|
|
Discussion on Wireless Communication Devices for Arena Lessons
|
| Author |
Message |
Member:
5691
|
Posted on Thursday, Jun 21, 2007 - 1:11 am:
Hi All,
Have attended a couple of clinics where the clinician has the rider put an earphone on during the lesson and the trainer just talks normally into a mike clipped to their shirt(or uses a headset)while giving instructions. I would like to purchase one of these devices for my daughter and trainer to use, especially at shows in the warm up arena and for the other riders at our barn to use during lessons. It would save on our trainer's voice and make it easier to hear for the rider.
What are they called and where can I find such a device? Does anyone else use a communication device and do you like it?
Thanks for your help,
Smiles,
Debra
|
Member:
stevens
|
Posted on Thursday, Jun 21, 2007 - 8:50 am:
Hi Debra,
I've used these as well, as a student, and really like them. I would just google "wireless headset receiver" or call Radio Shack and ask them.
I'm always amazed at how knowledgeable Radio Shack employees are unlike the big box stores.
Good luck.
Chris
|
Member:
cgby1
|
Posted on Thursday, Jun 21, 2007 - 12:05 pm:
Hi Debra, I have also thought about getting a wireless communication device. I found a company called Comtek that sells them but they are pricey. If you find something for less than a grand let me know.
|
Member:
stevens
|
Posted on Thursday, Jun 21, 2007 - 12:49 pm:
We're essentially talking about walkie talkies that accept headsets and earbuds (listen only). Typically, the instructor and rider are relatively close (within 1 mile), so a standard walkie talkie has sufficient range.
The instructor can hold the walkie talkie, or use a headset that transmits. The student can clip another walkietalkie to their belt and use the earbuds to just listen/receive.
Such a set up could easily be under $100.
|
Member:
cgby1
|
Posted on Thursday, Jun 21, 2007 - 5:17 pm:
My son has an AudioVox set of walkie-talkies, however like all the walkie-talkies that I have seen they have so much static that they are difficult to understand. I will ask the Radio Shack if they have anything better. I bought a monitor at Radio Shack for my barn when my mare was expecting her foal but I couldn't hear anything except static and my barn is in direct line of sight and less than 200 hundred feet away. It was well within the range that the device was supposed to reach but it wasn't very expensive. An ad in a dressage magazine said that their instructor used the Comtek for teaching their students.
|
Member:
stevens
|
Posted on Friday, Jun 22, 2007 - 8:49 am:
I've had much better luck with walkie talkies. So much so that I've forgotten to turn mine off and heard the next lesson starting up when I was 2 miles down the freeway. Mine are Motorola brand.
Chris
|
Member:
judyh
|
Posted on Friday, Jun 22, 2007 - 9:03 am:
When I first started riding with my current trainer, we used walkie talkies to communicate. She has had nodules removed from her vocal chords and was cautioned about raising her voice too much. It really worked well. I wore a headset duct taped to my helmet (two or three small strips)and the battery pack clipped to my belt. For riders without a belt, the battery pack was placed in a fanny pack. The trainer could then communicate without raising her voice and hands free. It was really nice having that voice in my head all the time.
You notice I am writing in the past tense. I believe the equipment came from Radio Shack. I have to admit that we were very hard on it, but we ran through batteries very quickly and wires had to be repaired and it became a financial problem. So now she uses a bull horn.
|
Member:
5691
|
Posted on Friday, Jun 22, 2007 - 2:38 pm:
Thanks for all your responses. I went to one of our local Radio Shacks and they showed me a couple of walkie talkies that you could plug a head set into, but it was not a user friendly system for the rider. I don't need a system for the rider to talk into... Just the trainer. I want a system that is quick and easy for the rider to take off after the warm up ring work without fussing with cords and headsets tangling in helmets.
I looked at the Comtek website which is promising, but I do not like the neck loop headset that was featured on the one system that seemed closest to what I have seen.
I went to a hearing aid business which understood what I needed, since many students with auditory processing needs use the same system in the classroom. One of the audiologists is looking for me to see if he can find a system that would work for us that would use just a (reciever) earpiece for the rider.
My next step is to contact the person who conducted the clinics and ask them what system was used and if I see anyone using a wirelesss system at our horseshow this weekend, I will certainly be wandering over and introducing myself.
Smiles,
Debra
|
Member:
alden
|
Posted on Friday, Jun 22, 2007 - 10:51 pm:
I think what you're looking for is call IFB, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interruptible_feedback,
I've found some systems online but so far everything is sold through independent retailers. Price unknown.
As for two-way radios (Walkie talkies) here's some FYI:
FRS, lest expensive UHF FM radios. Really poor to so so sound quality. No license required
GRMS, more expensive UHF FM radios. Good to excellent sound quality. Supposed to get a FCC (free) license to operate
MURS, more expensive VHF FM radios. Good to excellent sound quality. No longer sold in stores, available on Ebay. No license required
2- Meter and 70cm Ham radio. Very expensive VHF, UHF and Microwave FM and PM radios. Excellent sound quality. License required and enforced.
UHF, Ultra High Frequency. Good in stores, town and line of sight operation
VHF, Very High Frequency. Good outdoors and a little better than line of sight.
FM, Frequency Modulation. The one and only modulation to use (except Phase Modulation but few can tell the difference), avoid AM (Amplitude Modulation) this is like the older CB radios.
(Opps, got carried away  I'm a Ham radio operator, that and 22 years of military electronics) Any other questions
Good day,
Alden
|
Member:
alden
|
Posted on Friday, Jun 22, 2007 - 10:55 pm:
Look up B&H Photo online and search for IFB communications. Some systems are very expensive but there's a couple wireless intercomm systems that aren't too bad.
Good day,
Alden
|
Member:
alden
|
Posted on Friday, Jun 22, 2007 - 11:06 pm:
I also found the Nady PEM500, 16 channel UHF IFB system priced around $270. Just google Nady PEM500.
Good day,
Alden
|
Member:
cgby1
|
Posted on Saturday, Jun 23, 2007 - 12:00 am:
Thanks Alden, Lots of good info. I will check it out along with the Motorola walkie-talkies.
|
Member:
stevens
|
Posted on Saturday, Jun 23, 2007 - 3:09 pm:
I've found that ear buds work fine with a helmet; you just don't want to be sharing them probably.
Good Luck
|
|
|
