The end of scanning Walmart?

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mmckenna

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They've been planning this for a while now since Moto discontinued the RDM2070d summer of 2019 if I recall.

Makes sense. Built in bar code/price check. Easy to kill if it goes rouge. Don't have to deal with people getting on the MURS channel and causing issues. Probably buying them at a steep discount and getting a great deal on service, so may ultimately be cheaper.
Plus, they get to claim it as a job perk/benefit...
 

chrismol1

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Makes sense. Built in bar code/price check. Easy to kill if it goes rouge. Don't have to deal with people getting on the MURS channel and causing issues. Probably buying them at a steep discount and getting a great deal on service, so may ultimately be cheaper.
Plus, they get to claim it as a job perk/benefit...

Without a doubt a good move. What I know from this company is they never do anything unless it saves money, and when it does its toted as something good for the employees ha! Always lift the rug at walmart to see whats really underneath. The TC70s on contract from zebra to my store were 700 a piece, the 2nd costliest item to the store next to #1 for us stooges aka payroll.

The real issue is how these will hold up to abuse as the TC70s were Destroyed and dropped everyday. Though I belive these phones will come a tether to your vest but since its "yours" your likely more to don't beat the crap out of it so much
 

mmckenna

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….but since its "yours" your likely more to don't beat the crap out of it so much

I bet that's the goal.

And considering my last cell phone cost a grand total of 99¢, I'm guessing Wal*Mart is on a similar plan.

Not much of a stretch for whatever carrier they chose, as I'm sure the WiFi in the store will serve most of the needs. Cell phone service is dirt cheap now, anyway.
 

N4KVE

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What will the company do when the associates use it as a personal device away from work and facilitate criminal activities, download porn, sexually harass coworkers, and do all the things that some people are inclined to do?

This will not play out well.
I use wi fi in my local Walmart. I can not access any of the gun forums because the firewall blocks anything that’s not considered PC. And today they were still using their Moto 154.60 radios.
 

jeffpair

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I remember a few years ago Walmart was doing testing and talking about having microphones everywhere to listen in to employees and customers for the purpose of helping marketing.
 

RichardKramer

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I'll keep an ear out for any changes at the following Berks Co, PA Walmarts:
154.570 Exeter Twp Walmart & Wyomissing, no sq code, in use today.
154.570 Muhlenberg Twp Walmart, pl79.7, in use today.
154.570 Tilden Twp Walmart, pl67.0, in use today.
151.820 Sams, Muhlenberg Twp, dcs131, no longer in use; I believe they are using DLR 1060 radios.
 

n1das

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The Walmart I work at just switched to 900 MHz spread spectrum with Motorola DLR 1060 radios.

The local Costco near me uses DLR radios. I can hear them on my DTR radios when I'm in range. The DLRs are a good way for Walmart* and other retail giants to go. I use DTR radios as my professional quality digital replacement for FRS for local on-site simplex type use with family and friends. They are amazing radios. My wife and I use our DTRs all the time when we are out shopping or doing whatever, including when shopping at Walmart*.

The DLRs and DTRs will talk to each other right out of the box at the factory default settings. No programming with the CPS is required to get them talking to each other. I have found people seem to use them right out of the box at the factory default settings like FRS bubble packs. Chances are that the DLR radios at your Walmart* has are operating right out of the box at the factory default settings. If this is the case, then you can easily listen to them with another DLR or DTR radio. The only inexpensive and practical method to monitor these radios is to have one yourself, AND it has to be set to the same frequency hopset and talkgroup ID. If your Walmart* has secured their radios by programming the 4 digit Profile ID Number (PIN) or set up private talkgroups in them with the CPS then you are SOL.

I purposely keep the default public talkgroup channels in my DTR programming to work with defaulted DLRs and DTRs and to monitor for activity in my travels. I also have several private talkgroups set up which are what I use most of the time so they are not monitorable by other DTRs/DLRs outside my group. They are also not monitorable on any consumer grade receiver (i.e., scanner) so don't even bother trying.
 
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David628

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“Roll back prices” must be hurting their bottom line so they need encryption to hide as they raise their prices to make that extra dollar!
 

chrismol1

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off topic but

I remember a few years ago Walmart was doing testing and talking about having microphones everywhere to listen in to employees and customers for the purpose of helping marketing.

Meh, if they told you it was for anything other than associate performance metrics and ultimately profits, they're lying. Don't overestimate how much the company actually cares about associates. Yes, theres been much investment in AI, and surveillance technology mostly for shoplifting and performance of the front end which WILL BE ALL self checkout in the next few years, you can mark my words for a bottle of whiskey on that, sure maybe the smokeshop will have a cashier for cigs...

Forget Market Manager walkthroughs and the anticipation of text from neighborhood stores that "Market is visting today"
Since Pandemic 2020, Market management has been able to remote into ALL cameras. I had a manager get a text, all while they were being watched from home on a tablet. Watch your entire management team in real time from your couch on tablet while banking 100k plus. Who doesnt like remote work from home these days? the new normal
 
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danesgs

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You have to remember that employees have their own phones that they dink with on breaks. They could care less about using a Wally World phone to surf on. It actually will be a pain for some as they now have a leash on when they go to work.. It will make in-store training easier though. When I worked part time at PetSmart we had to pass around a company Ipad to do required training. Petsmart also had everyone wearing a moto something that used an earpiece and PTT to check stock in the back during shifts etc. I am also sure that the phones they get will be on some sort of Walmart net of sorts and not able to do certain things outside the realm of corporate networks.
 

NC1

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Why don't they just use FRS? Their MURS radios are 2 watts, and now many FRS channels are the same 2 watts. There will be no shortage of radios since they have them right in the store, they are cheap, and can get one any time they want. Have none of their people thought of that yet?
 

KK4JUG

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Why don't they just use FRS? Their MURS radios are 2 watts, and now many FRS channels are the same 2 watts. There will be no shortage of radios since they have them right in the store, they are cheap, and can get one any time they want. Have none of their people thought of that yet?
This web site is peppered with comments from people who delight in interfering with things like this. Walmart seems to be a favorite. The fact that it's illegal doesn't seem to bother them.
 

n9lob

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These are FAR MORE than just a 'walkie-talkie'. The new inventory system uses QR codes and the device camera is used to point at the storage bin, it scans the codes, and the product that needs to go on the shelf is highlighted on the device screen. It has other uses that are currently covered by the Zebra TC devices. This combines everything into one device that the employee takes home with them. Employees can buy a phone plan for personal use if they wish. It also gets around the BYOD ban that some states have, since Walmart owns the device.
 

bpittman

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I was at my local WalMart yesterday and noticed employees having a different HT than usually seen. It was yellow!. I asked about it and it was a Baofung! The employee said that radios were getting lost, etc. and that they had to get their own radios. They made a deal with a local dealer. Noticed that the freq was 154.600
 
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