Listen-only radio
The crew member hears everything on the connected radio and cannot transmit on it. That is the reason to buy this model rather than a 51.
The reason to buy it
Built & serviced in Lemoyne, PA — by firefighters, since 2009
50-Series wired
52-Serieswired headsets
Listen-only on the radio, push-to-talk on the intercom: the wired headset for crew seats that should hear everything and key nothing.
What the 52 designation means+
Listen-only on the radio, push-to-talk on the intercom. The crew member hears everything on the connected radio and can talk to the cab by pressing to transmit, but cannot key the radio itself.
52 or 54+
Both are listen-only on the radio. The difference is how the intercom is triggered: the 52 uses push-to-talk, the 54 uses a toggle. Push-to-talk suits positions where the crew member should have to deliberately open the channel; a toggle suits positions that talk continuously.
Pricing and repair+
Displayed prices reproduce the FIRECOM 2024 USA & Canada retail price list, effective May 1, 2024. EFES repairs FIRECOM headsets in Lemoyne, PA, and stocks ear seals, acoustic foam, hanger hooks, extension cables, and hygiene kits. Call (800) 504-2044.
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Product overview
The 52 models exist so that a crew seat can hear the radio without being able to transmit on it. On an apparatus with six positions, that distinction is what keeps the fireground channel usable — a crew of six who can all key a radio is a crew that can step on the officer, on dispatch, and on each other.
The configuration is listen-only radio with push-to-talk intercom. The firefighter hears everything the connected radio hears, and talks to the rest of the cab by pressing to transmit on the intercom. Nothing that person does reaches a radio channel.
Push-to-talk on the intercom is itself a choice. It means opening the channel is deliberate, which is what you want in a position with a lot of ambient noise or a lot of movement. If the seat talks continuously and reaching for a button is the wrong ergonomic, the 54-Series uses a toggle instead.
UH-52 is under-helmet at $360; FH-52 is overhead at $355. Both carry the same 24dB noise reduction rating as the rest of the 50-Series, so choosing a crew configuration never means accepting less hearing protection.
For seats that must transmit, see the 51-Series. These connect through a 5000-Series digital intercom or a 210 radio interface.
What these models do
Hears the radio, cannot key it
The 52 configuration is a control, not a limitation. These are the pieces of it.
Push-to-talk intercom
Talking to the cab means pressing to transmit, so opening the channel is deliberate. In a noisy or physical position that is usually what you want.
24dB noise reduction
Identical protection to every other 50-Series headset. Choosing a crew configuration never means accepting less hearing protection than the officer gets.
All 50-Series
Overhead or under-helmet
FH-52 is overhead at $355; UH-52 mounts under a helmet at $360. Wear style is independent of the radio and intercom behaviour.
No battery, no pairing
A wired headset works because it is plugged in. Nothing to charge, nothing to power on, nothing to lose pairing with at the worst moment.
Serviceable wear items
Ear seals in PVC and ComLeather, acoustic foam, cloth covers, mic muffs, hygiene kits, hanger hooks, and coil cord extensions are all replaceable parts rather than reasons to buy new headsets.
Stocked by EFES
Channel discipline, decided at spec time
Much easier than fixing it after the rig is in service.
Model lineup
The two 52-Series models
Feature set and pricing as published in the FIRECOM 2024 USA & Canada retail price list, effective May 1, 2024. All models carry a 24dB noise reduction rating.
Swipe to compare
| Model | Wear style | Radio | Intercom | 2024 retail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UH-52 | Under-helmet | Listen-only | Push-to-talk | $360 |
| FH-52 | Overhead | Listen-only | Push-to-talk | $355 |
| For comparison — 51 | Both | PTT transmit | Hands-free | $355 / $360 |
| For comparison — 54 | Both | Listen-only | Toggle | $355 / $360 |
FrequentlyAsked Questions
Before you request a quote
Because on a six-person crew, six people able to key a radio is a problem rather than a feature. The 52 lets a crew position hear everything on the radio and talk to the cab, without being able to put traffic on a fireground or dispatch channel. It is a control, and it costs the same as the model that can transmit.
How the intercom is triggered. The 52 uses push-to-talk; the 54 uses a toggle. Both are listen-only on the radio and both cost the same. Push-to-talk suits positions where opening the channel should be deliberate; a toggle suits a position that talks more or less continuously.
No. Every 50-Series wired headset carries a 24dB noise reduction rating, so the 52 protects exactly as well as the officer's 51.
Not by keying the radio — that is the point of the model. The firefighter hears the radio and talks on the intercom. If a position genuinely needs to transmit, it should be on a 51-Series headset instead.
Usually, yes. Ear seals, acoustic foam, cloth covers, mic muffs, hanger hooks, and coil cord extensions are all stocked replacement parts, and EFES repairs FIRECOM headsets in Lemoyne, PA. See FIRECOM repair and on-site service.
Sold, fitted, and repaired by EFES
Get your 52-Seriesheadsets quoted
Send the riding positions, whether each one wears a helmet, and which seats should hear the radio without keying it.
We will spec the models, confirm what they connect to, and quote the wear items alongside them.
Call (800) 504-2044 or request a quote. EFES is at 440 Oak Street, Lemoyne, Pennsylvania.
