Off topic, Needing a respirator mic for my dad who has cancer.

[the_clockwork]

Not sure if this is the right place, if not I can move it.

Hello I'm looking for a solution to a problem and it occurred to me, my fellows in fandom likely already solved this issue.  We need better communication though our respirators as my immune compromised dad gets cancer treatment.   The setup I need would be a small wireless mic, that can fit in a M3 P100 respirator and can FM broadcast or Bluetooth to a speaker.    A throat mic might work as wellber and might better because its just a wired on off switch and he would likely need me to set up a wireless system each time. my concern is we are all heavy and I hear throat fat might be a issue.    The 3m and MSA units have a fold in the rubber around he seal so there is a bit of space to work with, and I am a maker so building stuff is in my wheel house so ditching a casing and changing things out is pretty easy for me.   

What do you guys use for this stuff?

 

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

Many of us use an Aker amp with a head mic for normal trooping, some use a wireless system and I've not looked into the wireless mic's before.

 

I use Aliexpress for a lot of electrical pieces and components and doing a quick search there are lots of small mic options, a clip on may be able to be used inside the mask, here is just one that may suit

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004100437731.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.31501cbfwq2RWB&algo_pvid=08524df2-24e2-4a08-8e24-77d0a6898944&aem_p4p_detail=202205171823471893055529452800008758301&algo_exp_id=08524df2-24e2-4a08-8e24-77d0a6898944-19&pdp_ext_f={"sku_id"%3A"12000028031814301"}&pdp_npi=2%40dis!AUD!!51.36!!!!!%40210318c216528370270075756e35dd!12000028031814301!sea

 

 

Or something like this 

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001627067887.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.13b2530bBKjguk&algo_pvid=0d0668f8-3afe-410c-b381-ccba17f7276d&aem_p4p_detail=2022051718224845916712130840007656478&algo_exp_id=0d0668f8-3afe-410c-b381-ccba17f7276d-9&pdp_ext_f={"sku_id"%3A"12000016875781629"}&pdp_npi=2%40dis!AUD!!30.65!!!!!%400bb0623f16528369679364285e170b!12000016875781629!sea

 

 

You could add a cheap amplifier to this setup so both could be heard through the same unit.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003931897869.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.289d2b481kxQWA&algo_pvid=671dda70-31bb-4627-a70d-5d176f17acb4&algo_exp_id=671dda70-31bb-4627-a70d-5d176f17acb4-23&pdp_ext_f={"sku_id"%3A"12000027496740834"}&pdp_npi=2%40dis!AUD!!6.92!!!!!%400bb0624316528374027788097e2789!12000027496740834!sea

 

FYI I've moved this to Electronics for helmets-blasters area you may get more a response there 

 

[Sly11[Admin]]

Glen is all over this.

Yes these are the tools we use to be heard and I hope you can come up with a solution for your dad.

[the_clockwork]

Unfortunately, you cant use the wired mic's unless they are throat mics.  The wire coming out of the respirator would break the mask seal, and expose him to covid risk.   The wireless systems might work however they look a bit fat, I think that I might be able to remove the housing however.   Still if there is anything smaller that would be more ideal. The speaker is great however for a output for the second unit. 

This is basicly what we are putting  the system in https://www.amazon.com/3M-Respirator-6200-Respiratory-Protection/dp/B007JZ1N00/ref=asc_df_B007JZ1N00?tag=bingshoppinga-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80333120120393&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583932699190739&psc=1 

Edited May 18, 2022 by the_clockwork

[the_clockwork]

Has anyone cracked one of those wireless units open, how much of it is air and how much is battery and board

[the_clockwork]

Does anyone else have more input on this?

[gmrhodes13[Staff]]

I don't think many would have tried to do this before, most of the builds I have seen normally use a head mic or a wireless mic, most of the wireless setups appear to be around the same size. When you think we are only trying to add a mic to use in a helmet, obviously fitting into a mask is a little harder. Like anything though it's a bit hard to know how big the internals would be without opening one up. 

 

An option with a wired mic would be drill a small hole in the mask, insert the mic and then seal the hole with waterproof silicon, I would think this should work.

 

Doing a quick google search I did find a few items but these are for paper masks

https://www.amazon.com/Maspeaker-Voice-Amplifier-Face-Masks/dp/B09DP773TG

 

Other masks with mics

http://www.sea.com.au/docs_menu/docs/bro_sea_smalltalk.pdf

 

https://www.flighthelmet.com/blog/mask-microphone-great-for-high-wind.html

 

https://www.weaponoutfitters.com/ops-core-sotr-no-mic.html

 

[the_clockwork]

The flight helmet masks is much closer to what we are using. 

This is very close too, if not the exact mask he uses. 
https://www.jjkeller.com/shop/Product/3M-Half-Facepiece-6000-Series-Reusable-Air-Purifying-Respirator-APR?PromoCode=118786&cm_mmc=Google-_-ProductFeed-_-04736-_-16423&msclkid=e3588c8f74fa144d6adeee2fb821c9f7  A wireless system would be best.  I just wish I could figure out how to use a blue tooth ear piece mic but pump the output to a separate speaker

 

[revlimiter[Staff]]

I use the full face version of that mask in my daily job and am very familiar with it. You definitely do NOT want any sort of wire going into or through the mask. The wire could create a breech in your protection.

 

The idea of having a bluetooth mic in the mouth area is also not very appealing to me. I get in and out of that mask as quickly as possible and dinkling with bluetooth pairing, arguing with something right by my lips, and even just struggling with a micro on-off switch would be annoying. It's very tight in that mouth area, at least for me. The mask also tends to smoosh your lips together a bit which would distort your speech even with the mic.

 

Not that you couldn't get good at turning things on and working out bugs. I mean, I have 4 switches in my stormtrooper bucket alone. No issues for me getting things all powered up and ready to troop. But it's a lot easier to stick a hand into the helmet than slide a finger deep into the mouth recess of that respirator.

 

My humble suggestion: a throat mic plugged into an Aker style amp. I know you suggested some extra fat around the throat might be an issue, but I do not believe that could be the case. The mic just wants to pick up vibrations next to the skin. As long as you have nothing between the skin and the mic, there shouldn't be any issue. Many overweight gamers use these daily with no problems.

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0819TNF5L

My daughter has one of these in her Jawa kit connected to a sound glove. It works extremely well connected to a mic also. Cheap and good are a hard combo to beat.  Pair that with a good-review throat mic and you should be golden.

 

Hope this helps.