Walmart can use PA system on Walkie-Talkies?

[RedPenguin]

To explain the title, I have a friend who works at Walmart as a night stocker, or I think that's what they call him.

Anyway, he has a theory that because a manager uses the PA system, when apparently not near a phone, that they must have a way of using their walkie/handie-talkies to talk on the PA system.

I'm possibly thinking that they either have a cordless phone or even a cell phone where they may just be able to call the store and ask to be transferred to the intercom extension.

I have heard of people screwing with stores like that, by calling and saying they need extension, whatever.

Do they most likely use the phone or can they actually use WTs/HTs to access the PA system?

 

[Thayne]

They could, but around here they just use those Moto XTN cheapy radios. I don't think they can do a tone that would access the connection to the PA system. Usually there is a number on the phone system that acesses the PA . It would be risky to do it from the radio because someone could capture the tone or channel and say something that would make the Walton family blush----

 

[BaLa]

LOL yeah, same here.

Also any other Walmarts I've seen.

 

[RedPenguin]

I agree

They could, but around here they just use those Moto XTN cheapy radios. I don't think they can do a tone that would access the connection to the PA system. Usually there is a number on the phone system that acesses the PA . It would be risky to do it from the radio because someone could capture the tone or channel and say something that would make the Walton family blush----

Yes, that's why I'm maybe thinking they have some sort of cordless/cell phone that can be used as well.

He claims a couple of times after a manager called break, they appeared to not be near a phone at a time of the call(s).

EDIT: Is 154.57 and 154.6 just universal Wal-Mart frequencies? They seem to be the only ones I ever picked up at 2 or 3 local Walmarts, but .6 always just says who has a call on what line. .57 always sounds like people stocking stuff and other misc stuff. Is .6 usually Ch. 1 and .57 Ch 2 or can it vary? I'm just curious because there is a boatload of chatter at my local Walmart, I guess due to remodeling.

 

[hfxChris]

At least at the WalMart where I used to work, and probably the same for all of them, the managers carried cordless phones which they could do pages on. As I recall their extensions were in the 300's.

 

[BaLa]

Yeah they use the MURS frequencies.
154.57 and 154.6

 

[RedPenguin]

That's what I figured....

Yeah they use the MURS frequencies.
154.57 and 154.6

I am looking to see if those are the only frequencies in use in my area, though they seem to be.

I heard of some Walmarts having Assets Protection on their own channel and some Walmarts having repeaters.

Though, I see no FCC license for a repeater, though obviously not everyone gets licensed.

Can a repeater be legally used on MURS and if so, does it require a license?

 

[Astrak]

I am looking to see if those are the only frequencies in use in my area, though they seem to be.

I heard of some Walmarts having Assets Protection on their own channel and some Walmarts having repeaters.

Though, I see no FCC license for a repeater, though obviously not everyone gets licensed.

Can a repeater be legally used on MURS and if so, does it require a license?

No a repeater can not be used on MURS, most Walmart retail locations are on MURS. The only exception would be warehouse distribution centers. If you look at the FCC database in Bentonville Arkansas you will see the frequencies most likely in use at distribution centers around the country. Asset protection, if any, is usually on the same channel as managers this may be different if they contract out security with a different company.

 

[RedPenguin]

That's what I thought....

No a repeater can not be used on MURS, most Walmart retail locations are on MURS. The only exception would be warehouse distribution centers. If you look at the FCC database in Bentonville Arkansas you will see the frequencies most likely in use at distribution centers around the country. Asset protection, if any, is usually on the same channel as managers this may be different if they contract out security with a different company.

That's what I figured, but I remember reading two threads here on RR, where one person said they had 3 repeater channels at his/her Walmart.

Then I saw one person who claims he is Walmart Assest Protection or whatever Walmart calls it, added a third private channel for AP only.

I guess my Walmart must be standard, 154.6 is always saying Customer Courtesy needed or Electronics Line 1, whatever.

154.57, always sounds like a bunch of people BSing, though sometimes I hear people saying, "where's the butter?" and junk like that.

 

[gewecke]

The phone ext. number for the p.a. at many wal mart's is #97 for paging.
At our wal mart they just call the "fitting room" to do any paging in the store.
N9ZAS.

 

[ampulman]

No exclusive

I frequently have my '396T on close-call while walking around my local Target and while standing near an associate, have heard the PA over his radio.

This is in addition to their 'private' channel.

Amp

 

[hfxChris]

The phone ext. number for the p.a. at many wal mart's is #97 for paging.
At our wal mart they just call the "fitting room" to do any paging in the store.
N9ZAS.

Interesting. As I recall it was #96 at my old store... #97 was used for accessing external parked lines.

 

[RedPenguin]

I see

I frequently have my '396T on close-call while walking around my local Target and while standing near an associate, have heard the PA over his radio.

This is in addition to their 'private' channel.

Amp

Yes, that what I swore I seen at my local Walmart, but I am not 100% sure how it works.

I wonder if it's like one local Walmart where one can just push a bottom to hold open the radio and possibly just use the phone at the same time.

Seems that would be an interesting setup to only have receiving PA on your radios but not sending.

 

[rcvmo]

To page on my system at my garage, I used a cheap reitred handheld and connected the speaker output throguh a line converter and filter to the phone PA system line input. I used the same freq. as our maint. dept. which doesn't get used often, changed PL to a wierd DPL., and then programmed transmit only to my portable and boss's portable. So when we want to page someone, we just go to one of the channels programmed in our portables. It works.
rcvmo

 

[W4KRR]

I don't hear too much on the local Wal Mart channels, which are 154.570 and 154.600, but Target is another matter. Their UHF channels are usually pretty busy.

I sometimes hear what sounds like automated messages, like, "Clean up on isle three, who is responding?" They will repeat until someone responds, and they sound pre recorded. There are, however, live conversations as well.

You also hear the same type of message like, "Customer service needed in electronics, who is responding?" But it too sounds like a canned message, recorded by the same person.

Visit a Target store, monitor 461.0375, DPL 026, or 467.750, DPL 115, and maybe you'll see what I'm talking about!

 

[gewecke]

Interesting. As I recall it was #96 at my old store... #97 was used for accessing external parked lines.

Oops...you're right. it was #96 at my store too now that I think about it. It's funny how many of the same features are carried from store to store.
N9zas.

 

[K5RYA]

Don't see why not. Several race tracks we go to use a channel on their radios to talk over the PA.

 

[N_Jay]

PA from a radio is easy, but I bet that mist stores it is part of the phone system and the managers have cordless extension phones

 

[joekansas]

I live about 2 miles, as the crow flies, from Wal-Mart. I entered 154.57 & 154.6 into my scanner and hardly ever pick up any traffic. We are a small town so maybe those folks don't talk much. When I do hear something, I usually only get one side of the short conversation and from what they talk about I can't really link it to Walmart.

What I wonder about are the seemingly large number of Walm. employees who walk around equipped with their radios on belt clips, earbuds inserted in ears, eyeballing everyone and everything. They aren't the stockboys or cash register types, these boys and girls are dressed nice and strut about looking like secret service wannabe's.

Can there be that much shoplifting going on? One day it seemed like everywhere I went, I ran into one of them. Most of the time though, they station themselves up by the check out lines. Lots of times they have some sort of small, handheld electronic gear in their hands. I never see them approach anyone or do anything. There is a Subway sandwich shop in one end of the building at an exit. There is a small cubbyhole office there across the aisle from Subway, and as I set there and eat, they will slip in and out of that room and slam the door behind themselves to where you can't look in.........

I have no handheld scanner, so I can't go out there and eavesdrop. I sure wonder what they are talking about and who they are spying on.....

 

[Astrak]

I live about 2 miles, as the crow flies, from Wal-Mart. I entered 154.57 & 154.6 into my scanner and hardly ever pick up any traffic. We are a small town so maybe those folks don't talk much. When I do hear something, I usually only get one side of the short conversation and from what they talk about I can't really link it to Walmart.

What I wonder about are the seemingly large number of Walm. employees who walk around equipped with their radios on belt clips, earbuds inserted in ears, eyeballing everyone and everything. They aren't the stockboys or cash register types, these boys and girls are dressed nice and strut about looking like secret service wannabe's.

Can there be that much shoplifting going on? One day it seemed like everywhere I went, I ran into one of them. Most of the time though, they station themselves up by the check out lines. Lots of times they have some sort of small, handheld electronic gear in their hands. I never see them approach anyone or do anything. There is a Subway sandwich shop in one end of the building at an exit. There is a small cubbyhole office there across the aisle from Subway, and as I set there and eat, they will slip in and out of that room and slam the door behind themselves to where you can't look in.........

I have no handheld scanner, so I can't go out there and eavesdrop. I sure wonder what they are talking about and who they are spying on.....

The one's looking dressed up are managers.