Communications on the Cheap

[CLCTech]

Anyone else use Motorola TalkAbouts for communications? We use four, one for each of the 2 camera operators, one for the switcher guy (the director) and one for the sound person. Our cameras are basically in the congregation (mini DV cams) and havng full headsets on would be even more distracting to the congregation, not to mention the cost. For $150 we have four radios with earpieces. Only problem is that with a lot of background music, it becomes very hard to hear due to the inability of the foam earpieces to block out ambient noise. They worked better when we could use the Jabota silicone plugs, but they broke and I can't find new ones. During the spoken word they work fine.

[tedanderson]

The guys that run the sound system use them. We use headsets for television. I can't imagine how a camera operator wearing a headset is more distracting than someone using a talkabout.. but then again, I've never been to your church so I can't really say that what you are telling us is incorrect.

We tried using the talkabouts for the camera but it didn't quite work the way we needed them to becuase they are not as passive as the headsets.

[kerwin kanago]

What model do you use? We definately need something better than the cheap walkies we have now (with no headsets).

[waynehoskins]

By the way, I finally found the schematic I was looking for a while back, the Clear-Com-compatible intercom circuit. I'll have to scan it and put it up somewhere.

I also can't see how Talkabouts can be any less distracting than a production intercom. Plus, anything radio is half-duplex, that's a huge disadvantage.

This week's project is building a multi-channel master station akin to RTS's 802, to allow directed communication instead of party line, hopefully that will cut down our intercom chatter a whole lot.

[CLCTech]

Our TalkAbouts are usually in a pocket or on belt with a plug-in small earpiece so they aren't really noticible. Our camera operators rarely talk to the director, they mainly listen. When they do talk, there is a PTT switch on the earpiece cord with the mic in the earpiece, I believe. Not unusual for them to go up to communion with the earpiece in and barely get noticed.

I could get you the Motorola model, but they are at least 5 years old and I am sure discontinued by now. Finding earpieces to fit is a challenge, we got our last ones at Radio Shack. Not that I wouldn't like a production setup, but how much do you have to budget for 4 persons, at least a grand or two I would think? The thread is titled "communication on the cheap".

[Playing4one]

We tried the same idea using the Talkabouts, but were never successful. We tried out the earpieces and the headsets but neither gave good enough quality to actually understand what was being said. This was especially bad during worship. Don't know if you are using a different type of earpiece or settings that made them usable.

any ideas would be appreciated!

[tedanderson]

Our ushers use a professional grade set of business band radios (the kind that require FCC licensing) that have the earpiece and the microphone that you wear under your sleeve. They work flawlessly.

[brenthomer]

Originally Posted by tedanderson

Our ushers use a professional grade set of business band radios (the kind that require FCC licensing) that have the earpiece and the microphone that you wear under your sleeve. They work flawlessly.

Can I get a link please?

[Lucas]

http://www.earphoneconnect.com/produ...22&Model_ID=26

[Banginplates]

CLC Tech try the Eartec Co. 24G 4CYB Wireless Intercom 4 person set-up from Full Compass for $540.00. Don't know if that is too much? But they work fine for us and you can all talk together at the same time. Not alot for communication. I have learned you get what you pay for. Trust me we learned the hard way.

[cyburdine]

Another option is to use a PBX. for under $300 you could have a great sounding prod comm system. I setup an Asterisk based production comm system where each camera has a Plantronics T10 or T20 hooked up to a decent dual muff "gaming" headset. The cameras dial into what is essentially a conference line where the director is dialed into as well. I built a pretty simple Push to Talk button on each of the cameras so that they don't accidentally leave the mic open and flood the channel.

Costs:
spare PC running Asterisk (free)
4 x Plantronics ($5-15 each = $20-$60)
4 x dual muff headsets ($25 = $100) *spend the money on good ones
2 x Sipura SPA-2100 ATAs ($35 each = $70)
Cat5 (or 3) cable ($60)

the cool part is that you can hook this up to your existing phone system so that anyone could pick up a phone in the church and dial up the director/producer etc...

if anyone is curious and wants to set this up I'm working on a more official how-to but would be glad to help any others on how to set this up.

[dareallyst]

Originally Posted by cyburdine

Another option is to use a PBX. for under $300 you could have a great sounding prod comm system. I setup an Asterisk based production comm system where each camera has a Plantronics T10 or T20 hooked up to a decent dual muff "gaming" headset. The cameras dial into what is essentially a conference line where the director is dialed into as well. I built a pretty simple Push to Talk button on each of the cameras so that they don't accidentally leave the mic open and flood the channel.

Costs:
spare PC running Asterisk (free)
4 x Plantronics ($5-15 each = $20-$60)
4 x dual muff headsets ($25 = $100) *spend the money on good ones
2 x Sipura SPA-2100 ATAs ($35 each = $70)
Cat5 (or 3) cable ($60)

the cool part is that you can hook this up to your existing phone system so that anyone could pick up a phone in the church and dial up the director/producer etc...

if anyone is curious and wants to set this up I'm working on a more official how-to but would be glad to help any others on how to set this up.

I'm interested in knowing more about this setup. I need to be able to communicate with 2 musicians, 2 camera operators, and maybe 1 usher. Thanks