ehr@uncecs.edu (Ernest H. Robl) (07/01/89)
After several recent minor but annoying problems in the installation of remote equipment (terminals, modems, multiplexers, etc.) which required repeated trips back and forth between the terminal site and our computer room, we are seriously looking at acquiring two-way radios to help in such trouble-shooting. (Some of our terminals are located in public areas without nearby phones.) Since readers of the group may have some experience in this area, I'm looking for pointers before we spend any money. (If there's a better newsgroup for this question, please let me know.) Here's a brief description of the application: All we want is two walkie-talkie type sets (no base station with any kind of large antenna). Most of the transmissions would take place between locations in the same building (but several floors apart), but it would occasionally also be helpful to have enough range to talk to sites as much as two miles away. I'm aware that units on any of the so-called business frequencies require FCC licenses. I also think that I have a reasonably good general understanding of the principles of these units. (I've owned scanner receivers for a number of years.) I'm also aware that for the same power, VHF units have greater range while UHF units are better at penetrating buildings. Here are a couple of specific questions: Would a one watt unit have sufficient power for our application? Are we better off with a VHF or UHF system? Suggestions for specific brands or suppliers or even specific units are also welcome. Please reply by email; if there's sufficient interest, I'll post a summary. Of course, if there are considerations or questions that I haven't mentioned that I should look at, tell me about those, too. Thanks in advance for any information you can provide. -- Ernest -- My opinions are my own and probably not IBM-compatible.--ehr Ernest H. Robl (ehr@ecsvax) (919) 684-6269 w; (919) 286-3845 h Systems Specialist (Tandem System Manager), Library Systems, 027 Perkins Library, Duke University, Durham, NC 27706 U.S.A.