How can it be right with all we are now told about the pressure on environmental resources to sell products which must be consigned to landfill simply because the batteries are worn out? What is going to happen in 10 years' time when all the electric cars start needing new batteries? It could be five years for high mileage vehicles that can't be operated with less than 85% capacity.

Meanwhile does anyone have any current suggestions for replacement headsets?

That’s not good. We too have the Sena headsets, but we rarely use them, so maybe ours will go on for a few more years.

 

[Piers]

I can't see the point in starting a new thread so I'm using this one to say that sadly our Sena headsets are just landfill now simply because the batteries have completely failed (one of the pair now holds a charge for just 10 minutes) and it seems to be impossible to get the correct batteries in the UK. The manufacturer also states categorically that the batteries are not replaceable.

I had an exchange of correspondence with the UK distributor, Sabre leisure, which terminated in the comment 'Sena’s only suggestion is to buy a new set, but they would say that!'.

I repeat what I said above, this business practice is inappropriate. How can it be right with all we are now told about the pressure on environmental resources to sell products which must be consigned to landfill simply because the batteries are worn out? What is going to happen in 10 years' time when all the electric cars start needing new batteries? It could be five years for high mileage vehicles that can't be operated with less than 85% capacity.

Meanwhile does anyone have any current suggestions for replacement headsets?

You'll read that I had the same battery problem. Threw them away and bought a pair of EarTec. Superb. Although they are over the head, the batteries can be changed and the range is far better. Sena had the better design, but as a long life product, they are quite useless. We are making small lanyards to secure them in case they slip off our heads!