clark headset-xmsns barely readable

red003 · Post by **red003** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 8:12 am

i've been having poor transmission strength/readablity with a david clark 10.13X in the air but not on the ground.

anyone ever have the same thing/know of a solution? i think it might be a ground wire and cust. svc is only open weekdays so i thought i'd try here before atc has a fit.

jimmyjazz · Post by **jimmyjazz** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 8:16 am

If you have a maintenance dept ask them for some contact cleaner,if not try some steel wool on the plugins.

JigglyBus · Post by **JigglyBus** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 8:34 am

I'd suspect the radio more than the headset.

Have you tried another headset? Or tried the headset in another plane?

Blakey · Post by **Blakey** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 9:53 am

Has anyone been playing with the microphone?

David Clarks have noise-cancelling microphones. No, not just the ANC headsets, that's a different thing all together. The microphone actually has 2 pick-ups. One on each side. It subtracts the engine noise and what not that it detects on the "outside" pick-up, from what it detects on the "mouth" side pick-up. Theoretically, this leaves just what you're saying without all the ambient cockpit noise. If it has been installed backwards, this could explain why it works on the ground when there is not much ambient noise.

Turn it around and try it.

red003 · Post by **red003** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 11:43 am

i'm pretty sure it's my headset b/c it's been in 2 different planes and each time it's been a problem i've used the handheld mic and been 5X5.

the d.clark troubleshooting page makes it look like it's probably a broken wire somewhere in the connector.

ScudRunner · Post by **ScudRunner** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 3:18 pm

Does it sound like your talking through a tin can in the headset? Mine does that ocasionally. Im getting it checked out. Fortunetly i have a DC ANR one as backup

blaster · Post by **blaster** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 5:28 pm

It is the mic. Get a replacement part... remove the 2 screws... change er up ... and bob's your uncle. I had the same problem a few years ago, been fine ever since.

Blakey · Post by **Blakey** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 8:39 pm

red003,

If it is the mike you can get one pretty quickly from High-Tech Aviation in Markham. (905) 477-8032. Their prices are pretty average but they will take a credit card over the phone and ship it out via UPS the same day. You may need a model M-7/DC or a model M-7A. If you look really closely, it's printed on the sticker. The last one I bought was in the area of $135.

blaster · Post by **blaster** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 6:05 am

Before you go spending 135$, call the David Clark sales rep for the region or even their costomer services line. Tell them your problem and they may even send you the part for free. They did it for me. Apparently it is a common problem.

Good Luck.

Dockjock · Post by **Dockjock** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 9:16 am

Take off your ear seals and look at the rim of the ear cup on each side. There will be a date code for when your headset was manufactured. David Clark has a 7-yr warranty, no receipt required. Call them and get it serviced for free before you spend any money. I think you will have to pay the postage to get it there, but they will send it back for free.

Dockjock · Post by **Dockjock** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 9:20 am

Just checked, the date code is on the ear cup on the mic side. The date code is 4 digits mmyy. I've sent mine back twice and both times they not only fixed what I asked for, but also replaced the cord, ear seals, clips, and headpad. Awesome customer service.

oldncold · Post by **oldncold** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 12:25 pm

have an ancient dc and depending what type of aircraft you fly
and radio package the ohms of impedance can be different 8vs 4 as an eample which will cause some problems. the E' guys know this and check out what yours is and the imped's on the radio pack to see if they match if not and you fly alot in the bird. Then a new headset is in order that match

cyyz · Post by **cyyz** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 3:01 pm

blaster wrote:Before you go spending 135$, call the David Clark sales rep for the region or even their costomer services line. Tell them your problem and they may even send you the part for free. They did it for me. Apparently it is a common problem.

Good Luck.

/correct

jimmyjazz · Post by **jimmyjazz** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 5:20 pm

yea call a rep before spending any doe I had a problem with my mike they checked the date it was 4 1/2 years old fixed it for free 1 year later brought it back with the same problem they said it was past warranty then noticed it had the same problem the year before so he goes to the counter grabs a new headset gives it to me and says DC's shouldnt break twice.

red003 · Post by **red003** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 6:21 pm

i've narrowed it down to the mike. not a ground wire, which was my original thought. i tried twisting the boom around and the other side picks up fine in flight but the front is shot.

i asked the clark csr to just send me a new M7A mike but she said no b/c they'd have no way of verifying that my headset was less than 5 years old. so no go that way but it's going to kitchener aero when i get home from this gig.

thanks to everyone who's weighed in. nice to hear so many good reviews of d.clark warranty/svc.

Dockjock · Post by **Dockjock** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 8:13 pm

(tap tap)
ahem,
Is this thing on?

Brint · Post by **Brint** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 8:30 am

I've been told by the folks at DC that the mics have a limited life. Once too much dust gets in there, it will start giving you problems. If you are missing the foam cover, it may speed up the problem.

wha happen · Post by **wha happen** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 8:48 am

i know a guy who rolled a plane over his DC's. Destroyed the headset, got a brand new one out of the box from the company. Now thats service

oldtimer · Post by **oldtimer** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 8:55 pm

I have a DC 10-13.4 and the mic takes a while to warm up. works fine after 15 or so minutes in a noisey airplane but longer in a quiet one. Another pilot has the same problem with the same headset. Maxcraft in YVR says $175.00 to fix it but that also includes new gell cell ear pads. ($35.00 in Aviation World)

overtorqued · Post by **overtorqued** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 10:14 am

hey oldtimer;
My 10.3 mic does the same thing. In the summer it transmits fine, however in the winter I usually have to yell "gear up".