Wireless headsets

Norm - W7CK

Steve W6SDM

Do I hear rumors of Bluetooth coming to the Flex6xxx?

K5CG

Your best bet is going to be in the gaming arena. There are lots of wireless headsets for game consoles (Xbox, Playstation). The Turtle Beach brand comes to mind.

Norm - W7CK

The problem as I see it with Bluetooth is that each device requires specific drivers.  That would be nearly impossible for Flex to ever implement yet maintain.  I hope I'm wrong, but that's the way I understand it at the moment.

KB3SI

I use a cheap Bluetooth device to plug into the phone jack and to my Bluetooth Bose QC35. If you turn on the monitor function you will hear an echo. With the monitor function turned off it works fine. I have only used it to receive audio and not to transmit, but the QC35 does have a mike built in.

VE6KWA

Norm, I've been using a Logitech Bluetooth headset (H800 I believe. it's not currently with me)  for awhile now with great results. Latency has never been an issue at all with my setup and knowledgeable people tell me it sounds good and unless I had told them they would have never known it was wireless. Rechargeable battery life is 5 - 6 hours and I quite like it.

Glenn

There are some really nice wireless aviation headsets with VOX for transmit control.   Starting price is $1000-1200.   They are VERY comfortable, being light and designed for mega-hours of wearing.    

 I know of no amateur or gaming brands that don’t start hurting my ears after several hours.

 

73

Glenn W0GJ

 

Michael Coslo

I also use the H800, mostly on the OSX side, but I might try on the Windows side as well. It beats my 200 dollar plus Heil headset hands down, and a quarter of the price. And so comfortable I sometimes forget to take it off!  Would love Flex to incorporate Bluetooth right in the radio.

Kevin

I use the H800 with my computer for telephone and other non-ham uses.

It doesn't seem to get a whole lot of battery life and once drained (in the middle of a QSO) it has to be charged up. I can't be use the headset while recharging. 

I also have a Plantronics Blackwire C720 bluetooth/USB headset. This charges from USB while in use. USB can also be used for audio instead of BT.

Neither have been used for ham radio yet but I've had real nice reports from both on Jabber. Both of these are light weight, dual speaker, on-the-air. They've both been comfortable during long hours of audio books and converence calls.

73,
Kev K4VD

Michael Coslo

Are you certain you cannot use it as it charges? I'm using the headset right now as it is charging.  How are you charging it? I'm running it off a USB port. The only thing I'm not wild about it that I can't use it with Vox. Have to operate it as remote, and use the footswitch. But worth it IMO

Norm - W7CK

Kevin

Correction to my previous post. The H800 does seem to charge on USB without interfering with audio. Maybe I'm thinking of an LG HBS-1100 headset I have (not suitable for ham use). 

I'll have to give the H800s and the Plantronics a try on the bands someday.

Norm - W7CK

Kevin

Are we talking about the same headset? My logitech H800's are not neck wraps and the mic is on a foldaway boom on the right side.



I still haven't checked the microphone sensitivity.  In Radio Setup under the Phone/CW tab there's a +20dB button. I think there's also a gain control in Windows sound setup.

I have a set of LG neck wraps. I wouldn't trust the microphone being tucked under my (bearded) chin and not sure how the ear buds would feel after a few hour session. Over-ear with a boom seems like the best setup.

Norm - W7CK

Kevin

I was wrong about the +20dB. I was just looking for things for you to try and was way off track with that one. Sorry about that.

It doesn't surprise me the neck band where the microphone is under your chin has low mic gain. I have that problem with my LG HBS-1100 and people complain about my low audio on phone calls all the time. There's probably some precise location the mic has to be in for it to work well. Too bad because they are very comfortable.

Having an acoustically opaque beard apparently, I need to get the mic out in front of my mouth. The Logitech H800 and the Plantronics Blackwire C720-M both seem to do a good job. The Plantronics is meant for call centers where long wear (and irate customers) are the norm. I think the H800s are intended for gaming and while they feel plasticky they are pretty darn comfortable.

I'm hoping both do a good job with SSB. I have some other good options but these lightweights are comfortable. Now I have to get up the guts to "talk". Darn mic shyness.

Tim - W4TME

Steve - Nope.

K1UO Larry

Steve,  you may have heard Maestro Bluetooth rumors but not the 6X00 series.

Steve W6SDM

The nice thing about rumors is that you only believe the ones that appeal to you. 

I just got fitted with hearing aids that are Bluetooth compatible.  I can control them from my iPhone or iPad.  When they get here, I can't wait to plug a Bluetooth adapter into my Flex and see how that works.  I can remote from the breakfast table and the XYL won't have a clue what I'm doing. 

Rose Smith

I would like to purchase headphones for my husband. But have now idea what To get. I've read your comments and still have no idea what to get. Please help

Gary, KE8O

Norm, Why not replace your single ear Jabra headset with a dual ear like this ? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Jabra-PRO-9450-Black-Headband-Headsets-9450-65-507-105-/252977853429?hash=item3ae6a7b3f5:g:YzcAAOSwi7RZNy9W I've been using one of these for years. The range is great. ...Gary