RC Car Action Magazine Review

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EARTEC ULTRALITE UL2SD

Communicate and win thanks to Eartec's UltraLITE UL2SD headset,

When it comes to racing in the world of nitro, you can't do it without a pit guy. One of the keys to success in that area is communication with your pit guy. The pit lane is often very loud, and the distance between a pit guy and driver is great thanks to the height of most drivers' stands.
Headsets have become the norm in recent years because that give a clear connection between the pit man and driver. One of the companies leading the charge is Eartec, and it makes headsets and two-way radios for many different applicationa. I was able to get my hands on the UL2SD version of the UltraLITEheadsets, and I'm about to find out what they can do for me - and you - at the track.

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FEATURES,

The UL2SD headset combo is designed for two people who need to communicate with each other while using their hands for other tasks, so it's perfect for those who are working together during nitro and gas racing. You get two headsets: One is a Main that sets the digital sequence, and the other is the Remote. Want to have two pit guys and talk to both? You can do that, too, because the system is designed to be able to link a total of five users. Pick-up another Remote headset and you're goo to go. The Main headset has one ear cup, leaving the other ear open to hear any issues that may be happening with the vehicle you're running, and the Remote headset gets two ear cups. There's no need to carry a belt-worn radio or have wires all over the place - because the transceiver is built into the ear cup.

- Lithium batteries power the headsets, and a dual charger is included to juice them up.

- The volume buttons are easy to access and adjust. There are five volume settings available.

- The components come in a resealable bag that can be used for storage and transport.

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The volume is adjustable through two buttons on one of the ear cups, and five volume settings are available. Push the button and an audible tone lets you know how loud the volume actually is. A boom is mounted just below the buttons; when it's up, the mic is off, and lowering it turns it on. It can swivel 270 degrees so the headset can be used on the left or right ear. The ear cups and boom are adjustable, so you can get the fit and feel just right. Power for the headsets comes from a very small rechargeable lithium battery, and a charger for that battery is included. Eartec sends the headsets in a reusable pouch that protects all the components and makes it easy to transport everything to and from the track.

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Testing,

The bag that the components come in from the factory is a durable and well-made piece, and there's plenty of room inside for everything, including more headsets if you decide to expand. The headsets are well-built pieces and look great. The padding on the top and on the ear cups is soft and felt comfortable when I placed the headset on my head. The headsets were pretty close to fitting me right out of the box, and took only a few minor tweaks to get them dialed in. Removing the battery for charging from the Remote headset was easy; I just had to slide the cover down and pull the battery out. The one in the Main headset was a little bit of a challenge because the button is pretty small and smooth, and that made it a little bit difficult to push in all the way to open the lid.

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Once the batteries were charged, I made my way to the track to test the headsets. I turned on the Main, then the Remote, and they were linked. With the mics turned on, I began to talk to my pit guy, and we were able to clearly hear what each other was saying. Before heading up to the drivers' stand, I had my pit guy walk as far down the parking lot as he could, and the headsets were still linked. Eventually, the time came to use the headsets on the drivers' stand during a race, and they worked perfectly. I was able to clearly communicate with my pit guy, even with all the noise from a bunch of screaming 1/8-scale nitro buggies around.

Final Word

I've done a lot of nitrp and gas racing and spent many times yelling to and at my pit guy. This headset combo is a welcome addition to my collection. It allows me to communicate with my pit guy but, at the same time, concentrate on my racing rather than hoping he hears me or trying to find him in a crowd of pit guys. At $405, the Eartec UltraLITE UL2SD headset is expensive, but if you're serious about your racing and want to make sure your pit guy can hear and understand you, it's worth the investment. - Kevin Hetmanski

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