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  • ww

    Sept. 24, 2008 2:43 p.m. ww Dork

    The time is rapidly approaching when we'll be headed out to Thunderhill for our next 24hrs of LeMons race and we're looking for race communications systems.

    We used the Chatterbox FRS system last year and it was ok, but had some problems. At $149 it's pretty attractive even with the performance issues compared to even the "economy" versions offered for professional race teams. The cheapest of which I've found is $550 for a driver/crew chief (2 man) system with an additional $350 to add another radio/headset. With the new Chatterbox FRS/GMRS systems coming in at over $300...

    Has anyone used anything else?

    I've heard suggestions of simply using a wired headset and a cell phone with unlimited service, but we kinda want something a little more "mission specific" that can be used between more than two people at a time.

    Cheers, WW

  • Sept. 25, 2008 7:15 a.m. stumpmj Dork

    We tried the cell phone thing last year. It didn't work so well. It was really hard to get the earpiece to stay in under the helmet and the mic didn't pic up voice over the engine very well. We gave up on it four hours in.

    This year we figured we'd wing it see what happened but we blew the car up after 1.5 hours so that method didn't get put to the test either.

  • Jensenman

    Sept. 25, 2008 8:34 a.m. Jensenman UltimaDork

    We cheaped out big time and used two old CB radios. It actually worked pretty well, even with full face helmets. Use an external speaker pointed at the driver for best results.

  • sergio

    Oct. 5, 2008 10:42 a.m. sergio New Reader

    Jensenman wrote:

    We cheaped out big time and used two old CB radios. It actually worked pretty well, even with full face helmets. Use an external speaker pointed at the driver for best results.

    What did you use for a mic in the helmet? And is it push to talk or voice activated. Seems like voice activated would not work cause of all the noise.

  • stuart in mn

    Oct. 5, 2008 11:58 a.m. stuart in mn Dork

    FRS (family system) radios are really inexpensive these days, and you can get them with headsets. The range is somewhat limited but depending on the track layout they may work fine. Here's one example: http://www.motorolatalkabout.com/motorola_t6500_r-21.html You can find them at sporting goods stores or places like Radio Shack.

 

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