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write your own review of the Heil "The Traveler Boomset".
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N8OIL
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Rating: 2/5
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Jan 11, 2008 11:19
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Falls off your head!
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I would not buy another one. This headset (double model) does not stay in place on my head and no effective adjustments are possible.
Inquired about this problem with Chip M., Heil's VP. He didn't know much about the product so asked Bob Heil. Heil said the headband can be "bent" to adjust. Tried that but this did not solve the problem.
I'll be looking at another manufacturer for the new headset I plan to buy shortly.
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W4FID
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 4, 2008 04:39
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like mine
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I got one of the original single earpiece sets when they first came out -- about 8 years ago -- for my 706 Mk2. Like if very much. I use it for longer trips; not for just around town hamming. So it's been in 3 SUVs, a car, the box on the shelf, for over 8 years. It goes with me whenever I travel and kicks around the front seat and or floor, dashboard, hangs on the cigar lighter knob .... no special treatment ........ and it's as good as it was when it was new. With the 180* swing for the boom you can wear it on either ear which is a great feature. The earpiece and headband tension are comfortable. The audio is great. I did take the time to make the adjustments -- but it was easy and quick and haven't changed in years. When mobile I wear it on my right ear to leave my left ear/side unencumered for hearing and seeing better and I do clip the PTT switch to my shirt to keep it handy and the cable out of the way of my hands/arms for safer driving. When on field day or from my parked RV I can switch ears if the earpad does get tired. Haven't even replaced the ear pad or mic foam screen.
I have a new mobile rig now ............ a traveler for it is coming soon. No question about that.
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WD6GLA
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Rating: 3/5
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Jan 3, 2008 22:08
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overpriced
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Hard to decide whether to give it a 2 or a 3 , so I give it the benefit of the doubt .
I used it a couple of times and threw it in the drawer . I couldnt get used to it . I discovered I just dont like a single headphone piece and it doesnt seem to stay put where I want it . Light duty . I realize the whole point was to build a headset to use while driving a vehicle , and the advantage of being able to hear whats going on around you as you drive . But the design of the headband is awful . Not secure at all .
Way overpriced for what you get .
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K5NOW
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Rating: 1/5
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Oct 19, 2007 16:19
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Poor design for the task
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I put on the new Traveler Boomset Dual with the adapter for my ICOM. The control box was not clipped to anything and the cable yanked the headset right off of my head! I clipped the box on to my shirt and that helped, but the spring tension on the headset is so wimpy that the headset slipped easily if I turned my head quickly or even leaned over to pick something up off the floor. If I were wearing a stocking cap the headphones would *not* stay in place. These headphones are just not up to the task.
I sent a note to Heil about the wimpy headband and Bob himself answered. He totally ignored my concern and said, "Thank you for your note. The cables ARE strong as this is a headset designed to be used in the field and mobile....the clip is there to keep the PTT control handy. Enjoy one of the best amateur radio products in years. . . the TRAVELER !" My metaphor is: fasten a log chain to a sponge!
I sent them back to the dealer. Next time I won't buy a product like this until I can look at it in person. Chalk this one up to experience! Heil may have a good reputation, but I find the product poorly designed and inadequate to the task.
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N2RRA
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 17, 2007 21:05
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Awesome!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I copied, and pasted this review that I wrote on the Icom 7000 radio section with a couple extra details added. This is basically what the Traveler mic. did for me for my IC-7000.
We all know that there's been some problem with low modualation and narrow sound on FM. Well I decide to try various microphone's to see which match's best, and doesn't compromise audio on HF. Here is the list:
a. Heil Handie Mic. HM-5
b. Heil Gold Line
c. HM 151 w/ AB5N mic. modification.
d. IC-706 stock mic.
e. Heil Traveler Head set w/ Electric Element for Icom
f. IC SM-8 Desk Mic.
The three best in order coming out on top were the:
IC SM-8, Heil Traveler Head set, and HM151 w/ AB5N mic. mod.
I chose the Heil head set all the way for mobile use. Now! There are absolutely no request's on FM simplex, or repeaters to turn the audio up, or description's of odd 2Khz of deviation sound. With the head set I can keep my hands free, and even operate VOX with no back ground noise, and even drive with window's down half way at 65Mph with my current setting's. With other mic's I couldn't do this. On a watt meter I even saw superior drive power over every other mic.
Audio is described as full like 3Khz + deviation like any other station on. Awesome! On H.F. I have found that my narrow band setting L-300, and H-2500, "no" Compression, and mic. gain at 65+ sounds the best with reports coming back as "sounds great", "arm chair copy" "loud and clear" etc....... This was not the case with any other of the microphone's for the mobile. The SM-8 was the exception which is for the base.
Even on 2m SSB I have tried working stations from a distance even cross polorized beside's horizontal, and swaped out mic's, and TBW setting's to test. Always coming back the best was the Heil traveler on my narrow band setting.
The OK audio was the only thing I didn't like about the 7000 but I was willing to live with it, becasue it's just and awesome rig. Don't have too live with it any longer. This is the mic. and I don't see any other taking it's place for a long time.
Love this mic.!
73!
Eric
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KI6ADA
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Rating: 4/5
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Apr 23, 2007 19:28
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great audio
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Well I got my headphone set today. The assembly and product is very noteworthy.
The audio sounds great. I already received good audio reports in return. I would recommend Heil products to all HF users.
The only complaint I have is the channel up and down buttons get in the way of my big fingers.
When I get my next radio, I will make sure it has built in VOX.
Good job to Heil and their R&D department.
73,
Steve
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N4MGR
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 2, 2007 20:48
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Good Product
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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The Heil Traveler in my experience has been a very good product. I have used it in both the very noisy environment of a tractor trailer and also the relative quiet of my car. The headset is fairly comfortable to wear for long periods and other than not being able to se it on either ear I see no problems.
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KD6ANF
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 1, 2007 12:39
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Great audio
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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The Heil "Traveler Single Headset" on display at HRO in Anaheim, CA, was tested using my Yaesu FT-470 with appropriate adapter cable prior to purchasing. It was very impressive once the audio output level and microphone to mouth spacing were optimized.
In addition to the headset, adapter cables "HTA IH Icom HT", which work on the Yaesu FT-470, "HSTA 8-Pin Icom" round type, "HST-CELL" and "HSTA 706" were purchased. The HSTA 706 was modified for another radio.
The drive home was most enjoyable using this new headset plugged into a radio of at least 16 years old. Operators using a wide area linked UHF repeater system in Southern California provided very positive signal reports. In conversation discussing this new headset, one operator asked what radio was being used, he was surprised it was an old Yaesu FT-470 handheld on "low power" laying on the seat beside me. The audio reports received were all very good!
After arriving home, the headset was reconnected to the IC-901A using the "HSTA-I-8" Icom cable. Even though the microphone audio, PTT and up-down buttons operated correctly, the audio output is "not" sent to the headset as was expected. Apparently some older Icom radios do provide audio output on the 8-pin round connector, the IC-228 is one example, however, this is not the case with the IC-901A.
Upon performing a wire check of the "HSTA-I-8" cable using an ohm meter, it appears that this cable is a "straight-thru" design, and could be used as an extension cable for other types of Icom microphones using an 8-pin round connector, but not requiring "plus 8VDC", like the SM-20 for example. There is "NC", (no connection), on pins "2" and "4". Also interesting is that "without" an adapter cable, the Traveler Headset may be plugged directly into an Icom radio which uses a 8-pin round connector. The microphone audio, PTT and "UP" button operate correctly, however, the "DOWN" button does not function when plugged in without an adapter cable.
The HSTA 706 adapter cable provides an additional short jumper cable terminated with a 1/8 inch mono plug for the headphone jack on the front of the 706. Replacing the 706's "RJ-45" type connector with an 8-pin round type should provide this same functionality. An 8-pin round connector to mate with the IC-901A's microphone audio input cable, and a short "pigtail" cable to plug into the "mix" speaker output on the IC-901A. This short pigtail may require some additional attenuation since it would be plugged directly into the speaker level audio output and not headphone level audio output.
The "HST-CELL" adapter works very well with my old Motorola SC-725 mobile phone, providing louder audio. Over all, a very good product which should provide many years of enjoyable service.
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KL1PL
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 6, 2006 08:23
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Works for me just fine.
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Been using the Traveller for over a year now on an FT-857D. No complaints at all. Good ear and as others have noted had to reduce FM Dev to minimal as the mic is quite good.
Just ordered the dual ear piece model in fact!
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KE7MU
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Rating: 1/5
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Dec 6, 2006 07:24
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Very Poor
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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The Product:
The Traveler would not give usable results ( based on QSOs ) on FT897/857, and was rated Terrible on the TS-570. Note: Several hours have been spent making adjustments during the "On Air" tests with no usable results. The headset is worthless in these application. Rating 0 - Awful
The Build Quality:
Surprizly poor for an expensive set. Rating 1-Poor
The Marketing:
It was marketed as universal use, and several adapters are sold so it can be used in many applications. My results indicate this is not true. Rating 0 - Awful
The Service:
I called Bob Heil and asked for help in my dilemma. Bob's response was "I hate hams who are so cheap that they try to use one mic with several radios". Rating 0-Awful
My Responce:
I will never purchase another Heil product. Not because of incorrect marketing or poor product performance / build quality, but because of Bob Heil.
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