| I'm going to skip the 'teaser' approach and cut to | | | | The newer Jabra Pro 9470 and 9460 Headsets |
| the chase right away. Three really important | | | | have the best range available today, |
| features or capabilities you should consider when | | | | communicating effectively for about 450 feet |
| buying a wireless headset are: | | | | (150 meters). |
| - Connection/Transmission Technology | | | | Bluetooth comes in three flavors, Class 1, Class 2, |
| - Range | | | | and (surprise!) Class 3. Bluetooth Class 1 devices |
| - Noise ReductionNow here's some detail on these | | | | have a maximum range of about 100 meters |
| three. | | | | with current technology. Bluetooth Class 2 devices |
| The first thing you should consider when buying a | | | | have a range of 10 meters. That's about 33 feet. |
| wireless headset is the transmission technology | | | | Most mobile or cell phone Bluetooth headsets are |
| used by the wireless headset to communicate | | | | Class 2 Bluetooth devices and therefore have a |
| with the phone or with the headset 'base unit' | | | | range of about 10 meters. Some newer mobile |
| that is connected to your phone. This choice will | | | | phones are now using Bluetooth Class 1 and |
| affect both range and security issues. | | | | therefore have their range extended to about 25 |
| There are a variety of wireless transmission | | | | meters when communicating with another Class 1 |
| technologies in use for wireless headsets. | | | | device. Bluetooth Class 3 has a range of about 1 |
| Bluetooth technology is used for most mobile | | | | meter or 3 feet and is not used for wireless |
| phone headsets because almost all mobile phones | | | | headsets. Jabra's newest mobile headset, the |
| sold today have built-in Bluetooth electronics. For | | | | Jabra Go 6470 uses Class 1 technology so you'll |
| office headsets, you should choose DECT or | | | | get extended range. |
| Bluetooth technology. | | | | Another critically important feature is noise |
| DECT stands for Digital Enhanced Cordless | | | | reduction. For the convenience and comfort of |
| Telecommunications. It is a wireless technology | | | | your listeners, you will want to reduce the |
| that was introduced in Europe and has been | | | | background noise from your surroundings. You |
| adopted all over the world. In the US, DECT uses | | | | don't want to turn the act of having a phone |
| the 1.9 GHz frequency range (1920 MHz - 1930 | | | | conversation with you into an annoying challenge |
| MHz) that has been reserved exclusively for voice | | | | or a hearing test. There are basically three |
| communications applications. So with DECT | | | | technologies in play here. One is noise filtering; |
| technology, you will not encounter any | | | | another is noise cancelling; and the third is yelling |
| interference problems with those ubiquitous 900 | | | | very loudly. From my personal non-scientific |
| MHz and 2.4 GHz devices (cordless phones, WIFI | | | | sampling, it appears that the last is the most used. |
| networks, baby monitors, alien death rays, etc.). | | | | Noise filtering is part of the electronic circuitry and |
| DECT 6.0 is not a version of the technology; it is | | | | it can be pretty good. But, noise cancelling is the |
| a marketing term for DECT devices | | | | superior technology and it is much better at |
| manufactured for use in the US and Canada. | | | | reducing background noise. Noise cancelling works |
| Bluetooth is also a worldwide wireless | | | | by sampling the actual background and then |
| communications technology standard intended to | | | | electronically cancelling that background out. You |
| replace the wires connecting electronic devices | | | | can usually tell a real noise cancelling microphone |
| while maintaining high levels of security. Key | | | | by the small hole in the microphone boom near |
| features of Bluetooth technology include low | | | | the microphone and usually on the other side |
| power and low cost. The Bluetooth specification | | | | from it. This hole is used to 'retrieve' the |
| defines a robust uniform structure for a wide | | | | background environment. The Jabra GN9350e, |
| range of devices to connect and communicate | | | | GN9330e, and the Jabra GN9125 Flex boom |
| with each other. Bluetooth has been in wide use | | | | headsets are all noise cancelling. With the |
| for a long time now, so the technology is stable | | | | introduction of the new Jabra Pro 9470 and Jabra |
| and dependable. | | | | Go 6470 headsets, Jabra has taken noise |
| When deciding on a wireless headset, the range | | | | reduction technology to a new level with their |
| of the headset is very important. If it doesn't get | | | | "Noise Blackout" technology which actually uses |
| to where you need to go, you might as well not | | | | two microphones. One of these two microphones |
| have it. Given the transmission technologies | | | | picks up the background and that background |
| recommended above, DECT is going to have the | | | | signal is then used electronically for an amazingly |
| superior range. Most GN Netcom Jabra wireless | | | | effective noise cancelling. |
| office headsets use DECT technology and have a | | | | Noise filtering is perfectly fine if you are in a |
| range of 300 feet or more. This includes the | | | | typical, relatively quiet, office environment and |
| Jabra GN9125 series as well as the Jabra | | | | especially if you have a private office. Noise |
| GN9350e and GN9330e. I had a customer call me | | | | filtering technology is a bit less expensive and you |
| using her Jabra headset, leave her office, walk | | | | can save $10 to $30 by going with a noise filtering |
| down the street to a sandwich shop on the | | | | headset like the Jabra GN9125 Soundtube. But |
| corner, buy lunch, and then return to her office... | | | | once you are dealing with a consistently noisy |
| all while we continued our conversation. This was | | | | background environment, and that includes the |
| in the early days of wireless headsets and | | | | person with the annoying laugh sitting near you, |
| everybody around her was amazed. And, I | | | | you would be best advised to go with a wireless |
| actually made a few sales to amazed innocent | | | | headset that uses state-of-the-art noise cancelling |
| bystanders as a result of this roving conversation. | | | | microphone technology. |