Throat Mics ?

[Mustang]

I am sure some of you guys have used them
Did you like them, Pros-Cons

Right now we are using just ear buds and want to upgrade

I found these and was thinking of trying them
Might be to big for Lil Stangs neck though

www.weaponblender.com/index.php?productID=1040

or would it be better to go to the spend the $ and go with something like this

www.weaponblender.com/index.php?productID=865

[Tex]

Neither, unfortunately. Stick with those standard ear buds until you have about $75 to spend on a headset. The $30 or so and under are very chiny and have some really low quality wiring. And pretty much any throat Mic under $100 is a waste of money, they are just really bad at picking up the sound and transmitting it clearly.

If you want I can suggest a few solid headsets for you when you have the $.

[Mustang]

Thanks Tex
I could have really answered that myself...... I should know about cheap stuff
So yes I will take a recommendation.
I don’t mind spending the cash if it worth it
As a note I use Motorola

I looked at your radio at the one Hellfish game but you guys were talking about programming etc. and I wasn’t sure I wanted to get into all that but…. I might even be coaxed into some new radios for the summer

[King]

I remember a lot of the oldschool MiA guys had a lot of info about this, I recall reading that a throat mic under $300 is going to pick up audio worse than even your cheapest boom mics.

[Thor]

Not to mention, I've been told that throat mics are not very comfortable (at least not the cheapo ones). But, if you're not into a headset, they do look cool, very Tears of the Sun-esque.

[Zorak]

The way I see it, you have two options. One, lay out the dough - a lot of dough - for a pro-grade radio and throat mic combination. Make sure the throat mic has been tested with that radio, and that both are built to take some abuse. Two, buy whatever you can afford and accept that you may very well have to return it, or even throw it away, because it was in fact cheap plastic crap. It's not that all reasonably priced units are crap - for the right person (with the right size and shape neck), with the right radio, they might work fine. It's just that they might be all wrong for your neck and your radio. When you go high end, you're paying for something built to work regardless, and that costs more.

I went through four different el-cheapo throat mic setups before I gave up and bought a TCI tactical throat mic. It cost more than most AEGs, but it works.

[Mustang]

Zorak, I don't mind spending some money but yea I am not ready to shell out that much for a mic.
I read your radio guide before (lots of info). I see you mention the Icom. I think I am going to have to look at a radio before I start wasting $ on a headset for my cheap motorola
Look like its time to do some research...

[spec]

Icom does make very nice radios. You won't be wasting you money with them.

[cqbr]

I have a pretty nice throat mic setup that I like Mustang.

If your still interested in one, PM me and I'll get you the info for it and where to get one.

[Thor]

Seems like I remember somewhere that Pryme made a decent one, but I don't know if they still do or not.

[Zorak]

My Pryme never worked, but El Phantasmo likes his a lot.

Edit: To be precise, it never worked with my Icom. With the right cable, it worked fine with my Motorola FRS... which did me no good.

[El Phantasamo]

Feb 19, 2009 21:56:40 GMT -5 Zorak said:

My Pryme never worked, but El Phantasmo likes his a lot.

Edit: To be precise, it never worked with my Icom. With the right cable, it worked fine with my Motorola FRS... which did me no good.

This is true.

Both Zorak and myself use Icom IC F21-GM radios. Zorak has time and time again had issues using a Pryme throat mic on his Icom, where I have had none.

We have discussed this, and have several theories as to why the Icom/Pryme rig never worked for Zorak, and works great for me.

1) Zoraks Pryme is an early production, and mine is a mid production. there could have been an impedance mismatch issue Pryme heard of, and corrected in newer units.

2) The cord between Zoraks Icom adn Pryme PTT button may be bad. This explains why it works fine on a Motorola tlakabout, but not on his Icom. I have offered the use of my Icom <-> PTT cable for diagnostic purposes. Zorak is minimally concerned about his Pryme rig as he is MORE than happy with his TCI rig.

I would say the Pryme throat mic is the best you can get for the price. Anything with a lower price tag will only be a disappointment.
Several people on MIA have heard me over the radio using my Pryme. SkyPilot said I was "booming loud" and "pretty clear" over the radio when I was speaking rather softly.

An up side to the Pryme is that if you want to change radios, all you need to do is change the PTT <-> radio cord. I got my Pryme off eBay from a company that sells law enforcement products, used it as a demo. After replacing the cord for Motorola HTX radios that came with it, it worked great. Never looked back, no regrets.

As for the discomfort of throat mic use, you can adjust the size and tension on a Pryme. After I have mine on for 10 Minutes or so, I barely notice it. I also use an open ear insert instead of the plug style ear insert. I can still hear out of my right ear, and it's more comfortable to me.

[Tex]

Mustang, don't waste your money on the Icom for airsoft use. It's really not worthwhile. Your Motorola should do you fine. I would suggest the Devgru Throat Mic, I have one, and it works well and picks up the audio just fine. As for a headset, Cavalvy and Devgru both make good headsets.

I am back to using a Midland radio as the Icom was just a pain in the ass to use. The squelch function on it is great for use with other high powered radios, as it gets rid of all useless garble that is sometimes transmitted, but is horrible for communication with the low powered radios that 99% of airsofters use. I really wouldn't suggest the Icom F21GM to any airsofter who wants it for just that... just get a cheapo Midland or Motorola and go from there. Heck, I got a pair of radios, that work quite well, for $20 on ebay, and that was with a charger and rechargeable batteries.\

Oh, also, Pryme throat mics are NOT for people with large necks. At all. I have a 17'' and it was too small for me at the widest possible adjustment. They're made for little people, or those with giraffe necks.

[bigc]

Yep, throat mics are almost as comfortable as wearing a noose but as Tex stated they are not made for big necks.

I have an ICOM F21GM and love it, the battery has a great life, the sound quality is amazing, and it's built like a tank however it is overkill for airsoft.