SoftComm Electronic BNE headsets
Technology trickle-down is real. Just three years ago, Bose Corporation introduced an active-noise-canceling headset to the aviation market, and in the interim years, other players have emerged, including David Clark and Telex. Now it seems that several more companies are on the verge of introducing active sets, some of them promising to bring the revolutionary noise-reduction technology down in price. Currently, the Bose set remains very near the $1,000 mark, and the David Clark and Telex offerings carry list prices of $800 or more; the street price of the latter two has come down to the $650 to $750 range.
So when Concept Industries brought out its new SoftComm Electronic BNE (for Background Noise Equalization), the other shoe was dropped right off: The list price would be $595. When SoftComm begins selling through its dealers this summer, you can expect the price to fall slightly; the BNE is available only factory direct for the initial run to make sure any problems that might crop up in the field are identified and quickly fixed.
For those who missed our previous installments on active headsets, here's a brief description of what all this electronic fuss is about. In passive headsets, all of the noise attenuation comes from the blocking action of the ear seals and the absorption qualities of the foam inside the ear cups. Though this arrangement works quite well on high- and mid-frequency noises, it cannot do much to mitigate the low-end rumble passed onto the wearer's ears. Active sets introduce electronics to sense the noise within the ear cup and, by introducing an out-of-phase noise signal to the speakers, reduce the amount of perceived low-frequency sound. In addition to curtailing the din inside the car cups, the electronics provide enough latitude in design to help make the headset considerably more comfortable than conventional models. By far, Bose takes greatest advantage of this potential, and the result is an admittedly expensive but extremely friendly headset.
Rather than start from a clean sheet of paper, as Bose did, SoftComm (and David Clark and Telex, for that matter) has adapted a conventional passive set for active duty. What allows the BNE to come in under the others in price is a new self-contained modular noise-reduction unit that fits snugly into standard ear cups. The simplified electronics reduce the parts count and consequently the price. Also, unlike the other active offerings, the BNE does not discriminate noise from radio or intercom signals; the electronics knock the low-end off of everything that should wander into the ear cup. This makes radio and intercom signals seem quite bass-heavy when the electronics are shut down.
Power comes from four AAA batteries housed in a compartment the size of a garage-door-opener remote control. The power lead is separate from the microphone and headphone cord, is about 30 inches long, and mates to the power box with an eighth-inch plug. You are expected to clip the battery carrier to a seat belt or shirt pocket, which, though better than the embarrassment-of- wires DC and Bose headsets, isn't as good as the Telex ANR's mid-cord box. SoftComm reportedly is looking into alternative methods.
SoftComm claims 30 to 40 hours of battery life. During initial testing, the first set of batteries from the factory lasted about 10 hours, but a fresh set was still going strong at the 30-hour mark. The electronics monitor battery voltage and shut down the cancellation circuit if it falls below a certain level. Batteries react to current demands by reducing output voltage, and on several occasions when the demand for noise canceling was high, the BNE's circuitry pulled its own plug, even with fresh batteries aboard. We did not notice this characteristic in the battery-powered Telex ANRs and would not expect to in the aircraft-powered David Clark and Bose models. At least the BNE is fail-safe, so any radio signals continue to be heard even without the active circuitry on.
The two-part promise of active headsets is basically greater comfort and less noise. On the noise front, the BNE works as advertised, although it does not seem to knock off as much sound as any of the other active offerings, coming in right behind the Telex ANR in terms of total noise reduction. But slip from a standard passive set into the BNE, and you will notice a difference in the amount of low-frequency noise passed to the ears.
If the BNE has a failing, it has to do with the second part of the active-set promise: comfort. We first tried the BNE with the foam ear seals and were disappointed. Only after talking with the factory did we discover that the normal tiny pressure-relief holes had not been drilled in the seals; the result was an ear seal that at altitude seemed to be made of concrete. The combination liquid/foam seals we tried later (both types come with the headset) were better but no match for the Telex or David Clark gel seals — and a far cry from the positively sumptuous Bose seals. In addition, the BNE's pillow-type headband is no better than similar types tried by other manufacturers; the soft foam of the DC and Bose active models is a far better deal, as are the sheepskin conversions available for most headsets.
The result, then, is that the BNE is a quieter but no more comfortable headset than the garden-variety passive types. Subjectively, the BNE falls well behind the Bose in terms of sheer comfort and even takes a back seat to the non-electronic Peltor 7004, which has a retail price of $277 and a street price of just over $200. Frying scalps and frazzled jawbones are given no quarter among $600 headsets. What the SoftComm offering needs is a revamp of the ear seals and head pad to be competitive with the other active offerings — and a few of the passive ones to boot — even considering its lower price. Because as it stands, there's precious little reason to lay down the six big bills for the BNE if it's not even as comfortable as a headset less than half the cost.
Concept Industries, Inc., 2651 Pacific Park Drive, Whittier, California 90601; telephone 800/255-COMM or 310/699-0918. — Marc E. Cook
Flying on the cheap
A team of psychologists asked to agree upon two common character traits of pilots who fly light airplanes might easily come up with "tinkerer" and "tightwad." What pilot doesn't like to tinker with his airplane and maybe save a buck in the process?
Tapping into that trait is Jorge E. Castillo II, author of Finding Alternate Sources for Pilot's Supplies. His spiral-bound 8.5 x 11-inch book contains hundreds of ideas on how to save money on pilot and aircraft products if you're willing to do some of the work or at least shop around. The topics range from sun shields to tiedowns and earplugs to flight jackets.
Castillo, a private pilot and aerospace engineer, sells nothing in the book. He only recommends new and unusual sources for products and ways to make your own. For example, he lists sources for kits to build your own intercom. If you choose to buy a ready-made intercom, he suggests places to shop for the best prices. Another: The book offers several homemade foam and vinyl alternatives to ready-made pitot tube covers. Most of the stuff needed for such projects probably is laying around the house, garage, or hangar.
The majority of ideas in the book are of the common-sense variety but Castillo obviously has given each subject a lot of thought and offers a wealth of buying and building tips. He describes the book as a combination of the Yellow Pages, Consumer Reports, and Popular Mechanics. I'd agree. The writing is something less than inspiring but well worth wading through for the money savings. The price is $19, with a 10-day money-back guarantee.
Castillo Creation Enterprises, Post office Box 542791, Merritt Island, Florida 32954-2791. — Thomas B. Haines
John and Martha King address the minutiae of the complex airspace system in their latest addition to the "Take-Off Videos" series. The Complete Airspace Review takes on the herculean task of carefully categorizing the multitude of airspace concepts today's pilots encounter.
You'll say, "Oh, yeah, I remember that" at least a dozen times during the tape's 106 minutes, as one of the duo refreshes your memory about some tidbit of airspace trivia. Remember what an airport advisory area is? Or what those "T"s around an airport mean? Next time ATC gruffly denies your request for a Special VFR clearance, you'll know the Ts prohibit such flight at those airports.
As always, the Kings use big, colorful graphics to reinforce the concepts, and few subjects lend themselves to graphics better than confusing airspace configurations. You get to see what a TCA and ARSA really look like — in three dimensions. The tape is packed with information all pilots are supposed to be familiar with but have likely never seen so clearly explained. The price is $24.
King Schools, 3840 Calle Fortunada, San Diego, California 92123; telephone 800/854-1001. — TBH
Briefly Noted
Northstar Avionics is now shipping its M2 loran/GPS Navigator. owners of M1 lorans can have their units upgraded to M2V status for $1,595. The upgrade includes new software, a user-updatable database card system, and the ability to accept input from Northstar's remote six-channel Global Positioning System satellite receiver. The GPS receiver is another $3,995. The M2V is for VFR use only. Those who hope to fly IFR and eventually use the Northstar for loran approaches must buy a new M2 unit that meets TSO-C60b. The M2 is not yet certified for IFR, but Northstar hopes to have the enroute IFR certification soon, probably in less than six months. An M2 costs $4,995. The GPS add-on is the same as above. Operation of the system is nearly identical to the popular M1, but the pilot must select whether the unit receives GPS or loran signals. Northstar Avionics, Post Office Box 287, Acton, Massachusetts 01720; telephone 508/897-6600. — TBH
When it comes to protecting an aircraft's finish, interior, and avionics from the elements, nothing beats a hangar. But the dirt or concrete floors and sheet-metal walls in unheated hangars may mean your airplane is protected from the sun and snow but endangered by dampness. To decrease the dampness, Buenger Enterprises is now marketing its dehumidifiers to aircraft owners. The GoldenRod dehumidifiers look like a corded wand about an inch in diameter and come in 12-, 18-, 24-, and 36-inch lengths to dehumidify areas between 100 and 500 cubic feet. The prices vary accordingly from $35 to $43.50. The dehumidifiers have proven useful in the boating world for years, according to Buenger. The smaller sizes would adequately dry the interior of most light airplanes. Buenger Enterprises, Post Office Box 5286, Oxnard, California 93031; telephone 805/985-0541. — TBH
A company called Willow Bend now offers new uses for the rugged and handy Mini Maglite flashlights found in hundreds of flight bags. The IC-3 "fiber optic inspection adaptor" attaches to a Mini Mag and narrows the light's bright beam to allow illumination of hard-to-see areas. The flexible monofilament optical-grade fiber tube is 2 mm in diameter. An aluminum adapter attaches to the flashlight in seconds. The adaptor comes with three fiber lengths — 6, 12, and 18 inches. The company says the fiber transmits the light with 90-percent efficiency at 10 meters. The pencil-point of light is of little use at night in the cockpit, but the IC-3 turns a Mini Maglite into a handy tool for scrutinizing the dark corners of an avionics panel or the crevices of an engine. The IC-3 adapter sells for $15.40, including shipping. An accessory is the SA-1 Rigid Shaft Extension Kit, which sells for $14.90. One of the monofilament fibers can be placed inside the shaft, making the fiber rigid. The company also can supply the flashlights. Willow Bend, Post Office Box 203, Chelmsford, Massachusetts 01824; telephone 508/256-8508. — TBH
Unless otherwise stated, products listed herein have not been evaluated by AOPA Pilot editors. AOPA assumes no responsibility for products or services listed or for claims or actions by manufacturers or vendors. However, members unable to get satisfaction regarding products listed should advise AOPA. To submit products for evaluation, contact: New Products Editor, AOPA Pilot, 421 Aviation Way, Frederick, Maryland 21701; 301/695-2350.
