iPhone as onboard two-way radio?

[Gin]

I've read older posts about using communication devices for, in particular, docking. The Eartec Simultalk is one that I know some have used. While looking for more information on those, I ran into some info about using two iPhones in much the same way. Evidently, "there's an app for that" -- maybe more than one. It requires a mic on the earphones, but we already have one set of Sony earphones with a mic that I use and works very well. So all it would take is an app and another set of earphones. We will probably give it a try. Has anyone else done that? I'm particularly interested in recommended apps.

Gini

 

[Cocoa Gold]

That may be less cumbersome than the special headphones we purchased at a boat show that are just for docking etc. We never used the as on a sailboat we were both outside.

My concern is dropping said iPhone in the water. I'll be interested in the app as well however.

The difference I'm finding between docking a sailboat and a Tug (with one interior console) is that communication is more difficult with the Captain.

 

[baz]

There are several Apps for the iPhone that will allow for this 2-way communication. Some require you hold the iPhone and press to talk to the other person and some can be used with a Bluetooth Headset+Mic. The latter is safer in that you can leave the iPhone in your pocket once the communications has been initiated. Use iTunes/App Store to research for the Apps.

For people hard of hearing there are also Hearing Aids that are Bluetooth capable and this will allow 2-way communication between Captain who has a mic clipped to shirt and the person with the Bluetooth Hearing Aids. The person with the Hearing Aids will need a special necklace around their neck that picks up the communication data stream and rebroadcasts it via Bluetooth to the Hearing Aids.

 

[Gin]

Agree entirely about the thought of dropping the iPhone in the water. Not a comforting thought. I called Eartec earlier today and asked if their unit is waterproof. It will hold up to mist, splash, and maybe even rain. But if it goes directly into the water, don't expect to salvage it. So either way, it seems, you have to protect the unit.

Baz, thanks for the thought about using the bluetooth headset. Hadn't considered that. Maybe rather than mess with the walkie talkie app stuff, one of us should just call the other using the regular cell connection. :lol:

 

[Cocoa Gold]

I sewed each of the the headsets we have to a baseball cap. They're not going into the water unless we are.