Helmet Communicators - Two Way Radios?

839 Views 7 Replies 4 Participants Last post by Boon_Dockin_Summit, Dec 14, 2006

700GSE

Discussion Starter · Sep 27, 2006

Hey - I was toying with the idea of getting a couple of GMRS radios and using them with headsets for two-way hands-free communicatoin on the trails this winter. Anyone ever try it? Success? What did you use? You can get a decent pair with 10-mile range for $50 - seems like a good idea.

Thanks

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97mach1

· #2 · Sep 27, 2006

I use a FireFox throat mic, Gander Mountain has them for about $30. That and a cheapie pair of FRS/GMRS radios, and they work great. I normally get about a weeks worth of riding out of a charge on the batteries, mine take 4 AAA's, I use Ni-MH rechargeables. Range is pretty good. At least as good as anything else. Zero background noise, and my friend that usually uses the other set has a piped '99 Mach Z with silencers. It uses a Push-To-Talk button that attaches to wherever you want it with velcro.

Sure, my "system" is probably not as durable as the chatterbox system or Colletts, but it only cost me $100 for 2 radios and 2 headsets.

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· #3 · Sep 27, 2006

97mach1 said:
I use a FireFox throat mic, Gander Mountain has them for about $30. That and a cheapie pair of FRS/GMRS radios, and they work great. I normally get about a weeks worth of riding out of a charge on the batteries, mine take 4 AAA's, I use Ni-MH rechargeables. Range is pretty good. At least as good as anything else. Zero background noise, and my friend that usually uses the other set has a piped '99 Mach Z with silencers. It uses a Push-To-Talk button that attaches to wherever you want it with velcro.

Sure, my "system" is probably not as durable as the chatterbox system or Colletts, but it only cost me $100 for 2 radios and 2 headsets.

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WOW thats alot of talkt time... I have never used them or knew anyone that did..... We use the Collette 900 Plat. They last a whole day of riding before recharging the batts...... 100.00 sounds like a lot better than what i paid for the Colletts... Whats your range like?

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Lakelandsledder

· #4 · Sep 27, 2006

Had a set of 900 Colletts and didn't like them. Too much background noise and HORRIBLE RANGE. I would guess maybe 3/4 of a mile on the lake and only a few hundred feet in the woods.

Bought some Midland 2-way GMRS radios and a throat mic and they work much better. I would guess in the woods I get about a mile and in the open about 2 to 3 miles.

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700GSE

Discussion Starter · #5 · Sep 27, 2006

So it IS a good idea - excellent - Off to Wallies I go!

P

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· #6 · Sep 27, 2006

Lakelandsledder said:
Had a set of 900 Colletts and didn't like them. Too much background noise and HORRIBLE RANGE. I would guess maybe 3/4 of a mile on the lake and only a few hundred feet in the woods.

Bought some Midland 2-way GMRS radios and a throat mic and they work much better. I would guess in the woods I get about a mile and in the open about 2 to 3 miles.

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when the sleds are warming up they do make noise... once they are warmed up I don't get the static. The range is nowhere what they promised!
If I were to do it again I am sure I would do it different.
I do like the warning beacon for the groomer! One year without it I came around a tight corner on a tight trail; I almost got it from a groomer. The next season I went and bought them... Glad I wasnt going fast on the spur trail b/c a bridge was out..and we were being detoured...

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97mach1

· #7 · Sep 28, 2006

I go on at least 1 trip where 4 of us in the group have the FRS/GMRS setup, and 3 or 4 other guys have the Colletts. Range is better on the GMRS channels than on the colletts. We get very little noise because of the throat mics, but they do take a little getting used to. A few of the guys with the Colletts have piped sleds and it's very hard to understand them when they hit the throttle. I've used a friend's wife's collett on a couple trips before.

At less than 1/4 the price, I believe the FRS/GMRS with the FireFox throat mics are a pretty good communicator.

The only complaint I have with them is that there's only 1 earpiece, I swap it from ear to ear. It gets a little uncomfortable on a long ride. My ears will probably get used to them if I were to use them more. The throat mic can move around on you, too.

My friend bought a set of Cobra radios that were made to hook up in ATV helmets. They used velcro in speakers, and a wired remote PTT button. They work great.

I can't believe with all the technology today, that someone can't come up with a bluetooth intercom system for a sled using a FRS/GMRS radio that works well. At least I haven't seen any yet.

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Boon_Dockin_Summit

· #8 · Dec 14, 2006

TTT

Really curious in the MidLand and Cobra radios and how this setup is working or not working for people if they tried it yet?

Looking at getting a set.

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