Walkie Talkies

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tkb

tkb

Senior Member
Location
MA
We are doing a job in a large warehouse.

We have Nextels Direct Connect, it doesn't work.
We have Nextels Direct Talk, it doesn't work.

We need some good walkie talkies.
I'm thinking UHF 4 watt. Kenwood 4 channel.

What do you guys use and what do you think about the Kenwood 4 watt UHF radios?
 
Re: Walkie Talkies

the best i have found were motorolla. but when there is alot of building arround you, they dont even work all that well. They make a very expensive system, that is suppoes to fix that problem. I have never worked for anyone who was willing to buy them.
 
Re: Walkie Talkies

Tkb, if you are just pulling wire and need to signal the other party I have used small foghorns for that when we also could not get radio's to work right in the enviroment. We were pulling fiber optics through underground vaults at the time. Blasting horn bursts through the underground ductlines worked great. You can get them from marine hardware stores.
 
Re: Walkie Talkies

Either Motorola walkies or basically any Verizon cell phone ~ in my area, Verizon's signal is pretty good.
 
Re: Walkie Talkies

Kenwood or Motorola is a ground up or down type issue.
I prefer Kenwood since Motorola is totalitarian and programming software is almost impossible for a non-dealer to get and prohibitively expensive. If you don't mind having to go to a radio shop to have them serviced or re-programmed then either is fine.
I prefer Kenwood. Icom and Yeasu/Standard are very good brands as well.


Don't forget, whatever you do do it legally. Get a business band license. Do NOT use GMRS radios for regular business use. FRS is legal for a business but they are limited to .5 watts. Also a straight FRS radio is next to impossible to find. Most are now FRS/GMRS.
GMRS requires a license but the license covers the licensees whole family. They are not legal for business use. I have quite a few GMRS radios and a pair of Moto Spirit Pro radios programmed to a GMRS frequency. These can be field programmed but are only one channel.
It is sad to say that a large percentage of folks totally ignore the license issue and simply pirate them. I hear illegal banter all the time with no ID'ing or call signs.

Might I suggest checking out this site for excellent radio advice: Popular Wireless Magazine
 
Re: Walkie Talkies

Not on an FCC regulated frequency.
I somewhat agree that the air and radio waves are free territory, but without some regulation there would simply be anarchy.
Imagine if radio pirates decided to take over the frequency that your local FD or PD was on. Same scenario, smaller scale.
Besides, I tend to not be a rule breaker. Other than maybe going 2 or 3 miles over the speed limit. :eek:

[ December 01, 2005, 08:33 PM: Message edited by: speedypetey ]
 
Re: Walkie Talkies

Try Motorola FRS radios. They are cheap but effective. Good for up to 2 miles. (Don't believe it) I picked up 8 on ebay for $15/ea a couple yrs ago. We now have the Nextel.
 
Re: Walkie Talkies

Originally posted by electricmanscott:
This makes me smile more than you will ever know.

Yeah Nextel! :roll:
Click to expand...
Lol!
The three most annoying sounds in the world are:
</font>
  • <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">A baby crying</font>
  • <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">A dog Barking</font>
  • <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">That stupid Nextel Walkie Talkie beep!</font>
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">:mad:
 
Re: Walkie Talkies

Originally posted by davedottcom:
The three most annoying sounds in the world are:
</font>
  • <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">A baby crying</font>
  • <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">A dog Barking</font>
  • <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">That stupid Nextel Walkie Talkie beep!</font>
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">
:mad:
Click to expand...
I would like to add the moron from Nextel that calls EVERY month to tell me about their "For this month only specials" that are the same each month.
 
Re: Walkie Talkies

Anybody ever figure out exactly what that beep means? Given that there are two tones and they can occur many seconds after you press the PTT and nothing happens.

-Hal
 
Re: Walkie Talkies

Originally posted by hbiss:
Anybody ever figure out exactly what that beep means?

-Hal
Click to expand...
It's a warning signal to all people withen 100 yards.
BeepBleep!
Warning!
You are about to hear another electronically-distorted, annoying, robotic sounding voice transmitted at high decibels. BeepBleep! you have no way to escape the soundwaves... BeepBleep! you can pretend it doesn't bother you but we all know it does! BeepBleep! Sure we could just talk like normal phones but why should we? BeepBleep! For We are Nextel! BeepBleep! You WILL listen in our conversations no matter how intrusive and rude it isBeepBleep! As soon as we figure out how to make this thing louder we will! BeepBleep! You have been warned! BeepBleep! If you don't like it go BeepBleep! yourself!

Sorry guys, I know probably about 75% of you guys have them things...but, Damn...can you turn them down a little or better yet, a lot!?! :D
 
Re: Walkie Talkies

I have one, and I hate the stupid thing.

I think Nextel should change their slogan to "Nextel - Get Things Done. Eventually."

The BeepBeep ain't bad. It's the "booooooo Bop" that really aggravates me. Nothing like a phone that costs twice as much that doesn't have voicemail. :D

I like the radio function when it works, but I'm used to it.

BeepBleep! You WILL listen in our conversations no matter how intrusive and rude it isBeepBleep! As soon as we figure out how to make this thing louder we will! BeepBleep!
Click to expand...
Now, to be fair, they do have a handy little button to turn the public speaker off, and hold it like a normal cellphone, but using the PTT button. As long as the conversation flows smoothly, it's peachy. But the second the guy on the other end pauses to think or scratch his nose, and then start talking again, you get a full volume BeepBleep! right in the ear. It's great. :D

Speaking of phones, what do you think of customers calling a half hour before bedtime to ask why a switched outlet doesn't work when the switch is off? With that, I'm off to bed.
 
Re: Walkie Talkies

Originally posted by electricmanscott:
Originally posted by davedottcom:
The three most annoying sounds in the world are:
</font>
  • <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">A baby crying</font>
  • <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">A dog Barking</font>
  • <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">That stupid Nextel Walkie Talkie beep!</font>
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">

:mad:
Click to expand...
I would like to add the moron from Nextel that calls EVERY month to tell me about their "For this month only specials" that are the same each month.
Click to expand...
ThaT must be a regional thing.
I've never had one of those calls.

I did have a customer call last night at 10:30 to tell me that her phone jack in the master bedroom wasn't working. There's about 15 others throughout the house.
 
Re: Walkie Talkies

Its nice to find out that I am not the only person who cannot stand that stupid beep on the job all day. Once I came pretty close to throwing some boneheaded tile setters phone over into the next yard when he refused to turn it off.
 
Re: Walkie Talkies

Ty,
The master bedroom phone wasn't working at 10:30 at night and you didn't go check it out??? What's up with that?????
 
Re: Walkie Talkies

Originally posted by tkb:
We are doing a job in a large warehouse.

We have Nextels Direct Connect, it doesn't work.
We have Nextels Direct Talk, it doesn't work.

We need some good walkie talkies.
Click to expand...
TKB you might laugh but try set of 'family radios' that can be found at Target, Walmart etc.

Target sells a set of three Unidens with chargers for about $50.00 and they work pretty good. If they get lost, stolen or broken your not out any major cash.
 
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