Want a headset that allows you to visit with your buddy while you’re shooting at the range? The Walker’s Razor earmuffs and Walkie-Talkie attachment are the perfect combination. We don’t think about our hearing protection options until we don’t have them or they don’t work. Luck for us, we live in a new age, and electronic hearing protection with noise cancelation has become the standard, but adding a radio to the mix tends to get expensive in most cases.
However, thanks to the Razor Walkie-Talkie system, converting your standard electronic earmuffs to a radio-ready system is easier (and more affordable) than ever before. Simply slip it in place, and you’re ready to roll. There are no wires to run or get tangled up in; just turn it on and talk. Most standard two-way radios will also work with this set, making it handy if you already have other radios.
Walker’s Razor Earmuffs
Walker’s Razor earmuffs are among the best noise-canceling earmuffs in this price range. They block sound very well, and the electronic hearing is impressive. The Razor earmuffs use two AAA batteries and will run for up to 40 hours. They have a noise reduction rating of 23 decibels and two hi-gain omnidirectional mics. High-definition speakers provide a clear sound, so you can hear clearly regardless of loud sounds around you.
Razor Walkie-Talkie
The Razor Walkie-Talkie attachment is made specifically to work with Walker’s Razor earmuffs. Connecting them is about as simple as it gets and doesn’t require any tools. Before this part, however, make sure you put the batteries in before installing it. Three AAA batteries are included with the radio, and they’re installed in the back of the attachment, so you’ll have to remove the attachment to install the batteries. To connect them to the earmuffs, remove the clip at the top of the radio. This will reconnect after it’s on the earmuff. Line the radio up on the left earmuff and insert the radio jack.
When you are ready to use the Razor Walkie-Talkie, pull out the top of the short antenna. It will snap open to help provide a better signal. Push and hold the power button, and the radio will turn on. Once the power is on, it will indicate a channel on the small digital screen. Two arrows to the side will control the volume of the radio.
To change the setting, press the power button one time, and the screen will begin flashing. While the screen is flashing, continue to press the power button to cycle through the menu. To change one of the settings, use the volume buttons on the side. Once you have cycled through the entire menu of options, the screen will stop flashing and display the channel once again. A manual transmission button is located on the bottom right of the radio.
Available settings include:
- Sub-Chanel: This setting allows you to set multiple radios with a primary channel and the same sub-channel. Headsets with a specific primary and sub-channel combo will not receive transmissions from other radios. This is helpful if you have two different groups of people wearing earmuffs and don’t want them to hear each other.
- Voice-Activated Transmit (VOX): This setting will be turned off by default. To turn it on, use the volume buttons while the screen is flashing on the VOX menu. A low and high setting will determine how well the mic picks up your voice. You can rotate the mic downward so it’s closer to your mouth while talking.
- PRI – Priority Channel: This setting is useful for ranges or worksites. When a priority channel is set, a transmission from that channel will override those on a regular channel. For example, everyone on the range can set their radio to channel 2 and the priority channel to 1. A range master can place his radio on channel 1 so everyone can hear him. If people are talking when the range master transmits, all radios will pick up that transmission instead. They will not be able to transmit out while the range master is queued up.
How well does the radio work?
Remember those radio sets that claimed to have a 2-mile radius when you were little? Going outside the house would block the signal and render them useless. Of course, they were still fun to play with as long as you had a straight line of view to get a signal. Radios have come a long way, even analog two-way radios like these. The sound is amazingly clear, regardless of the cost of these things. On my first test, I had one person go to the basement of my home while I went outside. I walked about 100 yards out and stood behind a building to see if I could still get a signal. It was loud and clear. Walker’s claims these have a two-to-three-mile range in clear weather.
Great Buy For The Price
If you want to use the Razor Walkie-Talkie’s voice activation system, it takes some getting used to. It takes about 2 seconds for the mic to pick up your voice and activate the radio. You basically have to say one word to activate the mic and then start talking. The person on the other end needs to wait until they know the transmission is done before they start talking.
You can buy the Walkie-Talkie attachment and earmuffs for about $100, making it a great deal for what you get. I’ve used mine for several days, and the battery is still showing as full. It takes a total of five AAA batteries to keep both units running, but they have a long battery life. If you need a longer range, a better radio can still plug into the Walker’s Razor earmuffs. But if you need a radio for short-range communication, this is a simple, affordable method.
