HT Hearing Aids

Some of us may not have a mobile rig installed in our automobiles.  So what do we do when we are on the go? We take our HT and use either an external antenna (glass mount, mag mount, etc) or our rubber ducks. We all know that rubber ducks inside the vehicle is not the best for either receiving or transmitting.

But a more serious issue is that most HT's have smaller speakers and perhaps low audio output which makes hearing difficult with the all the road/vehicle noise inside the vehicle. This is especially true in the summer when we have the windows rolled down or in the winter when the heating fan is running.  So how do you improve hearing the QSO coming out of your HT - especially during emergency situations?

External Speaker

You can obtain or build an external speaker that will greatly improve the audio output of your HT. Be sure to get one that has an impedance of 16 ohms or higher. And of course you may need that "special adaptor" if your HT is not equipped with an external speaker/headphone jack. Many commercial mini-speakers have a bracket that you can mount to the ceiling, door frame or door molding of your vehicle to position the speaker for the best sound. You can mount the external speaker on the dash or use plastic ties to secure the speaker to your head rest - the closer to your ears the better.

But, you say, that means a bundle of wire that has to be untangled before each use and the wire end plugged into your HT. And when you exit the car you have to remember to unplug everything. Matters are complicated if you are using a cigarette lighter adaptor to power your HT and using an external antenna - more wires. Help!

Speaker-Microphones

A speaker mic is pretty handy. You plug it into your HT and clip it to your pocket, sleeve or collar. You can put the HT in the accessory tray or Velcro it to the dash. Using Velcro is a very practical solution as you can mount the HT high on the dash board where it is easy to see and operate while driving. This solution simplifies operations. The trouble is that speaker-mics cost a few bucks and you still have to plug 'em in and out.

Ear Phone

The ear bud probably the best way to couple your HT audio to your ear. Just plug it in to the HT and stick in in your ear (always wanted to say that) and away you go. The only problem with ear buds are the block outside sounds from reaching one ear. This can be a hazard while driving. But something worth considering. You still have to pick up the HT to transmit but your hands are free during listening time.

Belt Clips

Have you ever met one that you liked? Well the plastic ones break too readily it seems. But if you have one attached to your HT it does quite well if you clip the HT to your seat belt above your shoulder. The stress on the plastic is minimal and it does get your HT speaker near your ear. This is great for listening to the repeater while not disturbing the rest of the occupants in the car and for carrying on a pseudo conversation with the wife. The kids don't wanna listen to the local repeater, traffic repeater (450.490 Mhz) or the ball game while taking a trip either.

If you forget to unclip the HT from the seat belt when you unbuckle, the belt just doesn't retract with no damage to the HT or belt clip. Even with an external antenna plugged in the antenna wire is out of the way and the HT is only a short reach away if you need to transmit.

Chest Coupling - no this is not obscene!

Another cheap trick to improve HT audio is to use acoustic coupling. Simply hold your HT against your chest with the loudspeaker pointing towards your face. The audio is coupled to your chest cavity and is directed right up to your ears. This even works if you have a coat on during the winter months. Move the HT away from your chest and the audio level drops. Your body acts as a wave guide for the audio signals and makes your HT easier to hear in noisy conditions.

This technique also boosts the lower-mid range audio frequencies so the sound has some bass instead of just the thin mid-hi frequencies coming out of the tiny HT speaker. You can even use this principal in other-than-automobile situations. Try it - a cheap way to improve your audio in noisy conditions.

Yes, someday I will have a mobile rig in my car, the XYL's (tech) car and my daughter's (tech) car but until then, the HT is the simplest way to go 2M mobile.  The tips outlined above may help you enjoy your HT mobile experience.

Chip, WB7TFD