Alternative to Sportacs

[deerly departed]

My first pair were stolen. I liked them so I bought a 2nd pair. They work fine - until now.

I became disabled 7 months ago which has reduced my shooting (mostly hunting and pest control).

So they have been at home indoors, cased up and in my shooting bag ready to go again.

Imagine my surprise when I went to the range yesterday and took them out of the case. The piccy below pretty much sums it up.

The cable between the two cups had split like a flower exposing all the internal fine wires.

I am told this is a major issue with Sportacs though I hadnt actually heard of this before.

3M have been aware if this for many many yrars and have failed to stop this at source and use a sheath that doesn't turn into shredded cucumber look a likes.

Contacted 3M who say they don't repair - I have to register with one of their dealers who then send them to 3M to repair. All that does is add the costs of an agent. And they do the repair. Mentionrd a load of old pony about they can't do it coz of GDPR or whatever its called. Bollockz more like.

Bottom line is the head band an a complete new wiring loom (which has the same problem ticking time bomb) has to be fitted with the flexy wire head band.

£145.00 minimum to repair and new is £165.00.

I will tape up exposed wire and make this a spare.

So looking for low profile with exception protection but clear speech recognition.

Sordin comes to mind.

Any recomendations from actual owners please?

AND think twice before buying a set of Sportacs.

Thanks Si

 

[sh1kar]

I have had a pair of sordins for probably 20 years and very happy with them

S

 

[labrador77]

Mine have done the same. I hate wearing them really both with the rifles at the range and odd clays with the shotgun. Have you looked into any of the inner ear type?

 

[Klenchblaize]

My first pair were stolen. I liked them so I bought a 2nd pair. They work fine - until now.

I became disabled 7 months ago which has reduced my shooting (mostly hunting and pest control).

So they have been at home indoors, cased up and in my shooting bag ready to go again.

Imagine my surprise when I went to the range yesterday and took them out of the case. The piccy below pretty much sums it up.

The cable between the two cups had split like a flower exposing all the internal fine wires.

I am told this is a major issue with Sportacs though I hadnt actually heard of this before.

3M have been aware if this for many many yrars and have failed to stop this at source and use a sheath that doesn't turn into shredded cucumber look a likes.

Contacted 3M who say they don't repair - I have to register with one of their dealers who then send them to 3M to repair. All that does is add the costs of an agent. And they do the repair. Mentionrd a load of old pony about they can't do it coz of GDPR or whatever its called. Bollockz more like.

Bottom line is the head band an a complete new wiring loom (which has the same problem ticking time bomb) has to be fitted with the flexy wire head band.

£145.00 minimum to repair and new is £165.00.

I will tape up exposed wire and make this a spare.

So looking for low profile with exception protection but clear speech recognition.

Sordin comes to mind.

Any recomendations from actual owners please?

AND think twice before buying a set of Sportacs.

Thanks Si

If the cable is not glued into the headband channel it’s not rocket science to re-wire with an aftermarket multi core cable. That or use the existing wires and simply cover with a good quality length of 5mm heat shrink.

K

 

[RJD]

As above, shrink tube is your friend

 

[deerly departed]

Well thats a fair point except for the fact I ain't a rocket scientist and I have trouble working out the mechanics of a paper clip and safety pins.

It looks like you have to disconnect both ends of the wiring loom get it through the head band, and both ends of the l loom ends seem to be connected to wide'ish PCB's that may mean you need a very large ○\ heat shrink tubing (HST) to get it through. It looks like the loom is put through the head band first and then wires connected to the PCB's.

Probably easy as pie when making it as the PCB's go on last.

If not, it will be a pig. As I understand it from 3M, thats why the repair is a new band and loom that probably just plugs in rather than HST.

As I say, I don't do repairs through a short leaning curve that explained I am a total clutz re this type of thing.

Hence a pretty easy decision to make

 

[Klenchblaize]

Take a cable cutter to each exposed wire at circa 10mm staggered intervals. Pull one end of them through the headband channel and remove the remaining damaged outer sheath. Re-cover wires with heat shrink leaving 20mm of exposed wires for the solder joints. Thread covered cable back through channel. Cover the other end of damaged cable with heat shrink. Again leave 20mm of exposed wires. Now slip a slightly larger 30 - 40mm length of heat shrink over one end the cable to be joined. Now the tricky bit.

Cartfully solder each pair of wires together, having first slipped an appropriately sized (2mm) length of heat shrink over one end to provide the insulation. Once all wires have been rejoined and insulated, slide the remaining piece of heat shrink into place.

Job done without desoldering any delicate motherboard!

K

 

[Robs]

Used Earshot to repair out of warranty Sportacs. Did you contact them? The replacement wiring loom was around £40 to repair, but some time ago.

 

[swagger700]

Ive sportacs but also have the Howard lieght equivalent which are around £40 of ebay new

 

[The Singing Stalker]

I don’t do electrickery either, but I know a man who does. So I would ask around and see if you have someone locally who can do it. Probably charge you £30.

 

[Klenchblaize]

While you’re about it, install a funky “on” light and momentory latching kill switch!

K

 

[Ranger22]

I never store mine folded up, always in the ready to use position. Didn’t know there was an issue with the wiring, something good has come from being lazy!

 

[sh1kar]

I never store mine folded up, always in the ready to use position. Didn’t know there was an issue with the wiring, something good has come from being lazy!

ditto with my sordins, but i do flip the muffs round so the foam ear surrounds don't get crushed and lose their bounce

 

[Lever357]

I have had mine 7 years with no issues but I don't fold them upi

 

[Donkey Basher]

Used Earshot to repair out of warranty Sportacs. Did you contact them? The replacement wiring loom was around £40 to repair, but some time ago.

Beat me to it - Earshot Communications have been brilliant for me in the past.

As a bit of advice, when mine did this I bought a complete replacement headband & noticed that it put much greater pressure on the ear cups than the old well used one did.

 

[Klenchblaize]

Thanks for the Earshot Comms heads up. I will see if they can supply replacement microphone wind shields.

I note Peltor offer replacement gel ear pads that are very tempting but not cheap.

K

 

[Sika98k]

Ive sportacs but also have the Howard lieght equivalent which are around £40 of ebay new

My Sportacs went the way of everyone else’s. I bought a pair of Howard Lieght. However I think they should be called “ The SkullCrusher” painful to wear for extended periods.
So I bought a pair of these. 30 decibels reduction, comfortable and well priced. They also connect to up to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously.

 

[deerly departed]

Take a cable cutter to each exposed wire at circa 10mm staggered intervals. Pull one end of them through the headband channel and remove the remaining damaged outer sheath. Re-cover wires with heat shrink leaving 20mm of exposed wires for the solder joints. Thread covered cable back through channel. Cover the other end of damaged cable with heat shrink. Again leave 20mm of exposed wires. Now slip a slightly larger 30 - 40mm length of heat shrink over one end the cable to be joined. Now the tricky bit.

Cartfully solder each pair of wires together, having first slipped an appropriately sized (2mm) length of heat shrink over one end to provide the insulation. Once all wires have been rejoined and insulated, slide the remaining piece of heat shrink into place.

Job done without desoldering any delicate motherboard!

K

Thanks. Whilst a solution for many practical people, I wont go this route. Its justva long procedure to basically end up binning them

 

[cjs66]

Thanks for the Earshot Comms heads up. I will see if they can supply replacement microphone wind shields.

I note Peltor offer replacement gel ear pads that are very tempting but not cheap.

K

The gel pads with a hygiene kit are a good upgrade, and worth the price.

cjs

 

[long_range_rob]

My first pair were stolen. I liked them so I bought a 2nd pair. They work fine - until now.

I became disabled 7 months ago which has reduced my shooting (mostly hunting and pest control).

So they have been at home indoors, cased up and in my shooting bag ready to go again.

Imagine my surprise when I went to the range yesterday and took them out of the case. The piccy below pretty much sums it up.

The cable between the two cups had split like a flower exposing all the internal fine wires.

I am told this is a major issue with Sportacs though I hadnt actually heard of this before.

3M have been aware if this for many many yrars and have failed to stop this at source and use a sheath that doesn't turn into shredded cucumber look a likes.

Contacted 3M who say they don't repair - I have to register with one of their dealers who then send them to 3M to repair. All that does is add the costs of an agent. And they do the repair. Mentionrd a load of old pony about they can't do it coz of GDPR or whatever its called. Bollockz more like.

Bottom line is the head band an a complete new wiring loom (which has the same problem ticking time bomb) has to be fitted with the flexy wire head band.

£145.00 minimum to repair and new is £165.00.

I will tape up exposed wire and make this a spare.

So looking for low profile with exception protection but clear speech recognition.

Sordin comes to mind.

Any recomendations from actual owners please?

AND think twice before buying a set of Sportacs.

Thanks Si

I had that issue and just bought a replacement headband which took five minutes to replace and is the whole headband/cable/connector assembly