Need an intercom system

scapsinger

scapsinger

Well-known member
Hey guys...I've got an Eartec TD900 system that I've used for a few years, but I'm just finally sick of it. It's better than hand signals or screaming, but it has plenty of noise/interference and I've actually had a client ask me "what is that ridiculous thing on your belt?" a couple of times.

Honestly, if the things worked all that well, I wouldn't care WHAT it looked like.

Anyway, needs to be affordable...not a Porta-comm system or anything. I've seen plenty of folks using personal radios (walkie-talkies) with headsets, but not sure if that's a viable solution, or what brand I might use.

The one nice thing about the Eartecs is the simultaneous 2-way communication (when only using 2 units) and the decent battery life. The Eartecs deliver up to 3 hours of talk time, or up to about 10 hours on standby.

If you're using something that works well for you and isn't more than about $500 for a 3-4 unit kit, I'm all ears. Typically we're doing line-of-sight work or reasonably close distances, so it doesn't need to be the world's most powerful kit.

Thanks for any recommendations!
 
The intercom system sounds pretty cool, but I'm personally a huge fan of radios. The ones I use are Motorola CP200's with headsets, but they're about twice your budget. I manage it by exclusively renting and charging the client. So my suggestion is just to consider two way radios seriously, they're a very good, proven system. Surveillance kit headsets are a must, of course.
 
Thanks for the info.

One thing I want to be sure about is silent operation. I don't want a system that chirps every time someone PTTs. I was attending an event a year ago where the production crew had radio sets and every time someone chimed in, you heard the radio noise and the chirp (and they were all on headsets, too).

The CP200 looks like a good system, but yeah it's definitely up there in price. Here in the Atlanta area there aren't a lot of places that rent equipment (only 2 major ones that I even know about). I checked over at B&H and they had a wide range of radios. These caught my eye:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/618180-REG/Motorola_MJ270R_MJ270R_Talkabout_Two_Way_Radio.html

Looks pretty versatile. I'm thinking about just ordering them and trying it out. B&H is very good about returns, so if it isn't what I need I know they'll gladly take them back.

Of course, at less than $50 per pair, I'm sure I can find a way to use them if they're decent enough quality.

Any other opinions are greatly appreciated (and thanks again, Cassius!)
 
On the last decent sized production I worked on the art department brought their own radios, they looked like this same model. I never asked how well they worked, but somehow they came to the conclusion it was worth loading another suitcase over.
 
I'll vouch for those motos as well. We rent them here and they're very reliable. We've always rented more than we needed and left some on the charger, some of them are bound to die out on set or screw up (but these are beat up rentals, you might not have that issue with a new purchase). Be sure to get those cia style headsets with the earbud and piece that clips on your chest. I prefer having my own for sanitary reasons but they're sleek, you can pop it out your ear and let it hang there when you need to be on cans and they're quiet. I own a columbia brand I believe walkie with a 5 mile range and it's never let me down. I got it a belt clip so it can sit near my tool pouch. I'm surprised clients gave you guff over having that on your belt. We always roll up decked out with gear and tool belts and it impresses people at the least. It also makes things go MUCH quicker when someone isn't running to the truck for a wrench every second.
 
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