Batboard

We just took delivery of our new engine, and I have been given the task of finding a head set system for it. We have a David Clark system in another engine but the cheif wants me to get info on at least a couple other companies. I have not used any other systems other than D.C. What other systems are out there and how do they rate to D.C.? The new system would need to have a total of 6 head sets, how ever only 2 need to be able to talk to dispatch.

DC is the best stuff out there, but they know it, and they have a price tag to match. If he's basing it on price alone, you will *not* end up with DC.

The other two companies I'd look at are Sigtronics and Firecom.

DC and Sigtronics are the only two to even consider. Expect to pay 70% of the price of a DC system for the Sig.




Firecom will end up making your radio shop a lot of $$$ or at least give someobdy a ton of work over time. Firecom is one of the best to sell someone if you want to go back to the department time after time to repair it.

I fully agree. DC is the best option if you are at all intersted in long term reliability. Sigtronics is second. Generally reliable, but not quite as good as DC.
The others are best if you want to support your local service shop. It will keep them busy with repairs.

thanks for the info. I wanted to stay with D.C. and this is just more ammo to fight the chief with on the price.

Ca'mon. Sigtronics is the Yugo of head sets. Don't be that cheap. Firecomm and Setcom get by. (Did you know you can order a "hygiene" kit from Firecom? Comes with spare ear muffs, foam and mic baffles). DC is avionics grade and worth the money.

Last year installing several DC units in fire rigs I found an production/engineering glitch where the voltage regulator was shorted to the frame and blew the fuse.

I called DC to find out what's up and they hadn't a clue but would check into it.
Since I did not sell the units (U3800), I refered warranty duties to the dealer. I thought I had side-stepped the issue.
Because I was the initial contact to DC with prob, I by default was the front guy in there eyes. They called me every day asking when the defective units were to be shipped back. I explained the dealer was handling that, but the calls still came.
Finally after the units were in there hands the calls kept coming. Received units, performing tests, identified production prob., pulled inventory for tests, etc.
Master stations repaired and shipped back in less than two weeks.
Let me tell you I was more than impressed!

Great hardware and tech service the best. Take that to the chief!