Headset Woes

I operate SSB from time to time even though it is not my favourite mode. My usual forays to phone are contests and DXpeditions. I periodically use my big signal to run DX stations on phone, for fun and a change of pace. Microphones are otherwise pushed aside or unplugged to tidy the operating desk.

There are several styles of microphone with which we are all familiar:

• Handheld
• Desktop
• Boom
  
• Headset

Handhelds are fine for the occasional use at the operating desk, but are more appropriate for mobile operators. Having to hold a PTT button is tiresome for long operating sessions and contribute to transmitted noise due to hand pressure and movement. For my style of operating a hand mic is purely for emergencies when my preferred mic fails. Most rigs include one so I have quite the collection.

Many HF operators love desktop mics. Quality is often excellent and they are suitable for both PTT and VOX. I don't like them because you have to hold your head still, as if it was in a virtual vice. That makes it difficult to fiddle with the computer and rig while talking and it is uncomfortable for long transmissions and operating sessions. It blocks keyboard access, takes up valuable desk space and blocks my view of the rig.

Boom mics share many of the characteristics of desktop mics but allow your head to remain upright because they can be positioned more conveniently. Decades ago, my friends and I used to tape small mics on swivel stands repurposed from desk lamps for contest operating. PTT is a foot switch or VOX. I gave up on them after my first experience with a headset.

Headsets are worn on the head and include headphones and a microphone in a single unit. Like many contesters, this is what I prefer. Headsets have significant advantages:

• Do not impair vision and access to the keyboard and equipment
• Consistent audio level and quality since no matter how your head or body moves the mic is always in the same position relative to the mouth
  

It is no surprise that there are a variety of headset options that are of interest or concern to hams:

• Comfort when worn for long periods (typical for contesters and DXpeditioners)
• 3.5 mm or USB connectors
• Wired or wireless
• Electret or dynamic mic element
  
• Flat or voice communication audio response
  
• Enclosed or open ear enclosures for the headphones
  
• Servicability
  
• Quality: longevity; resistance to abuse; reliability
  

Once the domain of hams and professional communicators, headsets are now used for e-games, video and voice internet communications, and call centres. Supply serves the demand, so the market offers an abundance of choices for those applications. 

Unfortunately the quality is often poor and price is an unreliable indicator of quality. Since most products are targets at internet and computer use, those of good quality may score low on our requirements. Products specifically made for hams and other communicators also have deficiencies. There are more choices than ever but few that are great.

Let's look more deeply at several of the options that are pertinent to HF operating.

Comfort

Let's face it, most headphones and headsets are uncomfortable after several hours. For a contester that's a problem. When my head and ears are throbbing in discomfort, and sometimes pain, it is difficult to continue. There are very expensive headsets that are uncomfortable and there are cheap ones that are comfortable. Sometimes it helps to take my glasses off since it reduces a critical pressure point and my vision is adequate to operate the computer and radios.

One of the most comfortable and reasonably priced headsets with full ear enclosures is the Yamaha CM500 (pictured above). Many contesters agree. Unfortunately it has been discontinued and there is a dwindling supply. Although it is reputed to be robust that is relative. The mic on mine quit and it is pretty well impossible to service.

Many similar looking headsets are not as comfortable. The headband of some, but not all headsets can be spread to lessen the pressure. 

If the plastics used for the band or the ear enclosures are stiff or thin there is very little that can be done to make them comfortable. The comfortable plastic covers on many headsets wear out quickly because they are soft and pliable. This happened to my Koss SB45 headset, along with a broken wire in the cord (see picture at right).

Don't expect to be allowed to try on a pair in a store. Your best bet may be to ask your friends with similar operating habits for recommendations. Only ask those with fewer opinions and more operating experience.

Personally, I have always favoured open air headsets and headphones that sit on the ear without an enclosure. My ancient Heil headset is like that, and if the cord hadn't failed I might have continued using it. Most hams need ear enclosures to eliminate household noise, but if you can close the door of the shack that may be good enough unless you have amplifiers with big fan noise.

Connectors

You will find that many headsets have a USB cable for direct connection to a computer. You can use these if your logging software or other application can route the audio to the rig mic and headphone connectors via the sound card ports. Contesters often do this since it simplifies station cabling, mutes the mic while playing voice messages, recording messages on the fly and support audio routing for SO2R. For example, the N1MM contest logging application. That may be difficult to do outside of contests and without specialized software.

There are adapters available to convert USB to 3.5 mm stereo for both headphone and mic audio. Otherwise you may prefer to choose headset with 3.5 mm plugs. Many older radios, and a few new ones, have unique mic connectors for which you'll need adapters.

The choice will depend on your station and your operating preferences. Be very careful to read the fine print before ordering or you'll waste your money.

Wireless

Headset cords are a common failure point, and they often get in the way. It is inconvenient to be "tethered". Only some of the most expensive headsets allow cord replacement. You can try to replace or repair cords on other products if you have endless patience and you are prepared to employ destructive measures to pry them open, and try to reseal them afterwards.

Wireless headsets would seem to be desirable since there is no cord. The problem is that battery life is measured in hours, and that is insufficient for operating a contest. For some, the battery pack goes has to be placed in a shirt pocket. The other end of the wireless link is typically only for connection to a computer, and that may not work for you.

Mic element

The vast majority of headsets have a flat response. For "talk power" hams prefer a strong mid-range peak that accentuates communications at the expense of fidelity. Long ago the only good option was to select a mic element designed to do this. I had one of those elements for my first Heil headset. Special elements are no longer necessary since most high end rigs include a programmable equalizer. 

When combined with a speech processor the improvement in average power, and therefore being copied by others, can be quite impressive. There is no need to over-amplify or over-process the audio. If you do expect excess distortion and splatter.

What you never want to do is use one of those voice accentuating mic elements and an equalizer that does the same. Use one or the other. I prefer a flat electret mic for my headsets. Swapping headsets has no effect on audio processing and you have a far greater choice of commercial headsets. Leave the equalization to the rig.

You also need to consider the type of mic element. There are really only two that are of interest to us: dynamic and electret. There are still transceivers that only support dynamic mics, yet the majority of mics have an electret element. There are a few modern transceivers that have insufficient gain for the lower output dynamic mic, and for those you must use an electret element. 

Apart from gain, an important difference is that the electret mic requires DC power. Pretty well every computer sound card has this feature, as do many modern transceivers. For rigs that don't you'll need to buy or build an adapter that AC couples the audio and supplies DC bias to the element. The Yamaha CM500 includes a battery-operated adapter. I customized an adapter than connect a 3.5 mm stereo plug to the 8-pin front panel jack of Yaesu rigs, and taps the DC pin to bias an electret element and a capacitor to block the DC from the audio signal path.

Reliability and servicability

Perhaps the least reliable part of a headset is the cord. Every movement of your head makes it shake and it bends when you take them off, so that over time the thin wire fatigues. Thicker insulation and strain relievers help but do not cure the problem. Very few headsets allow cord replacement, or of any other part for that matter. Not even the plastic ear pads can be replaced when they inevitably wear out.

I have found that the cheaper headsets are not up to heavy use day after day. The cord becomes intermittent, the mic element fails or the plastic tears or crumbles. They are sealed units that cannot be opened without damaging them to a lesser or greater extent. There are expensive headsets that are easy to repair and replacement parts can be ordered. Unless you really like those headsets it is poor economy since several cheaper and often more comfortable headsets can be purchased for the same price.

I have looked around and canvassed fellow contesters and my reluctant conclusion is that headsets have a limited lifetime. They are perishable items, like batteries. When they fail, you discard them and buy another headset. There just doesn't appear to be a sensible alternative. There are contesters who have stockpiled several of their favourite headsets in case they need them fast and when they are no longer manufactured.

Since I have a strong preference for headsets in contests, my intention moving forward is to only use those headsets for contests. The rest of the time I will use other headsets, or headphones for non-voice modes like CW. Swapping headsets and headphones before and after contests is annoying but a practical way to extend their service life.

CQ WW is on the horizon

We are days away from the largest phone contest of the year: CQ WW. Since I have not been able to pick up the replacement CM500 a friend bought for me (we live far apart) I purchased another Koss 45 headset. It is less comfortable and the cord is flimsy, but from my experience they are acceptable for an 48 hour contest.

Although I don't intend to put in an all-band full-time effort, the rapid approach of CQ WW motivated me to act. So I went to a popular on-line site and put in my order. The headset arrived the next day and is now in use. If only the rest of my station was as ready!

I have been tardy with blog articles because I am exceptionally busy with tower and antenna work, and the weather isn't getting any warmer. I want the work done by mid-November. Expect more about those projects in upcoming articles.