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Author Topic: Recommendations for 2 way radios Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 03-13-2003 12:36 PM                     It has been narrowed down to the Motorola SP50 radios, but this is offered in 4 different models. The bottom of this page shows the 4 models. For a cinema environment where most radios are plagued with static and interference, which radio will do the best job at blocking out unwanted transmissions? VHF? UHF?  |  IP: Logged Chris Markiewicz Expert Film Handler Posts: 209 From: Glenaviegh, County Tipperary, Ireland Registered: Aug 2002 posted 03-13-2003 12:43 PM                     Brad, From using various wireless mics and intercoms in live theatre, UHF is the way to go. Greater usable range and less interference. Hope this helps. Chris  |  IP: Logged Daryl C. W. O'Shea Film God Posts: 3977 From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from) Registered: Jun 2002 posted 03-13-2003 12:48 PM                        UHF with 25kHz spacing would probably be your best bet. I believe Motorola also has a cell-phone like radio that works with their 2-way radios. It's handy for the projection booth... we've got one in Waterloo but I can't remember much about it, other than it works great.  |  IP: Logged Paul G. Thompson The Weenie Man Posts: 4718 From: Mount Vernon WA USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 03-13-2003 01:04 PM                     UHF is the way to go.  |  IP: Logged Ken Layton Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1452 From: Olympia, Wash. USA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 03-13-2003 03:50 PM                     UHF for sure. Some of the Regal Cinemas in western Washington use either 469.5500, 469.5000, or 464.5500 for theater communications. All are common itinerant frequencies easily listened to with common police scanner radios.  |  IP: Logged Jack Ondracek Film God Posts: 2348 From: Port Orchard, WA, USA Registered: Oct 2002 posted 03-13-2003 04:25 PM                        UHF. We started with Motorola's "Spirit" SV11 radios (VHF), which worked pretty well... until everyone else on the block started using them. We also had trouble with greatly reduced range when we put them on our belts & used earpiece/mics with them. Putting the antenna that close to your body really kills the signal. Also, our boxoffice people had a lot of trouble with interference caused by our registers. We're now using the UHF SP50 with encoded squelch. Range doesn't seem to be affected by wearing them. They're also unaffected by our electronics. Battery life is good, and can be further enhanced if necessary through the use of an "idle" mode, which is activated when the unit is programmed.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 03-13-2003 05:24 PM                     Jack, do you have a Motorola part number for those radios?  |  IP: Logged Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 03-13-2003 05:33 PM                  Jack: Have you noticed any interference to the theater's automation and/or audio system with those radios? With VHF radios and in some poorly designed/built theatres or ones with inferior equipment, I could dim the lights or hear the radio conversation in the theatre's audio system just by keying the transmitter. >>> Phil  |  IP: Logged Jack Ondracek Film God Posts: 2348 From: Port Orchard, WA, USA Registered: Oct 2002 posted 03-13-2003 08:35 PM                        Brad: I'll get you that number when I get home tonight. It is the model in your picture. Phil: We've had no trouble with the UHF radios... The V's did goof up some audio equipment if you were close enough.  |  IP: Logged Jason Black Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1723 From: Myrtle Beach, SC, USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 03-13-2003 08:57 PM                        Brad, If you're looking at the Motorola lineup, I HIGHLY recommend a unit from ICOM, model #IC-F21/S. It's a much beefier model that holds up to abuse much moreso than do the Moto's. I don't have the SP50's, I have SP10's as well as 1 of the ICOM's. The ICOM was designed to military spec's and built tough as a tank, or so I have seen. It is a tad bigger than the SP-10s I have, but it also has two dealer (and user) programmable buttons (one above and one below) the PTT button. Also quite nifty is the two cahnnel feature on the ICOM. The price is within a few bucks of teh SP's, so price alone shouldn't be an issue. http://www.icomamerica.com  |  IP: Logged Daryl C. W. O'Shea Film God Posts: 3977 From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from) Registered: Jun 2002 posted 03-13-2003 09:16 PM                        ICOM makes AWESOME handheld aircraft radios. They usually transmit 10x the distance and clarity than ANY panel mount radio.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 03-13-2003 09:30 PM                     Jason, do you have any vendor recommendations? Has anyone else used the radios Jason speaks of?  |  IP: Logged David Stambaugh Film God Posts: 4021 From: Eugene, Oregon Registered: Jan 2002 posted 03-13-2003 09:34 PM                        ICOM Dallas ICOM dealer: Bearcom (doing my impression of John Pytlak) (sorry John) (that's 3 times I've said "sorry" today)  |  IP: Logged Sam Hunter Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 779 From: West Monroe, LA, USA Registered: Jan 2002 posted 03-13-2003 10:56 PM                     When I worked for Motorola I was never a fan of Icom but they made some killer marine handhelds. UHF is the way to go as far as interference goes. Whatever you buy Brad, make sure it can be serviced locally and also make sure the service center is reputable. The biggest problems wwith the Motorolas are the top sections are succeptable to damage which usually breaks the antenna contacts and thus kills your range.  |  IP: Logged Jason Black Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1723 From: Myrtle Beach, SC, USA Registered: Nov 2000 posted 03-14-2003 01:10 AM                        Brad, I got mine locally from Myrtle Beach Communications. They are also a Motorola authorized service center, which makes replacing any PL boards or minor servicing a snap. Myrtle Beach Comunications Inc. 1330 Enterprise Ave, Myrtle Beach, SC 29578 Phone: (843) 448-7734 Fax: (843) 448-2005 Division: Land Mobile If you contact them, by chance, ask for Gus or Dawy (pronounced Duhh Y).  |  IP: Logged

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