Offshoreonly.com - Best Intercom System for around $1000

Offshoreonly.com (https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/)

- General Boating Discussion (https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/general-boating-discussion-51/)

- - Best Intercom System for around $1000 (https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/general-boating-discussion/174687-best-intercom-system-around-%241000.html)

Best Intercom System for around $1000

Hello All-

So I am looking for an intercom system for the boat. I have seen many different companys that offer the 4 person intercom systems that allow you to talk and listen to radio, VHF, ect.

What is the best intercom system for around $1000?
How does this one rate? What are the pros and cons?
http://marineradiodirect.com/catalog...em-p-1012.html

Thanks
Don

Anyone have any advice for me?

I've been wondering about it too... My buddy owns Sampson Racing communications. I called him and he's going to get back to me. But it seems like all the systems I've seen have been in the $1,500 - $2,000 range. Works for me. When I hear back form him I'll post.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maritime_Eng (Post 2360417)

Anyone have any advice for me?

I have no experience with "marine" intercom systems, but for $.02 ....

Headset comfort and quality/durability, then system quality/durability is what will make you like or dislike the system. Will they take a splash of saltwater, a dousing of a passing rain cloud?

I have a David Clark headset for flying. Pretty much a slightly better than entry level headset. It's "over the head" style but it just isn't really comfortable.

I also had a "non-branded" David Clark for the "crew" headset for my car racing. That was a "behind the head" style that was much more comfortable.

One day just to try it, I went out with a cheap set of ear muff style noise reducers that i wear when doing some yard work. They cut out just about all the sound. As much as I liked not having any wind noise, I didn't like not being able to hear the engines.

From what I've read about Pirate here on OSO, sounds like good stuff at a good value.

You can check this thread out for some addt'l info.; not sure what you can buy for $1,000. I'm going to go the wireless route...Racing Communications Inc.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...d.php?t=152185

I was talking with a avaition supply awhile back and I thought they had some pretty good pricing. As far as keeping headsets dry, I can probably control that if needed. Anyone any experience with av type systems in boats?

Does anyone else have any other words of wisdom?

Try the site below....they put on a pretty good demonstration at one of the poker runs I was at, but not sure that it will fall within your budget, but might be worth giving them a call.

http://www.piratecom.com/index.html

Just noticed that the link you had was for a piratcom system...check out their website I posted above because they have different applications, but they are supposed to have a great product. The police in my town use them :D

I have used Sigtronics before and they work well. It's not marine but My stuff doesn't get wet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wstultz (Post 2361975)

I have used Sigtronics before and they work well. It's not marine but My stuff doesn't get wet.

Did you use the portable or the panel mount version? I am starting to think the portable system might be the way to go.

I've used a portable 6 person sigtronics for years with behind the head sets. Works great, goes from boat to boat, hooks to the stereo and so on.

Mine hooks up with suction cups so I can take it out.

Works great.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Von Bongo (Post 2362128)

Who's head sets are you using?

Sigtronics. We actually just leave the squelch down and with the large wind muffs (designed for open cockpit planes) we have on them there is very little if any wind noise.

David Clark did make a behind the head for a while but I haven't seen them for a couple of years. Never had any problems with the sigtronics.

Also get the cloth ear seal covers, makes them much more comfortable when it's hot out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Von Bongo (Post 2362162)

Thanks for the info! I think I am going to end up buying the sigtronic system.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maritime_Eng (Post 2362270)

Thanks for the info! I think I am going to end up buying the sigtronic system.

If you have an open cockpit boat you will want these too:

PN 100593
Heavy Duty Microphone Windscreen
(fits most electret microphones

This is a long time SCOPE supporter that sells that kind of stuff....not sure of the prices or anything.......

http://www.thesolderjoint.com/

We have Revolution Marine equipment and we love them

Sigtronics here too.

4 person and it works great. I have been using the Avcomm sheapy 79.99 (ebay) headsets. They have stainless head bands and plastic construction. Mine have been wet several times and still work great. I also added the leather mic muffs (not from avcomm) which pretty much eliminate all wind noise.

The barrels (headset connections from sigtronics) are stainless to. To mount them i used Black plastic covers from radio shack project boxs. I have about $600 and 2hrs invested.

It also has inputs for stereo, vhf, and cell phone.

Only down fall is the headsets fall off just short of 90mph. I have to wear goggles over the headsets to keep them on when running hard.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maritime_Eng (Post 2361847)

Does anyone else have any other words of wisdom?

Yes I do and it is VERY important! Make sure your headset has a disconnect close to the headset. Should you be ejected out of the boat, the headset will disconnect instead of the headset disconnecting your head!

I had 2 systems 1 in helmit racing communications and 1 four headset units both worked great. I have the four headsets in canvas bags with patch cords I will sell for 400.00 no headunit.You can purchase seperately from racing communications. Misplaced head unit after a race.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donzilla (Post 2363356)

Is it a portable system? Is it made for the marine enviroment? How much is a new headunit?

Thanks
Don

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maritime_Eng (Post 2363394)

Is it a portable system? Is it made for the marine enviroment? How much is a new headunit?

Thanks
Don

It is made for marine enviroment it is dash or bracket mounted. I will take some pics.

pics Call the # for headunit price

I have a call into Racing Communitcations to see how much a head unit is and when they could ship me one. I will know more on Monday.

Thanks
Don

Donzilla I just sent you PM.

We sell the Softcom units. 4 place runs just at $1100 w/ headsets. Nice stuff, we've sold quite few with no complaints.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bob (Post 2360549)

3 years now no problems. I'm convinced that the so called marine systems are using av systems, just stripping the names off the boxes. I have a 6 place av system with an interface for music. I did go cheap on the headsets but will upgrade them this year to either clark or bose.

BTW, got the system (minus head sets) off ebay for under $200, its a flightcom

http://www.flightcom.net/intercoms/403-intercom.php

Mr. Velocity, thanks for the info. FlightCom looks like they have fairly reasonable pricing. Actually I have four older headsets that look just like their 4DX models. I may give them a ring next week.

intercom systems

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maritime_Eng (Post 2359957)

According to me ptt VHF, vox intercom, are the best intercom system for boat. :evilb:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maritime_Eng (Post 2359957)

Hello ! please used Dual Mode Telephone Intercom system this price is less then $1000. and good for

Hello ! please used Dual Mode Telephone Intercom system this price is less then $1000. and good for boat.

I have http://www.comzilla.com/

Tom is great to work with and will design a custom system for ya.. I wanted a switch so I could turn off the rear headsets (my kids) but they could still hear each other.
System was less than $1500. No problems and its one of the best additions to the boat.

Heres some info he sent me:

Quote:

While I know the owner and the guys over at ****** and they are all good guys, we really aren't comparing apples to apples between our system and theirs. Our systems are built to customer specifications by hand in small batches here in the US. The rugged system you are looking at is a mass produced item from China or Korea. The system you are looking at there is actually their least costly configuration with the headsets shown, so I don't think it would get much cheaper even with over the head headsets, but I could be wrong. With that said, it would be difficult for me to get our pricing under $1,000 for a complete system with headsets as you describe. Roughly, we would be in the $1,450 ballpark for one of our systems.

Now for the justification. Besides being hand built in the USA, our systems are built to out live the vehicles they put in. We have been doing this for 30 plus years and many of our systems have been in use 15 years or more in specific off shore boats and off road trucks without issue. Internally we build our systems with two independent power supplies, where others do not. We hard wire all cabling off the board out of the box where others use plug in cables. Each cable has a connector with 4 solder joints per connector, per side. Adding in the 2 connectors and the 8 solder joints, you increase possible failures by 10 times. We do not use VOX at all. Our systems are live continuous. VOX needs to be adjusted based on the increased noise environment. At idle you set it at one level, at speed another, and so on. If you set it too tight, your first word can be clipped. If that first word is turn or stop, it could be costly. Besides becoming a pointless feature, I primarily mention the VOX topic as you say you want something simple. Simple is what we believe in. Once our intercom is mounted, it has power, cables are run, and headsets are plugged in, you are talking live continuous. Those are just some of the reasons our intercom is set apart from others.

In regard to the headsets, we are all pretty much using the same ones. The only thing I do different from others is use a genuine military grade mic. Others are using copies of such a mic. If after reading this you would like a detailed quote, please let me know. By all means I would love to build you a system, but if budget is a concern, we might not be the right fit for your needs. I can say if you do have a system built by us, if it is taken care of, it is likely to provide you with many years of enjoyment.

Please let me know if you would like to talk on the phone to discuss further or if a detailed quote is needed. I would of course extend a discount for being referred by a previous customer.

[email protected]

http://33outlaw.zenfolio.com/img/s8/...61617390-4.jpg

http://33outlaw.zenfolio.com/img/s8/...61617468-4.jpg

http://33outlaw.zenfolio.com/img/s9/...61617440-4.jpg

I have had quite a few intercom systems and the only one that I loved was Tiger performance. The others had static, interference, high pitched wining, annoying delay. As soon are you have these issues, you no longer want to use them. Sometimes you have to spend a little more to get something 100% better.

Hello ! please used Dual Mode Telephone Intercom system this price is less then $1000. and good for boat.