If you employ motorola radios at work, then you need to look at these earpieces

We spend a lot of time writing about Motorola two way radios, so we’ve decided to do a series that focuses on the earpieces that link up to them.

Not only do a number of decent businesses make top-of-the-range walkie talkies that are both affordable and dependable, there are additionally a huge array of two way radio earpieces that vary from low priced and cheerful (but nonetheless effective) to the last word in techno badassery (Editor’s Note: not actually a word).

So, kicking off our new five-part sequence celebrating walkie talkie earpieces, is the Motorola 2-pin earpiece.

Amazon lists this earpiece at a paltry £17.50, but the GP300 earpiece is surprisingly high spec for such a cheap device.

First of all, it’s totally versatile, as it fits into any motorola 2 pin radio. It may not be the most excellent earpiece ever made, but it will fit with any number of diverse Motorola radios. On the other hand, I must declare that the Motorola 2-pin earpiece does need an adaptor block to operate with GP320 and Motorola GP340 series radios (oh well, you can’t have everything!)

Secondly, the sound quality is brilliant; there will be no misunderstandings or failed communications when the Motorola 2-pin earpiece is in use, that is for sure. For such a cheap device, it in fact reproduces noises amazingly clearly.

Thirdly, there are the features. These features are a bit thin on the ground when evaluated with a few of the costlier Motorola units, but they still increase the user experience and add to the overall product.

Want examples? Well, the GP300 earpiece is ergonomically made to fit your ear channel comfortably and is easily capable to fit in both the left or the right ear (whichever you happen to favour).

It also has an in-built ‘push to talk’ switch, so you are not reliant on your two way radio’s controls in order to send an outgoing signal. It too has a sprung metallic clothing clip that attaches the GP300 earpiece to whatever you happen to be wearing, allowing you to be inconspicuous, as well as to avoid tangling yourself up in cable.

By and large, the Motorola 2-pin is a fine two way radio earpiece. A range of organisations have created better ones and I wouldn’t put forward this one if President Obama asks your business to defend him on his next family skiing holiday, but for most intents and tasks, the Motorola gp300 earpiece gets the job done.

In our next episode, we’ll be taking a look at the GP340 earpiece, but for more information on the full range of Motorola 2-pin earpieces visit earpieceonline

If you employ motorola radios at work, then you need to look at these earpieces

The Long Road Home: Radios used on Transport Systems and Fleets

According to the UK Government, there were an estimated 5.2 billion bus passenger journeys undertaken on our roads in 2011/2012. Public and private transportation is not only big business; it is also of massive importance to the smooth running of the country.

Whilst only 14% of the UK’s 25 million commuters travel to work by bus or train, this still accounts for over 1.7 million people. In order for a country this reliant on public transport to survive and thrive, it is absolutely imperative that transport workers can communicate with each other in a quick, efficient manner, fuelling an industry that, by necessity, spans the length and breadth of the nation.

Two-way radios provide the solutions to this monumental challenge.

Rail, bus, fleet and trucking management make use of two-way radios in order to keep up to speed with vital information. Drivers and managers can easily contact command and control centres, as well as liaising with depot staff and even customers, all due to using their radios. Together with integrated GPS systems, radios help transport and fleet workers to track deliveries in real time, as well as informing would-be passengers or commuters of any delays or early arrivals.

But it isn’t just truckers making deliveries, commuters travelling to and from work and trains running on time. Public transport is one of the most important aspects of the tourism industry, itself a large part of Britain’s economy. Visitors flock from almost every country on Earth in order to visit popular sites like Stonehenge, The Tower of London, Buckingham Palace and the beautiful city of Bath. Without a reliable public transport system, our tourism industry would be seriously harmed.

So, in order to keep things running as smoothly as possible, all relevant personnel are equipped with a two-way radio so that they can keep in direct contact with their colleagues, peers and managers. This also allows for speedy customer service, as well as up-to-date and reliable information.

Health and safety is also a huge concern regarding public transport and, since the tragedy of the London bombings 8 years ago, security is also a large issue. Workers specializing in either area find their radios to be among the most vital of their tools.

Transport companies employ a veritable army of security staff, as well as first-aiders all of whom are connected via rugged and reliable two-way radios.

Without radios, the country’s public transport system could very well come to a standstill. The roads and railways of Britain are, at least in some ways, kept in operation via a network of two-way radios. 

The Long Road Home: Radios used on Transport Systems and Fleets

Why Do Secret Service Agents Still Wear Those Curly Earphones?

You would believe that the U . s . secret service (being the American secret service and everything) would have access to an earpiece a little cooler that just the conventional ‘curly cable’ job, wouldn’t you?

If pushed, I’ve to state that I usually imagine a little old fella, like Desmond Llewelyn in the Bond movies, (and even a younger model like Ben Whishaw from ‘Skyfall’) making all the gadgets himself and then explaining them to the agents before they go out and guard the President’s life.

This is simply not the case. They use the versions that they use because they work plus they work well. Fundamentally, wired models are still more reliable than their wireless counterparts. With wireless, you tend to have more interference, as well as needing to contend with more limited bandwidth. Basically, you will need dependable tech if you’re within the field. Lives are at stake in some cases.

This simple, trusted earpiece might be relied upon to do the duty, every time.

Another advantage that wired earpieces have over wireless ones (on this example, at the least) may be the fact that a wired set needn’t carry an extra battery. Wireless earphones would require charging and, as a consequence, would possess a somewhat restricted operational capability. It just causes a lot more headaches for people who, let’s face it, previously possess a good bit on their plates to start with.

Reported by ‘AskJeeves.com’

“The ear piece and mic that the secret service uses is called a Throat Mic. The Throat Mic has clarity that is unsurpassed, great sound quality, and allows for discreet interaction. It also has an acoustic air tube that makes it comfortable when worn for long periods of time”.

The ‘curly earpiece’ tech is really rather popular and is used by a number of individuals and businesses beyond the secret service. You can even purchase a wireless version, but do not expect the secret service to be involved!

I might argue another point, but that is merely a pet theory with little or no research to back it up. Psychologically speaking, when you see a secret service agent, you recognize them as such without seeing them in any kind of uniform (beyond a suit, shades and an earpiece), the headset, then, is really a subtle reminder to you, the civilian, that not only is this not a regular person in a suit, but additionally that the area where you now find yourself is being strictly monitored.

With one word to his/her earpiece, the agent in question can possibly call down all the other agents within the immediate area, as well as police, fire brigade and anybody else he/she believes is essential. That subtle reminder is likely an incredibly powerful crime deterrent. No guns need to be displayed, no helmets or flak jackets worn and yet you know that this individual has eyes everywhere and could, probably, really ruin your week. As I said, it is merely a hypothesis, but I think it makes sense.

Why Do Secret Service Agents Still Wear Those Curly Earphones?

The Finest Motorola cp040 earpiece

Previously, we checked out an earpiece specifically created to use on the Motorola multi pin 2 way radio series. This time, we’ll be investigating the CP040 earpiece, an inexpensive and versatile little doohickey that’s amazingly exciting, but also does little to damage your deposit account.

The Motorola cp040 earpiece is a lot like the GP300 earpiece. It’s small, smart and inexpensive, however it also is quite good value for money. EarpieceOnline lists this earpiece for about £11.50, however it’s a pretty good buy for the price.

We’ll be straightforward, everything is quite basic on this model, however the earpiece performs its operation well and definitely won’t let anyone down.

The noise quality of the Cp040 2-pin earpiece is excellent indeed and also the PTT ‘push to talk’ function is handy and easy to use. As usual, the Motorola cp040 earpiece features a sprung lapel clip that attaches easily to nearly all items of clothing (you may find it a problem if you’re planning on using it while dressed as a giant Sumo combatant and competing on ‘Takeshi’s Castle’, but besides that…).

As with the gp300 series, as it only features a two-pin plug, an adaptor block will be essential to be used with the GP320 and Motorola gp340 series of two way radios.

The ergonomic D-shaped earpiece alone is comfortable to wear and typically inconspicuous. It can be effortlessly used in either the left or right ear, depending on your individual liking. The Cp040 2-pin earpiece fits nearly all ear dimensions, so if you happen to be Prince Charles or Martin Clunes (Editor’s Note: or my Uncle Steve), you shouldn’t have too many comfort problems, if any.

There is no Kevlar cable on this one, yet and it certainly is not one of the best model around. However, this is not to state the Motorola cp040 is a substandard earpiece, not at all. It just is not the finest.

Overall, the CP040 earpiece is practical, instead of showy. It does its job with no frills (but also no temper tantrums). This is a good, reliable product from the team that excels at producing such products. It also offers enormous value for money, too.

Next episode: We have checked out some of those mid level products available, now its time to see what else is about. We are talking James Bond stuff! (Well, y’know, But if you are looking to find out more on this earpieces visit earpieceonline

The Finest Motorola cp040 earpiece

The Long Road Home: Radios used on Transport Systems and Fleets

According to the UK Government, there were an estimated 5.2 billion bus passenger journeys undertaken on our roads in 2011/2012. Public and private transportation is not only big business; it is also of massive importance to the smooth running of the country.

Whilst only 14% of the UK’s 25 million commuters travel to work by bus or train, this still accounts for over 1.7 million people. In order for a country this reliant on public transport to survive and thrive, it is absolutely imperative that transport workers can communicate with each other in a quick, efficient manner, fuelling an industry that, by necessity, spans the length and breadth of the nation.

Two-way radios provide the solutions to this monumental challenge.

Rail, bus, fleet and trucking management make use of two-way radios in order to keep up to speed with vital information. Drivers and managers can easily contact command and control centres, as well as liaising with depot staff and even customers, all due to using their radios. Together with integrated GPS systems, radios help transport and fleet workers to track deliveries in real time, as well as informing would-be passengers or commuters of any delays or early arrivals.

But it isn’t just truckers making deliveries, commuters travelling to and from work and trains running on time. Public transport is one of the most important aspects of the tourism industry, itself a large part of Britain’s economy. Visitors flock from almost every country on Earth in order to visit popular sites like Stonehenge, The Tower of London, Buckingham Palace and the beautiful city of Bath. Without a reliable public transport system, our tourism industry would be seriously harmed.

So, in order to keep things running as smoothly as possible, all relevant personnel are equipped with a two-way radio so that they can keep in direct contact with their colleagues, peers and managers. This also allows for speedy customer service, as well as up-to-date and reliable information.

Health and safety is also a huge concern regarding public transport and, since the tragedy of the London bombings 8 years ago, security is also a large issue. Workers specializing in either area find their radios to be among the most vital of their tools.

Transport companies employ a veritable army of security staff, as well as first-aiders all of whom are connected via rugged and reliable two-way radios.

Without radios, the country’s public transport system could very well come to a standstill. The roads and railways of Britain are, at least in some ways, kept in operation via a network of two-way radios. 

The Long Road Home: Radios used on Transport Systems and Fleets

How does an aeroplane’s ‘black box’ work?

After doing a little research, I can now tell you (basically) everything you ever wanted to know about black boxes…

In the average commercial aircraft, you’ll find the presence of multiple (usually four) microphones in the cockpit at any given time. They are located in the pilot and co-pilot’s headsets, as well as in the cockpit itself. Not only do these microphones record conversations between the pilots and cabin crew, they also record any ambient noise (such as switches being thrown or sounds generated by technical issues). The microphones all connect to the cockpit voice recorder (CVR), a master unit that stores the last 30 minutes of sound. The tape operates on a loop, essentially erasing itself every half hour.

This device is known colloquially, but a little misleadingly, as the ‘black box’ (it is usually quite brightly coloured in order to make it easier to find in the unlikely event of an accident). Another device also referred to as a ‘black box’, is the flight data recorder (FDR), which automatically records data regarding the plane’s flight path, speed and movements in the air. Although the devices are distinct from one another, the information they record goes to the same place and is used for the same purpose, thus their shared name of ‘black box’.

In recent years, manufacturers have moved away from magnetic tape-based CVRs and FDRs and towards ‘solid state technology’ boxes. These improved devices store the relevant data on memory boards, which can hold up to two hours of cockpit recording and 25 hours of flight data. The solid-state devices are also sturdier than their tape-based counterparts.

Crash survivable memory units (CMSUs), are large cylinders that back up all the relevant data and are designed to withstand extreme heat, pressure and violent impact. They are typically contained within the box itself. In the more severe accidents, the CMSU is all that survives of the black box.

The black box, then, simply records all the relevant data before an accident occurs. This serves to provide engineers with an explanation for a crash, as well as providing investigators and regulators with the same information.

So there you have it, of course, a lot of information is stored in an aircraft’s black box (much more than I’ve detailed here), but as a general example, that’s what it is and how it works. Hope that helps. 

How does an aeroplane’s ‘black box’ work?

The Best Motorola gp340 earpiece

We ended the last post by saying that you should not use the featured product to protect the life of US president. However, we’ll start this article by saying that, if you are trying to guard President Obama this summer, then you are getting closer to the right objective with this earpiece.

The Motorola gp340 covert earpiece is a serious bit of comms. This earpiece comes connected to one of those curly receivers, the kind you’ve observed Agent Smith wearing in The Matrix films. The GP340 earpiece is a tool designed for use with the Motorola multi pin choice of two way radio devices.

It’s an inconspicuous earpiece for which you use as an alternative to making your presence felt, when subtlety and underestimation are the aims of the game. If you’re concerned with security or protection, then a GP340 could well be the earpiece for you.

EarpieceOnline lists this bad boy for £27.50, so it’s only a few quid over the Motorola 2 pin, but it’s a few quid worth spending, especially if you value discretion.

There’s also no need for any type of adaptor when you purchase this multi pin earpiece, this model includes a multipin plug which can attach to the Gp360, gp640, gp680, gp320. gp380 and gp340. In addition, there is a built-in ‘push to talk’ button and microphone, but it’s significantly smaller than the one found on the majority other models.

The Motorola multi pin earpiece features the identical sprung lapel clip as our last model, a surgical grade acoustic eartube (as well as a spare tip) with a Kevlar-reinforced cable. It also comes with a bright drawstring pouch as well. Add to this a 6-month warranty (included in the price) and also you’re absolutely onto a winner.

Sound-wise, the Gp 340 earpiece provides clear, reliable sound and performs well in trying weather conditions.

However, the GP340 earpiece is not quite a top-range earpiece, it represents fantastic value, obviously, and it really works fine for many purposes, but when you have got specialist requirements, then you should probably stick with this series and find out what else is out there.

Generally, the Gp 340 earpiece is an excellent product that offers fantastic value for money. It will do a great job in nearly all roles and comes pretty kindly recommended all round.

Next episode, we have a evaluation of the Cp040 2-pin earpiece, a device specifically suitable for use with the GP300 and, um, Motorola cp040 two way radio series. If you’re still aiming to guard The President, you may want to have a look at what