Remote Communication Tools ??? at DVinfo.net

Chris Rentzel · January 17th, 2008, 05:11 PM

Hi,

I want to be able to signal (on cue) two crew members who I won't be able to see, and they won't be able to see me or each other.

I'm looking for a pager-like device that I can press a button, and when I press that button it will instantly signal (with a vibration) the two crew members.

Do they make such an animal?

Chris Soucy · January 17th, 2008, 05:41 PM

Depending on the distance requirements, would a PMR 446 set do the job?

I'm assuming here that the USA has this facility (Personal Mobile Radio).

Cheap as chips practically everywhere else on the planet. No license required and have a range of between 100 yards (through walls etc) to over a mile line of sight.

Can be set up so that a press of any of the transmit buttons then release causes other handsets on the same frequency to audibly squawk/ bleep.

CS

Chris Rentzel · January 17th, 2008, 06:09 PM

Thanks Chris, however it has to be completely silent, not seen, and undetectable to anyone else other than the two crew members. So the only thing I can think of is something that vibrates.

Ervin Farkas · January 17th, 2008, 06:15 PM

The only thing that comes to mind is baby monitors. You can buy some that have two receivers and one transmitter.

Andy Wilkinson · January 18th, 2008, 03:55 AM

Or simply text them (i.e. SMS) on their mobiles - make sure their/your phones are set on vibrate and not to ring. My mate and I sometimes do this when filming in a cathedral and it's almost instantaneous (within 1-2 secs usually.)

You can have several different message or commands previously saved in various drafts and just hit the send button for each at the appropriate times!

Chris Soucy · January 18th, 2008, 04:32 AM

Actually, PMR's usually have their own dedicated plug in earpieces/ VOX mic's.

Nobody can hear what's coming in and only what is outgoing (can be a bit spooky seeing someone walking around talking, apparently, to themselves).

I use them for Trade Shows with my partner. Set them both up for VOX (Voice Activation Transmit) and fit the ear piece and mic and away we go. It's like doing the entire show in half the time as long as both sides keep talking.

So, for your requirement, as long as the other parties have their earpices plugged in, they can hear it, no one else can.

CS

January 17th, 2008, 05:11 PM	#1
Chris Rentzel Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 60	Remote Communication Tools ??? Hi, I want to be able to signal (on cue) two crew members who I won't be able to see, and they won't be able to see me or each other. I'm looking for a pager-like device that I can press a button, and when I press that button it will instantly signal (with a vibration) the two crew members. Do they make such an animal?

January 17th, 2008, 05:41 PM	#2
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,682 Images: 18	Hi Chris.................. Depending on the distance requirements, would a PMR 446 set do the job? I'm assuming here that the USA has this facility (Personal Mobile Radio). Cheap as chips practically everywhere else on the planet. No license required and have a range of between 100 yards (through walls etc) to over a mile line of sight. Can be set up so that a press of any of the transmit buttons then release causes other handsets on the same frequency to audibly squawk/ bleep. CS

January 17th, 2008, 06:15 PM	#4
Ervin Farkas Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Atlanta/USA Posts: 2,515	The only thing that comes to mind is baby monitors. You can buy some that have two receivers and one transmitter. __________________ Ervin Farkas www.AtlantaLegalVideo.com

January 18th, 2008, 03:55 AM	#5
Andy Wilkinson Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 2,853	Use texting (SMS)? Or simply text them (i.e. SMS) on their mobiles - make sure their/your phones are set on vibrate and not to ring. My mate and I sometimes do this when filming in a cathedral and it's almost instantaneous (within 1-2 secs usually.) You can have several different message or commands previously saved in various drafts and just hit the send button for each at the appropriate times! __________________ Andy K Wilkinson - https://www.shootingimage.co.uk Cambridge (UK) Corporate Video Production

January 18th, 2008, 04:32 AM	#6
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,682 Images: 18	Hi again.......... Actually, PMR's usually have their own dedicated plug in earpieces/ VOX mic's. Nobody can hear what's coming in and only what is outgoing (can be a bit spooky seeing someone walking around talking, apparently, to themselves). I use them for Trade Shows with my partner. Set them both up for VOX (Voice Activation Transmit) and fit the ear piece and mic and away we go. It's like doing the entire show in half the time as long as both sides keep talking. So, for your requirement, as long as the other parties have their earpices plugged in, they can hear it, no one else can. CS

January 17th, 2008, 06:09 PM	#3
Chris Rentzel Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 60	Thanks Chris, however it has to be completely silent, not seen, and undetectable to anyone else other than the two crew members. So the only thing I can think of is something that vibrates.