October 19th 2005
Product of the Week Archive Here
Custom-Made
Earpieces for Force Motorcyclists
Northamptonshire
Police motorcyclists have had the latest digital communications ear pieces
made and fitted especially for them. The Force opted for the Sonic Genesis
2 communications sets which fit directly into the ear canal.
Sixty motorcyclists are now sporting the custom-made earpieces to improve
the way they communicate with the rest of the Force while riding their
motorcycles around the county.
The
introduction of Airwave has paved the way for the earpieces. Under the
old analogue radio system, officers had in-helmet microphones and speakers,
which were removed when talking to members of the public, breaking radio
contact with their colleagues.
The sets consist of two moulded earpieces with a tiny speaker which is
inserted into each moulding and a boom microphone attached to one of these.
They cost £350 per officer.
Prior to officers having mouldings of their ears taken they have a medical
check up with an audiologist to ensure their inner ears are suitable to
wear the latex earpieces.
Once the audiologist gives the all clear, a plastic moulding of the individual’s
ears is taken to ensure that the latex earpieces made from the mouldings
fit perfectly inside the inner ear canal.
Dave Bailey, Airwave Project Officer, said: ‘The Airwave Project
gave us the chance to look again at motorcycle communications and to provide
state-of-the-art equipment that is better than we’ve ever had before.
‘We have received some positive feedback directly from the officers
who have been regularly using the Airwave Genesis 2 communications sets
in the Force, who have found a massive improvement all round.
‘The reception of the new Airwave Genesis 2 communications sets is
crystal clear compared with the old analogue radio system, which was quite
grainy and sometimes difficult to understand.
‘The new earpieces also allow officers to better interact with members
of the public as they can now remove their helmets to talk to people while
remaining in touch with their colleagues by virtue of the in-ear communications
set remaining in place.’
http://www.sonic-comms.com/sonic.htm