SonexBuilders.net

So I am running into an interesting problem that must be common to all Sonex. Communications when flying or landing are fine but when taking off the noise from the engine and fusealage is making it hard for people to hear me on the radio over all the noise. Is there some sort of adaptor that can be used with the headset to help reduce the noise? Are there headsets that work better than others for this problem? I know it isn't just my plane as we had the same issue with the Sonex owned plane when doing transition training. Until you pull the power back on the downwind leg your voice gets lost in the all the noise coming through the microphone. Someone must have a solution.

Keith
#554

Keith,

I feel your pain. After 3 seasons of flying my Waiex I have the exact same issue at times. I say at times because I get different reports.
Sometimes my calls come booming across the airwaves and other times I'm told the transmission sounds garbled.
I tend to believe that part of my issue is directional in nature? I don't know what causes this but I just know the outcome.
No doubt the ignition design of the Jabiru causes a large part of this?
I even went so far as to send my radio off for service,(Micro-air) and when it came back the checkout on all levels was fine.
So it has to be my plane, my install, headsets, etc.
I'm in the market for a better headset also. My headsets came from Wings and Wheels and were part of a package with my MIcro-Air radio and Trig Transponder. I don't think they're what you would call, "top of the line".
I'm running through an intercom instead of using the in radio intercom. That might be a source of trouble also?
I'm due for a transponder check anyways. Being basically tired of "trying things" I'm going to have the radio shop that built my harness for the intercom to radio link, look into the matter. Here come the moths and hundred dollar bills flying gracefully out of my wallet. Sigh.

Larry, Waiex 121 YX 422hrs and climbing

kmacht wrote:So I am running into an interesting problem that must be common to all Sonex. Communications when flying or landing are fine but when taking off the noise from the engine and fusealage is making it hard for people to hear me on the radio over all the noise. Is there some sort of adaptor that can be used with the headset to help reduce the noise? Are there headsets that work better than others for this problem? I know it isn't just my plane as we had the same issue with the Sonex owned plane when doing transition training. Until you pull the power back on the downwind leg your voice gets lost in the all the noise coming through the microphone. Someone must have a solution.

Keith
#554

Keith:
I have not noticed that in my plane. My radio (MGL V6) does have various settings to help attenuate that particular issue. I set it at a medium level suggested for a noisy cockpit, and that seems to have been a good setting. I think you have a hand-held type radio, yes? Does it have any settings for something like that?

What is your radio?

What is your mic?

I have an MGL V-10 with Lightspeed Siera headsets and have had no complaints from anyone.

I admit that I have a cheap radio setup. It is an icoms a6 run through a sp-200 intercom and am using a stock David Clark 13.4 headset. I would chalk it up to the radio except we had the same issue in the factory trainer and that had a panel mount radio in it. It isn't electrical noise that is the problem. It is the ambient noise on climbout. The radio sounds fine when in the pattern or flying anywhere other than climbout. I thought that maybe there was a solution out there already from the ultralight crowd as I imagine they have the same issue.

Keith
#554

Ultralight guys swear by the Lynx intercom system. It is said to be very good at eliminating the ambient noise. Not cheap!

http://www.lynx-avionics.com

I found this microphone which might be a solution. Inexpensive to try at only $72.

http://www.thesquawkshoppe.com/collecti ... microphone

Keith

I have the MGL V6 with the MGL Headphones. After setting up the MGL V6 transceiver properly, I do not have any problems since.

Regards,

Peter, Sonex #1430, Aerovee 2.1 Tri-gear.
Australia

kmacht wrote:I admit that I have a cheap radio setup. It is an icoms a6 run through a sp-200 intercom and am using a stock David Clark 13.4 headset. I would chalk it up to the radio except we had the same issue in the factory trainer and that had a panel mount radio in it. It isn't electrical noise that is the problem. It is the ambient noise on climbout. The radio sounds fine when in the pattern or flying anywhere other than climbout. I thought that maybe there was a solution out there already from the ultralight crowd as I imagine they have the same issue.

Keith
#554

So maybe the headset more than the radio? Though I have a standard DC headset, also. Can you borrow someone else's headset to give that a try? I'd let you use my ASA headset, but I don't think I'll be down your way soon.