Options
- Cheap in/over ear earpiece and mic
- Fist mic (optional earpiece)
- Headset with 3.5mm input (Howard Leigh)
- Patrol headset (Bowman)
- Racals
- 3M Peltor Comtac XP/XPI
Cheap in/over ear
Pros
- Cheap!
Cons
- Audio quality is pretty poor
- Can be uncomfortable for long periods of use
- No hearing protection
Fist mic
Pros
- Simple
- Easy to use
- Can combine with a headset using 3.5mm jack
Cons
- No hearing protection
- Open speaker so anyone close can hear the comms
- Hard to hear comms in a noise environment
Headset with 3.5mm input (Howard Leigh)
Howard Leight
Pros
- Hearing protection
Cons
Patrol headset (Bowman)
My experience with these has been mixed. The first one I got was a Z-Tactical reproduction, which requires a Z-Tactical PTT too. Unfortunately I could not get this combo to work with my radios. However, I've given it to Greg and it works perfectly with his radio. I suspect there's a something slightly different with my radio ports.
My second headset is a real Harris PRR headset from KitGoblin. This is much better quality than the repro, but the downside is that it uses a LEMO plug to connect to the PTT/radio. In order for this to work with a NATO plugged PTT it will either require a conversion or a LEMO to NATO lead (approx. £60 from JCI Comms).
Pros
- Lightweight
Cons
- No hearing protection (although you could wear earplugs)
- Real one requires custom LEMO to NATO lead or a conversion
Racals
Pros
- Hearing protection
Cons
- Requires custom LEMO to NATO lead or a conversion
3M Peltor Comtac XP/XPI
Pros
- Excellent hearing protection
- Sound amplification for situational awareness
Cons
- Expensive!