Author Topic: O2O radios and PTT belt switches  (Read 336 times)

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Offline ElvisLives

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O2O radios and PTT belt switches
« on: January 30, 2025, 04:20:54 PM »
Don’t ask why, but I sold my O2O radios before the 2024 season, and I’m considering getting new ones for 2025. I had Midland radios. They worked fine, and they look to still be available. In 2022 I got those large round belt-mounted PTT switches with clip microphones and clear tube ear pieces that a company started selling. Worked great, but I can’t remember the name of the company that sold them, and don’t see them online by description. Anybody happen to remember those and the company that made them?

Offline dammitbobby

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Offline ElvisLives

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Offline GoodScout

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Re: O2O radios and PTT belt switches
« Reply #3 on: January 30, 2025, 05:54:31 PM »
Anyone have suggestions for a system that's the easiest to learn and use?
The thought is we would test a system with one crew a week to give officials a chance to evaluate and decide if O2Os should become part of our association statewide.
We rotate officials (no crews) so each week it would likely be a new group (same referee) that would have to get a quick training in use and etiquette as part of pregame.
Thoughts? Would the SpeakEasy system too complex to pick up?

Offline ElvisLives

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Re: O2O radios and PTT belt switches
« Reply #4 on: January 30, 2025, 07:25:37 PM »
Anyone have suggestions for a system that's the easiest to learn and use?
The thought is we would test a system with one crew a week to give officials a chance to evaluate and decide if O2Os should become part of our association statewide.
We rotate officials (no crews) so each week it would likely be a new group (same referee) that would have to get a quick training in use and etiquette as part of pregame.
Thoughts? Would the SpeakEasy system too complex to pick up?

Can’t compare to other whole ‘systems,’ since I’ve only used one specific radio, but I have used two different ‘push to talk’ (PTT) systems, and I will give you my thoughts on all of this.
The basic radios we’ve used are the kind that do not require a license to use. While I’ve used Midland radios, there are other manufacturers that have similar products. All radios have multiple selectable channels. Once in a while, we get interference on our usual channel, but switching to a different channel usually fixes that. Just keep the radios charged between games, and you shouldn’t have a problem.
As for headsets/earpieces and microphones, the use of a ‘boom’ style microphone is not something I, personally, would want. I am perfectly satisfied with a clip-on mic. A single in-ear earpiece is just fine - just keep them clean. They can get clogged with earwax and block sound. The actual in-ear ‘bulb’ can be pulled off and cleaned easily. Be sure you get cords long enough to easily  run up inside your shirt up to your head. (Can be a problem for tall folks.)
Many radios come standard with a headset/microphone that has a small thumbswitch that clips to the collar. Those buttons are somewhat difficult to grasp and operate.
I HIGHLY recommend that you invest in headset/mics that have a large round belt-mounted PTT button. After using the clip-on mics, but watching the NFL guys using large belt-mounted buttons, I was wishful for something that easy. Well, I don’t want to sound like I’m pushing a specific product, but I got some of the SpeakEasy headset/mics with the belt-mounted PTT buttons. WONDERFUL. There are other brands. But, regardless, get the large, round belt-mounted PTT switches.
Make sure the headset/mics sets work with your specific radios. There maybe be connector differences.
Operationally, don’t over-use the radios. Keep it to essential and pertinent, at-the-moment information. DON’T YELL. Don’t rush. Speak deliberately, with careful enunciation.

Good luck!


Offline dammitbobby

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Re: O2O radios and PTT belt switches
« Reply #5 on: January 30, 2025, 08:50:18 PM »
I'll second the Good call PTT buttons, and their mic is FAR superior to the default Midland radio mics.  Like, orders of magnitude better. The default ones don't have a windscreen and you're likely to hear more background/bands/crowd noise than what someone is actually trying to say.

Offline Whodatboy18

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Re: O2O radios and PTT belt switches
« Reply #6 on: January 31, 2025, 09:29:52 AM »
Anyone have suggestions for a system that's the easiest to learn and use?
The thought is we would test a system with one crew a week to give officials a chance to evaluate and decide if O2Os should become part of our association statewide.
We rotate officials (no crews) so each week it would likely be a new group (same referee) that would have to get a quick training in use and etiquette as part of pregame.
Thoughts? Would the SpeakEasy system too complex to pick up?

I have put way too much time, money, and effort researching and trying multiple radio systems over the years.

The big cost differential in radios comes down to if they are single user or duplex radios.
Single user- any walkie talkie like a Midland. It only allows one speaker at a time and there is delay to clear the waves before transmitting. Must be more deliberate when using. Can miss broadcasts if multiple people attempt to use at once. Have more delays so communication takes longer. Cheapest option.
Duplex - works like a conference call where everyone can hear everyone at the same time and can transmit simultaneously as well like a phone conversation. Much less delay and better for any type of back and form discussion. Costs more however. I strongly prefer Duplex if cost isn't an issue. Mute buttons or PTT buttons prevent continuous noise in the headset.

For the price point, Midland radios with the PTT headsets from Good Call Officiating or CodaRoom is the best option for minimal cost. Don't bother with the cheap headsets and earpieces they come with normally. They are garbage and are almost worse than nothing. Cost comes out to ~$120 a person with the PTT headset. Custom earpieces are also a nice quality of life upgrade later down the road. If anyone has used a walkie talkie before, its easy to set up. The benefit to a boom mic is that it picks up just the voice audio better than a lapel mic, but it can be more cumbersome to wear. I have seen some officials use this one https://www.codaroom.com/collections/officiating/products/cr-boom-pro-boom-officiating-headset?variant=44543087542436. You can also adjust the settings on the Midlands to get rid of the loud clear noise and chirping that they usually make when pressing the talk button. It really clears up the communication. Use Midlands, these headsets won't work on other walkie talkie brands. The internal circuitry or connection port is different and not compatible.


Duplex Options:

How many are on a crew for your association? Options become more limited at 7, but 6 and below have a bigger and cheaper market.

Don't bother with trying Yapalong radios. They are somewhat popular due to their lower price, but the audio quality is terrible.

I've used this brand before for soccer officiating, and its excellent audio quality for the price ~$250. Only goes up to 6 users however so I can't use these in Texas, otherwise I would have these. https://www.ejeas.com/product/f6/?srsltid=AfmBOor1uSOIhxICXaBkagiWBJl-8IL1oOPn_ovtdSaPRNW1IaA7mAVI

I know of a crew that uses these, but I don't have any experience with them myself ~$200 a person. https://portaphone.com/wireless-referee-communication-headsets/ & https://eartec.com/epak-wireless/

Higher price range options would be https://procomheadsets.com/belt-pack/ or https://shop.vogo-group.com/products/elite at between ~$1,000 to ~$1,500 a person.

If you have any questions on anything, feel free to reach out. I'm more than happy to share my trial and errors.
« Last Edit: January 31, 2025, 10:03:47 AM by Whodatboy18 »

Offline ElvisLives

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Re: O2O radios and PTT belt switches
« Reply #7 on: January 31, 2025, 09:53:38 AM »

How many are on a crew for your association? Options become more limited at 7, but 6 and below have a bigger and cheaper market.


Not sure what this means. I used Midland non-duplex radios with my crews of 5 and 7 for several years (I bought 8 radios), and they worked fine. Even better when I got the SpeakEasy headset/mic/PTT. Probably what I’ll get this time, too.

Offline Whodatboy18

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Re: O2O radios and PTT belt switches
« Reply #8 on: January 31, 2025, 10:03:22 AM »
Elvis,

I was referring to Duplex radio options that limit the number of concurrent users. Midlands or walkie talkies can work up to as many radios as you can purchase. I changed the location of that comment to make it clearer to what I was referring. Thanks.

Offline ElvisLives

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Re: O2O radios and PTT belt switches
« Reply #9 on: January 31, 2025, 11:33:09 AM »
Elvis,

I was referring to Duplex radio options that limit the number of concurrent users. Midlands or walkie talkies can work up to as many radios as you can purchase. I changed the location of that comment to make it clearer to what I was referring. Thanks.

I thought, maybe, the duplex radios may have a limitation. Tough for a crew of 7 or 8. Who doesn’t get one? The U, or U and C? Maybe he/they have a different set, and the L has one of each, so he can ‘relay’ messages to the U, or U and C? Now we’re gettin’ complicated, eh? 🤪

Offline Whodatboy18

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Re: O2O radios and PTT belt switches
« Reply #10 on: January 31, 2025, 11:59:13 AM »
Indeed. That's why you see college crews using duplex systems like Vokkero or ProCom go with the >$1000 option per person so that they can handle the extra users. Especially with having supplemental officials on the sideline. The cheaper duplex, usually cap at 6 people, which is great for many NFHS states.

Offline FWREF

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Re: O2O radios and PTT belt switches
« Reply #11 on: February 03, 2025, 02:14:40 PM »
Quote
Quote
You can also adjust the settings on the Midlands to get rid of the loud clear noise and chirping that they usually make when pressing the talk button. It really clears up the communication.

What is the procedure for this?

Offline Whodatboy18

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Re: O2O radios and PTT belt switches
« Reply #12 on: February 03, 2025, 02:26:33 PM »


What is the procedure for this?

Go to page 13 of the manual from the link below. See sections "Silent Operation" and "Roger Beep". You can look of your model's specific manual online. This is for the one I have.

https://cdn.accentuate.io/81031332017/1623360764659/GXT1000-Owner-Manual.pdf?v=0