Football referee microphones

[Hanging Judge]

Has anyone been using a microphone to communicate to across field officials?

[El Macman]

Has anyone been using a microphone to communicate to across field officials?

Not yet, but I can see the day coming when that might be technically practical. Will we be allowed? Don't know. But it would make some things a lot better.

[HLinNC]

Its already technically practical.  Soccer officials at the higher levels have been using radio comms for some time now.

Imagine being able to ask your LJ "is your man on or off"?  "I've got 11 white". 

May not see it at the HS level anytime soon but I could see the NFL instituting it very quickly.

[Rulesman]

I like the idea. "H to L. H to L. You there, bro? Check out the Mama at 8 o'clock over your left shoulder! Second row; green top."  We wouldn't have to wait until halftime to talk about stuff like that.

[TampaSteve]

It would make some things easier.

Curious what that system would cost?  I suppose similar to what they use in NASCAR so the team can communicate with one-another. Those, I believe, are +/-$800 - and instead of the big headsets the small earpieces

[Kalle]

No idea what the soccer system costs, but simple PMR radios would do the trick at a very low cost. The radios cost about $20 apiece here in Europe, and a handsfree is either included in the price or costs maybe another $20. The only issue is that the system is free for anybody to use, so somebody could eavesdrop. Then again, if you realize this and only use it for stuff that's not confidential, there's no real risk.

A friend of mine did experiment with the PMR system, between the BJ and the CO. Worked fine.

[TampaSteve]

I found a system used in Euro Rugby called "ARF 37" system.  But could not locate a estimated price though.

[bama_stripes]

Wonder what effect a whistle has on a PMR?

[Kalle]

Wonder what effect a whistle has on a PMR?

Well, you definitely want to use it with push-to-talk, not voice-activated (see the part about eavesdroppers, too), otherwise your crew will not like you   

[HLinNC]

http://www.reftalk.net/products.html

[Rulesman]

http://www.reftalk.net/products.html

At 245 bucks each... I'll pass.

[Osric Pureheart]

Well, you definitely want to use it with push-to-talk, not voice-activated (see the part about eavesdroppers, too), otherwise your crew will not like you   

The comms used in high-level soccer and rugby are always open at least from the referee and they don't have an issue with the whistle noise.

The practicality issue I can see is having seven guys on one network and people getting distracted by hearing other people's communications.  This isn't an issue for other sports cos it's all about information being fed to The One Big Guy In Charge, rather than three groups of equals communicating stuff that a lot of the time, only the other guy(s) within the group need to know.  But then if you put R/U, H/L, and S/F/B on seperate networks, you then lose the advantages that would come from having all seven on the same channel (to take the major example, you could probably halve the time spent doing penalty enforcement, plus less wasted energy from guys going to talk to each other, plus no need for guys to find someone to hold their spot so they can feed information across...)

Here's some stuff about the kit used in top soccer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzRlwsWRyvs

[Kalle]

An optimal system would have two channels, with easy access to both (either one always open and one via PTT, or two easy PTT switches), primary channel for the small group and secondary for the whole crew.

There are such systems (TETRA comes to mind) but they are either large or expensive or both.

[clearwall]

If we get call-signs for those, I claim "Mango" right now.

[VALJ]

Since I'm claiming "Mongo", I hope we don't end up across the field from each other..

[HLinNC]

I'll take "Ghost Rider"

[wingnut]

Pigpen this here's Rubber Duck and I'm 'bout to put the hammer down. 

Sorry, couldn't resist.