Clear and Comfortable Communications

Earlier in the year, right after SHOT Show in January in fact, we were asked to field test and evaluate a couple of radio accessories from PRYME Radio Products for the purpose of editorial review. The items were:

Their SPM-NM10 series lapel microphone kit, which included the microphone, earphone and push-to-talk button with a built-in clothing kit, and…

Their SPM-NM50 series noise-canceling remote speaker microphone - what many officers would refer to more simply as “a shoulder mic.”

To test these two products, we reached out to the New Carrollton Police Department (NCPD) in Maryland, and coordinated a four-to-six weeklong period of structured testing. From NCPD we found out that the radios being used were the Motorola APX-4000 and the Motorola APX-7000. We provided that information to PRYME and the NCPD shortly received one each of the two products meant to be tested.

As the coordinator of the T&E program for these products and the person who would be tasked with writing the report after it was complete, I stayed in weekly contact with representatives of NCPD so I could maintain awareness of any challenges that might exist or be found. Throughout the testing time frame, all of the feedback from NCPD was positive with the exception of an emergency alert button function that was apparently particular to the Motorola radios and had nothing to do with the PRYME products.

To begin the testing process, the Lapel Microphone Kit, the SPM-NM10 was assigned to a patrol supervisor for use during his normal schedule for a week. The Remote Speaker Microphone (shoulder mic), the SPM-NM50 was assigned to one of the agency’s patrol officers, on a different squad from the supervisor who was testing the lapel microphone kit. The idea was to keep the two of them from discussing the products as much as possible, so the products weren’t given to officers on the same squad. The officers, in fact, worked opposing shifts for most of the testing time frame.

The supervisor’s feedback on the Lapel Microphone Kit was all positive. The equipment was easy to hook up to his assigned radio. The members of his squad reported that his voice was clear when he was using it, indicating that the microphone provided good sound quality. He reported that the push-to-talk feature was easy to use, and the clothing clip kept it securely in place. Perhaps the most subjective of all such tests, the comfort of the earphone can vary widely from person to person and in this case, the testing supervisor reported a high level of comfort throughout his shift with each wear test of the product.

The patrol officer’s feedback on the Remote Speaker Microphone, the shoulder mic, was equally positive. It was easy to connect. It was easy to use. The sound quality of both incoming and outgoing transmissions was good. He reported that the clothing clip securely held the shoulder mic in place and that the coiled cable connecting it to the radio had just the right amount of play in it without being either too short or two saggy while worn. Of course, that could change depending on who was using it and what their body structure was.

For the second part of the testing protocol, the products were assigned to different officers. The Lapel Microphone Kit was given to one of the agency’s detectives and the Remote Speaker Microphone to a different patrol officer. It’s worth noting that there was quite a difference in physical stature between the two patrol officers who performed the testing. One was under five and a half feet tall while the other was well over six feet; the first fairly svelte, the second with a stocky build.

The reporting of the second set of testing officers mimicked that of the first. There was no negative feedback, and positive commentary on the comfort, performance and sound quality. 

From our perspective, this represents a successful test of both products and we’re happy to provide this editorial review of both. For more information, visit www.pryme.com and see what they can do to assist you with your radio accessory needs.