Essential Tool of the Trade
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Essential Tool of the Trade
This might be of interest to a few folk out there. What do you consider to be the best ATC headset in terms of comfort, reliability, value for money and so on. In the UK, many will be familiar with various grey contraptions which have been around for decades and are gradually being superseded by lightweight black numbers. Monaural over-the-ear sets seem to be popular in the US.
Sorry to be so vague with my descriptions. I could easily name some makes and models but that would probably breach the advertising rules ! Moderators please feel free to advise.
Any responses gratefully read.
Sorry to be so vague with my descriptions. I could easily name some makes and models but that would probably breach the advertising rules ! Moderators please feel free to advise.
Any responses gratefully read.
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Difficult to answer this without mentioning brand names so:
Mr Moderator this is for info only, I have no connection with the company and wouldn't advertise their stuff if they paid me coz I think it's cr*p!!
Here at EGGP we use the Airlite 62 headsets. Somewhat "agricutural" but they last for years.
Marks out of 5:
Comfort: 3
Reliability: 4 (easy to fix)
Value for money: Don't know how much they cost so can't say.
Style: 0
We have trialled others in the past; Jetlite (the black plasticky version of the above) was given a good run but was rejected on the grounds of durability.
Mr Moderator this is for info only, I have no connection with the company and wouldn't advertise their stuff if they paid me coz I think it's cr*p!!
Here at EGGP we use the Airlite 62 headsets. Somewhat "agricutural" but they last for years.
Marks out of 5:
Comfort: 3
Reliability: 4 (easy to fix)
Value for money: Don't know how much they cost so can't say.
Style: 0
We have trialled others in the past; Jetlite (the black plasticky version of the above) was given a good run but was rejected on the grounds of durability.
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I'm with squibbler. I couldn't tell you how many times the Jetlite's broken on me (poor wiring, lead catching on the furniture and getting pulled etc etc) but the Airlite went on forever.
So much for progress
So much for progress
I'm Just A Lawnmower
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Aha!! A pet hate of mine...
These black things we have - Jetlites - are a pile of kak. They are an improvement over the old Airlites in only one thing - they don't put your head in such a vice like grip. I always ended up with sore ears after a session with an airlite.
A few years ago I was the person on our watch who evaluated the four possible replacements for the Airlite. I distinctly remember the Jetlite being the worst of the four by quite a long way. The best was a small headset that you didn't even realise was on your head, yet the sound was crystal clear. So what did we end up with? The bloody Jetlite. So much for democracy...
As others have said, the Jetlite is extremely unreliable as well as being 'old fashioned'. I returned one after all the rubber peeled off the cable.
Of course a caring employer would provide us with a choice of headset types that would satisfy varying tastes
These black things we have - Jetlites - are a pile of kak. They are an improvement over the old Airlites in only one thing - they don't put your head in such a vice like grip. I always ended up with sore ears after a session with an airlite.
A few years ago I was the person on our watch who evaluated the four possible replacements for the Airlite. I distinctly remember the Jetlite being the worst of the four by quite a long way. The best was a small headset that you didn't even realise was on your head, yet the sound was crystal clear. So what did we end up with? The bloody Jetlite. So much for democracy...
As others have said, the Jetlite is extremely unreliable as well as being 'old fashioned'. I returned one after all the rubber peeled off the cable.
Of course a caring employer would provide us with a choice of headset types that would satisfy varying tastes
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We use lightweight Plantronix headsets. Not the greatest quality, but for the most part seem to work most of the time. I would LOVE to see a BOSE noise canceling headset for ATC use though with the increase in noise in the newer control rooms.
regards
Scott
regards
Scott
More than just an ATCO
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I'm with Scott on this; there are millions of €,$, or whatever ,spent on developing the system and then scrimped on one of the most important tools a controller uses.
The problem is, IMHO, that much of this hardware is chosen by non-ops staff.I know that at Maastricht, many moons ago, the Minilite was selected because office workers found it the most comfortable.
I quite liked the Minilite although it tended to pull out clumps of hair and was not really compatible with glasses.
Some years ago I was tasked to select a mouse for the ODS at Maastricht. As a number pf the candidates were all found equal by ops.staff I devised the following test. This entailed running the mouse through a puddle of coffee then through the contents of an ashtray. Those that passed the initial selection were then placed on the floor and an AIP was dropped onto them several times. Survivors of this were then subjected to having the cable tugged violently. I ended up with one survivor and duly recommended it.
What happened? The cheapest - which had not even made it past the initial stage - was selected.
The problem is, IMHO, that much of this hardware is chosen by non-ops staff.I know that at Maastricht, many moons ago, the Minilite was selected because office workers found it the most comfortable.
I quite liked the Minilite although it tended to pull out clumps of hair and was not really compatible with glasses.
Some years ago I was tasked to select a mouse for the ODS at Maastricht. As a number pf the candidates were all found equal by ops.staff I devised the following test. This entailed running the mouse through a puddle of coffee then through the contents of an ashtray. Those that passed the initial selection were then placed on the floor and an AIP was dropped onto them several times. Survivors of this were then subjected to having the cable tugged violently. I ended up with one survivor and duly recommended it.
What happened? The cheapest - which had not even made it past the initial stage - was selected.
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Wouldya believe that they used the minilites in the first Star Wars movie when Luke and Han Solo go into the gun turrets on the M. Falcon to shoot at fighters!
Scott, we use the lightweight Plantronic Headsets also. The minilites were phased out in the mid nineties. We get to choose one of three different versions. Either the over the ear, the single sided or double sided headset.
Wouldn't know how much they are as they are issued to us by Airservices Australia. We just get a new one when your headset breaks, and we hand it in when we retire or resign.
Scott, we use the lightweight Plantronic Headsets also. The minilites were phased out in the mid nineties. We get to choose one of three different versions. Either the over the ear, the single sided or double sided headset.
Wouldn't know how much they are as they are issued to us by Airservices Australia. We just get a new one when your headset breaks, and we hand it in when we retire or resign.
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<<Either the over the ear, the single sided or double sided headset.>>
This raises an interesting question (for me!) - do ATC headsets in countried outside UK function as telephones too? In the UK we have R/T in both ears but when we select telephone we get phone in one and R/T in the other. I recall that one excuse put forward many years ago for us not have ultra-lightweight headsets was that they couldn't do this. The re-wiring involved, although a 5-minute job was, apparently, impossible!
This raises an interesting question (for me!) - do ATC headsets in countried outside UK function as telephones too? In the UK we have R/T in both ears but when we select telephone we get phone in one and R/T in the other. I recall that one excuse put forward many years ago for us not have ultra-lightweight headsets was that they couldn't do this. The re-wiring involved, although a 5-minute job was, apparently, impossible!
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Corrr blimey,
We have got the skanky old grey things mainly and are allowed to share the rejected heathrow light weight headsets!!!
I stick to the Grey ones for hygiene(sp) issues!
TIO
We have got the skanky old grey things mainly and are allowed to share the rejected heathrow light weight headsets!!!
I stick to the Grey ones for hygiene(sp) issues!
TIO
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HD,
In Oz, our comms, intercomms, phone etc are all handled by one touch screen located below our weather radar and ops info screen. It's called a VSCS (Voice Switching Communication System, I think). All voice, alarms, and other tones come through your headset and no diferentiation is made for which earpiece.
So whether it's phone, intercomm (hot or cold line), air ground or alarm/tone, if you have a double sided headset, it comes through both earpieces.
http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/...banecentre.asp
In Oz, our comms, intercomms, phone etc are all handled by one touch screen located below our weather radar and ops info screen. It's called a VSCS (Voice Switching Communication System, I think). All voice, alarms, and other tones come through your headset and no diferentiation is made for which earpiece.
So whether it's phone, intercomm (hot or cold line), air ground or alarm/tone, if you have a double sided headset, it comes through both earpieces.
http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/...banecentre.asp
Thread Starter
I suppose it might be a bit of a faffy job rewiring a small lightweight headset from parallel receivers to independent. You'd need at least a five-core cable (one pair mike, one each receiver and one common return) and since such cables aren't readily available you're looking at six core straight away which is a greater diameter and therefore needs a bit more room to terminate in the set. Ideally, you need tinsel cable as well which although is more or less infinitely flexible is a sod to solder and so has to be crimped, fastened, screwed etc.
IMHO, the venerable grey plastic product familiar to NATS made by a large acoustics company near London is/was the best for the job. Pricey, definitely, but sturdy and fairly simple to fix. It would unfortunately appear to have been superseded to some extent. Its black rubbery successor is technically identical but not nearly as robust and lightweight to the point of slipping off one's bonce !
IMHO, the venerable grey plastic product familiar to NATS made by a large acoustics company near London is/was the best for the job. Pricey, definitely, but sturdy and fairly simple to fix. It would unfortunately appear to have been superseded to some extent. Its black rubbery successor is technically identical but not nearly as robust and lightweight to the point of slipping off one's bonce !
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<<I suppose it might be a bit of a faffy job rewiring a small lightweight headset from parallel receivers to independent. You'd need at least a five-core cable (one pair mike, one each receiver and one common return) and since such cables aren't readily available you're looking at six core straight away which is a greater diameter and therefore needs a bit more room to terminate in the set. Ideally, you need tinsel cable as well which although is more or less infinitely flexible is a sod to solder and so has to be crimped, fastened, screwed etc.>>
Yes, but people are trained and paid to do such jobs, just like I was trained and paid to whack the jets into Heathrow. If I can re-wire a headset for ham radio use, with independent earpieces, then professionals ought to be able to do it!
Yes, but people are trained and paid to do such jobs, just like I was trained and paid to whack the jets into Heathrow. If I can re-wire a headset for ham radio use, with independent earpieces, then professionals ought to be able to do it!
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Plantronics ultralight StarSet hung over one ear only. The earpiece is custom-molded to my very own ear. I used the supplied, pink "earbuds" for a few years before discovering the optional $40 custom jobbie. Request the kit, and when it comes, push the supplied goop into your brain to get the impression of your ear, have a friend help pry it out, and send it to the manufacturer. Wonderful fit. You can even get it in your choice of color. I always recommend trying to find a match for ear wax...
I don't think I'd ever want the set that used the inside of my ear as the only point of attachment though. I tend to move around too much. Therefore, it's the headset that goes over the ear.
In the tower I went with the 25 foot cord. When I moved to radar I opted for the shorter version. However, some people used the 25 footer in the radar room as well. Those were the guys who'd push back and roll in their chair all the way across the room to do a physical point-out to another sector while staying connected to their own position.
I can honestly say that, apart from destroying a couple of PTT switches (usually the lock on the PTT was the first thing to go), I've never had a problem with this brand. However, I've not tried any others, so I can't say how it compares. (Note: my only connection with Plantronics arises from my USE of their product. I don't sell them.)
Common practice here is to have the headset piped into one ear only. The other ear is uncovered so you can clearly hear people say, "what the hell are you doing?" When I'm connected to the console I generally have only one thing in my ear at a time... radio, landline, etc. If I'm on the radio and I push the button for the landline, the radio goes to the speaker and the landline is in my ear. The exception to "one thing at a time" is "hot" in-house communication where somebody pushes a button on their console and my mic is suddenly hot on that line. In that case I can still key the mic to talk on the radio, but whether or not I've keyed the mic, I'm hearing the other controller and he's hearing me.
Which reminds me of another way that a controller can be a pain... My child's teacher was raising a stink with the child regarding the "proven fact" that you can't talk and listen at the same time. I pointed out that in my line of work we do exactly that (tower controller who keys into my headset to do a "rundown" on upcoming departures is trained to be quiet while an aircraft is transmitting to me and then do the rundown while I talk to the aircraft.). I pointed out that what's REALLY hard is listening to more than one person speak at a time. At this point my wife was telling me to shut up and I never did get the whole story out...
I don't think I'd ever want the set that used the inside of my ear as the only point of attachment though. I tend to move around too much. Therefore, it's the headset that goes over the ear.
In the tower I went with the 25 foot cord. When I moved to radar I opted for the shorter version. However, some people used the 25 footer in the radar room as well. Those were the guys who'd push back and roll in their chair all the way across the room to do a physical point-out to another sector while staying connected to their own position.
I can honestly say that, apart from destroying a couple of PTT switches (usually the lock on the PTT was the first thing to go), I've never had a problem with this brand. However, I've not tried any others, so I can't say how it compares. (Note: my only connection with Plantronics arises from my USE of their product. I don't sell them.)
In the UK we have R/T in both ears but when we select telephone we get phone in one and R/T in the other...
Which reminds me of another way that a controller can be a pain... My child's teacher was raising a stink with the child regarding the "proven fact" that you can't talk and listen at the same time. I pointed out that in my line of work we do exactly that (tower controller who keys into my headset to do a "rundown" on upcoming departures is trained to be quiet while an aircraft is transmitting to me and then do the rundown while I talk to the aircraft.). I pointed out that what's REALLY hard is listening to more than one person speak at a time. At this point my wife was telling me to shut up and I never did get the whole story out...
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The headsets I used with IAL abroad (1.75 oz inc plug) had a light, springy headband at the end of which were two small, oblong, foam-backed "boxes", which sat on one's temples. The boom mic was fixed to one with a ball-joint and there were similar ball-joints for the "earpieces". These were amazingly good - like two tiny funnels which could be adjusted to be over, but not touching, the ear. So the only pressure was from the two foam-lined bits, which were virtually undetectable in use. I don't know who made them, but I've never seen anything which is anywhere near as good.
ATC
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Portugal, Lisboa ACC/APP
As in OZ, both frequency and phone are operated by a VCS touch screen - one per physical position but due to be soon replaced by two per physical position in the new OPS room
Two kind of headsets currently in use : the older one's (my favourites) of unknown brand - due to long usage they've all lost the stickers with the manufacter information, the most recent ones are Opera from Silicomp.
I was in Maastricht this ear and the Imtradex Headsets model Airtalk XD seemed very nice ... I'm waiting for a couple to test them in the OPS room ...
Imtradex developed this model togeher with ATC and is now the suplier for DFS.
I'll post my impressions after the tests, meanhwile
www.imtradex.de
As in OZ, both frequency and phone are operated by a VCS touch screen - one per physical position but due to be soon replaced by two per physical position in the new OPS room
Two kind of headsets currently in use : the older one's (my favourites) of unknown brand - due to long usage they've all lost the stickers with the manufacter information, the most recent ones are Opera from Silicomp.
I was in Maastricht this ear and the Imtradex Headsets model Airtalk XD seemed very nice ... I'm waiting for a couple to test them in the OPS room ...
Imtradex developed this model togeher with ATC and is now the suplier for DFS.
I'll post my impressions after the tests, meanhwile
www.imtradex.de
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The headset i've got at the moment is imho, the best one available at the moment, i would like to trial the american style "in ear" type but have minor reservations about not having "split comms".
The one i use is basically an air trafficafied version of the Sennheiser used by most airline aircrew these days. It is lightweight, has a splittable headband so will fit any head, has moveable ear pieces so you can push one back off you ear for face to face communication if you wish, has a handhelp ptt a good distance from the headset and a long lead for good freedom of movement. It grips the head with just the right amount of presure so that it doesn't give you a headacke after 2 hours or fall off if you lean forward!! The accoustics are also excellent and Rx and Tx quality are superb. It is perfect for both ADC and APR that i do.Why they aren't more prevailent i don't know.
No thats not true i do know...during my NATS days i suggested exactly such a headset to the company that supplied NATS with its headsets and what did i get...a bo*%@king for suggesting that what they already supplied wasn't ideal!! - nuff said
And for the Mod' -I have no connection with any of the companies i have mentioned or infered
The one i use is basically an air trafficafied version of the Sennheiser used by most airline aircrew these days. It is lightweight, has a splittable headband so will fit any head, has moveable ear pieces so you can push one back off you ear for face to face communication if you wish, has a handhelp ptt a good distance from the headset and a long lead for good freedom of movement. It grips the head with just the right amount of presure so that it doesn't give you a headacke after 2 hours or fall off if you lean forward!! The accoustics are also excellent and Rx and Tx quality are superb. It is perfect for both ADC and APR that i do.Why they aren't more prevailent i don't know.
No thats not true i do know...during my NATS days i suggested exactly such a headset to the company that supplied NATS with its headsets and what did i get...a bo*%@king for suggesting that what they already supplied wasn't ideal!! - nuff said
And for the Mod' -I have no connection with any of the companies i have mentioned or infered