Motorola TalkAbout Headset with Boom Microphone for All Series

Rating:
Summary: MODEL # 53725
Review: After receiving this boon mic, I found it did not work consitently. Losing contact with lost words, and the mic had to be held to the lips, therefore it was not truly hands free. I require a mic that I do not have to touch to work and can be used with VOX

Rating:
Summary: A Good Accessory To Have
Review: Although this is a good accessory to have i wouldn't recommend it over the Ear Bud/Mic for skiing, especially if you wish to conceal it. I used one for half a day under my ski hat and goggles. While comforatable with just the hat as soon as the goggles are placed over it the strap squezes the ear piece against the ear which became increadably painfull after a while. Another draw back with this is that if another person is talking and you talk/laugh or breath heavily against the boom it cuts out the other person. Which can be very anoying. It also takes a while to cut in when you talk so you have to repeat yourself or say something prior to the message you actually wan't to give. One reason this accessory would be good to have is if you needed to use your radio while both your hands were being used (like riding / Manual Labour/Climbing) as with the earbud you need to be able to press the PTT button.

Rating:
Summary: Best for Quiet Environments
Review: In my experience, too, the VOX feature of this headset/FRS radio is too sensitive for use in amusement parks, and the like. As noted by other reviewers, hiking and cycling may be the activities best suited for this product . . . but don't position the MIC too close to your mouth when using VOX.

Rating:
Summary: Little things mean a lot to bicyclists
Review: Okay, it doesn't use batteries, it doesn't light up, and it doesn't cost a lot. But this headset/boom mic is an essential accessory for the TalkAbouts for this simple reason: TalkAbouts have voice-operated control (VOX) when used with a plugin headset/mic. We have also evaluated the earbud/mic combo for bike riders and found it almost unworkable (it picks up road noise and, to me, the earbud causes excruciating pain after a day of use). The headset is a much better solution. The band actually fits OVER a safety helmet, and the closed-foam-cell rubber pad grips the plastic shell securely. The boom mic rejects most road noise, and soon becomes forgotten in the course of routine use. (It quickly comes back to the foreground when I try to sip from my water bottle!) If you purchase one of the TalkAbouts, consider this as your second accessory purchase -- your first should be a carrying holster or case. Now, if Motorola would only agree on a partnership with JABRA Technologies to produce a JABRA Earset for the TalkAbouts, my happiness would be complete ...

Rating:
Summary: Best for Quiet Environments
Review: The headset is useful and seems a good deal compared to the price of the earbud with microphone, but the bulkiness somewhat defeats the purpose of the compact radio. The highest sensitivity setting on the VOX is too low for quiet environments; it's better to use the PTT mode at those times. The PTT works better either way, because there's a slight delay before the VOX circuitry kicks in and begins transmitting. Generally the VOX is handiest in those situations where it's really necessary; i.e. no hands available to hit the button. Note also that if the transmit button is accidentally depressed, it reverts to PTT mode and the radio needs to be powered off and on again to reset to VOX mode. The earbud without microphone is the most cost effective way to use the radio; it allows for private conversation and allows the monitoring of conversations without holding the radio up to the ear, while giving best audio quality by using the built in microphone. Either earbud can be considered a necessity, while the headset is for more limited use applications.

Rating:
Summary: Limited
Review: The headset is useful and seems a good deal compared to the price of the earbud with microphone, but the bulkiness somewhat defeats the purpose of the compact radio. The highest sensitivity setting on the VOX is too low for quiet environments; it's better to use the PTT mode at those times. The PTT works better either way, because there's a slight delay before the VOX circuitry kicks in and begins transmitting. Generally the VOX is handiest in those situations where it's really necessary; i.e. no hands available to hit the button. Note also that if the transmit button is accidentally depressed, it reverts to PTT mode and the radio needs to be powered off and on again to reset to VOX mode. The earbud without microphone is the most cost effective way to use the radio; it allows for private conversation and allows the monitoring of conversations without holding the radio up to the ear, while giving best audio quality by using the built in microphone. Either earbud can be considered a necessity, while the headset is for more limited use applications.

Rating:
Summary: Recommended accessory for FRS radios
Review: This is very good headset, sound quality is good. The headband is adjustable and very confortable. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because it doesn't do VOX with my FR50s (because the FR50 doesn't have VOX capability). Price is reasonable too. What more can I say about a simple headset?