Electronic earmuffs
Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2004 6:30 pm
Electronic earmuffs such as Peltor use microphones to pick up ambient sound and, according to the user's adjustment on the volume control, amplify the sound to the desired level. When the volume control is turned to OFF, they function exactly like any other regular earmuffs by passively attenuating noise.
It is most useful in situations where two shooters want to talk ( e.g. coach and shooter ) on line when others are firing away nearby. The electronics allow talking to come through but will cut down within milliseconds when a high level impulsive noise such as a gun shot is detected. Electronic earmuffs do not necessarily give you better hearing protection.
Personally I do not prefer to use this kind of device, as others here pointed out, due to potential distraction. I really don't need to hear what others have to say when I am shooting, especially competing. The coaching situation as state above is most likely the only time I would find it useful. But this is of course personal choice.
Because of the microphones, it can potentially be interpreted as a "receiving device", because this is exactly what they do: to receive ambient sound and then amplify and output it as audio signal. Receiving signal does not need to be via electronic means ( such as wireless communication by walkie-talkies...etc. ), it could also be in physical means ( such as sound waves ). Once again this is open to interpretation.
That is why shooters like R.M. who has been to world level competitions, or other shooters who have been to higher levels of competitions, had actually experienced or witnessed RO's approaching shooters with such devices for checking. I personally have seen this happened at the Canadian National Pistol Championships a few years ago. The end results was that the shooter was allowed to use the earmuffs, without the batteries, for the match, after the shooter's explanation and the OR's inspection. I just know for myself I would not want to be in his shoes.
I think the bottomline here is no one should intentionally invite RO's attention at a high level match, even if you truly believe your interpretation of the rules are more correct than that of the RO's.
Back to 3D's questions, a few of Peltor's earmuffs have liquid/foam ear-cushions and are quite comfortable. They even have a gel-filled ear-cushion for optimal comfort, but expensive. Maybe others on this board can evaluate on other brand names.
It is most useful in situations where two shooters want to talk ( e.g. coach and shooter ) on line when others are firing away nearby. The electronics allow talking to come through but will cut down within milliseconds when a high level impulsive noise such as a gun shot is detected. Electronic earmuffs do not necessarily give you better hearing protection.
Personally I do not prefer to use this kind of device, as others here pointed out, due to potential distraction. I really don't need to hear what others have to say when I am shooting, especially competing. The coaching situation as state above is most likely the only time I would find it useful. But this is of course personal choice.
Because of the microphones, it can potentially be interpreted as a "receiving device", because this is exactly what they do: to receive ambient sound and then amplify and output it as audio signal. Receiving signal does not need to be via electronic means ( such as wireless communication by walkie-talkies...etc. ), it could also be in physical means ( such as sound waves ). Once again this is open to interpretation.
That is why shooters like R.M. who has been to world level competitions, or other shooters who have been to higher levels of competitions, had actually experienced or witnessed RO's approaching shooters with such devices for checking. I personally have seen this happened at the Canadian National Pistol Championships a few years ago. The end results was that the shooter was allowed to use the earmuffs, without the batteries, for the match, after the shooter's explanation and the OR's inspection. I just know for myself I would not want to be in his shoes.
I think the bottomline here is no one should intentionally invite RO's attention at a high level match, even if you truly believe your interpretation of the rules are more correct than that of the RO's.
Back to 3D's questions, a few of Peltor's earmuffs have liquid/foam ear-cushions and are quite comfortable. They even have a gel-filled ear-cushion for optimal comfort, but expensive. Maybe others on this board can evaluate on other brand names.