cfiaime@ihnp4.UUCP (07/06/83)
When talking headsets, I would like to mention my favorite and a warning. Being the definite cheap flyer, I was interested in the Telex MRB-600 which I purchased in 1977. This fool headset has traveled all over the country, in Funks and King Airs. The only problem with it so far has been that a plastic trim piece has come off and has been lost. You can still find the MRB-600 with a push to talk switch for well under $100 mail-order. Being a carbon mic, the transmission quality is not the greatest, but I have yet to have a controller yell at me about it. For three years, I used a Platronics Starset while I was a telephone operator. The set, if not fitted correctly, can give ear infections, and is VERY uncomfortable after a few minutes. I gave up on it and went to the old WECO 52 telephone headset. Neither one was really good, however. As for comfort with the Telex, I have worn it for up to 14 hours in one day with no problems. It is a bit more comfortable when worn over a baseball cap, however. As a matter of fact, I keep the headset on even when the radio is off in the Funk. It keeps the hearing a bit better, and I have fewer problems wearing the headset than in wearing EAR plugs. (Residual ear problems from the Platronics make any ear plug a problem for me.) I hope that this gives some useable information on headsets for any and all. Jeff Williams ihnp4!cfiaime BTL Naperville
ths@lanl-a.UUCP (02/13/84)
I have used the Telex D-950 for a year. Very light and comfortable. Noise attenuation I believe is 12 db (Don't quote me). List price is about $130 but many catalog shops sell for $100. Good quality, excellant service from Telex if it ever needs it. This past year I have been using the David Clark H-10-30. Although noticably heavier than the Telex, it has much better noise attenuation. List is about 160, but available for $140 if you shop around. Headsets are superior to cotton, foam or fingers. Protect your hearing!! See FLYING Nov 82, Plane & Pilot Sept or Oct 83. Consider intercoms if you instruct or have a crew.
bart@ucbvax.UUCP (Bart Miller) (08/04/84)
Try a Plantronics StarSet, with the following (small) modification: replace the ear fitting with an EAR earplug. You do this by making a hole in the EAR, the long way through and putting the sound tube through the hole. In your other ear, you use a regular EAR. This gives you a very light weight set, reasonable noise attenuation, and is confortable for long flights. --bart miller u.c. berkeley (soon u. wisconsin)
cfiaime@ihnp4.UUCP (Jeff Williams) (08/06/84)
In regards to the Platronics STARSET... I have used this headset in a telephone application with very poor results. The typical life of the unit was about 160 hours in a clean and controlled environment. With the normal earplug, I also had several bad ear infections, even following my doctor's recomendataions on the care and feeding of the unit. As for comfort, it is also very poor. The eyeglasses clip is worthless on wire rim glasses, and after wearing the unit for several hours hind the ear, it is quite uncomfortable. My suggestion is not to buy the STARSET (or any of the "in the ear" headsets). I personally have had much better luck with the "earmuff" type headsets, particularly the Telex MRB-600. Jeff Williams AT&T Bell Laboratories, Naperville, Illinois ihnp4!cfiaime
ron@BRL-TGR.ARPA (08/07/84)
From: Ron Natalie <ron@BRL-TGR.ARPA> You can get custom molded (for your) ear pieces for the various Plantronics headsets that have the best isolation and comfort of any of the In-the-ear type headsets. -Ron
ron@brl-tgr.ARPA (Ron Natalie <ron>) (08/10/84)
My starset has been in operation for years now and I don't exactly have a clean and controlled environment. In addition to using it on my phone, we used it as an intercom system (just need a battery and two wires) when laying cable in the steam tunnels, and also as part of a loop system for communication during a theatre production. =Ron