2 way radios

[Thunderman]

Mechanick , in the pic on page 4 of the 5 pin chute, we do the same with the bracing of the probe, what have you got on the top lip of the chute it that rubber hose ( fuel line ) or is it something else, also you glue it on or what

Thanks


Coby

[Thunderman]

Old thread, but still relevant today. The center I am working has no and I mean no communication between the desk that can't see the lanes and the pit. Communication is either me walking to the front or them walking to the back. Since my day job is construction management I swiped a couple radios we use on site and the loud engines and brought them in on the weekend to try. It didn't do so well for us with the noise in the back and the girls up front trying to communicate over the loud music.
The next weekend I also borrowed one of the headsets and plugged into my radio which helped a little, but still I had a hard time hearing them over the music. The one thing I forgot about our headsets are the fact they are VOX (voice activated). Needless to say the girls up front got to hear some of my grunts, colorful language, and comments I thought to my self about those damn kids on 5.
i prefer the old PA. I can hear it no matter where I am and whether or not I left the radio on the bench.

I can not think of how many ways wrong it is not have any form of communication from front to back. We have both PA and radios, not to have anything would give me nightmares thinking of all the things that could and will go wrong. I have been stuck in a machine before with out an radio, ( did not have enough to go around to everybody ). Had to throw pins across front of machine, onto the lane to get someone's attention , every time I would pitch pin over front of machine, front desk person would call to me on the PA an dead wood call, after 11 pins on deck and each call to go with each pin, someone came over to find out why the " low count pin chaser" was not getting the pins or calls. You can guess the he was gone from that center just after that. Have two scars on forearm to remind me to always have some form of communication with front at all times I am working. Was lucky that night, could have been much worse

Thanks

Coby

[fromthetopdown]

With the FoH usually having both a phone and an internet connected computer, and smartphones more commonly in the pockets of mechanics everywhere, there must be a quick, easy, efficient way to get the mechanic's proper attention at all times.
VIA phone, wifi, or mobile internet like 3g etc... of course the way any communication method might be used in the first place could be a more productive topic of discussion...How do you get the staff to use it? I posted my cell number and gave direct instructions to call me when there is a stop months ago yet yesterday was the first time it was implimented, VERY successfully I might add! Bowling hosts are always walking in the back with an attitude like why didn't you know there was a stop. Its like only one person was ever even listening when I was saying to save the walk to the back and just call my cell.

[direct]

I use radios at work, and they can be very frustrating at times. In the UK, the desk staff must carry out checks on the lone working technician every half an hour, to make sure they are alright, so we have to respond accordingly. Though when it comes to trying to communicate with the reception staff, it seems like it is only one way communication!! Grrrrr..
There is a phone in the workshop, but it is very frustrating when they decide to call you and you have to tools down, climb out the machine and run to the workshop to answer the phone.
So now, i'm thinking about putting a phone in down back in the middle of the machines, to try and aid communication some what.

We had a land line phone on the wall in a machinery room (At nuclear power station I worked previously such device has flashing lamp on the top). Next the employer disassembled the phone on the back and preferred to use one way of communication only - Motorola radio and blamed us for non answer. Technicians's hands are often dirty, busy with tools.

[bowlinginthenort]

Has anyone found a bluetooth headset that will work with 2-way radios? We thought we did and purchased the product, but the bluetooth would randomly disconnect and reconnect at frequent intervals. Even Best Buy couldn't tell us why it was happening or if there were any other options.

[Faded]

Acoustic tube (secret service type) earpieces will fit underneath most muff style hearing protectors.

Center I used to work at, the GM insisted on everyone being on the same channel even though they PAID for the 4channel CLS radios. They eventually started using multiple channels after I was gone. (Don't you just love your arguments or ideas coming around after the fact?!?)

That was always a sore spot for me. One of my techs didn't use English as a first language and he would answer the wrong calls or not hear the right ones since there were around 20 radios going on a busy night.

As far as things falling into the pinsetters….I dropped my iPhone 4s in the things more than a couple times, without a case usually and it only got a couple dents around the edge. My wife dropped hers in the bathroom at home and the screen shattered…go figure.

You can get all kinds of headsets and earpieces for the radios, to what suits your needs and comfort level. I suggest techs buy their own regardless of what the centers offer. No signing gear in/out, no worries of other people being less responsible and no hygiene concerns with shared earpieces.

I liked the acoustic tube ones, but most people at the center snagged the "D-Ring" ones first. You can also get full pilot or NASCAR style headsets with muffs and booms, or even throat mics. I'm waiting on a new one in the mail that will connect to a radio AND phone at the same time. Should be very handy. Speaker mics are convenient, but not as useful in the noisier environments.

[oxfordtech12]

we have 2 way radios down the back and on busy shifts we have ear pieces.. the reception does have a pa system put in place but no way of hearing it from behind the lanes

[jfranke]

We have 1 way radios- The front counter NEVER responds.

[Goat]

I know this is an old topic but I have a modern solution. a center I reently encountered is using bluetooth headphones connected to the mechanic's cell phone. The desk simply calls the mechanic on duty. Seems to work really well. As well the mechanic can listen to his favorite entertainment and now has a valid excuse for having his/her phone in their pocket. Also no excuse for not hearing a call.

[Triley]

I know this is an old topic but I have a modern solution. a center I reently encountered is using bluetooth headphones connected to the mechanic's cell phone. The desk simply calls the mechanic on duty. Seems to work really well. As well the mechanic can listen to his favorite entertainment and now has a valid excuse for having his/her phone in their pocket. Also no excuse for not hearing a call.

I wear noise cancelling bluetooth headphones over my corded earpiece from the 2-way radio. Get to listen to my music, and protect my hearing in one go.

I don't like talking using my headphones, because it disables the noise cancelling feature, and I already have hearing issues from my previous bowling employer.

[Bowlingrevolution]

Has anyone tried an FM transmitter in their center?