FlyCom Helmet

I had a flycom, it was ok...but the wind would catch the front and push it up making me choke a bit.
I know they are expensive as hell, but Tiger Performance with the carbon fiber helmet and full retract face shield is bad ass! I love it. Would NEVER go back to flycom. Plus you pick your electronics....worth every penny!
 
Hi Eric, you are right about getting stuff delivered, it's a real nightmare these days and real bad being way down here in New Zealand. my flycom was a new ga helmet but i have got to thinking that it may have the wrong mic installed like you. Not to sure how to do a reading on the mic so if any one knows that would be very help full.
Mark if you can take a pic of your current Flycom helmet mike and post it on this forum I will identify it for you and give you its details and where to purchase one at a reasonable price if required. These inserts occasionally fail. Also if you can tell me if you have a Pax with their helmet plugged into your system and what type of helmet they are using on your intercom/radio system. Your PM1200 manual is not specific about the type of microphone required (they only specify the headset impedances).

1.5 Specifications Input power: 13.8 - 27.5 Volts DC Current Drain: < 250 mA (Externally fused at 1 Amp) Output 120 mW into 150@ 27.5 VDC 70 mW @ 13.75 VDC Headphone Impedance: 150-1000 ohms typical Aircraft Radio Impedance: 500- 1000  typical 3 dB Music Frequency Response: 200 Hz to 15 kHz Unit weight: 12 Ounces (0.342 kg) Dimensions:1.25" H x 3.00" W x 5.80" D (3.2 x 7.6 x 14.7 cm) Temperature -20ºC to +55ºC Altitude 50,000 ft.


Mark I have remained silent on your subject awaiting something constructive from "Bobby" critising my comments regarding squelch. Nothing.
In the PM 1200 manual there is the option of switching between PTT and VOX modes for your microphone and this may well be where your issue is hiding. If you have the mic function switching in and out then precluding a wiring fault this will be a function of the electronics. You are essentially dealing with 2 squelch systems in series, one in your PM1200 as a microphone VOX and the second in your Icom 200 as a sidetone squelch. Investigate this further but remember this needs to be set up in the air with all of the wind and engine noise present.

IntelliVox® The PM1200 has both automatic VOX (IntelliVox® and PTT-ICS. For open cockpit aircraft and the majority of warbirds, using the PM1200 in PTT-ICS (Push-To-Talk Intercom Mode) is required. Turning either IntelliVox® or PTT-ICS function on and off you simply depress the Copilot Volume control knob. In one mode it will work with the Voice Operated Relay (VOX) automatically. Pressing the knob again will place the intercom into the PIT-ICS mode. While in IntelliVox® mode, there must be some background noise so that the circuits that makes the automatic VOX work knows what noise is so then it can determine when a voice is present.



Regards.......Chook. (Western Australia) We have to look after our mates across the Ditch.
 
Mark if you can take a pic of your current Flycom helmet mike and post it on this forum I will identify it for you and give you its details and where to purchase one at a reasonable price if required. These inserts occasionally fail. Also if you can tell me if you have a Pax with their helmet plugged into your system and what type of helmet they are using on your intercom/radio system. Your PM1200 manual is not specific about the type of microphone required (they only specify the headset impedances).

1.5 Specifications Input power: 13.8 - 27.5 Volts DC Current Drain: < 250 mA (Externally fused at 1 Amp) Output 120 mW into 150@ 27.5 VDC 70 mW @ 13.75 VDC Headphone Impedance: 150-1000 ohms typical Aircraft Radio Impedance: 500- 1000  typical 3 dB Music Frequency Response: 200 Hz to 15 kHz Unit weight: 12 Ounces (0.342 kg) Dimensions:1.25" H x 3.00" W x 5.80" D (3.2 x 7.6 x 14.7 cm) Temperature -20ºC to +55ºC Altitude 50,000 ft.


Mark I have remained silent on your subject awaiting something constructive from "Bobby" critising my comments regarding squelch. Nothing.
In the PM 1200 manual there is the option of switching between PTT and VOX modes for your microphone and this may well be where your issue is hiding. If you have the mic function switching in and out then precluding a wiring fault this will be a function of the electronics. You are essentially dealing with 2 squelch systems in series, one in your PM1200 as a microphone VOX and the second in your Icom 200 as a sidetone squelch. Investigate this further but remember this needs to be set up in the air with all of the wind and engine noise present.

IntelliVox® The PM1200 has both automatic VOX (IntelliVox® and PTT-ICS. For open cockpit aircraft and the majority of warbirds, using the PM1200 in PTT-ICS (Push-To-Talk Intercom Mode) is required. Turning either IntelliVox® or PTT-ICS function on and off you simply depress the Copilot Volume control knob. In one mode it will work with the Voice Operated Relay (VOX) automatically. Pressing the knob again will place the intercom into the PIT-ICS mode. While in IntelliVox® mode, there must be some background noise so that the circuits that makes the automatic VOX work knows what noise is so then it can determine when a voice is present.



Regards.......Chook. (Western Australia) We have to look after our mates across the Ditch.
Thanks for that Chook as you have put a lot of effort into getting that info. Bloody radios and comms seem to be a common issue with us nuts and spanner pilots eh !
 
Oops, I forgot to write about resolving the issue. Too busy earning my license, I guess.

I let my friend solder the new mike capsule onto the boom - he has much more experience with such stuff.

And it now works very well - also with the Microavionics helmet in the backseat...

So it worked out very well.
 
Mark if you can take a pic of your current Flycom helmet mike and post it on this forum I will identify it for you and give you its details and where to purchase one at a reasonable price if required. These inserts occasionally fail. Also if you can tell me if you have a Pax with their helmet plugged into your system and what type of helmet they are using on your intercom/radio system. Your PM1200 manual is not specific about the type of microphone required (they only specify the headset impedances).

Mark I have remained silent on your subject awaiting something constructive from "Bobby" critising my comments regarding squelch. Nothing.
The impedances for both types of mics are provided on the website.

Wow, I was not criticizing your comment, merely stating my opinion. 🙂
 
Last edited:
Nice one rcflier, i gave up on my flycom but coincidentaly i have got a aircraft avionics guy to research it for me and he is expecting a couple of mics from flycom anytime now. He is going to replace mine and another flying friends as he has the same problem.He runs a different radio to mine with the same result, just way to quiet. Will post the results as soon as i know.
 
The term does apply if you are using a voice-activated intercom – higher "squelch" means a higher sound threshold for activation. That's what Trig calls it on my system.
Squelch is used for any input-threshold setting mechanism, so you can use the term to refer to having an RF input threshold or an audio input threshold.
 
I had a flycom, it was ok...but the wind would catch the front and push it up making me choke a bit.
I know they are expensive as hell, but Tiger Performance with the carbon fiber helmet and full retract face shield is bad ass! I love it. Would NEVER go back to flycom. Plus you pick your electronics....worth every penny!
Did you get the Icaro Rollbar Plus? That's the one I'm looking to get from Tiger.
 
General helmet question:
I have a friend who makes the "In the ear" custom head sets and helmets for spec. ops helicopter pilots and a couple other military applications.
He said he would set me up with the head set and could probably get me a helmet. When I asked what kind of helmet should I get?
He replied: you could use your bicycle helmet! the headset doesn't care and you only need enough to protect a mild crash since you don't
want to survive a major crash anyway!
I said, good point, so what should I get?
He said to use any decent motorcycle helmet that I already have, or he could try to find one of the semi soft military heli helmets because they are more comfortable and let more air through. (I am in Az.)
I don't know enough to even speculate, so what say the forum oracles?
 
My issue, have a nice DC headphone/mic setup that I really like. Have tried several helmets that just don't work well.

Bought the Flycom, like the fit, mic audio was crap so ripped out the electronics, installed a DC mic, happy now. Better out there? Probably but not willing to spend money experimenting.
 
He replied: you could use your bicycle helmet! the headset doesn't care and you only need enough to protect a mild crash since you don't
want to survive a major crash anyway!
A bicycle helmet saved my life a few years ago when I was launched across an expressway while sitting still and hit from behind by a high speed impaired driver. A brand new (first ride) Bell "mips" helmet was destroyed but limited my brain injury (intraparenchymal hemorrhage/ subdural hematoma) to survivable severity. Nice airflow vents, too. Warning - with my "hairline", I always spray on sunscreen or else I get sunburn in the pattern of the vents, which is uncomfortable and looks pretty silly.
 
A bicycle helmet saved my life a few years ago when I was launched across an expressway while sitting still and hit from behind by a high speed impaired driver. A brand new (first ride) Bell "mips" helmet was destroyed but limited my brain injury (intraparenchymal hemorrhage/ subdural hematoma) to survivable severity. Nice airflow vents, too. Warning - with my "hairline", I always spray on sunscreen or else I get sunburn in the pattern of the vents, which is uncomfortable and looks pretty silly.
Holy crap!
I got slammed by a drunk driver while stopped at an intersection on a motorcycle, The rim locked on the bumper and just shoved me out into the intersection. Somehow ended up with my legs wrapped around the fairing an windshield....
 
General helmet question:
I have a friend who makes the "In the ear" custom head sets and helmets for spec. ops helicopter pilots and a couple other military applications.
He said he would set me up with the head set and could probably get me a helmet. When I asked what kind of helmet should I get?
He replied: you could use your bicycle helmet! the headset doesn't care and you only need enough to protect a mild crash since you don't
want to survive a major crash anyway!
I said, good point, so what should I get?
He said to use any decent motorcycle helmet that I already have, or he could try to find one of the semi soft military heli helmets because they are more comfortable and let more air through. (I am in Az.)
I don't know enough to even speculate, so what say the forum oracles?
As someone who suffers daily with a traumatic brain injury I am an advocate for a recently manufactured quality helmet that fits well.

When I crashed my motorcycle at Bonneville my head was the only thing that was injured.

I am glad I survived a major crash.

I purchase Gentex SPH 5 helmets off of EBay and put active noise reduction in them for The Predator.

I even have one that uses ear buds because The Predator is very windy in the back seat.

I have a helmet with a mush mouth (looks like oxygen in a jet fighter helmet) to allow me to make radio calls from the back seat.

Each application is a little different and often requires some tinkering and regular maintenance.

I replace the ear cups at least once a year.
 
If you happen to have an old Auto-Gyro helmet where the mike is nearly silent, you have to change it.
(I changed a Funke analog 500 for a Funke digital 833S)

I found this: Bestar BCM9767 in my local electronics shop. That'll work and even fit well in the mike boom.
Remember to get a fact sheet with it, so you'll know which is signal and which is ground. Else ask.
It also has a "P" version with pins - if you'd like that. But the solder version is easier to fit.
Bestar has other versions - but it's not my field. This one works, when VOX is turned all the way up.

My old Auto-Gyro helmet also has two 1 kOhm resistors - one papallel to the mike and then one in series.
They halve the voltage to the mike - but also the signal. So I'll have to experiment a bit more...

Cheers
Erik
 
Top