Bone Conduction Headset

[Baz JJ]

Ive toyed with lots of different radio technology and headset types. Ive just ordered a bone conduction headset from CodeRed in the USA.

 

Bone conduction has been used for ages in the tactical world but it was always too expensive for airsoft.

 

CodeRed has just brought this out and although its not dirt cheap, it is more affordable.

 

Ive tried throat mics so it will be interesting to see how this compares.

 

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qrR6JUGpzI8&feature=youtu.be

[BrightCandle]

I am really keen to hear how it is. Do you have an estimate about when yours will be arriving?

[Baz JJ]

No nothing confirmed yet.

I get the impression that deliveries were only starting from April and they havent confirmed they are in stock yet. It would be nice to get it in time for the Okto Eight game on the 25th but its not the end of the world.

[BrightCandle]

If I bought one it would definitely be for okto and if there is a chance it wouldn't arrive that would be bad. Well I have kind of said I wont bring a radio anyway so maybe I should just do that, play with yours if its there and consider one for a future game. I would rather not have the hassle of the extra weight and bulk of a radio and headset anyway so fudge it I might have convinced myself out of it now.

 

Its really cool this is coming to airsoft like prices. Its not cheap of course but I really want to hear what it sounds like.

[Zak Da Mack]

Hopefully it'll arrive on time, but unfortunately, the last thing I ordered from the USA took almost 2 months to deliver. Cheers customs

[Baz JJ]

it said in one of the YT videos I watched that to test it out in the absence of two-way comms, you can just plug it into the Baofengs which have an FM broadcast receive capability and you can listen to the normal entertainment radio channels through your bone rather than your ears. Pretty weird when your ears continue to pick up other sounds and directions from around you and the added radio input is effectively being "mixed" by your brain.

 

I'm interested to see if it can transmit whispers like my throat mics do and whether its more or less sensitive.

[Baz JJ]

they emailed me today to say they dont expect it to be in their stock for another two weeks.

Assume like most things, its made for them in China.

[Baz JJ]

On its way.

[Zak Da Mack]

On its way.

 

Unless it clears through customs straight away, I guess it's not going to be here in time for Tailspin?

[Baz JJ]

Maybe, maybe not. Dont really need it for Tailspin.

[Baz JJ]

Also unlike Tactical Gear Trade who have just messed me about over some Comtacs, the supplier of this headset apologised for the delay and have sent me a free patch, which I thought was thoughtful of them.

[Zak Da Mack]

You can never have enough free patches Are they ZTac comtacs?

[Baz JJ]

No they were TRI Comtacs but Ive cancelled the order now.

[Baz JJ]

Received today. Good service from Code Red - 4 days door to door. They also sent me one of their patches because they were out of stock and I had to wait a couple of weeks for despatch. Have only had the chance to test it in receive, but IT WORKS !! quite strange to hear radio with your ears uncovered so you hear normal ambient sounds as well. It seems that the radio audio is coming from both transducers which is not what I expected. Will try the transmit side later ! doesn't seem to interfere with spectacles or shooting glasses but the chunky frame behind your ears do make them poke out more than normal..

[BrightCandle]

Darn it I should have ordered a set it would have arrived in time. Well its OK its one more smoke grenade instead :-)

[Baz JJ]

Also if the transmission side is pants, you wont have wasted your money !!

[Baz JJ]

Have now tested it on transmit. Only tested in quiet ambient conditions but at a low speaking voice its still crystal clear. You can whisper and the person receiving can make out the meaning providing you annunciate. Tested by sending random three digit numbers at a whisper and the receiving/copying rate was about 60-70%

[Ian_Gere]

Have now tested it on transmit. Only tested in quiet ambient conditions but at a low speaking voice its still crystal clear. You can whisper and the person receiving can make out the meaning providing you annunciate. Tested by sending random three digit numbers at a whisper and the receiving/copying rate was about 60-70%

Oooh, that's not so good. What qualities of the reproduced sound would you guess are interfering with intelligibility?

 

I realise that for non-sound engineers describing sound can be quite difficult, but please have a go using whatever metaphors spring to mind.

[Baz JJ]

The audio was very low. I doubt if somebody ten feet away in the same room would be able to hear me normally.

[Ian_Gere]

So it was just the volume interfering with intelligibility? If you turned up the volume could you not hear whispered transmissions better? Or was there no more amplification to be gained? If that is the case the fault may be with the microphone...

 

Was there nothing about the quality of the reproduced voice that interfered with intelligibility? Like lower frequencies 'muddying' what was said, or excess sibilance obscuring consonants? Maybe the clarity of consonants like T, P, or B was just absent?

[Baz JJ]

I didnt test it that comprehensively and had no detailed control of the listener to be able to do such tests.

 

However, I used it in anger today and it worked well.

 

Its great being able to hold a radio conversation and listen to other direct cnversations going on around you.