Microphone feedback on EMR

[DeverseSam]

@CaptainHaddock said “the one thing that really annoys me is those guards who don't seem to know that holding their microphone next to a speaker causes ear-splitting feedback!”, and I agree.


I tried to explain to a EMR guard this weekend that the feedback is not really ok and they need to do better - but this feedback about the feedback was not well received!

How can I coach the guard to make announcements without the feedback?

Thank you

 

[transportphoto]

Which type of train were you on? I'm guessing a 222.

Ultimately it will depend on the personality of the individual. A lot of colleagues don't take well to customers trying to tell them how to do their job. To some extent, this problem is a design feature - why put a microphone next to a speaker?

It may be something to feedback informally to the company via their Customer Services channels.

 

[AlexWilkinson]

@CaptainHaddock said “the one thing that really annoys me is those guards who don't seem to know that holding their microphone next to a speaker causes ear-splitting feedback!”, and I agree.


I tried to explain to a EMR guard this weekend that the feedback is not really ok and they need to do better - but this feedback about the feedback was not well received!

How can I coach the guard to make announcements without the feedback?

Thank you

Are you talking about the Class 222 units specifically, if so only the seven car units have feedback suppression built in with the speaker in the vestibule nearest to the handset in use being isolated whilst it is being used throughout the whole class to prevent feedback. The problem arises when someone opens the gangway doors to the next coach whilst the guard is announcing and with the speaker in the next coach being active, you get feedback. This doesn't happen on the seven car units due to reasons I have explained earlier. The problem can also arise on the 5 cars when an announcement is being made from the galley on the 5 car units and either a staff member walks in or a passenger opens the door to request something.

 

[BJames]

How did you give this 'feedback' because if you said to the guard 'you need to do better' I'm not surprised it wasn't hugely well received...

Not the same type of feedback as in the OP but 222s have poor PA systems anyway so I've told EMR guards on the intercity routes before when I've noticed the speakers not working properly, very politely, and they have never been anything other than polite back, and have either logged it or just said thanks for letting me know. Of course, feel contact EMR customer services and they will log it for you as mentioned elsewhere.

 

[DeverseSam]

It said EMR Intercity on the side and had 5 carriages, I guess that’s a 222

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Aug 2023 ==

How did you give this 'feedback' because if you said to the guard 'you need to do better' I'm not surprised it wasn't hugely well received...

I was more polite than that but my frustration might still have been apparent! Really for next time I want to show them exactly how to avoid the problem eg by angling the mouthpiece in a particular way or waiting for doors to close

 

[Tazi Hupefi]

@CaptainHaddock said “the one thing that really annoys me is those guards who don't seem to know that holding their microphone next to a speaker causes ear-splitting feedback!”, and I agree.


I tried to explain to a EMR guard this weekend that the feedback is not really ok and they need to do better - but this feedback about the feedback was not well received!

How can I coach the guard to make announcements without the feedback?

Thank you

It is certainly not your job to "coaching" anybody and I suspect most people would find that sort of approach very condescending and somewhat arrogant.

You certainly won't be showing anyone how to do anything, regardless of whether you think your technique is better. Stay away from the staff. Feel free to complain/ offer your expert advice to customer services if you are so inclined.

I don't mean to offend, but do you perhaps have a condition such as Asperger's or autism? Some forum members may be able to offer coping mechanisms that help you avoid unnecessary conflict with staff.

 

[DarloRich]

How can I coach the guard to make announcements without the feedback?

You cant. You CAN contact EMR and offer them your views/experiences and suggest ways in which they can improve thier training. They will send you a nice letter acknowledging that.

 

[QSK19]

@CaptainHaddock said “the one thing that really annoys me is those guards who don't seem to know that holding their microphone next to a speaker causes ear-splitting feedback!”, and I agree.


I tried to explain to a EMR guard this weekend that the feedback is not really ok and they need to do better - but this feedback about the feedback was not well received!

How can I coach the guard to make announcements without the feedback?

Thank you

As much as @DeverseSam is getting, excuse the pun, negative feedback here, I am afraid I have to join in with the criticism.

No matter how well-intentioned your advice was, it really isn’t the best way to about it. It gets their back up - especially so being done in public - and could have happened due to factors out of their control (eg technical issues). As others have said, communicate issues via customer services - I once reported a loose seat base on one of the 170s and they were very quick to reply and sort it. I happened to go on the same unit a couple of days later and they had fixed it.

 

[liamf656]

Really for next time I want to show them exactly how to avoid the problem eg by angling the mouthpiece in a particular way or waiting for doors to close

They get taught this already. The class 222 has feedback prevention in their PA systems that don’t always work, as explained above. The only thing the staff member can do to prevent this is to use a different handset and report the original one as faulty

 

[LowLevel]

It said EMR Intercity on the side and had 5 carriages, I guess that’s a 222

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Aug 2023 ==



I was more polite than that but my frustration might still have been apparent! Really for next time I want to show them exactly how to avoid the problem eg by angling the mouthpiece in a particular way or waiting for doors to close

Don't do that. You don't even know that it will work and it will likely lead to a negative interaction.

Just tell them there is feedback and when/which announcement you heard it. Their own knowledge will tell them what the issue is. You really can't add anything more helpful than that and you certainly can't direct them on how to use equipment you aren't familiar with yourself.

I'm guessing you're neuro diverse and struggle with such things and you do have my sympathy with that - the PA system on those units drives me nuts too.

The 222 PA system isn't great to start with but it can affect all classes - class 170 vestibule handsets are prone to it, and so are some class 158s with overly loud vestibule speakers behind the cabs (quite rare though, given it's more usual to be able to hear nothing but mumbling).

 

[ainsworth74]

The OP has been given the correct guidance on how to deal with this issue so the thread is locked.