I have been doing a lot of road topo lately, and trying to communicate with my Instrument Man over the traffic noise is the most frustrating part of my job.
Points are being coded incorrectly, and communicating with my I-Man for offset or tricky shots is almost impossible. We just can't hear each other over the noise of passing vehicles. Texting back and forth can't be the best option, can it?
What kind of radios do you use in high noise areas?
We are engineering company that does topo type surveys using RTK and TS. We've being doing this for the past 4 years, and from day one have always used two way radios. We only revert to mobile phones when we can't get radio reception (distance issues, etc). We use Baofeng radios, in shoulder holsters, with external mic that clips to the holster strap across the breast. This combo has the advantage of getting the aerial up and keeping the hands free. They are not without problems though and many a time I've wanted to use them as a blunt instrument. One of the classic problems is that the most common words used are "ok", "yes" and "no", on their own. What I hear most often when those words are used is "click", the reason being that the receivers are not continuously open (otherwise the radio batteries would quickly go flat) but they are continuously intermittently sampling, so you need a second or two of transmission for the receiver to open up. So the procedure when transmitting should be: press, wait 1000, talk, wait 1000, release. Very difficult to get the staff to do that.
Voice activated motor cycle CB radio headsets for range and hands free use.
Never can tell who is listening in.
I do not work in traffic and use Uniden GMR2872 waterproof
For loud environments a head-set is key, not necessarily the noise cancelling kind unless you are worried about hearing loss but simple ear piece and mic. will make a big difference. You may feel goofy when you first put it on but will get over it.
Putting a regular mic. on your vest next to your ear helps a lot but talking into them is awkward and if it is loud you want the mic. close to your mouth.
I think the big Motorola radios like the cops use are the best, but they are expensive. I have been using Kenwoods for the past few years and they are okay.
Most survey vest have a strap up on the front shoulder for hanging a radio or external microphone. Getting it that close to the ear is enough in all but the most extreme situations.
voidintheabyss, post: 439236, member: 11972 wrote: What kind of radios do you use in high noise areas?
I use these, the work great, are cheap and disposable yearly. 😎
voidintheabyss, post: 439236, member: 11972 wrote: I have been doing a lot of road topo lately, and trying to communicate with my Instrument Man over the traffic noise is the most frustrating part of my job.
[SARCASM]Always wait until an eighteen-wheeler is passing by before you holler 'Good'[/SARCASM]
R.J. Schneider, post: 439300, member: 409 wrote:
Always wait until an eighteen-wheeler is passing by before you holler 'Good'
yea, and re-level the gun. 😎
FL/GA PLS., post: 439303, member: 379 wrote: yea, and re-level the gun. 😎
ROFL :p
.. when you've strategically set your traverse point adjacent an curb inlet at the intersection er. Every fifteen minutes Metro will pass by and relevel your instrument for you. 🙂
Use a robot then your book guy is standing right next to you!