Headset Niggles

[ComeFlyWithB]

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has encountered a similar problem before. I purchased a used David Clarke headset H10 13.4 (I think without checking) from a now captain who learnt at my flight school. The headset is around 8/10 years old and has recently had a full service. My issue is that I can hear my instructor in p2 fine, I can hear the tower / radio chatter absolutely fine both on the ground and in the air however, I cannot hear myself speak once airborne. Electrical impedence seems to have been discounted and I’m just wondering if anyone else has had a similar issue / remedy before I send the set off to a specialist.

B

[jan99]

Nothing to do with the headset. A device on the panel is to be blamed for not or insufficiently mixing in of the sidetone with the signals from radio reception or p2 intercom. Probably a volume setting.

[memories of px]

obvious thing to do is to swap the headsets over, but as jan99 says, unlikely the headset, they either work or they dont, is the other headset
also a david clark 10-13.4?

[Pilot DAR]

More or less what Jan99 has said, it's a wiring issue with that plane. To confirm, try a different headset in that position of that plane, and try your headset in a different plane. That said, that owner of the plane won't be rushing to correct the situation, it's not really a defect, and it could be quite a bit of work.

[Jim59]

On older tranceivers the side-tone level was preset for you. On some of the recent 8.33 devices SIT or side-tone volume is pilot adjustable. To answer your question one needs to know the make and model of the tranceiver in the aeroplane and whether or not there is a separate intercom or you are using the one in the tranceiver.

If it is an 8.33 radio I would suggest a read of the manual.

If it is not.... Since you are in the UK you have until Monday to replace the tranceiver :-)

[memories of px]

really? I thought that had been postponed, anyway, if it has been upgraded, the new garmin definitely has hidden sub menus for the intercom to tweak.

[A and C]

Be carefull !! If you have an audio panel with an intercom you don’t want to mess with the intercom menu in the radio.

It is the radio sidetone menu that you require.

[Jim59]

really? I thought that had been postponed, anyway, if it has been upgraded, the new garmin definitely has hidden sub menus for the intercom to tweak. There is a limited time exemption for sporting frequencies - see CAP 1606. If you require to speak to any other stations you are supposed to have an 8.33 capable tranceiver. Ground stations used by GA have started to convert to 8.33 channels to save cash - the ground station's licence fee for 8.33 is 1/3rd of the fee for a 25 kHz freqency. Old Sarum is an example that changed recently. It is expected that most will change this year at licence renewal.

Sidetone is a radio function that feeds back some of the microphone signal to the headset when transmitting so you can hear what you are saying. It is not an intercom function. 8.33 radios when used as the intercom usually have separate settings for intercom volume and squelch which are entirely unrelated to sidetone.

Where loudspeakers are used instead of headsets (i.e. gliders) the sidetone volume is usually set to minimum / zero to avoid feedback howls.

[piperboy84]

Old cheap bastard me is feeling flush and considering living large by splurging on a pair of noise cancelling headsets! I’ve had the same DC’s for 25 years and they work fine but I had a discussion with my brother (who’s also tighter than a ducks arse) who has just spend $350 for a pair of NC fancy headsets he uses when he’s a passenger on transatlantic flights, he reckons he steps off the flight more refreshed and relaxed after wearing them and that he could not believe the amount of ambient noise on an aircraft when he removes them during the flight. This got me thinking that after long cross countries in my puddle jumper I’m always physically and mentally knackered and maybe a pair of NC headsets would reduce that. Also the guy that owned the plane before me had separate 6 pin NC ports with ship power headset jacks installed in addition to the regular 2 prong jacks, and it seems such a shame not to use them, well that’s my justification for spending a hellacious amount of money on something I don’t need. Or do I have my priorities all screwed up and should skip the headsets and continue to spend my money on booze and fags?

[Curlytips]

After using H10-40s for 30 years, and swearing by them, I finally felt flush enough and thought "why shouldn't I treat myself? so bought myself DC-1X. Used AOPA discount at Pooleys to get 5% off, and claimed the maximum £100 rebate from CAA 8.33 site.

Difference is better than I expected and particularly more comfortable fit. If you are going to do it, you only have tomorrow to claim - if you order immediately online, you should get receipted invoice tonight and can claim straight away.

Be a shame to miss out on anything the CAA are prepared to give........

[memories of px]

so you can claim £100 rebate for headsets? not just 8.33 radios?

[Curlytips]

Sorry memories of px - was absent, and deadline has now passed. Yes, you could claim for "accessories" which included headsets at 20% rebate, but at maximum cost of £500. So £100 back if you spent anything over £500.....

Obviously you needed to have claimed for the radio(s) as well, but could put an additional claim in later.

[India Four Two]

. Also the guy that owned the plane before me had separate 6 pin NC ports with ship power headset jacks installed in addition to the regular 2 prong jacks, and it seems such a shame not to use them,

pb84,

All the modern noise-canceling headsets that I have seen or used, have standard jack plugs. I recommend that you try the Lightspeed Zulu 2.

[piperboy84]

pb84,

All the modern noise-canceling headsets that I have seen or used, have standard jack plugs. I recommend that you try the Lightspeed Zulu 2.

Yes but I have enough trouble trying to remember to bring my phone,fags and charts on a flight so there's no chance I'd remember to pack batteries, the jacks I have are round 6 pin set ups, with one of the pins being ship power for the noise canceling.

[DB6]

Piperboy84, you can specify the cable on some of the ANR headsets on the market. The Harry Mendelssohn website, for example, gives you 5 different options for the Bose A20 and 3 for the DC One-X. Endless hours of fun!

[ComeFlyWithB]

Nothing to do with the headset. A device on the panel is to be blamed for not or insufficiently mixing in of the sidetone with the signals from radio reception or p2 intercom. Probably a volume setting.

The A/C has just had a new radio fitted actually.... potentially faulty ? She's an old girl and as far as Im aware theres no independent volume settings despite on the actual headset and when setting up the radio. Happy to be corrected though C150/152 having the same issue in BOTH A/C

B

[ComeFlyWithB]

obvious thing to do is to swap the headsets over, but as jan99 says, unlikely the headset, they either work or they dont, is the other headset
also a david clark 10-13.4?

Tried my instructors headset plus standard school David Clarke ones to no avail.
Plug in, set radio up - fine, communicate with tower - fine, get airborne and I can hear my instructor fine, the tower fine but not myself using my own headset and instructors!

[ComeFlyWithB]

More or less what Jan99 has said, it's a wiring issue with that plane. To confirm, try a different headset in that position of that plane, and try your headset in a different plane. That said, that owner of the plane won't be rushing to correct the situation, it's not really a defect, and it could be quite a bit of work.


Tried my headset in two A/C to have the same problem, albeit one mid-flight. Reluctant to send it off (headset) given its had a recent service.

[ComeFlyWithB]

On older tranceivers the side-tone level was preset for you. On some of the recent 8.33 devices SIT or side-tone volume is pilot adjustable. To answer your question one needs to know the make and model of the tranceiver in the aeroplane and whether or not there is a separate intercom or you are using the one in the tranceiver.

If it is an 8.33 radio I would suggest a read of the manual.

If it is not.... Since you are in the UK you have until Monday to replace the tranceiver :-)

I'll have a look when I'm off holiday and back in next week. Hopefully it will be something like this ie a simple fix.

[piperboy84]

Scored myself a set of all singing all dancing AKG noise cancelling headsets with 6 pin LEMO plug for ship power and optional traditional jacks for battery power. I know that Harman Kardin sold off AKG and they no longer make headsets but I thought I’d take a punt on them as I got them brand new in the box with all the paperwork for $500 at the Light Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring FL. this week. Can’t wait to get back Scotland (aka Gods Country) to try em out.

[Forfoxake]

Scored myself a set of all singing all dancing AKG noise cancelling headsets with 6 pin LEMO plug for ship power and optional traditional jacks for battery power. I know that Harman Kardin sold off AKG and they no longer make headsets but I thought I’d take a punt on them as I got them brand new in the box with all the paperwork for $500 at the Light Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring FL. this week. Can’t wait to get back Scotland (aka Gods Country) to try em out.

Sound great for that price. Let us know how you get on with them.

(Use Lightspeed Zulus myself but need a new second pair soon)

[Jhieminga]

Enjoy them! I've used ANC headsets for 16 years now and wouldn't want anything else. As you mentioned earlier, you end up a lot less knackered. I'm currently on a DC H10-13X that is 8 years old and still going strong.

[BigEndBob]

Can't beat H10-40, mine still going strong, purchased with my first few months wages when i became an instructor in 1987.
All original except for:
One new microphone (seem to last about 25 years), two head bands that snapped, half dozen gel and foam ear seals, plugs and wires replaced from a donor old Dave Clarke when wiring went duff.
And the crack that appears from the two grommet locations.
Bit like Triggers broom.

Have noticed occasionally like today the damp can get into the mike and reduce it performance, but dries out.

Had a student that had bought some Bose noise cancelling, she didn't like them because she said she couldn't hear the engine note change.

[Oscar Charlie 192]

Had a student that had bought some Bose noise cancelling, she didn't like them because she said she couldn't hear the engine note change.

My instructor feels the same way.