Equipment Review - Bravo Headset

***** Bravo Headset (Don't Buy - Don't even borrow!)
***** MilSim Products (Best Buy - Customer Service)

In our quest to achieve TEOTWAWKI short range communications, we have tried a number of headsets that plug into our MURS radios.  Sir Knight does not like the bluetooth-like headsets that plug into your ear and have a flimsy boom mike. They are uncomfortable and generally of poor quality with tiny wires and substandard push to talk (PTT) buttons.  In reality, Sir Knight wanted a single over-the-ear headset with a large boom mike.  After a lot of research, he found MilSim Products and the Bravo headset.  The Bravo headset is a less expensive replica of the headsets the Marines are currently using for personal communication.

Sir Knight ordered a Bravo Headset from MilSim Products and was immediately impressed with their quick ship time and timely communication.  The headset is exactly what we were looking for.  It was comfortable, serviceable, the elastic could be cut of and replaced when it became worn and the speaker had excellent sound quality.  The boom mike also superior, providing sound quality equal to that of speaking directly into the radio.  It could be worn under a cover (hat) or a helmet with comfort and was extremely easy to use.

Outside of speaker and boom mike

Inside of same

Of course, Sir Knight immediately put the headset into use as our motto is "use it, use it, use it".  The Product Durability Test Panel (our children) used the headset a number of times to determine its quality and durability.  The headset failed within two hours.  The push to talk button failed and the radio would not transmit. At the point where the headset plugs into the PTT button the connections are faulty.  Flexing the plug and pushing the PTT button allows the radio to transmit momentarily.  It was obviously a problem in the PTT button assembly.

When we contacted customer service at MilSim Products, they shipped out another PTT button without question.  The second button failed in less than an hour.  After another email to MilSim Products they sent out a different style PTT button.  This button was dead in the bag in which it arrived.  By flexing the wires near the PTT button, you could get intermittent transmission from the radio.  It was obviously a broken wire in the harness where it goes into the button.

Defective PTT button assembly

Headset plugged into radio
(we provided the camo sweatband)

Sir Knight really WANTED to like the Bravo headset.  It was exactly what he was looking for to compliment our radios.  It just didn't work.  He is left with no option but to seek an alternative to the Bravo headset. At this point, he has found nothing comparable, but he will continue the search.  Short range communications are vital in a grid down situation and having equipment that will perform correctly is essential.

The Bravo headset is a "Do not buy - Do not even borrow".  However, MilSim Products is an exceptional company.  Their customer service is superior and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.

The Bravo Headset receives a no star rating.  MilSim Products receives a five star rating.

Practical Preparedness - Short Range Communications

When people are bitten by the preparedness bug most of them start with buying food.  They stock up on wheat, MRE's and freeze dried wonder food in Number 10 tins.  The longer they are infected with this particular "virus"  other symptoms of preparedness emerge.  Family days no longer consist of going to the local park for a hike, but now entail putting as many precious metals (lead and copper) down-range as financially and humanly possible. Garages morph into high density storage units and road trips are planned with topographical maps lined with emergency routes home.  First aid classes are replaced with full-fledged EMT courses and researching uncommon diseases become a favorite pastime.  In a nutshell, you can sum up your life with the phrase "Beans, Bullets and Band-aids".  And then you get hard-core.....

One of the weaknesses of many otherwise well thought out preparedness plans is the lack of communications.  We spend so much time trying to cover the basics that we neglect one of the most basic necessities of all - the ability to communicate with one another.  Without the ability to communicate with your "group" or similarly prepared neighbors, you become intensely vulnerable to any number of grid-down hazards.   Sickness could sweep through an area and quarantine could be broken because of the lack of communication.  Invaders could use the element of surprise to ransack and plunder your retreat due to lack of communications.  A simple inconvenience could become a life or death situation without the ability to call for back-up.

After much research and consideration, we have chosen to use the MURS frequency for our local communications (2 to 3 miles, depending upon terrain).  MURS requires a VHF radio programed to MURS frequencies (there are 5 MURS frequencies).  The MURS frequency is a business band that the FCC released to the public to use without a license.  You are limited to 2 watts on these frequencies by the FCC, however, if you have the abilities to program these radios yourself (this requires software and a programming cable) you could bump the radios up to 5 watts in an emergency.  The reason we chose the MURS radios was that we were disappointed in the quality of the FRS and GRMS radios that were available.  They were cheaply made and often required AAA batteries (AA batteries are our group standard) to function and we had several sets fail in the field for no apparent reason.  I have no doubt there might be some good radios available but we decided to go with very reliable, rugged milspec radios, manufactured by ICOM.  We chose ICOM specifically because Sir Knight has two old ICOM FRS (.5 watt) radios (no longer manufactured) that are so tough that not even the children have been able to destroy them!  We went with the IC F3001 VHF radio.  It had very simple (not as likely to break) controls, is incredibly rugged (both water and dust resistant) and the alkaline battery pack (bought separately) took AA batteries.  The alkaline pack replaces the standard lithium ion battery pack and allows you to use rechargeable AA batteries to power your radio (remember, it is always best to have more than one way to do anything!).  Both the lithium ion and alkaline packs are rechargeable using either standard 110vac or 12vdc chargers, and most preppers already have AA batteries.

Alkaline Battery Packs

Replaces the Lithium Ion battery pack

Headsets and throat-mikes can make a handy option to your field radios.  We are currently testing two different models - one is a headset with a boom mike and the other is a throat-mike with an in-ear receiver.  To date, both have functioned very well. In reality, when it comes to headsets, it is completely a personal choice.  You have to go with what is comfortable and what works for your specific circumstances.  Both of our headsets work under hat or helmets and have good audio quality.  One thing we have noticed about the throat mike (which came without instructions) is that the microphone can't be too close to your windpipe or vocal chords or, when you talk, the audio will be somewhat garbled.  The best position for the mike is on the neck muscles below the ear.  You have to adjust the mike on your neck until you find the best transmission quality.

Throat mike

In-ear receiver

Headset with boom mike (we added the
lovely camo sweatband)

We chose ICOM radios, however, there are any number of other good radios available.  Many times business radios are sold on ebay, in large sets, for a very good price.  Companies going out of business or upgrading their communications are often an excellent source for acquiring used business band radios.

As you get squared away on your beans, bullets and band-aids, it would be wise to also consider the very important aspect of short range communications.  It's not just about preparedness - it's about practical preparedness.