ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

10 years, 11 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

The cheap ones are fairly light-duty, but the idea is that you can just replace the plastic tube for each person, not have to replace the whole system. If you do want to sterilise and reuse, better to lease good quality ones and use alcohol swans.

200 walkie talkies? That's a job in itself. You need someone to run your radio shack at that size, and you need a dedicated lockable cabin with charging banks, getting deposits for the sets etc. Two or more people if they're all needed at the same time, plus a bunch of prep time! Don't forget the sets are worth a few hundred quid each, by definition portable and useful, and you will pay for stolen or lost sets. For 200 people, get deposits/passports/drivers licences and keep them against photo ID and numbered radios.

If you're controlling that many people, you probably want them all to do something at specific times - for that you probably want analogue sets as digital ones can be slower to set up the connection. The range is reduced, but good quality 5W sets on dedicated channels probably fine. These have to be licenced, but the rental company will do this for you and have dedicated frequencies you can use. You probably want to discuss your needs with the hire company as they can set things up so that only you can talk on the channel, so the 200-odd don't talk over you at key moments. A good hire company can do this.

Expect good quality analogue Motorola's to cost about £8/set/week with dedicated frequencies and set up to your needs. You can also look into 'show comms' systems, but I suspect you'll be paying a darn sight more than that. I don't suggest going to the cheapest company you can find, I've seen some pretty knackered sets being rented out, and it's frustrating for the sake of a pound a day for good ones. Earpieces with acoustic tubes will need the right fitting for the radios, but will be decent enough quality to be reused without spoiling, just ask the chemist for 'sterets' (small alcohol swabs for injections) they're a couple of quid a box.

If you're looking for a decent hire company, having tried several, I tend to return to National Radio Bank - they're sensibly priced, the kit is in good repair, they deliver and collect via courier so it's not an extra van to worry about, they use sensible packaging (some places over package horribly - one have these metre cubes that take a forklift to load, two people to open, for just 18 walkies - NRB use peli cases, far easier), and are reliable (some other suppliers I've had cross talk issues, although not so much in the UK). Don't bother with domestic/toy walkies from Argos, you'll get masses of crosstalk, lousy range and poor quality, not when doing the job right is so cheap.

10 years, 11 months ago - Dan Selakovich

200? OK, color me curious! Care to share any details?

10 years, 11 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

Phew! 200 radios really is a job in itself, I've managed radio shacks with fewer and that's still real work! Don't underestimate the sheer number of power points and desk space all those chargers take, too! OK, so you need fewer, I'm actually rather glad to hear it ;)

10 years, 11 months ago - D. James Newton

Thanks again Paddy - some very useful info, it's much appreciated.

I'll have over 200 actors but I don't need the same amount of walkie talkies as they won't all be on set at the same time/day, hence the sterilisation option. Sterets is a great idea.

10 years, 11 months ago - D. James Newton

Thanks Paddy, I'll look into that. I guess the acoustic ones I could sterilise and reuse (I need over 200 of them!)
Have you used these before? Any drawbacks to them?
I also need to find a reliable walkie-talkie system.

10 years, 11 months ago - D. James Newton

Thanks Janis - I'd looked at that in passing, but was worried about the quality. Good to know that you've used it and recommend it. I may give it a try as a test.

10 years, 11 months ago - Janis Skulme

Hi James,
I bought this little thing that is very useful Invisible Spy Earphone Wireless Earpiece Bug Gadget Hidden Headset set w/battery

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Invisible-Spy-Earphone-Wireless-Earpiece-Bug-Gadget-Hidden-Headset-set-w-battery-/291087887738?pt=UK_MusicalInstr_Access_RL&hash=item43c630ad7a

There are even smaller ones, like this one: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Spy-Earpiece-Covert-Invisible-GSM-Hidden-Wireless-Earphone-Bluetooth-Neckloop-/221333954332?pt=UK_Gadgets&var=&hash=item3388881f1c

Hope it helps,
Janis

10 years, 11 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

You sound like you want acoustic tube-based system, like security guards use. Luckily there are some very cheap sets available from the Far East, with fittings to couple to various types of walkie talkie. You'd want one per actor, but at £3-5 each that's a small price to pay