Walkie Talkies?

Rick Meyer

Rick Meyer

Veteran
Hey gang! I recently filmed a wedding. I had two cameras and a 2nd cam op. There were many times that I wanted to communicate discreetly throughout this event. Can anyone recommend a good transistor unit or small discreet but effective two way communication device?

I think this will help out for the next event.

Thanks so much!
Rick
 
I got the Motorola 12-mile range GMRS radios at (I think) Best Buy--$79-89 for two radios and two chargers in a blister pack. They're bigger than the other (cheaper) GMRS radios, so I thought they might perform better. They also come with cool cell-phone style, swivel belt clips. Plus they look more like "real" radios (they're black with yellow accents). Motorola makes an optional headset for them.
 
Yeah any radio like NBC suggested will work for you. Just make sure that you and your crew do not talk to loud and record your voices onto the audio track. "Do you take this man ... CAMERA ONE MOVE IN FOR A CLOSE UP ... husband ..." would be an awful thing to record! :)
 
I have been using Eaerec TD-900s for communications between camera positions. It's full duplex and there is no push to talk. You won't run into the interference that you would on GMRs or the Family Freqs. You might look them up. www.eartec.com
 
AZsspvideo said:
I have been using Eaerec TD-900s for communications between camera positions. It's full duplex and there is no push to talk. You won't run into the interference that you would on GMRs or the Family Freqs. You might look them up. www.eartec.com
Click to expand...


Azsspvideo-

A little pricey, but I dig the product. I'll keep my eye on this one.

Rick
 
Azssp,
How do you like the TD-900? Which headsets and how many radios do you have? What sort of range can you (reliably) get out of them.. and what about battery life?
I've been seriously considering getting myself a set (wireless=good for steadicam).

I've used FRS for too many multicamera shoots, and they suck. (If anyone disagrees, you've obviously never used clearcom)

- Mikko
 
My wife and I used some motorola cobras, and they were great. Problem is...her on camera mic was on, and there was one point where a little traffic came through right at the beginning. So I couldn't use the first like 30-45 seconds of the video...but no one seem to notice.

Those eartecs do look nice *jots those down for wish/investment list*

Thats neat that you can monitor incomin audio in one ear, and maintain commo in the other.
 
x-angel said:
My wife and I used some motorola cobras, and they were great. Problem is...her on camera mic was on, and there was one point where a little traffic came through right at the beginning. So I couldn't use the first like 30-45 seconds of the video...but no one seem to notice.

Those eartecs do look nice *jots those down for wish/investment list*

Thats neat that you can monitor incomin audio in one ear, and maintain commo in the other.
Click to expand...

X-angel-

I love that you and your wife are doing this together. I actually had my girlfriend second camera op a few weeks ago and it worked out great. That's what got me to thinking that we needed a two-way system.

Rick
 
When needed, I use one or two pairs of Kenwood 144 MHz VHF radios, model TH-22E. It's an older model but has hundreds of channels, superb audio quality (operates in frequency modulation) with full-duplex, light headsets and mikes. Comm is perfect, no interference and I personally tested them in a large city environment over a range of more than 5 miles. You don't often need that, but when you do they're priceless !

As I said the TH-22E is an older model, I think it's been replaced now by the TH-K2E.
 
Thanks for the tip Monglane. I will look into that unit as well!

Rick
PS Offhand, do you remember who might carry them?
 
The TD-900 are worth the price. No interference, not a shared channel, and no push to talk. We have never had a situation where we have not been able to communicate. Most of the time, it's only my camera, but when the two camera shoots have come up, we have been able to talk to each other with no problems.

Two way radios are great, but to be able to talk full-duplex, with no push to talk makes it so easy to continue to run the camera not worry about running the radio.
 
AZssp,

Thanks for your coments ont eh TD-900s.. I think I will definatly place those on my "to buy" list for the near future.
Have you ever used the interface to a wired system? Has anyone? Is it any good? (i dont' see why it wouldn't be..)
The ability to interface to Clearcom, in adition to duplex, is the deal closer for me :)

-Mikko
 
I am also thinking about just investing in the eartechs...eventually... but theres no point in investing in equipment if you dont have the jobs to justify them
 
sorry to resurrect this thread but soon after i posted this i decided to deal with not having walkie-talkies in lieu of purchasing other gear...

so...in addition to whats been listed...i am looking for walkie talkies with the VOX feature of course (for handheld use...that will come in way handy when holding a camera) but also I'd like the walkie talkies to fair well on the road. My girlfriend and I are driving to LA in a couple of weeks but we are taking seperate cars (aka Smoky and the Bandit). I'd like to hook us up with a nice pair of walkie talkies that will do the trick while being a great addition to my video kit. Id like to keep it under $100 bucks if thats possible....
my head is swimming with info...wattage, range, frequencies, GMRS/FRS, etc.

Any ideas?

EDIT: I'm considering these: http://www.amazon.com/Midland-Outfi...6?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1186543825&sr=1-2

and: " Note: An FCC licence is required to use the Midland GXT650VP4." WTF?
 
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If you want licensce free (and you do) you will want something in one of the following bands:
FRS
CB
5Ghz (anyone make walkie talkies on that?)
2.4Ghz
900Mhz
A load of "HAM" bands that I don't reacall of the top of my head)


GMRS, regular UHF and VHF all require liences from the FCC.



ALso, I did buy a set of those Eartech radios and they work really well. Basically a 900MHz cordless phone inside, but the casing and user interface is well worth the price over trying to fudge something with an old phone.


- Mikko
 
Sounds good Mikko...

Am I giving up anything by avoiding the GMRS model? I really want these to have a dual purpose...have fun with my girl while driving our cars across the country...then later use them with VOX (handheld and headphone/earpiece) for weddings and shooting, etc. Above all, I want them obviously to be good...long range, decent wattage, clear sound, decent battery life, etc.

Shoot. I don't even know HOW to register with the FCC....and I've got TWO weeks until we leave. sheesh.
 
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