Communications, radio's and the like...

[Sandman 26]

I'm just wondering how everyone runs their field communications. I assume radio's are the most popular way to go, but figured I'd ask and see if anyone had a better way.

Considering that Murphy's Law means you'll eventually find yourself or some part of your team in a place where you can't yell back and forth or use hand signals and the like to communicate.

So tell me what you got, and how ya use it! If you'd be so kind as to share your secrets.

[Brutis]

2 cans & a loooooong piece of string.
Also keeps us from getting lost.

[DeadEye]

Brutis... that's high tensile titanium monofilament braided for strength and durability, with a secret propriatary formula... and two tin cans.

[cutstep]

the trick with radios is that if you get those little talkabout ones is that with all the hills and wahtnot you ay end up going in and out depending on the location, you can also end up on someone elses channel during very large games or end up getting your channel intercepted like has happened to generals in games past. If you and your team are serious about communication then go with fcc licenced two ways, then you cant get intercepted and the range is amazing.... I think we can talk to each other from splat tag to burkhardt if I remember correctly

[Sandman 26]

2 cans & a loooooong piece of string.
Also keeps us from getting lost.

but I have the breadcrumbs I drop to keep me from getting lost, but I don't know why it doesn't work so well...

the trick with radios is that if you get those little talkabout ones is that with all the hills and wahtnot you ay end up going in and out depending on the location, you can also end up on someone elses channel during very large games or end up getting your channel intercepted like has happened to generals in games past. If you and your team are serious about communication then go with fcc licenced two ways, then you cant get intercepted and the range is amazing.... I think we can talk to each other from splat tag to burkhardt if I remember correctly

Any trick to gettin FCC Licensed ones? Or is it just a matter of buying a better brand of radio?

I've never used a radio before in games, but I see such a large number of people using them. And, keep hearing about their utility in scenario games for keeping people up to speed....I feel I've been missing something lol.

[MondoMor]

Radios can be great, but for large-team communication FRS doesn't cut it. Every time I've done it, I end up switching it off because


Some punk is fooling around or trying to be "funny".
Someone's push-to-talk button is stuck, so all I hear is panting and grunting.
No one looks up how to turn off their end-of-transmission noise, and thanks to #1 or #2, loud BLEEPs occur every couple of seconds. All day long.I've had good success selecting a quiet channel so that my brother and I can find each other if we're separated. It might work for small-team units on big game days, too. But I've never had any luck with them in Big Games.

[cutstep]

but I have the breadcrumbs I drop to keep me from getting lost, but I don't know why it doesn't work so well...



Any trick to gettin FCC Licensed ones? Or is it just a matter of buying a better brand of radio?

I've never used a radio before in games, but I see such a large number of people using them. And, keep hearing about their utility in scenario games for keeping people up to speed....I feel I've been missing something lol.

fcc.gov can walk you through it... they are the higher end ones that you have to program with a computer to tune the frequency ... only those tuned to each other on each channel an talk to each other.... I can tell you that its really nice having the whole team with them... we can get around the field and meet up for missions and lead other groups of players and still stay coherent

[Sandman 26]

fcc.gov can walk you through it... they are the higher end ones that you have to program with a computer to tune the frequency ... only those tuned to each other on each channel an talk to each other.... I can tell you that its really nice having the whole team with them... we can get around the field and meet up for missions and lead other groups of players and still stay coherent

how much are those radios, and where did you pick them up?

[spock]

we got ours at around $300 a piece(new). you could check ebay and get ONE for around $200or so.
their worth it thou, now I don't have to listen to Billy looking for johny by the big tree..

[Chunk]

If you are not ready for the big money ones, here is my thoughts-buy headsets that do not have a vox option, get the same brand and walk through the settings with everyone so there are no loud beeps and calls. Have a couple channels picked out for use and a way to tell your team which one you are on (something at your camp) the bigger the game the more people will be on your channel so if want secure coms have your own names for locations or some kind of grid system. Have an extra radio to offer to your general if you want to run missions. No throat mics, unless your spending big money.

Practice with them.

My thoughts

[Sandman 26]

Thanks everyone for the information so far!

[Krutsie]

Woodland Security's big hang up is Communication.We've been looking into products to make it easier to communicate , I thought it was smart going to the dollar store and buying batteries for a buck .then i complained when my batteries were dead after a half an hour.Get spendy Batteries. We're looking at firefox for throut mics right now(34.95). a few guys got them and they worked great

[the_real_kaz]

Has anyone tired those head comunucation things that can go inside masks? just wondering how they'd work.

[Krutsie]

We just brought on Firefox Technologies as new sponsors this year. I told them, what better team to sponsor, a team that knows and admits it has communication issues. We'll se how their product work.

[prodigy]

i would look in to the Midland mics. go to Cabellas they are around $40-$60

they are made for hunting and havent let my entire team down.

the throat mics are nice and they are lot more comfortable.

[Cpt. Patches]

i use the midland radio's that have the regular head set with the mike coming down from the ear. it fits in my mask and has a comfortable ear peice. it is clear sound if it doesn't get too close to your mouth. Normally i only have about three or four guys on my team using radios because this keeps down the clutter.
it's always good to have a safe pocket to put your radio in so it doesnt switch channels on ya and protects it from getting shot and such.

[Krutsie]

We'll give firefox a try ,being were getting a quantity of free stuff and discounts from them as sponsors, I feel they have really good Quality Products.
Everyone on our squad is recomended to have walkies but a select few are alllowed to talk unless game sensative info. it works for us.

[Cpt. Patches]

i guess if i had free firefox mics i would use them too...haha. i have yet to try out the throat mics.

[WreckingCrew]

nothing beats a good radio

[Ish]

i guess if i had free firefox mics i would use them too...haha. i have yet to try out the throat mics.

I used a FF throat mic last year was very impressed with it....


personaly i like just yelling on the field..

main problem i see with radio's is i forget 2 push the button to talk :o

[Panther]

A number of our team has used the FF throat mics in the past... if you're a bigger guy.. or just have a thick neck, they are very hard to get lined up properly.

We've been up and down in our use of radios over the years, and I get very mixed results with FRS out at Splat Tag. I often have been crawling through areas where I can hear just fine but am unable to transmit cause of where I'm at.

If you're going to go with radios, get the best you can afford and try to make sure everyone at least sticks with the same brand if not the same model.

[Stretch]

I've always had bad luck with FF throat mics, everything always sounds muffeled

[Thalion]

Now that both the Hunt and GBG have past us...

FRS/GMRS radios are rendered nearly useless at any major event. There's just too many people with them that you can't control (and they can't control themselves on the radio).

Add range/interference issues, and it's not a good plan.

UHF/VHF is where it's at. Sentinels used Icom UHF radios at the Hunt and at GBG, and no problems occurred.

[Cpt. Patches]

here is my problem with uhf/vhf radios....they cost like 100 bucks at minimum.

[WreckingCrew]

here is my problem with uhf/vhf radios....they cost like 100 bucks at minimum.

i would say with charger and extras you would be looking at approx 200 minimum

[MondoMor]

There's a thread over on Badger Brigades with a link to a slightly cheaper source (http://www.radiogearpro.com/main/). Ghostwolf apparently ordered a couple FD-450A radios at ~$60 each. The Jingtong brand is even cheaper.

I'm tempted. Thalion's UHF radios were a major help at HftC '09, and I missed not having them for GBG XIV.

[Brutis]

The Jingtong brand is even cheaper.
Imagine that. You get what you pay for...

[Rhyno]

i would say with charger and extras you would be looking at approx 200 minimum

You get what you pay for...wish we did that in the first place, heck, I have probably spent that amount if not more f-ing around with all different radios that you can buy at Gander Mountain, Fleet Farm, etc...if you want good comm, just fork out the money...in the long run, it probably is actually a money saver.

[Krutsie]

I had issues with my firefox throut mic but I fixed the issue. i took a throut protector and cut some knotches in it and fed my throut piece through it. this kept everything in place plus protects my neck.
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