We are looking at purchasing radios to use for our live production events (I'm an audio engineer for a small production company), and we have looked at digital vs. analog, as it's hard to talk on analog radios in the shows we do (with volume ranges anywhere from 100dB to 120dB+ depending on size of show)...we have tried out the MotoTRBO series of radios, as they were advertised to work well for high noise environments, but the volume overpowers the radios and heavily compresses the audio rendering it useless. We will be doing some basic trials next week with a set of P25 radios, but we are interested in seeing if anyone has used P25 radios for concerts or any similar events with high SPL. Can anyone comment on how well P25 filters out ambient noise/music?
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P25 Radio in High SPL Environments/Concerts
- Thread starter iceman977th
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You might want to look for a radio with noise canceling, like the Harris xg-75 or Unity. They use 2 microphones and delete the noise from the primary by sampling the background on the secondary.
Not cheap though.
There are likely other brands that do that, but I am familiar with the Harris ones.
Do some searching on fire dept use of p25 radios.
Not cheap though.
There are likely other brands that do that, but I am familiar with the Harris ones.
Do some searching on fire dept use of p25 radios.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Curious why you would consider P25 for rental/event radios. Figuring a low end P25 radio is going to be upwards of $1000 new, and rental radios get put through hell. Frequent repairs/replacements, as well as some increased costs in accessories would make this an really expensive choice.
P25 isn't that great a protocol. The only thing it really has going for it is that the federal government has forced it on so many people.
P25 isn't that great a protocol. The only thing it really has going for it is that the federal government has forced it on so many people.
The OP didn't say anything about rental. Sounds like they are buying them for their own team.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
He did here:
http://forums.radioreference.com/industry-discussion/297499-radios-concerts-rentals.html
My suggestion is still the same. P25 is a poor choice. It's overpriced, doesn't matter if they are for rental or for his team. Analog and good noise canceling audio accessories will work better and cost less. As was also stated, if they ever need to rent more radios for surge use, it's going to be much easier and cheaper to find rental analog radios that it will be to find rental P25 radios. Even MotoTrbo would be a better choice than P25.
Having a rental fleet of radios I've seen what they get put through. Using a high end radio would be a poor financial choice. If money isn't an object, then go for it, but you really are talking about double or triple the price for the dubious privilege of claiming P25.
JRayfield
Member
I'm a bit 'confused' by the results that you had with MOTOTRBO radios. I've only seen one case where a MOTOTRBO radio was 'overpowered' by background sound, and that was when I tested one by standing about 4 foot in front of a 100 watt siren on a police car. I don't know what the SPL was, but it was high enough that it literally hurt my ears.
Was the problem in hearing the audio from the speaker (or speaker/microphone, if you were using one), or was the background noise 'drowning out' the audio on transmissions?
MOTOTRBO radios are now used at NASCAR races, with appropriate headsets, earpieces, etc. They're that good, if set up properly, in extreme-noise environments.
Here's a link to some audio files of examples of how MOTOTRBO can work in an extreme high-noise environment: MOTOTRBO Sounds
John Rayfield, Jr. CETma
W0PM
Was the problem in hearing the audio from the speaker (or speaker/microphone, if you were using one), or was the background noise 'drowning out' the audio on transmissions?
MOTOTRBO radios are now used at NASCAR races, with appropriate headsets, earpieces, etc. They're that good, if set up properly, in extreme-noise environments.
Here's a link to some audio files of examples of how MOTOTRBO can work in an extreme high-noise environment: MOTOTRBO Sounds
John Rayfield, Jr. CETma
W0PM
rapidcharger
Member
^^^^ This.
"P25" isn't more expensive because it's better. P25 is more expensive because it was intended exclusively for a market that aims at wasting as much money as possible.
There are no magical radios for concerts. Only magical headsets and other magical audio accessories. These accessories are all described in detail in the other thread.
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