Essential Tool of the Trade
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No problems with this thread at all. It's a comparison of equipment so we will get a broad range of opinion and reviews on what is out there.
I don't see it as a vehicle for advertisement, since ATCOs are usually pretty good at tearing apart anything which does not do the job we want it to
I don't see it as a vehicle for advertisement, since ATCOs are usually pretty good at tearing apart anything which does not do the job we want it to
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Evil J,
Interesting to note you use a Sennheiser. It seems the British manufacturers' traditional dominance of the ATC 'hat' market is under threat from Germany. When I worked in airline engineering, all the pilots preferred the Sennheiser over the Airman 750 so they're obviously a good make. I wouldn't be surprised to see Beyer moving in as well, that's if they haven't done so already. I sympathise with you for the response you received for your suggestions to NATS. I have never worked for NATS but my general work experience shows that 'them upstairs' get p'd off when the folk at the sharp end have the temerity to make a suggestion which might improve things. By the way, may I ask which airfield you work at ?
Last time I was at Newcastle (1994) the ATC gang were using grey lightweight binaural nylon hats. Forget the make but very comfortable and robust. Together with a very Heath Robinson handmike in the VCR and plug-in PTT switches. Custom built stuff definitely has its attractions !
Interesting to note you use a Sennheiser. It seems the British manufacturers' traditional dominance of the ATC 'hat' market is under threat from Germany. When I worked in airline engineering, all the pilots preferred the Sennheiser over the Airman 750 so they're obviously a good make. I wouldn't be surprised to see Beyer moving in as well, that's if they haven't done so already. I sympathise with you for the response you received for your suggestions to NATS. I have never worked for NATS but my general work experience shows that 'them upstairs' get p'd off when the folk at the sharp end have the temerity to make a suggestion which might improve things. By the way, may I ask which airfield you work at ?
Last time I was at Newcastle (1994) the ATC gang were using grey lightweight binaural nylon hats. Forget the make but very comfortable and robust. Together with a very Heath Robinson handmike in the VCR and plug-in PTT switches. Custom built stuff definitely has its attractions !
Thread Starter
The Newcastle headsets were (don't know if they still are) the Airlite 2003T, from the same stable that brought us the classic old warhorse, the 62.
Seems like there is quite a lot of choice out there for the ATC industry. Several manufacturers, monaural or binaural, circumaural or supraaural, dynamic or electret mike, curly or straight cable and , of course, price. Speaking as a non-insider, I would venture that price is probably the prime factor these days. I'm guessing that modern transmitters and VCCS can handle just about any type of microphone and headphone impedance so the choice will be the cheapest, providing it's a tough set.
If I were in ATC, I think I'd be looking for circumaural, independent headphones for splitting RT and phone/intercom, dynamic mike, curly cable, inline PTT and as light as possible without being flimsy. Plus a price tag of around £150 - £200.
Seems like there is quite a lot of choice out there for the ATC industry. Several manufacturers, monaural or binaural, circumaural or supraaural, dynamic or electret mike, curly or straight cable and , of course, price. Speaking as a non-insider, I would venture that price is probably the prime factor these days. I'm guessing that modern transmitters and VCCS can handle just about any type of microphone and headphone impedance so the choice will be the cheapest, providing it's a tough set.
If I were in ATC, I think I'd be looking for circumaural, independent headphones for splitting RT and phone/intercom, dynamic mike, curly cable, inline PTT and as light as possible without being flimsy. Plus a price tag of around £150 - £200.
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They get messed about, twisted and twiddled and eventually the outer casing breaks down and the whole cable needs replacing. Maybe you've never seen that but I have..
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ive 348,
As I said above, Newcastle airport used to come fairly close with a hand mike. I don't know if they're still using it. I seem to remember Carlisle Airport in Cumbria used a desk/standing mike not too long ago.
I guess the problem with these is they're not ergonomically practical. Someone with some actual ATC experience can probably enlarge on the pros and cons.
HD,
I never thought of that. So many telephone handset cables go the same way as well..
As I said above, Newcastle airport used to come fairly close with a hand mike. I don't know if they're still using it. I seem to remember Carlisle Airport in Cumbria used a desk/standing mike not too long ago.
I guess the problem with these is they're not ergonomically practical. Someone with some actual ATC experience can probably enlarge on the pros and cons.
HD,
I never thought of that. So many telephone handset cables go the same way as well..
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Hand mikes are awful! Especially when there's one for VHF, one for UHF ground radio, plus two telephone handsets... strip writing and moving fits in there somewhere but it's a nightmare! So not exactly ergonomically graceful.
Think we had the Airlite 62 or something appropriately vintage and weighty at CATC - not found anything better in ergonomic terms yet, but it was a bit heavy...
DinD
Think we had the Airlite 62 or something appropriately vintage and weighty at CATC - not found anything better in ergonomic terms yet, but it was a bit heavy...
DinD
Thread Starter
I can't believe it's a year since I started this thread. How time flies. Since then, I've seen Plantronics gear creep into the UK ATC industry, I guess in connection with tower refurbs.
The Jetlite got a bit of a pasting on this thread last year. I wonder if it's improved or if anyone out there is still using it ?
BTW, I use a Sennheiser set for my home audio/radio gear. Absolutely first class.
MC
The Jetlite got a bit of a pasting on this thread last year. I wonder if it's improved or if anyone out there is still using it ?
BTW, I use a Sennheiser set for my home audio/radio gear. Absolutely first class.
MC
I use an ancient Astralite. Weighs a little more than the Sennheiser currently available, which is comfortable, but has a much inferior sound quality when plugged into our Garex vscc.
The Astralite picks up treble and mid range better, consequently radio volume can be quite a lot lower. I've noticed a lot of the controllers wearing the other types (incl the Senn.) tend to shout a lot. Not so good for teamwork. Also the Astralite surrounds the ear rather than squashing it. There are double mikes with (tx) noise cancellation built in, which is partly effective at preventing aircrew hearing the background jokes etc.
Curly cords are also terrible because they weigh a lot.And easier to run over with a chair-a major cause of headset (or cable) failure.
My dream is cordless headsets. They can do it at MacDonalds. Or better yet, a mind detector on the radar screen so you just have to shake/nod/smile/glare or look confused at it and a filtered, censored version is datalinked directly to the flightdeck.
The Astralite picks up treble and mid range better, consequently radio volume can be quite a lot lower. I've noticed a lot of the controllers wearing the other types (incl the Senn.) tend to shout a lot. Not so good for teamwork. Also the Astralite surrounds the ear rather than squashing it. There are double mikes with (tx) noise cancellation built in, which is partly effective at preventing aircrew hearing the background jokes etc.
Curly cords are also terrible because they weigh a lot.And easier to run over with a chair-a major cause of headset (or cable) failure.
My dream is cordless headsets. They can do it at MacDonalds. Or better yet, a mind detector on the radar screen so you just have to shake/nod/smile/glare or look confused at it and a filtered, censored version is datalinked directly to the flightdeck.
