In boat communications

I have been using Plantronics Voyager headsets on board whichn are basically telephone headsets. They work tremensously well, the only issue being in a lock whereby the boat drops below ground level height and the signal is weakened. Less affected by wind than other headsets and with clear tones. It is best to keep your phone in your pocket for best signal transmission. You can speak at normal tone and be clearly understood, a godsend when you cant see each other and berthing. They are about £65 pounds each but worth the money, in fact we feel as though something is missing when berthing if not wearing them. Takes away the trepedation of not knowing if she is on the boat or off. Highly recommended.
All you do is pair the haedset to each phone after callibration via a laptop, to select language etc. Switch on to link headset to your phone, make a moble telephone call to your partner and leave connected as long as necessary. Worth every penny to keep safe. There is a funny side too, if your phones are still connected and your partner is talking to another person on the pontoon you can hear the conversation. Oh the lies that come out, good fun.
 
We've been using our iPhones and wireless bluetooth headphones for the last year...very effective and of course, no bluetooth range issues. Would be a problem if we were to arrive in a port with no cell coverage but that has not happened as of yet....
Like the idea of a boom mic but we have not found that we have needed to adapt our solution any further....
Three's free to roam is a revelation in terms of data/voice charging abroad...I assume that other providers have or will have to adapt accordingly...
 
I regret to say that I find this very dangerous.
Broadcasting on here that you can hear SWMBO with crystal clarity removes all possibility that you can blame her for your screw ups.
Very dangerous indeed, IMHO;)
Next she will be recording it and then you are truly in the sh*te.
Best to build in some loose screw latency that can be called upon when needed.
 
Hurricane said:
HH VHF is no good because you need both hands free - it just wouldn't be used
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You can get voice-activated headsets for VHF, so still hands free. Simplex only though, so might not be quite as convenient if your conversation becomes "intense" :)

Also of course you will be broadcasting proceedings to all and sundry :D

Pete
 
prv said:
You can get voice-activated headsets for VHF, so still hands free. Simplex only though, so might not be quite as convenient if your conversation becomes "intense" :)

Also of course you will be broadcasting proceedings to all and sundry :D

Pete
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Yep - any of those points you make - make it unusable IMO
You need full duplex
And handsfree
And it MUST be really easy to use - or it will just end up in the bin

Once on your head, it is just like talking to someone beside you.
 
nigelmercier said:
I don't understand why you are buying two BT headsets at £20 each (http://amzn.to/1vw39XA) if you are going to junk the electronics. If all you need is the head-band, why not a pair of wired ones for a fiver: http://amzn.to/1mOP3jg
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Yep
You might be right
I already had the BT ones and just adapted those
This assembly was primarily done to see if they would actually get used on board.
And the do get used so it is now worth spending more time/money on sourcing alternatives.
 
Yabs said:
Hi,

Looks like there is a few solutions here;

http://www.seadogboatingsolutions.com/Avail_Prod_dir/Sea_Dog_Headset.html
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Thanks for that link
Most of the solutions use a belt pack and a wire
I was trying to avoid that because anything more complicated than a simple headset probably wouldn't get used.
It needs to be a "pick it up and run" solution.

However, the My Team Talks one seems to fit the bill
The link doesn't specifically say that they work without iPods etc but I suspect that they do
Be a shame to buy two and they didn't work stand alone
 
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Hurricane said:
Up until now, I've not seen the need for communications within the boat.
But recently, SWMBO and I (just on our own) have done a fair bit of "stern to" berthing in unfamiliar ports.
So far things have gone smoothly but the big problem I have is finding SWMBO when she is busy.
Shouting doesn't work (I've Tried It - not a good result!!)
Hand held radios won't be any good either because both of us are busy using our hands.

I was wondering if there was a simple headset (with a single earpiece like telephonists use) which contains a short range wireless communications.
They would need to be simple enough to pop over the head/ear and use them - possibly VOX operated so no Press To Transmit PTT etc.

There is a system of frequencies (FRS) see here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Radio_Service that would keep away from marine channels.

Reading up on Bike to Bike and Cycle to Cycle websites seem to have the solution - even using bluetooth.
But these all seem t fix to the helmets.

Anyone on here have any ideas??
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WHEN we moved to USA and lived on a motor yacht I bought a set of walkie talkie 2 way headsets like you describe, not cheap about $400 IIRC but very effective, rechargeable batteries, electronics cliponto belt, headpieces have boom mics. Now back under sail we still have them and can 'whisper' shouts and only us that hear the expletives undeleted.



Cheaper now via Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Eartec-Simult...42413327&sr=8-2&keywords=eartec+simultalk+24g
 
This is an old thread.

I resolved my problem - see post number 38 in this thread.
IMO, anything with wires will not be as flexible as a completely wireless headset.
So I built my own - see post 38.

Read that post.
The result is fantastic.

As most on here will know, we have just finished 5 months away on the boat - much of the time it was just SWMBO and I.
Handling the boat is the easy bit.
Understanding what each of you are doing at any given time is difficult - especially if you cant see each other at that time.
These in boat communications make such a difference.

A recent example was arriving in Mahon at 02:00 in the morning after a long passage and there was a gap on the fuel berth just big enough for us with nothing to spare - right alongside a big yacht (several million pounds worth).
Our stern thruster is currently out of action but so it was useful to have SWMBO guiding as well as handling the ropes/fenders.
We were also carrying our Jetski on the bathing platform so it was very difficult to get on and off.
SWMBO needed to be on the quay as soon as possible.
Nobody around at that time to help either.
Believe me it is a real help to be able to talk to each other all the time.
Safety comes in as well - I knew all the time that she was OK (and hadn't fallen in for example).
The whole operation felt and must have looked slick to any bystanders.
We would have managed without the headsets but using them completely took all the stress out.
 
A friend of mine in the USA sent this to me:

"We have had the EarTec 24G devices for many years. Lately, we have had problems with them and were frustrated. Today, I went online to research an alternate...Motorola or Sena... While searching I thought ... Why can't I do this with Bluetooth on our iPhones using the ear buds with mike that came with my iPhone. I found a solution that works like a gem! No need to make a call or use Internet! Yes, it is as easy as down loading a free app and then purchasing the .99 cent hands free option. It works better then I ever could have imagined. I even walked way down the dock, 100 yards, and it worked real well. Not using Internet, just Bluetooth! It took about 5 minutes to get the whole thing set up with both iPhones.

The app is called Walkie Talkie - WiFi & Bluetooth by Porchlight. Down load the app on both phones. Touch the hands free button and then purchase the .99 cent option. Turn on the Bluetooth under settings on your phone. Then go back to the app and both phone will look for the other...and connect. If other phones in the area are using this app, just chose the Bluetooth phone you want and it will connect. Put your phone in your pocket and start talking...no more yelling!!!

So, for under two dollars you can have the BEST two way communication! The only suggestion I have is to get holster or pouch for your iPhone...You don't want to drop it in the water!

Piers
 
My Team Talks - The Sena BT kit. Doesn't need any other equipment. With the three of them there is one on 'priority.

You can also listed to music as the main one will pair to an iphone (or other) and, as its paired, can be used to take calls.

Quite comfortable to wear as well...about 12 hours battery life and quick charge (about 3 hours)
 
We often have relatively inexperienced teenagers or guests "helping" with anchoring, berthing, etc. and after years of struggling with communication issues, this year we invested in three Sena SPH10 Bluetooth headsets. Not cheap, but they are light, work perfectly, are water resistant and have transformed the experience for everyone. Now deckwork is a more or less totally stress free experience for everyone.
 
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