Radio Headphones...A Tradition

[WildRoot]

I've worn radio headsets on and off for the last three decades. Currently, I am wearing headphones. They allow me to capture those very, very faint calls that I might have missed with base station speakers. The ambient noise in my office is pretty steady — base speakers competing with power regulators and hard-drives and police scanners and weather radios. There's an electromagnetic hum happening here 24/7... Which I totally dig, it's like Mission Control, right.

But all this base noise obscures the really faint calls; and, as far as I'm concerned, the really faint calls are the main reason I even got into radio in the first place. Transmitting information over vast distances to somebody who needs to hear it, yeah, gotta talk to that little bitty voice waaaay out there. So, when I want to get down and do it right, I use headphones.

Right now I'm using a really nice set of Sony Dynamic headphones, but I know they're wearing out — I go through headphones, like, a set a year, they really take a beating.

So, does anybody else follow the old tradition of headset radio? Or recommend good radio headphones?

['Doc]

If I'm not mobile, I would rather use a head-set than anything else. I've used the same one for quite a few years. It's not 'stock' by any means and it wouldn't be suitable for just anyone. It's heavy, ugly and cumbersome. It also works just dandy for me. It's an old 'DavidClark' aviation head set, no idea what the model number is. Sits around your ears, not on them, so can be worn almost forever. Oil filled pads are comfortable, also hot (and eventually spring a leak). I pulled the original speakers and mic, just not suitable for most non-aviation radios. Finally had to drill a few holes in the 'pods', couldn't hear anything outside of those things, missed a few buzzers, bells, etc. The PTT is an old 'joy-stick' handle with trigger. Not exactly pretty, but works just fine. Head sets will definitely help you concentrate on what you're hearing. They are not suitable for all occasions. So what, neither are flip-flops.
- 'Doc

[385]

Yep, Me too Just a cheap pair of sony headphones but as you said they take a beating. I have to say the ones I have now I've had for about 4 or 5 years.

[Bombero]

This is what I use when the skip is rolling and I wanna hear everything

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[WildRoot]

LOL

[De_Wildfire]

I use a pair of Plantronics Gamecom headphones that work really well and very comfortable. I even use the mic on the headset into a EQ to TX along with a foot pedal. When you put the radio into simulated stereo mode, you can really hear the faint stations real good.

[Foxhunter]

. . . They allow me to capture those very, very faint calls that I might have missed with base station speakers. The ambient noise in my office is pretty steady

But all this base noise obscures the really faint calls; and, as far as I'm concerned, the really faint calls are the main reason I even got into radio in the first place.

So, does anybody else follow the old tradition of headset radio? Or recommend good radio headphones?

Well Wildroot I couldn't agree more. I used to think at one time (seeing photos of various hams at their stations) "boy what a bunch of nerds" and thought "how really necessary is it?"------for them to be wearing big headphones like that. The only thing missing was their "pocket protectors" haha. I always did understand the need for it with emergency communications such as US Military or the Coast Guard and of course the NASA Space Program control rooms.

Well anyway, as I got in to having a home station and developing more of an elaborate setup---the need for headphones really came up. For me, there were several reasons.

First, like you stated above and I have also written about in the past, I do enjoy pulling in weak and distant stations. Someone way out there in the distance, if at all possible. Wearing a good set of phones increases the audibility of faint stations tremendously.

Second, I like to use the factory talkback feature (on the ones that have it), and with other radio units I have it installed internally. I like to set my own radio to my preffered settings rather than rely on the generousity and/or accuracy of others, who may or may not be accurate or truthful.

Third, like many, I would like to sometimes use amplified microphones on radios that have talkback. Often this presents a serious problem---in the form of feedback and squeal. This problem is nearly fully eliminated with the use of headphones that have total ear coverage (over ear headphones). The worst case for this was the Astatic RD104E Road Devil electret microphone. Yes I sometimes use one and the mic's gain slider switch could BARELY be turned up without all sorts of issues. With total coverage headphones, this problem is entirely eliminated and almost any power mic can be set as high as a guy desires.

Fourth would certainly be to ignore distractions in the background. I don't want to hear the TV or others talking/carrying on etc when I'm at the station desk. Period. On the other hand----I don't want to annoy too much those who live with me either, with all "that radio nonsense" as it is sometimes called.

Related to this same noise issue is the fact that I sometimes have 6-8 cooling fans running at the same time---one for a driver amp, two on the larger amp, then combined with 4-6 big DC power supplies all running. There is a roar in the room which makes it difficult to hear sometimes.

ON THE OTHER HAND . . .

One thing I find annoying is when people sneak up on you and startle you, either on purpose or inadvertently. It does bug me and I think no one wants someone standing over their shoulder, really. A mirror at the station desk solves that problem. A mirror also helps you see the various jacks and plug connections at the rear of your radio gear. Clever solution to both problems.

Speaking about people sneaking up on you, depending on how safe your surroundings are, that could be a serious safety issue. How 'bout the old--- "kitchen knife in the 'ol back trick" ? LOL, but it has happened to people. Wouldn't even see it coming. Or----what about the safety of your wife and kids? It would haunt you forever if something happened a few rooms away or just out in the yard----all-the-while you're deaf as can be because you wanted to "give someone a shout" and intentionally placed headphones on that block outside sounds----and also cries for help. Would you miss an important phone call that someone is being rushed to the hospital from a terrible accident, because you didn't hear the call? Something to seriously think about.

********************************

Well anyway, I have an entire tote bin full of headphones. My favorite headphones so far that I most regularly use and have given me the best results are:

AMSTRAD MODEL HPS7A (my current favorite, I prefer phones with bass & treble controls for best audio control)
TELEX 610
SUPEREX THE PROFESSIONAL ST-PRO
SUPEREX THE PROFESSIONAL PRO-B VI
LAFAYETTE MODEL F-990
MAEDEN SOUND MD-802A
PIONEER SE-405
PIONEER SE-30


I have a few more top picks but don't remember makes/model numbers at this time. I have many yet to test at some hopefully soon future point. Anyone else?

73's
FOXHUNTER 351