Walki talki

brianluce

Carbonite Member
I have to shoot some footage through a long lens. A little walki talki system could be useful for coordinating camera and talent. I saw a set of Midland walki talkis on sale at Staples for 60 bucks. Anyone ever used inexpensive solutions like this successfully?
 
why not just use cell phones?

The cost? Also you might miss calls. Also the delay of finding the number, sending and receiving the call. Also you can't communicate with multiple people at once instantly.


Well we used some 60 bucks walkies in a subway shoot recently. Did the job.

There are some good ones out there for cheap. I'm no expert, but I'm planning on asking for simple walkies (with 32km range) for christmas for use on shoots.

Looking at some of the more expensive models, they have features that I don't see a use for. Increased range, increased power, emergency call buttons, etc... It depends the use you want them for. Honestly, when you need something to communicate with people down a street or on another floor, and you need them to hear you, what more do you need?

Unless I'm mistaken?
 
I use two identical pairs of 30$ cheapies I bought long ago. They aren't the greatest sounding and dont have a huge range, but for shooting, they are just perfect.

The less expensive ones are really great because you can have more than two, and therefore more people on the receiving end. Makes giving global directions from the man in charge very easy, especially when coordinating envolved action shots.

I suppose a bullhorn would work, but I like having my people with the ability to return talk for questions and clarification.


Save yourself a ton of headaches, and get at least four. You will be glad you did.

http://www.target.com/MOT-FV100AA-M...v&field-browse=1042152&rank=pmrank&rh=&page=3

http://www.target.com/Motorola-8-Mi...?ie=UTF8&node=1042152&frombrowse=1&rh=&page=1



Don't need to get em from Target, but Motorola's are a good brand.
 
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The cost? Also you might miss calls. Also the delay of finding the number, sending and receiving the call. Also you can't communicate with multiple people at once instantly.
Push-to-talk, which basically mimics walkie functionality, is a pretty common feature on cell phones these days.


-A
 
I bought a lot of 20 or so FRS radios on eBay a few years back for something like $5.00 each. They aren't the best quality, but at that price, who cares? If somebody drops one or it gets wet, just hand them another one...
 
why not just use cell phones?

.

I thought of that, but then imagined dialing the number, ring ring ring ring....voicemail...redial....ring ring ring. And my phone doesn't have the push to talk feature. Nextell has that I think. 17 bucks at target seems safe.
 
Push-to-talk, which basically mimics walkie functionality, is a pretty common feature on cell phones these days.


-A

But it all depends on what company/phone you use. Plus, they are more expensive up front and you have the monthly fee. You also have to consider where you will be shooting as signal is not always available. Too many variables, if you ask me.

I love walkie talkies. I have 4 Motorola Talkabouts with 18 mile range and they do the job just fine. These were within your price range back when I got them about a year ago. I have a shoot coming up where I need to capture a car driving by on a road that is quite a ways below where the camera will be set up and I am going to use them to allow me (driving the car) to communicate with the camera operators.
 
Motorola Talkabouts with 18 mile range

18 miles? Seriously? I would love to know the model number because even the Motorola pro walkies we use on big productions that cost about $800.00 ea. only have a 1-3 miles line of sight range. Why should a walkie cost $800.00? I don't know, but everyone rents them by the case anyway, nobody buys them.

Is it 1.8 miles or 18 miles? If so, I need to buy a few pairs.

Dan
 
But it all depends on what company/phone you use. Plus, they are more expensive up front and you have the monthly fee. You also have to consider where you will be shooting as signal is not always available. Too many variables, if you ask me.
There are definitely draw backs to using mobiles, but I was just pointing out that there are mobiles w/walkie-like features.


-A
 
Cheap walkitalkies are fine. You will want one for each department head, your AD staff, runners. (If you are on a larger set).

They are great. Be sure it has channels as well. So you can put someone over to channel 2 to talk about something that everyone else doesn't needs to hear.
 
I'm looking into $60 buck walkie talkies. They get 32km (19 miles) of range.

If $800 walkies get only 2 miles... what a rip off.

I know when you go up to 100 you can get 50km or so with power boost.

But honestly, it's a film set. There may be huge sets, but not THAT huge.
 
18 miles? Seriously? I would love to know the model number because even the Motorola pro walkies we use on big productions that cost about $800.00 ea. only have a 1-3 miles line of sight range. Why should a walkie cost $800.00? I don't know, but everyone rents them by the case anyway, nobody buys them.

Is it 1.8 miles or 18 miles? If so, I need to buy a few pairs.

Dan

Advertised as 18 miles in optimal conditions. That will of course be lower depending on where you are, etc.
 
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