Whenever we are onboard the boat, we have come to depend on mobile service for a sense of safety and for maintaining necessary personal and business contacts. For us, a mobile phone has become important marine equipment, and we're always on the lookout for ways to enhance its functionality.
A Bluetooth headset can be a great addition to a mobile phone on your boat. It can provide you with hands-free communication, and make your phone more secure. You can tuck the phone into your pocket or bag, keeping it away from the elements and safe from the seas. Even better for boaters, there's at least one headset that can act as a walkie-talkie, providing communication during docking, anchoring and other critical situations.
A headset can also extend the range of cellular amplification systems such as the Cell Ranger. Our amplifier requires us to be three to six feet from the antenna – better than being tied with a cable, but still pretty restrictive. What if we want to use our phone in the salon, a stateroom or out on the flybridge? That's where a Bluetooth headset comes in handy. You can extend the range of your phone by an additional 30 to 100 feet depending on the "Class" of the headset.
There are a variety of Bluetooth headsets to choose from – too many, in fact, to cover here. But this overview will help you understand the technology and give you things to consider when selecting your headset.
Some Bluetooth headsets come with an ear hook to hold in place. Comfort is definitely a factor.WHAT IS BLUETOOTH?
Bluetooth, the first wireless communications standard, was originally developed a decade ago. It was designed to be a simple cable replacement technology, and is used by a wide variety of devices such as laptop computers, printers, fax machines, pagers, GPS units, and, of course, mobile phones. Bluetooth has low power consumption, which is important for mobile devices, particularly on your boat. According to the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, which oversees the licensing of the technology and trademarks to manufacturers, there are more than 2 billion Bluetooth-enabled devices in use worldwide.
Bluetooth is not particularly fast but it certainly serves the purpose it was designed for, which is communication between devices that are relatively close together. The standard defines three different operating ranges by "Class." Each Class defines the maximum power output, which directly affects the range of the device. However, other factors can also affect the range of a Bluetooth headset, causing the actual range you experience to vary. In particular, any obstructions between two Bluetooth devices, such as walls or even your head, can reduce the range.
Most Bluetooth headsets are Class 2 devices, meaning they can communicate within a distance of 33 feet under optimal situations. As a Bluetooth Class 2 device, a headset can be quite small with a long battery life. You can easily keep your mobile phone in your pocket or on a table while using the headset. It's interesting to note that the Callpod Dragon V2, which we discuss later in this article, is a Class 1 Bluetooth headset that theoretically extends range to about 330 feet (100 meters). We hope to see more Class 1 headsets in the future, as the extended range can be quite beneficial on a boat.
A Bluetooth "Profile" defines a protocol that a Bluetooth device uses to communicate with another device. All Bluetooth headsets support the Headset Profile (HSP). HSP allows for minimal controls on the headset, including answering a call, adjusting the volume and hanging up.
The Hands-Free Profile (HFP) provides additional capabilities for Bluetooth headsets. These include last-number redial, call waiting and voice dialing. We recommend considering a Bluetooth headset that supports both of these protocols, for maximum function and flexibility.
CHOOSING A HEADSET
When looking at Bluetooth headsets, you should take several things into consideration. Your first may be your budget. The cost of a Bluetooth headset varies widely, from $30 to $300, but there seems to be little correlation between price and performance. Therefore, we advise getting recommendations for a particular unit either through reviews or from users. Don't be fooled into thinking a higher price means a better headset.
Since you will actually wear the headset, ergonomics and comfort are important considerations. Generally, the unit employs some sort of loop placed around your ear, or the earpiece gets held in place by being pushed into your ear. The loop method is generally more comfortable, while the push method is often less comfortable but more secure.
Other ergonomic factors include the headset's weight and the ease of accessing the controls. A heavy unit quickly becomes uncomfortable. Turning the headset on and off, adjusting the volume and answering a call should all be easy to perform. Ensure the headset will work with eyeglasses in place, including sunglasses. And, of course, on a boat you want something that won't end up overboard. Consider a way to tether the headset to your clothing if you'll use it on deck.
