Walmart no longer MURS

[robertsdoug]

I have noticed that the Walmart stores in Southern California appeared to be using digital radios now, possibly Motorola. No, it appears that all of the Walmart stores in Las Vegas are now also digital radios, and the call buttons at all of the lock ups are transmitting digital audio. Not sure what frequency these are on, or what modulation method or if they use frequency hopping.

Just from a cursory glance, it appears that they are using the 900 MHz frequency hopping Motorola product.

 

[nd5y]

Here they switched to Motorola Curve around 2 years ago. Same in other areas. There are several threads about it.

Curve Two-Way Radio - Motorola Solutions

Curve Two-Way Radio for Business by Motorola Solutions: Reliable business communication, now with Wi-Fi and voice assistance capabilities. Learn more.

www.motorolasolutions.com

 

[wtp]

the only info i got was from an ex-girlfriend. she was told they went to a radio that scanners can't hear.
i think some of the cart guys are using the old radios, but almost never talk to each other.

 

[kny2xb]

Still on MURS analog at my Wal-Mart, they just installed the call buttons in the last couple of weeks or so

 

[robertsdoug]

Here they switched to Motorola Curve around 2 years ago. Same in other areas. There are several threads about it.

Curve Two-Way Radio - Motorola Solutions

Curve Two-Way Radio for Business by Motorola Solutions: Reliable business communication, now with Wi-Fi and voice assistance capabilities. Learn more.

www.motorolasolutions.com

Yeah, that’s the exact radio they were using. Looks like they switched out all of the Call buttons as well, so they got rid of everything that was VHF. I just looked at the specs on that radio, I’m shocked that it puts out 1W for a tiny handheld and on a frequency of 900 MHz. That’s probably why the price is so high. I would think that 900 MHz would perform poorly over an area as big as a huge Walmart store with refrigerators everywhere and all of those obstacles. But at that kind of high power output, it probably does not have that problem.

 

[kc2asb]

Just from a cursory glance, it appears that they are using the 900 MHz frequency hopping Motorola product.

Unless I'm wrong, no scanner can track and monitor frequency hopping?

 

[nokones]

They're using the ISM band with FHSS.

 

[nd5y]

Unless I'm wrong, no scanner can track and monitor frequency hopping?

Correct. The spec sheet says 8-level FSK 900MHz FHSS.
Even if it was analog FM, you had all the frequencies, and you had hopping sequence, and the hopping sequence and frequencies never changed a scanner would still not be able to monitor it.

 

[nd5y]

I would think that 900 MHz would perform poorly over an area as big as a huge Walmart store with refrigerators everywhere and all of those obstacles.

If it was a campus or building that was bigger than a Walmart supercenter 900 MHz would work better than VHF in that type of environment. Inside or nearby one single building that size it doesn't make that much difference.

 

[rf_patriot200]

It might be interesting to order one of the Curve talkies, to check out the range and clarity !

 

[Echo4Thirty]

It might be interesting to order one of the Curve talkies, to check out the range and clarity !

I cant speak to the curve, but my DTR700s really surprised me with the range. Much further than I expected.

 

[KK4JUG]

OMG! Does all this mean I'm not gonna be able to hear "Cleanup on aisle 5" anymore?

 

[ecps92]

OMG! Does all this mean I'm not gonna be able to hear "Cleanup on aisle 5" anymore?

likely they are on one of the common channels, so find a used DTR and go to town

 

[Coffeemug]

I have noticed that the Walmart stores in Southern California appeared to be using digital radios now, possibly Motorola. No, it appears that all of the Walmart stores in Las Vegas are now also digital radios, and the call buttons at all of the lock ups are transmitting digital audio. Not sure what frequency these are on, or what modulation method or if they use frequency hopping.

Just from a cursory glance, it appears that they are using the 900 MHz frequency hopping Motorola product

I really can't say if the Wal-Mart Stores in Pennsylvania and New Jersey have plans cease using MURS radios for 900MHZ Digital, but they follow. I think the Wal-Mart stores in Philadelphia Co. Bucks Co. and Montgomery Co. are still using MURS channel 4 aka Blue Dot. Some maybe using MURS channel 05 aka Green Dot or 151.625 Red Dot.
Of course. I never understand why retailers such as Wal-Mart use VHF instead UHF. VHF inside of steel structures does really do well when you have associate assigned to outdoor tasks and can't always reach management inside.

 

[MTS2000des]

No more taking over Wal-Mart with $30 Bowelturds. Womp womp womp.

 

[dave3825]

No more taking over Wal-Mart with $30 Bowelturds. Womp womp womp.

There is always the store paging system from any phone in the store. Think some are 4444, then speak.

 

[Hans13]

I really can't say if the Wal-Mart Stores in Pennsylvania and New Jersey have plans cease using MURS radios for 900MHZ Digital, but they follow. I think the Wal-Mart stores in Philadelphia Co. Bucks Co. and Montgomery Co. are still using MURS channel 4 aka Blue Dot. Some maybe using MURS channel 05 aka Green Dot or 151.625 Red Dot.
Of course. I never understand why retailers such as Wal-Mart use VHF instead UHF. VHF inside of steel structures does really do well when you have associate assigned to outdoor tasks and can't always reach management inside.

My guess is that they chose MURS because it was license free and Motorola made a very competent MURS handheld. (IIRC, later Motorola made one model that was specific for Walmart; D suffix?) If they would've chosen another license by rule service FRS, then they would've had to compete with bubble packs, which Walmart sells on the shelves, as opposed to MURS which would've been comparatively more niche; less potential interference. If they would've chosen CB, which they also sold on the Walmart shelves, the radios would've been relatively large and the chance for interference rivaled FRS.

So, I don't think it was about VHF or UHF but rather, of the 4 or so license by rule services, which was the most economical, convenient, and offered lower probablilty of interference. The could've gone stright to 900 mHz DTR back then but that could've been more expensive, I guess, and perhaps more of a pain to deploy.

 

[rf_patriot200]

There is always the store paging system from any phone in the store. Think some are 4444, then speak.

When you see someone you know park in the lot and go in to shop, call on the PA and tell them their car is ready for pick up in TLE !

 

[Coffeemug]

According to my knowledge, the 900MHZ is licensed by rule, not individual or organization. Maybe I'm mistaken, but I guess Retailers such as Wal-Mart got tired of chasing non-Wal-Mart personnel off their frequency, which no one really has ownership to specific frequency. Then again, switching to 900MHZ Band has the same pros and cons. Those radios don't have a lot of range compared to FRS or MURS. The older 49mhz radios had similar range to the 900MHZ FHSS Radios.

 

[dave3825]

I get the whole stop people from tx’ing on your store radios and all, and yeah, freq hopping will cut that down quite a bit. But it won’t completely stop it.