Erat

iTrader: (5)

Not Miata related, but maybe a useful thread. I think.

Rules for 2017 5 liter class have made radios mandatory. I looked around, and asking here to get a good opinion on what would be best.
A simple in helmet speaker and microphone is really all I need. I think the courses are smaller than most automotive raceways. Range shouldn't be an issue.

What are people using for communication?

Efini~FC3S

iTrader: (4)

This is what my enduro car has:

http://www.sampsonracing.com/Racing-...er-package.htm


Works pretty darn well for what it is. Bigger tracks like VIR full or Road Atlanta, it struggles when the car is furthest from pit lane, but in general it works well. The car antenna makes a big difference and is well worth the money.

My drivers bring their own helmets pre-wired with helmet mics and use their own ear buds. Ear buds specifically made for racing work much better in my experience then trying to adapt iPhone ear buds or other music player ear buds.

I don't know what a "5 liter class" is but I imagine your talking about drag racing?

Erat

iTrader: (5)

Sorry. Hydroplane race boat.

Our courses are open and flat.

Midtenn

iTrader: (15)

+1 for racing ear buds. Its annoying having an ear bud fall out halfway through a stint and you can't do anything about it.

Erat

iTrader: (5)

Thanks for the suggestion too.

I do like this option Racing Radios Starter "+" 5watt 2 Way Package

Decent price and not over the top. Radio box looks small enough and easy to mount and waterproof.
I'm almost wondering if it's worth it to piece the system together interdependently.

Ben

iTrader: (33)

A quality noise cancelling mic is more important to worry about than the ear bud. Pretty much anything will do. I use regular ear buds secured in ear by a piece of racer's tape. A crappy mic will make you sound like Charlie Brown's teacher and is annoying. Also make sure the Chief has a good heatset and mic.

If you have the budget and want to press the easy button, there are a number of outlets that sell (expensive) radio packages with everything you need. A more DIY approach can save you a lot of money, but you have to be willing to put in the work including programming radios yourself. I use Baofeng F8HP's which are kind of middle of the road, but they are very fairly priced. There are motorola and kenwood setups that are much nicer, but you can't touch the F8HP's $60 price. I also use them because they support dual channels. We often run 2 cars at an event, and I find the dual channel radios easy to manage. Our crew chief hates the dual channel radio though and prefers to carry 2 of them instead, each locked to a single channel. Something else to consider is the radios have a digital keypad which is impossible to manipulate while racing. If a channel change is needed, it can only happen during a driver change, or maybe during a full course yellow. Some of my team mates prefer radios with ***** so they can change channels easily. Whatever you put in car, make sure it powers off the car, not off a battery. Batteries are the bane of the radio's existence.

<update> gave you the wrong p/n. I'm using the UV-82HP not F8HP.

mekilljoydammit

All right, bump... looking at racing radios too (and couldn't find another thread to bump) so what do you need to do regarding licensing, not pissing off the tower/corner workers, stuff like that? Just had a "fun" race weekend where my dad went off on lap 1, and I had to go for a hike to figure out what the hell happened.

Kinda between the Sampson setup linked, Affordable 5 Watt Radio System or RJS Sportsman Series 2 Man System without any good clue as to relative goodness of the radios and stuff, and... well, I'm starting at zero here.

Erat

iTrader: (5)

This is what I ended up with. I opted for the HD ear buds which was a good decision. Loud and clear in the boat. Also very clear considering I was over 100mph with an open cockpit. Microphone came through crystal clear too.

The only bummer is there is no positive lock for the helmet wiring. It is just a slip fit. BUT im almost positive they have to do that for safety reasons. You cant have your helmet locked into the car / boat via some cable, should there be an accident that would not be good. I ended up taping the connection because it would come apart if not.

Savington

iTrader: (31)

I wouldn't touch a Chinese 5watt radio with a 10 foot pole. Even the Vertex stuff that Sampson used to sell is not highly regarded in the radio world. I had a Vertex 20watt in-car and was never happy with it. My next radio system will be all Motorola stuff.

Efini~FC3S

iTrader: (4)

Despite not being highly regarded in the radio world, my team has had generally good luck with the 5W vertex system and I've been pleased with its performance, especially considering the cost and ease of use.

I would stay away from the cheapest Chinese radios. I know of a couple teams that have tried them and not one of them has been happy with the performance/durability/quality, etc.

We had mega dollar Motorola radios in the Grand Am / IMSA cars and we had just as many issues with those radios as any other ones I've used. It's 2017...it seems to me that 2-way radio (digital or other) should be ridiculously cheap and work amazing...I mean the technology is only 110 years old? I thought technology got exponentially cheaper over time?

zellers88

iTrader: (1)

Hopefully not the Motorola digital stuff. At work we just switched from old Motorola analog radios to digital ones and they have been nothing but problems. Googling turns up lots of police and fire departments having the same problems.

jpreston

iTrader: (4)

I have the Sampson EVX-261 digital radios. No complaints so far. I haven't added the external antenna yet but we had full reception all the way around Road America, which surprised me. I did one event last year with the $80-100 Sampson helmet kit and was pretty unimpressed with the mic quality. The crew guys had a lot of trouble understanding me. I switched to a Stilo over the winter and the Stilo built-in mic/speaker quality is MUCH better. It was a lot of money for a helmet but I don't regret it at all for enduro use.

Erat

iTrader: (5)

I am also in the same boat with Motorola here at work. The new and old stuff both sucks. They're not even kinda durable. I find myself buying $4-500 replacements a couple times a year. Though this is an industrial environment with 200lb gorillas using them.

bellwilliam

iTrader: (1)

Cell phone so advanced. You would think racing radios is simple. In reality, even F1 with unlimited budget struggle with radio. At every F1 race, there is a team or 2 have radio issues.

My point is don't get your hope too high with radio, always have a backup plan when radio don't work. Your radio work at one track don't mean it willl work at another smaller flat terrain track. Racing radio is a black art.

Bronson M

iTrader: (1)

With the ability to easily merge two or three calls on an iPhone why wouldn't you just use a cell phone and nearly any of the really great noise canceling Bluetooth headsets?

If the call was dropped most headsets these days will allow you to answer the call by basically saying "answer"

FatKao

Racing radios would work just as well if you put one of the antennas 200ft in the air as well. FM radios require line of sight, for two ground stations with a bunch of hilly race track in between you're relying on some seriously compromised transmissions. The radio in your cell is somewhere around .5w. With that cheepo Chinese Baofeng radio I can hit repeaters 15mi away no problem. I did replace the antenna with something decent though. You will likely want to stick some kind of antenna on the roof of your car though.

mx5-kiwi

I too think a cell phone would be easier not to mention clearer. Can you give an example of what you mean though...anything i have looked at in Bluetooth has "appeared" to be not very comfortable under a helmet....

Bronson M

iTrader: (1)

Ehh....comfort might be an issue. I use this Voyager 5200 Bluetooth Headset | Plantronics since I have a hearing loss and it goes really loud. Might be able to modify the foam around the ear hole to allow for this to be comfortable. I can tell you I can stand outside in a strong 20mph wind and the person on the other end thinks I'm in an office environment. It's also has voice activated answering so the driver could answer a call hands free if they got disconnected for any reason.

mx5-kiwi

Problem with a unit like that is modifying the foam means you jeopardise the helmet AND the mic is going to be pushed up hard against your face probaby affecting its capabilities.

I have payed a little with bluetooth earbud ones but am not totally satisfied yet.....as someone else metioned, requires tape over ears to hold in place etc...

Bronson M

iTrader: (1)

Well if you're jeopardising the helmet and it's still up against your face you're doing it wrong I get cutting on the foam could be taboo, but honestly looking at my racequip helmet the area around the ear is fine as is, it'll just need a small slot for the boom to fit into and that isn't going to affect the crash worthiness of the helmet. If you're willing to give up on the whole answering hands free thing you could get away with regular old apple ear buds with a bit of tape, the cell phone still takes care of the connectivity problem.