Exterior Wireless Speakers?

[AndrewMendez]

At the last SuperSecret Zombie Shoot, the line was longer then I could have ever dreamed possible. With this, presented a unique set of problems with communication.

The RSO's, as well as a small herd of other members had Motorola Radios that worked ok... sometimes the transmission would be cut out. But for the most part, it was manageable and worked.

The issue came into play with the large distance from one side of the firing line to the other, and the limited amount of RSO's actually available to communicate with the shooters effectively.

Cease Fires went seemingly well, as once started, each person was asked to repeat it.

But inviting members to one end of the range for a safety briefing, inviting to lunch, etc... was nearly impossible with each RSO having to walk down the line and tell each canopy what was going on...
7 RSOs times 400 people... well.. you get the point.

Is there some type of speaker system we can use that is wireless, with a range of at least 300 yards from the mic, and either battery powered or you could hook up and run from the accessories lighter, that would be loud enough to make announcements AND last through out the weekend?

Cables aren't impossible, but not practical.

[Itsmemrj]

I don't mind being an rso next time. I'm kind of a safety nazi when it comes to guns.

[Darryl Licht]

At the last SuperSecret Zombie Shoot, the line was longer then I could have ever dreamed possible. With this, presented a unique set of problems with communication.

The RSO's, as well as a small herd of other members had Motorola Radios that worked ok... sometimes the transmission would be cut out. But for the most part, it was manageable and worked.

The issue came into play with the large distance from one side of the firing line to the other, and the limited amount of RSO's actually available to communicate with the shooters effectively.

Cease Fires went seemingly well, as once started, each person was asked to repeat it.

But inviting members to one end of the range for a safety briefing, inviting to lunch, etc... was nearly impossible with each RSO having to walk down the line and tell each canopy what was going on...
7 RSOs times 400 people... well.. you get the point.

Is there some type of speaker system we can use that is wireless, with a range of at least 300 yards from the mic, and either battery powered or you could hook up and run from the accessories lighter, that would be loud enough to make announcements AND last through out the weekend?

Cables aren't impossible, but not practical.

I don't know of a wireless system with the range needed for that huge line we had.

However, why not a more rudimentary system utilizing lights or flags to signal from one end of the line to the other? Or a flag out in the target area that is raised remotely to signal a cease fire?

Many on the line with simple (non-electronic) hearing protection never heard RSO notices for cease fires or lunch. A visual out in the target area might help. IMHO

I too am suffering from Post Zombie Shoot Syndrome!

[AndrewMendez]

I don't mind being an rso next time. I'm kind of a safety nazi when it comes to guns.

Talk to MrLoneWolf about it. He does want people to have the NRA RSO cert. While not a cover all.. it makes sure there is at least a minimum amount of knowledge. I believe all of the RSO's at the event were either previous CalGuns RSO's for Official Events OR Mods with the RSO cert.

[AndrewMendez]

I don't know of a wireless system with the range needed for that huge line we had.

However, why not a more rudimentary system utilizing lights or flags to signal from one end of the line to the other? Or a flag out in the target area that is raised remotely to signal a cease fire?

Many on the line with simple (non-electronic) hearing protection never heard RSO notices for cease fires or lunch. A visual out in the target area might help. IMHO

I too am suffering from Post Zombie Shoot Syndrome!

We had an air horn a few years back that Retired had, and it worked very well, but that doesn't solve the problem of normal announcements and the like.

[five.five-six]

I have wireless systems that will work at that range but it's gona cost as much as a POF .308.

[five.five-six]

IMO, a 70 volt system would be the most cost effective solution.

[AndrewMendez]

Hmmmm. How much?

[five.five-six]

Hmmmm. How much?

What distance do you need to cover? Do you absolutely need a wireless mic? The reliable ones are spendy.

[retired]

We had an air horn a few years back that Retired had, and it worked very well, but that doesn't solve the problem of normal announcements and the like.

Andrew, when you say air horn, are you referring to those small, very loud air horns that emitted a brief and loud horn sound or the electronic PA system that I also used. In either case, they were supplied by members whose names I don't recall.

We used those at the first 3 Zombie shoots when I was the RSO and you and Sean Casey were the assistant RSOs. You guys did all of the running and we had 65 canopies with 150 people at the third Zombie shoot. It was just we three, the air horns and PA, no radios. You and Sean did a fantastic job and no one was hurt.

The debriefing after the third one is what resulted in more RSOs and radios, which greatly improved the safety of the event. Again, I don't know who bought the air horns or who supplied the electronic PA.

[Kokopelli]

IMO, a 70 volt system would be the most cost effective solution.

Yes, but then you have to run wire the length of the firing line.

Here is a 20 watt, rechargeable wireless PA but the range is only 200' line of sight.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/nady-wa-120-portable-pa-system-with-wireless-handheld-mic?rNtt=wireless%20pa&index=2

Let me ponder this some more. I own an Audio video company and might be able to come up with something... after coffee...

[Kokopelli]

There is a wireless hailer system that runs on batteries. It is good for up to 200 hours on a single charge, which is over 8 days. Range is up to a mile. You provide a pair of hand held walkie talkie devices. One is used as the transmitter. The second, the receiver, mounts on the hailer and provides the audio for the amplifier and horn through a small patch cable. The unit includes a siren function and mounts on a speaker stand. Here are a couple of examples.

http://www.ampli.com/portable-pa-system/Half-Mile-Hailer-Kits.aspx#

http://www.ampli.com/portable-pa-system/Radio-Hailer.aspx

These are not high fidelity sound systems, like for the Zombie movie sound. They are designed for voice, in noisy environments.

Speaker stands are very affordable: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/monit...rrencyCode=USD

[IntoForever]

Wouldn't enough radios work for what you intend? Anyone who can bring a radio should and when a cease fire is called, everyone repeats it until it's obvious that the line is cold. This way when we have a split group the word still gets out and no hair raising when you're downrange and shots ring out.

[Can'thavenuthingood]

How about:

A couple towers with wireless speakers mounted at each end of the line, booming speakers.
RSO's have wireless headsets, not the voice activated type.

One primary RSO stand in center on firing line tower/stand/pole controlling those speakers while watching or listening to the line RSO's./
The line RSO's communicate directly with the Primary RSO in the center to call cease fire.

Each RSO has one of those airhorn screaming things you hear at sports events for EMERGENCY or immediate cease fire as in 'No time to communicate' to the Primary RSO in the center.

GunsR4us will chip in $$ to help make purchase of needed gear.

Vick

[nathan4610]

If you can find someone willing to donate or lend some speaker tripods.
For approx $75 I can get 2 50 watt class D mono amp boards and 2 50 watt public address outdoor horns. Wire the amps to the horns, get 2 really cheap FRS radios with headset output jack and wire the radio to the amp input.

Viola, long range public address using the radios that you already have. You could put them on a different channel with a PL than what you use for general RSO comm.

Assuming that you would not be broadcasting to them full time, you could run them the full weekend off a single 12v 7ah pack, or a cheaper 60ah deep cycle automotive style battery for much longer.