Intercom / headset problems...

[tshort]

I am having trouble with my Bose X headset and the intercom system in the 170.
The intercom is a panel mount Flightcom similar to this:
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/a ... m403mc.php

The headset works intermittently (ANR always works - it just won't pick up my voice via the mic). Sometimes I plug it in and it works for a while, then quits. Sometimes I have to plug / unplug it and cannot get it to work. If I switch to an old cheap headset it always works immediately and constantly. The Bose does the same thing on either the pilot or the copilot's side. The >10 y/o cheap headset always works fine.

The bose headset always works flawlessly in the skyhawk, so I don't think it is the headset. I have cleaned the contacts with no results.

Anyone have any thoughts? Experience with the Bose headset and this intercom?

Thanks
Thomas

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

This may not be your problem but I've seen many times when a "good" heaset like the Bose is mixed in the same intercom system with a "cheap" headset the "good" one doesn't work so "good".

[tshort]

Yeah, except now that I'm flying solo it still does it even when the "cheap" headset is not plugged in...

Thomas

[doug8082a]

Tom,

Sent you a PM. I work for Bose and the headset guys are 40 feet from me. Send me an email and I'll hook you up w/tech supoprt for the headset.

[tshort]

Doug-

PM'd ya back. Thanks for the info.

I'll post the solution here in the event it helps someone else...

The Bose headset's mic plug is shaped pretty different than any of the other sets I have; it has an indentation partway down the plug. As a result of this the jack in the panel was not making good contact. A little tweaking / encouragement with the needle nose pliers and the tab in the jack is better positioned - things seem to be fine now.

Thanks!!

Thomas

[doug8082a]

No problem. Glad to hear you got it sorted out.

[170C]

So now Doug we know how you make your airplane $$. How much of a brother-in-law/170 member discount did you say you could get us Just kidding I have always wanted to try out a set of Bose headsets on a 3+ hour flight just to see if there really is a difference and if so if it is worth the extra cost to get the Bose name stamped on it. I suspect there must be a big difference. Comfort is as important to me as sound quality. My Lightspeed has good noise cancelling, but after that first 2.5 hrs or into that second 2+ hr leg, even w/ the soft foam earpieces, they get uncomfortable. Guess I just need a quieter plane.

[tshort]

I got my Bose headset as a gift and I am so spoiled by it it is hard to fly without it. Weird noises are out there that I am not aware of. I have flown 8+ hour days with it and never even notice it is there.
After 1 hour the other day with the beat up old headset I keep in the R seat I was wanting the Bose back.

I don't know if I would have spent the cash myself (my dad is hearing impaired and my parents bought the set for me) but I love the headset.

Thomas

[doug8082a]

So now Doug we know how you make your airplane $$. How much of a brother-in-law/170 member discount did you say you could get us Just kidding I have always wanted to try out a set of Bose headsets on a 3+ hour flight just to see if there really is a difference and if so if it is worth the extra cost to get the Bose name stamped on it. I suspect there must be a big difference. Comfort is as important to me as sound quality. My Lightspeed has good noise cancelling, but after that first 2.5 hrs or into that second 2+ hr leg, even w/ the soft foam earpieces, they get uncomfortable. Guess I just need a quieter plane.

I'm afraid the discount isn't always as good as you might think. There's no flat discount rate for employees.. it varies by product and product line. Some discounts are good, some not so good. The Headset X isn't discounted much.. probably because it is low volume when compared to the rest of the business. I tried to get one donated to the convention, but no dice. I'll keep working them for next year.

[GAHorn]

Tom,

Sent you a PM. I work for Bose and the headset guys are 40 feet from me. Send me an email and I'll hook you up w/tech supoprt for the headset.

Sooo....Doug. The headset guys ...(the guys at the core of what would be important to a bunch of pilot types)... are about 40 feet away from where you work? ....does that mean you are about 40 feet out on the fringe?

[doug8082a]

I don't know George... that's a lot of fringe... even for me

[lowNslow]

The Bose headsets are great. If you decide to buy them, get them thru the online store. I bought mine thru the Bose retail store only to find out they were giving away a Garmin hand held GPS if you ordered it from the online store. I took mine back to the retail strore for a refund (they have a 30 day money back guarantee) and ordered them from the online store. I think this deal ends on August 31.