Instructor/student communicators -- what are you using?

[htron435]

I need to buy a new instructor/student communicator. What are you using, and where to buy? Also, what price range? Thanks in advance.

[175K911]

I have both a 15 year old Nady and a Chatterbox.

The Nady doesn't have a helmet clip so when I'm instructing I just stick the box under my left thigh and it works fine. The fact that it's close to 15 years old should say something. Currently my backup unit which I also loan out to other instructors who don't have one or have a failure.

Currently using the Chatterbox. I have the unit mounted on the left side of my helmet for easier wiring to my student. I have a Chatterbox full face earpiece and mike built into my helmet. I have a removable student piece and use the Chatterbox extension cord as well, just to give extra length to the connection so it doesn't get in the way of a student shifting or steering. Word of advice- get two student headsets. I often have 2 students at DE's and it's easier to just give them each their own headset for the weekend.

Either unit is fine. Batteries in the Nady will live longer- typically 2-3 weekends. Chatterbox is rechargeable and a charge will get me through a 3 day weekend at the track. Personally the Chatterbox being fixed to my helmet is a bit more convenient on a hectic weekend at the track, but the Nady is great too.

[htron435]

Thanks Ed. What are the models and where do you buy them?

Input from others?

[Patrice911]

I got the Nady since 10yrs now, the only problem I got with it is the wires to the earpiece, after all that time they had become defective ( broken inside creating noise ) I just replace both cable and its now like new. here a place where to find them. Did a search on our host site and nothing came up.

http://www.ogracing.com/catalog/1-Driver/218-Communicators-Radios

[aston@ultrasw.c]

I have the Nady. It worked fine for about a year but now it crackles and cuts out occasionally, mabe the wires are failing as described above.

I'm not sure if I will buy new headsets or try the chatterbox.

BTW the coiled cord on the headsets get all tangled up and are a real PITA.

[Patrice911]

Most likely its the cable. If you have time, patient, a soldering iron you can replace the cable, I bought 2 cable at Radio Shack with the proper jack already terminated. Basically extension cable. I cut one end of the cable and wired it to the headpiece. The cable is a little bit bigger and stiffer so its not getting pinch as easily as the original one was.

[Tom W]

The Chatterbox HJC-50 works fine and is cheap. You'll need a student headset too. I also have an extra extension cord for the student headset as it make things a bit easier.

[trekkor]

Also Chatterbox.

The extension cable is great. I drape the cable over the students seat so it is out of the way while they drive.

I have a power inverter in my truck and charge the battery on the way to the track if I forget the night before.

Also, create a little loop in the wire out of the headset and zip-tie it to the mic boom.
Students like to pull the head set out of their helmet by the wire.
This eliminates stress on the wire connections.


KT

[hobieboy]

I also have both Chatterbox & Nardy.

Using Chatterbox now. Ability to mount the the earpieces & mic inside the helmet makes it a lot easier & I find the sound quality is better too.

For the student headset broom, make sure you tell them to NOT pull on the mic to get the piece out. I also epoxy that broom connection as well.

[175K911]

Originally Posted by htron435

Thanks Ed. What are the models and where do you buy them?

Input from others?

Trekkor offers good advice re having to ziptie the wire to the boom mike. I've had mine ziptied for some time to prevent the problems he described.

Two good sources:
Mark Francis at CDOC (he and his wife are Porsche people)
Bill Love at OG Racing (long time Porsche guy, national sponsor of PCA Club Race)

http://ogracing.com/catalog/1-Driver/218-Communicators-Radios

To get the HJC-50 (the brains), a headset to build into your full face helmet, 2 student headsets and an expension cord, plan on spending $150-160 for the Chatterbox.

[Randy W]

Chatterbox here. Lasts about 5 years before noise distortion sets in.

[38D]

I've had a Nady for 6-7 years now. Works fine and can also be used as a talkabout on long tows.

[Walt Fricke]

I got tired of the Nady's breaking the wires. Permanent mounting of Chatterbox a plus also.

I did have a Chatterbox student headset go bad. Motorcycle shop had a replacement, luckily. I'll have to do the zip tie bit.

But wireless - Bluetooth? IR signal? would really be the way to go if it could be at all price competitive with Chatterbox. No wires, less hassle. I think something like this is available, but haven't looked into it. The motorcycle folks are the ones driving these markets, and no wires for them are going to be as much of an improvement, if not more, than for us.

Walt Fricke

[JT]

I want to restart this thread as there have been many new advancements in helmet communicators, but most seem to be for motorcycles with fixed headsets in each helmet which means no student headsets. My Chatterbox Tandem Pro HJC-50's battery has died and a new battery via eBay is almost the cost of a new Tandem Pro 2 at Amazon.

The new bluetooth versions, other than Chatterbox, suggest using any bluetooth ear piece, but I'm not sure how feasible that is. Has anyone tried a bluetooth setup.

[bornrich]

I have both Chatterbox and a Sena 10 (bluetooth). I just started to use the Sena for Instruction. One big advantage is I can do car to car for lead follow sessions as long as I stay within a couple hundred yards or so. Using the Sena in car causes a little echo reversion but not too bad.. The real draw back is you have to mount the students com unit to their helmet. For the student I use a carrier that allow for the use of ear bud instead of trying to mount ear pieces in the student helmet also.