Hearing protection and clear communication are both essential on shoot day but these two objectives are not mutually exclusive, thanks to Icom UK radios and SWATCOM hearing protection.
Safety is a top priority in any game shooting scenario, but so is clear and reliable communication, especially when loud gunshots and live ammunition are present . Protecting the long-term hearing of everyone involved is paramount but so is making sure the team on the ground can always contact each other. As anybody who has even been behind the scenes on shoot day knows, good communication between the shoot manager, Guns, head keeper, beating line and pickers-up is the secret to success.
Game shooting is full of variables such as changing weather conditions, unexpected ramblers or horse riders and wild deer running through drives, which cannot be controlled. But the way the team reacts on the day makes the difference between success and failure.
Clear, instant and safe comms is where Icom LTE radios come in, particularly when used in conjunction with SWATCOM hearing protection, as supplied by communications equipment supplier Talking Headsets. This combination simultaneously provides crystal-clear communication and top-quality hearing protection.
Game shooting often takes place in undulating or hilly terrain, which is not always conducive to good radio comms. However, the Icom IP503H LTE handsets, deployed with SWATCOM hearing protection, can overcome this geographical barrier because unlike traditional radios limited by line-of-sight or repeater range, the IP503H works wherever there’s cellular coverage.
This combination's additional benefits for shoot management are:
Instant communication
Provides near-instant voice transmission like a walkie-talkie, but with the reach of mobile networks. Much faster than using a mobile phone.
Compact and lightweight
It’s small, easy to carry and rugged enough for field use.
Two Way Conversation
Unlike most radios, IP503H LTE radios allow simultaneous talking and listening (like a phone call) not just one-way at a time, making conversations more natural.
Group and individual calls
Users can call individuals, groups, or all radios at once, depending on how the system is set up.
Be heard with high-quality audio
Strong, clear digital voice quality, even in noisy environments.
The combination was used at this summer’s World English Sporting Championships at the EJ Churchill Shooting Ground, where the competitors shot on the West Wycombe estate in terrain very similar to that found on many game shoots. The event’s head referee, Josh Foot said: “The Icom LTE radios removed the distance barrier of conventional two-way radios and the multiplex channel that I had allowed me to hear every channel simultaneously, even when I had to go off site a few miles away I could still engage in all the chatter. I could communicate with one specific individual or everyone at the same time, this system is revolutionary! In the event of a breakdown on the course, we were able to resolve the problems much quicker and the audio clarity enabled me to recognise each person instantly. We had site wide, corner to corner communications without any hitches, brilliant!”
When you think about it, that’s exactly the sort of communications solution any head keeper or shoot manager is looking for too.
Talking Headsets has been supplying industry-leading professional equipment since April 2000: talkingheadsets.co.uk
For more information on Icom equipment visit: Icomuk.co.uk