Radio and headset recommendation

[naminator]

So apparently I posted this thread in the gear for sale section. Never post while tired or after drinking is the moral of that story.

So I am re-posting this in the gear discussion section.

I need a headset and radio combination recommended. I have been reading thread after thread and have no idea what I should get.

I like the look of the bowman style headsets. Other than that I am lost on what to get. I am used to blister pack radios, I used them for a summer of construction work and realized how bad they are. However at some point I was assigned a much more powerful motorola radio and it was like night and day.

For radio gear I was looking at:

Ztac Bowman EVO III
A Compatible PTT
Radio (with antenna if necessary. I was looking at the UV-82 based on others recommendations but if that isn't recommended I am lost again)

I was planning on running a helmet eventually, but for now I will probably be wearing a Boonie or Cap with he radio gear over it. I was also planning on using a metal mesh mask but I am sure boom mics can accommodate this.

Any help is appreciated.

[Spike]

China bowman/swimmer/PTTs work fine if you get a good one, the issue is usually there's a high level of lemons circulating around.

PX888K is the radio that most people will recommend. <$100, programmable, dual channel, and kenwood 2 pin connector.

[naminator]

I was looking at the 888 but was unsure about the PTT that connects in the middle.

I will make sure I do my research on the Ztac Bowman before pulling the trigger and if necessary look at other models.

[Spike]

The 888 just takes a standard kenwood 2 pin PTT... every company forever makes their PTTs with that connector option.

[naminator]

Well that sorts that out. I am getting a 888 with a spare battery, a decent PTT and a headset of sorts. The Ztac Bowman has decent reviews for repro gear and it is relatively cheap so if it is a turd I am not out that much.

Thanks Spike.

[Spike]

Make sure you get the 888K and not just the 888, by the way.

[naminator]

So far this is my list:

PX-888K + Extra battery (1800mah li ion is what I was looking at)
Nagoya NA 666 Antenna
Ztac Bowman EVO III
MAC837 Z-Tac U94 PTT (Kenwood 2 Pin)


Should all these items be compatible? Specifically the PTT. I believe it is compatible. So good starting point for getting into communications at games? I like the idea of the PX-888K because I can hook it up to a antenna and mount it on my vehicle, not that I need to but in the case of a SHTF scenario the option is nice.

[FirestormX]

Not sure about the antenna (I just have no experience with it), but the rest should line up.

With your lower face mask, just make sure that the face mask doesn't come near your ears. I have a problem with my sordins, where I have a metal part that attaches my mask to the straps that hold the mask on, and it sits right over my ear. It forces me to angle the mask a very specific way.

[daishi]

Just get the Puxing 888K, And the Ztactical headset and buy the Ztacical PTT (kenwood two pin). Ztacticals are finicky, so oyu really should not mix and match.

You DO NOT need an antenna with a Puxing.

So really:

Puxing 888K +1-2 extra batteries
Evo III
Ztactical Kenwood two pin PTT (any style)

[The Keiichione]

I've bought many Ztac piece over the years and they all failed me.
Except for the military field phone, those are great.

I went for one of those this time :
http://www.northtrailsports.com/TWO-...duct_info.html

[daishi]

Originally Posted by The Keiichione

I've bought many Ztac piece over the years and they all failed me.
Except for the military field phone, those are great.

I went for one of those this time :
http://www.northtrailsports.com/TWO-...duct_info.html

Yup they eventually fail and suck out, but for entry lvel they are okay. Currently im using a bone mic/ptt combo and its working great, about three times the price of a ztac higher end setup but its so much better.

[naminator]

Well if the ztac is a crap shoot what is a recommendation for a headset and ptt. I would prefer to pay less as Ihave already dropped a mighty wad on gear and guns and the wife keeps glaring at me. That being said if 25$ is the difference between a crap out in a season headset and last years headset i will drop the extra cash.

[daishi]

Not really, Ztac headset will run you 80 bucks or less + 25 ish for the PTT and then add in 100 for the radio, plus about 20 bucks for extra batteries then add in shipping.

For a good headset, it can be around 300ish.

I got a bone mic with inline ptt for about 200 tho. Its cheaper cause the PTT is integrated so you cant use it on other headsets, but its been great so far plus you ditch all the heavy headgear and noise dampening side effects of normal coms.

You can see some at http://www.cancomradioaccessories.com/

[ThunderCactus]

Ive got a nacre quietpro on my wouxun radio. It kicks ass.

[Foxer2373]

Originally Posted by daishi

I got a bone mic with inline ptt for about 200 tho. Its cheaper cause the PTT is integrated so you cant use it on other headsets, but its been great so far plus you ditch all the heavy headgear and noise dampening side effects of normal coms.
You can see some at http://www.cancomradioaccessories.com/

I bought the one your talking about late last year. It works great but the biggest piss off is the straight wire to the ear and not the fbi curl tube. Gets pulled out to easy and stuck on things specially if I'm not wearing my full neck/ face wrap to cover it.

If your looking for high end coms that is the website to go to lol 2k buys you military grade everything with dual channel separation talk with everything being wireless even the PTT lol.