COMBI HAWK Wireless PTT Bicycle System

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by David Dager, #1170TB -3017TB
University of Pennsylvania Police Department

While staffing the IPMBA booth at the 2019 Police Security Expo in Atlantic City, New Jersey, I was approached by Julia Oien from the Ear Phone Connection. Julia convinced me to stop by their booth to test their wireless PTT finger transmitter and lapel microphone system. I gave it a quick test. It seemed nice, it worked, and it felt comfortable, but that was only for a few minutes. I think they noticed that I was skeptical. They offered to send me one to test that matched up to my portable radio at work. I agreed, and a week later it arrived.

Now it was time for the big test! I had lots of questions. How secure is the thumb mount? Will the earpieces fit correctly? Will it be comfortable? Is it easy to connect to the portable radio? Where should I attach the lapel transmitter? Where should I clip the earpiece clip? What do I do with all the wires?

My Findings

The wireless PTT Transmitter mounts easily and securely.

The earpiece was comfortable and clipped easily on my lapel to keep it secure while riding.

The system was easy to connect and disconnect when needed from the portable radio.

I was able to attach the lapel microphone exactly where I used to attach my old radio microphone.

The earpiece was comfortable and clipped easily on my lapel to keep it secure while riding.

After several different attempts, I was able to tuck the excess wires between the magnets of my body camera.

Officer Safety

The earpiece was comfortable and enhanced my ability to hear other sounds. There is safety in silence; it is nice that others around you cannot hear the radio transmissions, especially while checking someone for warrants.

I did several radio tests with our dispatchers; they could not tell that I was using a wireless PTT transmitter. Transmissions were clear, and there was no outside interference, e.g., wind or street noise.

The second test (in my mind) was responding to a partial scaffold collapse, riding through the center of campus, with heavy pedestrian traffic. It was nice not to have to remove my hand from the handlebar to transmit.

I highly recommend this system for bicycle patrol!

Images courtesy Ear Phone Connection.

Officer David Dager has been with the University of Pennsylvania since 1991 and has been assigned to the UPPD Police Bike Unit since June 1995. He also served 4 ½ years with Haverford Twp. Police. He has been an IPMBA Instructor since 2010 and an Instructor Trainer since 2015. He can be reached at dave.dager@gmail.com.

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