in helmet mic/radio recommendations
#1
Race Director
Thread Starter
in helmet mic/radio recommendations
Guys,
our lemons team is looking to add in car communication so the driver and pit can talk during the race about whats happening (or not happening) with the car, fuel load, tires, brake, etc.. looking for some recommendations on what works good.. we're all on a budget but dont want crap..
is there a standard that everyone uses or a predominate brand/setup??
thanks for the any help!
our lemons team is looking to add in car communication so the driver and pit can talk during the race about whats happening (or not happening) with the car, fuel load, tires, brake, etc.. looking for some recommendations on what works good.. we're all on a budget but dont want crap..
is there a standard that everyone uses or a predominate brand/setup??
thanks for the any help!
#3
Racer
Member Since: Jan 2005
Location: Somewhere in the Finger Lakes of NY
Posts: 347
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Some will laugh...but this is a proven system -
CB radio - 5 watt mobile unit with an external speaker jack, in the car. Good (good = $15-20) used mobile radio speaker (check with your local 2-way shop, they'll have a stack of them under the bench), hose-clamped to the roll-cage right behind the driver's head. Volume turned up. Wanna talk ? Grab the mic, stick it in your face, push the button and yap. Get a good antenna (i.e. LONG) and mount it correctly.
Pit end - another 5-watt mobile unit with external speaker, powered by a car battery. It's loud enough so that everyone for 5-6 jack, wired to a speaker hung in somepits around you will hear it when your driver calls in.
Total cost = ~$150 (radios = $40 each, antennas = $30). That's cheaper than just one "helmet kit" for a VHF or UHF radio system.
I have the expensive stuff in two cars, and the cheap stuff in another. Both meet the need.
CB radio - 5 watt mobile unit with an external speaker jack, in the car. Good (good = $15-20) used mobile radio speaker (check with your local 2-way shop, they'll have a stack of them under the bench), hose-clamped to the roll-cage right behind the driver's head. Volume turned up. Wanna talk ? Grab the mic, stick it in your face, push the button and yap. Get a good antenna (i.e. LONG) and mount it correctly.
Pit end - another 5-watt mobile unit with external speaker, powered by a car battery. It's loud enough so that everyone for 5-6 jack, wired to a speaker hung in somepits around you will hear it when your driver calls in.
Total cost = ~$150 (radios = $40 each, antennas = $30). That's cheaper than just one "helmet kit" for a VHF or UHF radio system.
I have the expensive stuff in two cars, and the cheap stuff in another. Both meet the need.
#4
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Dec 2006
Location: Phoenix Arizona
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Some will laugh...but this is a proven system -
CB radio - 5 watt mobile unit with an external speaker jack, in the car. Good (good = $15-20) used mobile radio speaker (check with your local 2-way shop, they'll have a stack of them under the bench), hose-clamped to the roll-cage right behind the driver's head. Volume turned up. Wanna talk ? Grab the mic, stick it in your face, push the button and yap. Get a good antenna (i.e. LONG) and mount it correctly.
Pit end - another 5-watt mobile unit with external speaker, powered by a car battery. It's loud enough so that everyone for 5-6 jack, wired to a speaker hung in somepits around you will hear it when your driver calls in.
Total cost = ~$150 (radios = $40 each, antennas = $30). That's cheaper than just one "helmet kit" for a VHF or UHF radio system.
I have the expensive stuff in two cars, and the cheap stuff in another. Both meet the need.
CB radio - 5 watt mobile unit with an external speaker jack, in the car. Good (good = $15-20) used mobile radio speaker (check with your local 2-way shop, they'll have a stack of them under the bench), hose-clamped to the roll-cage right behind the driver's head. Volume turned up. Wanna talk ? Grab the mic, stick it in your face, push the button and yap. Get a good antenna (i.e. LONG) and mount it correctly.
Pit end - another 5-watt mobile unit with external speaker, powered by a car battery. It's loud enough so that everyone for 5-6 jack, wired to a speaker hung in somepits around you will hear it when your driver calls in.
Total cost = ~$150 (radios = $40 each, antennas = $30). That's cheaper than just one "helmet kit" for a VHF or UHF radio system.
I have the expensive stuff in two cars, and the cheap stuff in another. Both meet the need.
#5
Race Director
Thread Starter
think we have the car and pit communication covered.. just need the helmet kit.. was thinking of:
Racing Electronics RaceTRAC
this one seems like the split cable is a little more tidy.. no just solder and shrink wrap.
http://www.racingelectronics.net/ind...its&item=RE705
SRC:
Flex Boom Helmet Kit NASCAR $92
Complete NASCAR flex boom Helmet Kit with noise canceling M0201 high gain microphone and mounting hardware w/ do-it-yourself instructions.
http://www.srcproducts.com/product.s...5&categoryId=5
Sampson:
Complete NASCAR Flex Boom Helmet Kit $97
Complete NASCAR helmet kit with flex boom, dynamic high noise canceling mic and 1/8" ear phone jack. All mounting hardware and instructions included.
NASCAR Helmet Kit
http://www.sampsonracing.com/sampson...new/home_f.htm
Race communication of Virgina
NASCAR style helmet kit. Includes flexible boom, slim style noise cancelling microphone, earphone jack, mounting clamps, screws and cloth microphone cover. Made in the USA using quality components.
http://www.racecommunications.com/pr...elmet-Kit.html
the car has (or is going to have) the nascar style connector (not the imsa connector). price about the same.. whats the difference? mic quality? construction? anyone have any experiance with these or other similar kits?
also noticed the sampson has a rivited connection to the helmet whereas the racecomofVA has screws.. wondering if those might loosen continuously..
install article from GRM:
http://www.sampsonracing.com/sampson...new/home_f.htm
Racing Electronics RaceTRAC
this one seems like the split cable is a little more tidy.. no just solder and shrink wrap.
http://www.racingelectronics.net/ind...its&item=RE705
SRC:
Flex Boom Helmet Kit NASCAR $92
Complete NASCAR flex boom Helmet Kit with noise canceling M0201 high gain microphone and mounting hardware w/ do-it-yourself instructions.
http://www.srcproducts.com/product.s...5&categoryId=5
Sampson:
Complete NASCAR Flex Boom Helmet Kit $97
Complete NASCAR helmet kit with flex boom, dynamic high noise canceling mic and 1/8" ear phone jack. All mounting hardware and instructions included.
NASCAR Helmet Kit
http://www.sampsonracing.com/sampson...new/home_f.htm
Race communication of Virgina
NASCAR style helmet kit. Includes flexible boom, slim style noise cancelling microphone, earphone jack, mounting clamps, screws and cloth microphone cover. Made in the USA using quality components.
http://www.racecommunications.com/pr...elmet-Kit.html
the car has (or is going to have) the nascar style connector (not the imsa connector). price about the same.. whats the difference? mic quality? construction? anyone have any experiance with these or other similar kits?
also noticed the sampson has a rivited connection to the helmet whereas the racecomofVA has screws.. wondering if those might loosen continuously..
install article from GRM:
http://www.sampsonracing.com/sampson...new/home_f.htm
Last edited by Z06_BluByU; 12-21-2010 at 04:00 PM.
#6
Racer
Member Since: Jan 2005
Location: Somewhere in the Finger Lakes of NY
Posts: 347
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You're going to need ear buds or helmet speakers for each helmet, along with those helmet kits. Figure on spending another $90 per helmet for earbuds. Consider "helmet speakers" too...you can get them from motorcycle specialty shops, or from Vince at P.E.D -
http://www.pedracingproducts.com/PED_Race_Radios.htm
Most of the mic / helmet kits are the same...so there is really no difference in suppliers. The "noise-cancelling" mics mostly just require that the driver has to yell a lot. I've always riveted & hot-glue'ed helmet stuff in place.
Earbuds are what you'll need if the environment is really noisy...I use earbuds in my open cockpit car, and the big noisy V8 thing. The other stuff, I can get away with the "helmet speakers"...they're actually painfully loud much of the time, and will use foamy earplug protectors AND helmet speakers.
Go with NASCAR plugs. It's just a standard 3-conductor 1/4" phone plug / jack, available at Radio Shack etc..."IMSA plug" is a mil-spec connector that is pretty much unobtainium thru normal channels, so if you break one, you're skeee-rooo'ed.
http://www.pedracingproducts.com/PED_Race_Radios.htm
Most of the mic / helmet kits are the same...so there is really no difference in suppliers. The "noise-cancelling" mics mostly just require that the driver has to yell a lot. I've always riveted & hot-glue'ed helmet stuff in place.
Earbuds are what you'll need if the environment is really noisy...I use earbuds in my open cockpit car, and the big noisy V8 thing. The other stuff, I can get away with the "helmet speakers"...they're actually painfully loud much of the time, and will use foamy earplug protectors AND helmet speakers.
Go with NASCAR plugs. It's just a standard 3-conductor 1/4" phone plug / jack, available at Radio Shack etc..."IMSA plug" is a mil-spec connector that is pretty much unobtainium thru normal channels, so if you break one, you're skeee-rooo'ed.
#7
Guys,
our lemons team is looking to add in car communication so the driver and pit can talk during the race about whats happening (or not happening) with the car, fuel load, tires, brake, etc.. looking for some recommendations on what works good.. we're all on a budget but dont want crap..
is there a standard that everyone uses or a predominate brand/setup??
thanks for the any help!
our lemons team is looking to add in car communication so the driver and pit can talk during the race about whats happening (or not happening) with the car, fuel load, tires, brake, etc.. looking for some recommendations on what works good.. we're all on a budget but dont want crap..
is there a standard that everyone uses or a predominate brand/setup??
thanks for the any help!
Bob Hines