Two-Way Radio Earpieces for Security: With or Without Hearing Protection

Good communication is essential in security work. At the same time, security staff often work in loud places: events, nightlife districts, stadiums, festivals and carnival. There you need an earpiece that passes on the control room and your colleagues clearly, stays comfortable for the whole shift and, when needed, also protects your hearing.

We make custom two-way radio earpieces in two versions: with and without hearing protection. In this article you can read what the difference is, how they connect to your radio and which one to choose for which job.

Custom Porto or Porto Protect?

The main difference is whether the earpiece protects your hearing or leaves your ear open.

Compare the models side by side on the page custom walkie-talkie earphones, or go straight to the Custom Porto or the Porto Protect.

Why a custom earpiece?

A standard radio earpiece comes in a fixed size. It soon sits too loose or starts to press, and after a few hours you want to take it out. A custom earpiece is made from an impression of your ear and fits your ear canal exactly. That gives you:

• more comfort during long shifts
• a secure fit, even when you walk, run or have to intervene
• better speech clarity, because the sound goes straight into your ear canal
• reliable attenuation with the Porto Protect, because the earplug seals well

An earpiece that fits well actually gets worn. You choose between soft silicone, pleasant if you wear it for long periods, or hard acrylic, which is sturdy and easy to keep clean.

Connecting to your radio

Our earpieces work with the radio kit you already use. The earpiece is connected to the acoustic tube of your radio earpiece or push-to-talk key. There are three connection options, suitable for virtually any two-way radio. The tubes come in transparent or black, so you can wear them discreetly.

If you work with a separate radio speaker, you can connect it to your hearing protection with a Porto adapter with mini jack. Not sure whether it fits? Bring your radio kit along to the fitting and we’ll check it together.

Protection against noise at work

Security work often takes place in loud noise: loud music, cheering crowds, sirens. In clubs and at concerts the sound level is often around 100 dB. At that level, according to the usual rule of thumb, you reach your daily dose after about 5 minutes, while a shift lasts many hours.

Noise-induced hearing loss is one of the most common occupational diseases. Anyone who works in noise without protection for years risks permanent hearing loss and tinnitus. Fatigue and loss of concentration are also lurking, and in security work that is particularly unwelcome. If the noise over your shift exceeds 80 dB(A), your employer must offer hearing protection; from 85 dB(A) you are required to wear it. These are the EU minimum rules (Directive 2003/10/EC). Every EU country has written them into its own law, and some countries are stricter, so check your national rules. Read more in when is hearing protection mandatory.

Security at events and carnival

At a festival, in a club or during carnival you stand for hours between the speakers and a partying crowd. That is exactly when you need to understand a call from the control room straight away, without sticking a finger in your other ear. An ordinary radio earpiece doesn’t help there: the noise simply comes in through your other ear and around the earpiece.

With the Porto Protect, both sides reduce the noise while the radio comes through clearly. If you work as crew or security at events and still want to hear the music properly, the Custom Music can optionally be made with a radio connection. The music filters then stay active. How to protect your hearing further during carnival, you can read in earplugs for carnival, and for nightlife in hearing protection in nightlife.

Hygiene and maintenance

A custom earpiece is personal. You don’t share it with colleagues, and that is more hygienic than universal earpieces that are passed on from shift to shift. Clean it regularly with lukewarm water or a cleaning product for earplugs and let it dry thoroughly. How best to do that, you can read in how to clean earplugs.

With the Porto Protect, we change the filter free of charge in the first 3 months after delivery if it turns out you need more or less attenuation.

Delivery time, warranty and fittings for your team

Production takes 15 working days, with a rush option if you need them faster. You get at least 2 years’ warranty on the material. If an earpiece doesn’t fit properly, we adjust it free of charge within 6 months (comfort guarantee), so you can wear it comfortably for the whole shift.

For a security team of 3 or more, we can come to your site for the fitting; contact us for on-site fittings in your country. For smaller numbers you can visit one of our locations, so book a free fitting. Not near one of our locations? Have impressions taken locally and send them to us.

For security companiesRadio earpieces for your whole teamFor groups of 3 or more we take impressions on site. Request a no-obligation quote. Request a quote