Lightspeed Zulu - Page 2

Marc DeGirolamo · #11 02-08-2010, 03:28 PM

I have had my Zulu's for almost a year now.... From the start I was never able to get more than about 10 flights on a set of batteries..... I have had them back once and they still continue to kill batteries....

seems that they are still drawing power after shutdown (of the headset)....

they have gone back for the second time and Lightspeed have been really good at trying to figure out what the heck is going on.

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this problem...?

btw.....I hope that we can figure this out as I really like everything about them and they work really well in all aspects..... Noise cancellation, cellphone interface, bluetooth....

RV6_flyer · #12 02-08-2010, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marc DeGirolamo

I have had my Zulu's for almost a year now.... From the start I was never able to get more than about 10 flights on a set of batteries..... I have had them back once and they still continue to kill batteries....

seems that they are still drawing power after shutdown (of the headset)....

they have gone back for the second time and Lightspeed have been really good at trying to figure out what the heck is going on.

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this problem...?

btw.....I hope that we can figure this out as I really like everything about them and they work really well in all aspects..... Noise cancellation, cellphone interface, bluetooth....

I get 25-hours on a set of Duracell alkaline batteries and around sixty (60) hours on Lithium batteries. I purchased the Lithium batteries on sale for the same price as Duracell Alkaline batteries. Only regret is that I did not buy more of them.

Marc DeGirolamo · #13 02-08-2010, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RV6_flyer

I get 25-hours on a set of Duracell alkaline batteries and around sixty (60) hours on Lithium batteries. I purchased the Lithium batteries on sale for the same price as Duracell Alkaline batteries. Only regret is that I did not buy more of them.

25 hrs is what I would expect to get.....not 4 as I have been getting....are the Lithiums rechargable ?

RV6_flyer · #14 02-08-2010, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marc DeGirolamo

25 hrs is what I would expect to get.....not 4 as I have been getting....are the Lithiums rechargable ?

No they are not rechargeable. They are throw away.

David Richardson · #15 05-11-2010, 04:28 PM

In all fareness to Light speed they have been trying to fix/understand what the problem is with my Zulu. When I first got the headset it worked well but now has a problem "Make that non functional" with the headset going into occillation overload (like sticking a mic in front of a speaker) every time I transmit. I have a set of 303G's that work great. I sent the headset back to them and they did repairs on the headset and returned it to me and the problem was identical to what it was when it was shipped back the first time. After lots in phone interaction with the company they agreed to just replace the headset. I just shipped the headset back to then and got the following E-mail regards the headset,

Regarding Case No. XX-XXXXX
We have received your old headset, and will update our records. Thank you for this diligence. Please call us if there is any thing else we can do LightSPEED

It makes it sound like they are just going to keep it and by the way thanks for sending it to us. Am I the only one out there that has a problem with this occillation squeal. I have a RV-7 200 HP with a blended airfoil C/S hartzell. Again the 303G's work great.

David Richardson
N434DR
Dave@rv-7.com

RV6_flyer · #16 05-11-2010, 04:36 PM

Dave:

I have two pair. Would you like to borrow one to see if mine act up? One is over a year old. The other had a connector unplug in the battery box and would not work after that. Lightspeed replaced the battery box with an upgraded on that does not have exposed wires and connectors.

MartySantic · #17 05-11-2010, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Richardson

In all fareness to Light speed they have been trying to fix/understand what the problem is with my Zulu. When I first got the headset it worked well but now has a problem "Make that non functional" with the headset going into occillation overload (like sticking a mic in front of a speaker) every time I transmit. I have a set of 303G's that work great. I sent the headset back to them and they did repairs on the headset and returned it to me and the problem was identical to what it was when it was shipped back the first time. After lots in phone interaction with the company they agreed to just replace the headset. I just shipped the headset back to then and got the following E-mail regards the headset,

Regarding Case No. XX-XXXXX
We have received your old headset, and will update our records. Thank you for this diligence. Please call us if there is any thing else we can do LightSPEED

It makes it sound like they are just going to keep it and by the way thanks for sending it to us. Am I the only one out there that has a problem with this occillation squeal. I have a RV-7 200 HP with a blended airfoil C/S hartzell. Again the 303G's work great.

David Richardson
N434DR
Dave@rv-7.com

Something very similar to what you describe happened to me in the RV-12. A friend plugged his Zulu's into the co-pilot side. We heard the "feedback" squeal that you describe. This was last November, and, I cannot recall if the squeal occurred with just the intercom audio or when he attempted to transmit from the co-pilot's side.

Everything worked fine using the headset on the pilot's side.

What I found was my grounding was not correct. On the RV-12, the microphone jack is supposed to be insulated from the airframe at the jack location and the headphone jack is to be grounded at the jack location. I had them reversed.

After removing the insulating washers from the headphone jack and then putting the insulating washers on the microphone jack all worked just fine.

I also recall a thread where a Halo headset exhibited the squeal with a particular manufacturer's intercom and a particular manufacturer's radio. I believe the combo was the same as used in the RV-12. This was before Halo changed the type of microphone they use. The new microphone eliminates this issue.

Jim P · #18 05-11-2010, 05:37 PM

I experienced the same squeal on my Zulu's and tried several fixes including battery changing, etc. Finally, in frustration one day I whacked the left ear cup with my knuckle and the problem went away. Haven't heard it since!

Sid Lambert · #19 05-12-2010, 06:12 AM

I saw an FAQ once on the Zulu that asked about not being able to hear the engine. With the Zulu and ANR on I swear I can hear the cam and lifters of the engine. You don't hear the exhaust drone you just hear the internals of the engine working away.

As for battery life. I just buy regular Duracell batteries and they last more than 40 hours. If I'm going on a long trip and will be listening to the iPhone over Bluetooth I will switch the batteries out on the ground before hand.

This headset rocks. If only I could afford another set for my wife.

9GT · #20 05-12-2010, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sid Lambert

This headset rocks. If only I could afford another set for my wife.

I just took advantage of their upgrade offer for the second time and traded in my wifes 15 XL for another Zulu. She doesn't know it yet but it will be a pleasant surprise for her when we get in the plane in a few weeks for a planed trip to the Outer Banks. For those that are unaware, Lightspeed has expanded their trade up program to include other manufactures headsets! http://www.lightspeedaviation.com/co...ade-Up-Program