Proven Radio/Intercom system?

[chook]

Baz, what was the final fix?Chooky

[asra]

Just don"t turn the UHF up over 1/2 way. Got my new helmet now too but still getting too much wind noise for the VOX to turn off so have ordered the neoprene air ducting to see if I can get the mic to turn off.

[asra]

Was still having a bit of an issue with noise on my radio. Sent the headset back to Gordon and presto - fixed. Very happy with the service and now the performance of my EQ1 system. My gyro is quite loud and I was having an issue with noise.

[bones]

Is there a webiste to look at pics of this whole setup ??

[bruce]

Bones, try this linkhttp://www.microlight.com.au/microlight_accessories.htm

[asra]

http://www.skysportsinnovations.com.au/Another one bones.

[asra]

Is anyone else using this system?As an Avionics LAME I am interested in some testimonials as I could only find one from Matty Hall on the links from Bones.All in all it sounds like a good package with a price that is comparable to the functions it can do IMO.Blue

[chook]

Blue, I have just returned from a trip with the WA guys to Quobba/Coral bay and was in the recovery ground crew. I set up an Xcom 760 (recently serviced by the manufacturer and with the latest software) for in vehicle mode with a tuned whip on the roof. I was communicating and tracking 7 gyros and with the varying conditions (atmospheric and terrain) was in contact with 70% for 70% of the time. Radio relay was common - enough of that now to the question of the EQ1. One of our fleet was using an EQ1 into a small hand held and was getting the second best radio distances of the group. (The xcoms in the ELA"s were the best setups) The letdown was his background noise from the big rotax. His helmet is an open unit where the headset is not married within the helmet assy and thus collects a lot of noise. I"ll attach a piccie of his unit.One of the other guys in the fleet had a similar problem with the background noise even though he was in a fully enclosed helmet and had active noise reduction running in his interface unit. He had a neoprene sock over the microphone which wasn"t doing the job either. Next we tried putting a leather "bag" over the sock - still noise getting in. I then pulled the whole lot apart and placed 2 pieces of electrical tape over the microphone inlet facing away from the pilot and replaced the sock & the bag. Bingo clear comms again.So as you can see there are a LOT of things different to the gyro setup as compared to GA (LAME). These things are horrendously noisy and the electrical connections are usually out in the weather. Most pilots don"t understand those effects (it"s not their fault).While at Quobba, one of their machines which I had done the radios on (8.6.10)was experiencing problems. These machines are operated over the coast and subject to salt spray. I discovered that the main power feed which had been joined by solder then covered satisfactorily with heatshrink had corroded 90% of the wiring just past the solder joint leaving 2 strands of wire in a green mess to conduct the transmit current! That part of the install had been done by someone else in good faith. I removed the excess wiring back to the basics and sealed all joints with liquid electrical tape.And on it goes.

[asra]

Blue, I have just returned from a trip with the WA guys to Quobba/Coral bay and was in the recovery ground crew. I set up an Xcom 760 (recently serviced by the manufacturer and with the latest software) for in vehicle mode with a tuned whip on the roof. I was communicating and tracking 7 gyros and with the varying conditions (atmospheric and terrain) was in contact with 70% for 70% of the time. Radio relay was common - enough of that now to the question of the EQ1. One of our fleet was using an EQ1 into a small hand held and was getting the second best radio distances of the group. (The xcoms in the ELA"s were the best setups) The letdown was his background noise from the big rotax. His helmet is an open unit where the headset is not married within the helmet assy and thus collects a lot of noise. I"ll attach a piccie of his unit.One of the other guys in the fleet had a similar problem with the background noise even though he was in a fully enclosed helmet and had active noise reduction running in his interface unit. He had a neoprene sock over the microphone which wasn"t doing the job either. Next we tried putting a leather "bag" over the sock - still noise getting in. I then pulled the whole lot apart and placed 2 pieces of electrical tape over the microphone inlet facing away from the pilot and replaced the sock & the bag. Bingo clear comms again.So as you can see there are a LOT of things different to the gyro setup as compared to GA (LAME). These things are horrendously noisy and the electrical connections are usually out in the weather. Most pilots don"t understand those effects (it"s not their fault).While at Quobba, one of their machines which I had done the radios on (8.6.10)was experiencing problems. These machines are operated over the coast and subject to salt spray. I discovered that the main power feed which had been joined by solder then covered satisfactorily with heatshrink had corroded 90% of the wiring just past the solder joint leaving 2 strands of wire in a green mess to conduct the transmit current! That part of the install had been done by someone else in good faith. I removed the excess wiring back to the basics and sealed all joints with liquid electrical tape.And on it goes.

[bones]

Ok chock ya seem to be a radio guroo, try this one for size if ya dont mind.I got a full face motor bike helmet, sitting out in the fresh air( arrr the view) but any way, i soldered speakers from an old head set i had into the helmet, and then ran wores up inside the front of the helmet for the mic.now it all works KINDA, now the speakers will near make your ears bleed on the ground, but once flying with the extra wind noise and the motor humming right behind me, i can only just hear it, just. The way i got it to work was to solder in a 3.5mm female plug and use push in general ear plugs as well as the main speakers, yep its a real trick to get the hlemet on in the mornnig i tell ya.So what i was going to try was those moulded ear pieces with the speakers mounted in them, the guy guaranties i wont be able to fly with them on full volume as they will be too loud, 110 decibles so this should sort this problem out.Now the mic also works but also alot of wind and enigne noise, i have put silastic all over the front air vents in front of the mic, and foam behind it, any other ideas for the mic and or anything else to try for the speakers also.

[asra]

Hi Guys, its Gordon from EQ1.The helmet in the photo is an Icaro, unfortunatly these beasties let all sorts of wind in from all diferent directions.The other down side of these helmets is that the visor sits very close to your nose and you tend to snot all over it and in the cool mornings it fogs up very easily. Another problem with these helmets is the band or strap that goes around the ear cup, its quite solid and you really need to feed the microphone through the unit as you put the headset and helmet on otherwise you will have a very sore ear on that side, quite a bit of a fiddle really. other than that not a bad helmet . There are numerous combinations to try and get rid of comms noise, engine, voltage regulator rectifier, prop, wiring, multiple earths, incorrect mic gain, incorrect compatability, aerials etc etc and when you think you have it all right the wind gets in.

[umbearra]

Hey Bones, I use those earmould plugs as well. They do a pretty good job, but they are also noisy. The little tubes that run from the inline speakrs to the actual ear plugs pick up a lot of wind noise. If you can stop em flapping in the breeze they"re not to bad. Pain in the **** getting you"re helmet on every time but. Iv"e wasted thousands on poxy radios, radios and gyros just don"t seam to mix for me.

[bones]

Gus, the ones im getting havent got the hollow tubes its all wires, this is why this mob went to this to stop the noise from the hollow tubes.

[Gleeso]

Hey Bones where exactly do i get a set of these ear plugs from???Matt

[bones]

http://www.hear.com.au/racingplugs.aspThis is the mob i was talking to, ummmmm Johny? i think was the guy i was talking with, i got another helmet to try now so i might not be doing it, the same as Neil from ELA uses, let ya know in a few weeks.So a full helmet for about $850, for the ear plugs for about $500 then ya got to sort out the mic ect...