Using MURS for spotters for floats

[Phil Stripling]

I have a friend who will be driving a float with restricted
visibility from the driver's seat, and he has been required
to have spotters. The problem is that everybody and his brother
will be using FRS/GMRS, so comm with the spotters on those
services will be an issue.

I've suggested MURS, and he wants to know models, prices,
whether radios from different manufacturers are incompatible.
I can't really turn up much on the Web on MURS radios - they
don't seem to be much in demand, and therefore not much in
availability. Cost is an issue, since he thinks he'll only
be using them once a year for the event.

My fallback is to suggest CB radio, on the assumption nobody
uses it anymore. :-> He's thinking of getting a 5.8GHz phone
set with multiple handsets and using them as "intercomms"
between the deskset run in his float. He figures noboy's on
5.8GHz, so interference won't be a problem.

[IR]

You could scare up some old 49 MHz units from Ebay or something,
although the phones sound good too.

Post by Phil Stripling
I have a friend who will be driving a float with restricted
visibility from the driver's seat, and he has been required
to have spotters. The problem is that everybody and his brother
will be using FRS/GMRS, so comm with the spotters on those
services will be an issue.
I've suggested MURS, and he wants to know models, prices,
whether radios from different manufacturers are incompatible.
I can't really turn up much on the Web on MURS radios - they
don't seem to be much in demand, and therefore not much in
availability. Cost is an issue, since he thinks he'll only
be using them once a year for the event.
My fallback is to suggest CB radio, on the assumption nobody
uses it anymore. :-> He's thinking of getting a 5.8GHz phone
set with multiple handsets and using them as "intercomms"
between the deskset run in his float. He figures noboy's on
5.8GHz, so interference won't be a problem.

[mryan]

The phones tend not to have much audio. Even using headset jacks, in a noisy
environment like a parade, they probably wont work out.

MURS is a good choice. I know RK Leef still carries one for around $66.

GMRS isnt out of the question. Just get a radio that has loud audio and use
DCS. Its less likely to get falsed by other folks on the channel and even if
they do, being that close to the float, you'd probably just step on them. I
have IC-F21GMs and they are great for this, but they are around $130 a pop.
I've also had good luck buying commercial radios like the Vertx VX-10,
VX-400, and VX-210 and programming them for GMRS. Seen these go for as
little as $60 bucks on Ebay.

Post by Phil Stripling
I have a friend who will be driving a float with restricted
visibility from the driver's seat, and he has been required
to have spotters. The problem is that everybody and his brother
will be using FRS/GMRS, so comm with the spotters on those
services will be an issue.
I've suggested MURS, and he wants to know models, prices,
whether radios from different manufacturers are incompatible.
I can't really turn up much on the Web on MURS radios - they
don't seem to be much in demand, and therefore not much in
availability. Cost is an issue, since he thinks he'll only
be using them once a year for the event.
My fallback is to suggest CB radio, on the assumption nobody
uses it anymore. :-> He's thinking of getting a 5.8GHz phone
set with multiple handsets and using them as "intercomms"
between the deskset run in his float. He figures noboy's on
5.8GHz, so interference won't be a problem.
--
Phil Stripling | email to the replyto address is presumed
The Civilized Explorer | spam and read later. email from this URL
http://www.cieux.com/ | http://www.civex.com/ is read daily.

[horseshoe7]

Post by Phil Stripling
I have a friend who will be driving a float with restricted
visibility from the driver's seat, and he has been required
to have spotters. The problem is that everybody and his brother
will be using FRS/GMRS, so comm with the spotters on those
services will be an issue.
I've suggested MURS, and he wants to know models, prices,
whether radios from different manufacturers are incompatible.
I can't really turn up much on the Web on MURS radios - they
don't seem to be much in demand, and therefore not much in
availability. Cost is an issue, since he thinks he'll only
be using them once a year for the event.

This guy (and others) have been selling Kenwood TK2100 radios for $49:

http://mursradio.googlepages.com/

- Stewart
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MURS-OPEN

[sideshowhaas]

How limited is his visiblity? No offense, but it scares me a bit.

[Phil Stripling]

Post by sideshowhaas
How limited is his visiblity? No offense, but it scares me a bit.

I'm not offended. It's limited enough he's required to have spotters.
I'm confident he won't run over too many people before that can be
brought to his attention.

[mryan]

I had the pleasure once of being one of those folks tethering one of those
big "cartoon character" balloons in a parade. Stress is defined when the
wind starts pushing the balloon, along with all 14-16 of us, towards the
crowds. The "pilots" in charge of each balloon are good at dealing with this
and anticipating problems, but its scary anyway. There were no casualties.

Post by Phil Stripling

Post by sideshowhaas
How limited is his visiblity? No offense, but it scares me a bit.

I'm not offended. It's limited enough he's required to have spotters.
I'm confident he won't run over too many people before that can be
brought to his attention.
--
Phil Stripling | email to the replyto address is presumed
The Civilized Explorer | spam and read later. email from this URL
http://www.cieux.com/ | http://www.civex.com/ is read daily.