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12-03-2021, 10:38 AM
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#1
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Member
City: New Bern
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 20
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Walkie Talkie with Headsets Hands Free
I have a question regarding what do people recommend ti use when you have someone of the foredeck and you as the captain want to communicate with them with a hands free unit?
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12-03-2021, 10:59 AM
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#2
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Guru
City: Gig Harbor, WA
Vessel Name: MoonShadow
Vessel Model: Wendon Skylounge 72'
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 578
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Drummer48
I have a question regarding what do people recommend ti use when you have someone of the foredeck and you as the captain want to communicate with them with a hands free unit?
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Check out Eartec. We have 3 units as we often have an extra hand who wants to feel involved. The clarity is amazing. We are 72' and have no problem with the distance from bow to stern. We have the version with only one ear-pad which I prefer as it keeps your peripheral hearing intact.
The only drawback we have found it that we have to be very careful when bending over to secure lines etc. as they can slip off. Wearing them over a baseball style hat seems to solve that problem.
I am sure some will propose hand signals etc. and we have used those succesfully for decades, however there is no substitute in my mind for being able to communicate clearly and quietly when a hand signal simply will not do.
~A
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12-03-2021, 01:53 PM
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#5
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Guru
City: Nanaimo
Vessel Name: former owner of "Pilitak"
Vessel Model: Nordic Tug 37
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 1,574
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We used to use an older model and brand of hands free communication headsets. They were "self contained" in the double ear headset, had a relatively long protruding antenna, but often developed background noise issues and wind noise as well.
We later moved to the single ear, Eartec model. They are great in my opinion. Never experienced any issues at all. They worked effectively.
However, some additional advice. Tie a tether to them to clip to your PFD or clothing to ensure they do not fall off and end up in the water. Bending down and moving around could result in this type of accident under the wrong circumstances. With the "slave" unit, it is sometimes hard to ensure that it has been properly turned off, so a fall back is to remove the rechargeable battery between uses and/or carry a spare set of batteries.
Again, I do recommend them.
__________________
Tom
Nanaimo, BC
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12-03-2021, 03:44 PM
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#6
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Guru
City: Southern Maine
Vessel Model: Prairie 36 Coastal Cruiser
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,405
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Does anyone else look at the prices on these things and wonder why?
I buy a lot of electronic stuff. A pair of these things shouldn't cost as much as a top of the line cell phone. I'm willing to pay a premium for good quality, but these are so far out of bounds that I just can't bring myself to even consider them.
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12-03-2021, 05:05 PM
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#7
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Guru
City: Nanaimo
Vessel Name: former owner of "Pilitak"
Vessel Model: Nordic Tug 37
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 1,574
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Tom,
I know what you mean, they (Eartec) are not inexpensive!!
However, I found that they worked so well, by reducing stress levels during docking and anchoring by having complete well understood simultaneous hands free verbal communication at a conversational volume (so no yelling or wild demonstrative signalling), and probably reduced the possibility of missed or not understood communications possibly causing some kind of an accident. Certainly, I can say, we were both way more relaxed which to us, has a great value.
For us, it was well worth it (the accompanying peace of mind)!!
I am not affiliated with them in any way, just an owner.
__________________
Tom
Nanaimo, BC
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12-04-2021, 09:29 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
City: Richmond
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 213
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I assume both the captain and first mate have cell phones? Why not just get blue tooth ear piece? Easy peasy and doesn’t cost a fortune.
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12-04-2021, 10:59 PM
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#9
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Guru
City: Currently hiding out in Smith, NV, USA
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 1,170
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chuck34
I assume both the captain and first mate have cell phones? Why not just get blue tooth ear piece? Easy peasy and doesn’t cost a fortune.
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That’s what we do, but of course that’s contingent on having a signal. Not everywhere has one.
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12-04-2021, 11:16 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
City: Richmond
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 213
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alaskaflyer
That’s what we do, but of course that’s contingent on having a signal. Not everywhere has one.
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Of course you are right. It’s just been so long since I was (knowingly) out of cell range, it doesn’t occur to me.
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12-05-2021, 12:24 AM
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#11
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Guru
City: Nanaimo
Vessel Name: former owner of "Pilitak"
Vessel Model: Nordic Tug 37
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 1,574
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Many places I boat have no cell coverage, or are in places with circumspect coverage (in other words dropped calls with moments of drop out). One good thing about the Eartecs, they are very clear, all connected to the system can both speak and listen without touching the units, and their range is excellent.
Each to their own, but I value reliable communications.
__________________
Tom
Nanaimo, BC
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12-05-2021, 08:49 AM
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#12
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Guru
City: Annapolis
Vessel Model: 58' Sedan Bridge
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,132
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Drummer48
I have a question regarding what do people recommend ti use when you have someone of the foredeck and you as the captain want to communicate with them with a hands free unit?
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We use SENA bluetooth headsets and they work fine. The other commonly-recommended option is Eartec RF headsets, but I have no hands-on experience with those.
I can tell you we tried cellphones with bluetooth ear pieces; that worked OK as long as we had cell service.
And we also tried family radios (FRS) with VOX mic and ear piece. That did NOT work all that great, because of the time lag/delay in VOX. Hadf to start each sentence with "One... two...three...four..." to get it to start working, and then whatever we really wanted to say. Also, these are simplex push-to-talk_ systems, so only one person can yak at a time.
-Chris
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Chesapeake Bay, USA
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12-05-2021, 11:51 AM
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#13
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Guru
City: Southern Maine
Vessel Model: Prairie 36 Coastal Cruiser
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,405
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Sounds like a good idea for a cell phone app.
The app would pair to another cell phone also running the same app, and they'd communicate over Bluetooth, rather than cellular signals. Range would be limited, but on most boats the distance from helm to anchor isn't that far, and is line-of-sight.
[EDIT:]
And, like every good app idea, there are already dozens of them out there. Here's the search I did on the Google Play Store:
https://play.google.com/store/search...offline&c=apps
Now it's just a question of which are the good ones. And you'd still want a good headset with microphone.
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12-05-2021, 12:22 PM
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#14
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Guru
City: Gulf Islands, BC Canada
Vessel Name: Soo Valley
Vessel Model: Grand Banks 36
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 2,834
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On approach my wife and I discuss landing briefly if same as always, as in Starboard tie preferred, more so if something is different. She then sets the fenders and prepares the docking lines.
Me on the CB and my wife just below with midship line in hand. We can talk without yelling.
Find this thread interesting but have not found a need for walkie talkies in hindsight where it would have been useful.
What is different for those of you that have or want these instead of a loud PA system (kidding)?
__________________
SteveK AKA Soo Valley
You only need one working engine. That is why I have two.
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12-05-2021, 01:35 PM
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#15
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TF Site Team
City: Saltspring Island
Vessel Name: Retreat
Vessel Model: C&L 44
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,092
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Hand signals work well for communication between the upper helm and the bow, when anchoring.
We also have a pair of eartech (?) bought to make parking the motorhome less stressful. They work through all the fibreglass and heavy metal of the motorhome and are audible over the diesel exhaust noises present at the rear. Since we have no high noise level nor lack of sight between the bow and the upper helm, we haven't tried these for anchoring. For going ashore with the stern line, they might work very well, though we haven't yet tried them in that use.
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Keith
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12-05-2021, 01:45 PM
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#16
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Guru
City: West coast
Join Date: Aug 2021
Posts: 800
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Which is the preferred system?
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12-05-2021, 04:34 PM
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#17
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Guru
City: Nanaimo
Vessel Name: former owner of "Pilitak"
Vessel Model: Nordic Tug 37
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 1,574
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Keith and Steve,
For us, with no flybridge and a Pilothouse with reasonably good vision forward, to starboard, and a bit more limited to stern, with the crew member on the outside on the stern, we found the headsets to be very useful. Easy, reliable 2 way communication. It does come in handy for "fine tuning" the necessary adjustments (as long as you both speak the same language without the sometimes "male-female" issues  ).
Anchoring using hand signals does work, did it for years with the sailboat, but being able to easily "just talk" to select the exact spot, discuss conditions that might not have been apparent at the start, etc. is useful but probably not essential. Headsets also leave both hands free for "work" at all times while still being able to fully communicate. As stated by another poster, using the ones with only 1 ear piece also enables the outside crew or pilot to hear marina staff, etc. on the dock.
It is obvious they are not essential tools, but in my opinion, they do make many boat things easier.  However, you do pay for this "advantage".
__________________
Tom
Nanaimo, BC
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12-05-2021, 04:48 PM
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#18
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Guru
City: Gulf Islands, BC Canada
Vessel Name: Soo Valley
Vessel Model: Grand Banks 36
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 2,834
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Tom,
Your opinion matters. For pilothouse boats probably needed.
As for anchoring, my way, I position my boat over spot to drop anchor into the wind or current if any and go to the bow to lower the anchor. Once it hits bottom I let out line as needed. At the lower station, give a it a burst to reverse to set.
I do this and stay at bow to triangulate the set and observe if dragging having found a beer in my hand to pass the time.
__________________
SteveK AKA Soo Valley
You only need one working engine. That is why I have two.
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12-05-2021, 06:03 PM
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#19
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TF Site Team
City: Saltspring Island
Vessel Name: Retreat
Vessel Model: C&L 44
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,092
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Soo-Valley
I do this and stay at bow to triangulate the set and observe if dragging having found a beer in my hand to pass the time.
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Now I see your advantage: You have a fridge at your bow.
__________________
Keith
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12-06-2021, 07:15 AM
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#20
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Guru
City: Annapolis
Vessel Model: 58' Sedan Bridge
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,132
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Soo-Valley
What is different for those of you that have or want these instead of a loud PA system (kidding)?
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I actually tried using the hailer for a while... but the result seems like you're yelling all the time. If I turned the volume down so it didnt sound like I was shouting, I couldn't hear wifey through the system.
And don't have great visibility around the sides of the boat, especially now with this newer one... so hand signals (which work fine for anchoring) aren't so great (for us) for docking. Besides, wifey prefers being able to watch what she's doing (instead of watching the bridge) and hearing instructions at the same time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bowball
Which is the preferred system?
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Near as I can tell from reading, SENA and Eartec get the most recommendations and have similar followings. Not sure there's much functional difference between the two, so maybe headset fit is a bigger decider.
-Chris
__________________
Chesapeake Bay, USA
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