Industrial Comms Carrying Solutions

[Red_Snow]

Due to federal mandate we are transitioning to digital radios (thank the *insert deity of choice*) and I just put twenty of these babies on order for my group:

Motorola MOTOTRBO XPR 6550



I am now on the search for chest harnesses for these that will help myself an my coworkers get away from loading down the pockets in our shirts with tools that we use on a daily basis. I've looked at the Coaxsher and Conterra offerings, but they are more focused on EMS, Rescue, and Fire rather than a purely industrial use. A custom maker would be perfect, so we could make sure the pockets are large enough and positioned correctly for the items that we have come to consider our work EDC.

And it sure will be nice to be the first group on the entire refinery walking around with the new digital units while they the rest are still packing the bricks.

[Red_Snow]

A few I've looked at:

http://www.conterra-inc.com/index.php?d ... duct_id=10
http://www.coaxsher.com/Radio-Chest-Harness-p/rp203.htm (Used the Coaxsher in Alaska and it blows for industrial use)
http://wolfpackgear.com/product_detail. ... st_Harness
http://thepackshack.com/shop/agora.cgi?product=Radio
http://thevestguy.com/category.asp?id=154 (don't need a billboard to wear every day)
http://www.blackhawk.com/product/Patrol ... ,758,2.htm
http://www.truenorthgear.com/product_de ... 2&p_id=208
http://www.caldwellmobileaccessories.com/USH300D.htm (Used this one in Alaska with greater success then the Coaxsher)
http://www.caldwellmobileaccessories.com/RCH201M.htm
http://www.gearbunker.com/Covert-RG-Esc ... _p_44.html

[TacAir]

Try these guys

http://www.holsterguy.com/?gclid=CPnHgL ... hwod3XEBUg

For belt carry
http://www.setwear.com/RadioPouch.html

[Red_Snow]

Thanks for the links TacAir, these radios are coming with a belt pouch, but I prefer to not put a belt on over top of my coveralls since there aren't any belt loops.

edit:

When I used to work on the ski areas Park City Mountain Resort issued the harness I'm trying to find a modern reciprocal of; it had one main zippered pocket for the body with a diagonal radio carry, pen/pencil/misc pockets on the exterior, as well as what was probably a GPS pocket but was mainly used to house the then new "flip phones."

The Conterra's come close to what I'm after, they would be perfect if they had a zippered main body as well as the pockets that are on the exterior.

[KJ4VOV]

How are you carrying your current radios, and does that meet your requirements?

[Red_Snow]

How are you carrying your current radios, and does that meet your requirements?

Current radios are either pocket carried or carried on a belt. As stated above, belts don't really function with coveralls/bib overalls. Pocket carry is retarded because the radio then usually is left in the truck or at the desk.

In other words, no current options do not meet our requirements.

[KJ4VOV]

Okay, so adapting the current system to the new radios isn't a viable option.

Not having actually worked in your industry I really don't have the knowledge to offer suggestions, but I'm following along anyway, just to see what interesting stuff pops up that I might adapt to my own use.

[KJ4VOV]

When I used to work on the ski areas Park City Mountain Resort issued the harness I'm trying to find a modern reciprocal of; it had one main zippered pocket for the body with a diagonal radio carry, pen/pencil/misc pockets on the exterior, as well as what was probably a GPS pocket but was mainly used to house the then new "flip phones."

The Conterra's come close to what I'm after, they would be perfect if they had a zippered main body as well as the pockets that are on the exterior.

Oh hell, I know exactly the rigs you're talking about, and I've seen them online very recently. Now to get this 56 year old brain to divulge where that was... I may have to go dive through my browser history.

If I'm not back in three days send beer and chips...

[KJ4VOV]

This?



http://www.rescuedirect.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=240029&Category_Code=CMC

[Red_Snow]

That will be worth presenting to the group and seeing if it is satisfactory for sure. Thinking about picking up a couple different models to T&E.

Still wish I could find the contact info I had a couple years ago for a shop that was doing custom chest rigs for the wildland guys.

[KJ4VOV]

That will be worth presenting to the group and seeing if it is satisfactory for sure. Thinking about picking up a couple different models to T&E.

Still wish I could find the contact info I had a couple years ago for a shop that was doing custom chest rigs for the wildland guys.

This link might help.

http://www.wildlandwarehouse.com/wwcatalog/Radio_Harnesses_C274.cfm

I also found a few others doing a Google image search for "radio chest pouch". You might want to give that a try and see if anything shown jumps out at you.

I may also have to order one of these for myself...



I especially like the chemlight holder on the back of it.

[sveach]

And it sure will be nice to be the first group on the entire refinery walking around with the new digital units while they the rest are still packing the bricks.

What kind of refinery do you work on?

I work on an oil refinery occasionally - I'm in IT so it's not every day, just when I have to upgrade something out in the refinery itself. All our guys seem to use a belt around their coveralls and use that for the radio. I've seen a few with a hand mic routed from the radio to a shoulder loop of some sort, think they modded their coveralls for those though. I'll try and pay more attention next time I go down. Should be on one of the refineries next week some time.

[Red_Snow]

What kind of refinery do you work on?

An oil refinery.

I work on an oil refinery occasionally - I'm in IT so it's not every day, just when I have to upgrade something out in the refinery itself. All our guys seem to use a belt around their coveralls and use that for the radio. I've seen a few with a hand mic routed from the radio to a shoulder loop of some sort, think they modded their coveralls for those though. I'll try and pay more attention next time I go down. Should be on one of the refineries next week some time.

Belt around coveralls is the norm pretty much industry wide. Myself and a few of the guys in my group absolutely hate that shit. Doesn't help that most of us have no ass with a rather large gut, which all equals no bueno with a belt and no belt loops. All of our radios were ordered with hand mics, most people either clip them to the shoulder strap of the overalls or to the lapel area of their covies.

[Radio guy]

I bought a Blackhawk chest harness from these guys and am very happy with it:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Blackhawk-T ... 3cc1f456d4

I use a variety of radios and it adjusts nicely to fit each one. BTW, the federal mandate is to go narrow band and not digital and most commercial radios made over the last 15yrs are programmable for narrowband. You also need to make sure your FCC license is updated to include the narrow band and/or digital emission designator which is fairly simple to do yourself on line with the FCC.

I've seen countless companies with perfectly good narrowband compliant radios where a Motorola salesman comes in and convinces them they must go digital and sells a boatload of new radios that were not needed. Then they charge a fortune to modify the FCC license where the owner could have done it themselves for essentially nothing.
Radio Guy

[Red_Snow]

BTW, the federal mandate is to go narrow band and not digital and most commercial radios made over the last 15yrs are programmable for narrowband. You also need to make sure your FCC license is updated to include the narrow band and/or digital emission designator which is fairly simple to do yourself on line with the FCC.

Good to know, everyone including our radio system custodian have been saying digital only. The majority of our radios, and the system that we are using, according to the custodian, have been in place for almost 30 years now. There are some newer radios around the place, mostly belonging to Shift Super's and higher ups.

I've seen countless companies with perfectly good narrowband compliant radios where a Motorola salesman comes in and convinces them they must go digital and sells a boatload of new radios that were not needed. Then they charge a fortune to modify the FCC license where the owner could have done it themselves for essentially nothing.
Radio Guy

As far as I know our in house E&I guys are doing the switch over and bringing in a local radio guy (does all two way comms for the county including PD and Sheriff systems) for the programming side. And FWIW, the XPR 6550's were only $50 a unit more expensive then their analog counterparts that we are authorized to carry.

[MaconCJ7]

I was under the impression it was digital narrow band. Not poking, I'm serious. I know narrow band started it, but back in '06 I think, I read something about digital becoming the standard as well.

[Red_Snow]

I was under the impression it was digital narrow band. Not poking, I'm serious. I know narrow band started it, but back in '06 I think, I read something about digital becoming the standard as well.

You got me curious so I looked it up. Took 2 seconds searching:

FCC Narrowbanding Page
FCC Narrowbanding FAQ

If I need to Narrowband, do I need to implement digital technology?

No. Licensees can operate in either analog or digital formats as long as they operate at 12.5 kHz efficiency.

ETA:

I'm not bitching about my company going to digital, I used a digital system before and having a talk group for each unit as well as each group that can still catch all Safety broadcasts is awesome. It really cuts down on how clogged up the channels get, especially when you have several hundred contractors on site during an outage/turnaround/shutdown/whateveryouwanttocallit trying to communicate with each other on their two assigned channels.

[KJ4VOV]

My only problem with digital is that you're either in range or out of range, no marginal areas where you can still communicate but with some noise.

[MaconCJ7]

My only problem with digital is that you're either in range or out of range, no marginal areas where you can still communicate but with some noise.

^^^ That. Range is reduced, and once you hit the edge, it's not fuzzy comms, it's robot voice. But, when you're in range, it is crystal clear. The good thing about most radios is the PL codes. If you have a bunch of users sharing the same freqs, the PL codes limit the noise that doesn't concern you. But, that's both analog and digital.

[crypto]

While I agree that the quality drop-off is much more abrupt (yeah, it either works or it doesnt), I think the digital modes work at ranges beyond which analog FM has turned to unintelligible fuzz.

I do think its a better system than FM.

[zommoz10]

If you haven't already, I would definitely try out the mototrbos (or any digital radio system) before purchasing.

Digital often run into problems with machinery and equipment.

I'll also add that just because of the narrowband mandate (if that's what you're talking about when you say "federal mandate") may not mean that you have to go out and buy a whole new radio system. Although the dealers love it that buyers think that's what it means.

[Red_Snow]

My only problem with digital is that you're either in range or out of range, no marginal areas where you can still communicate but with some noise.

Not an issue with us as the broadcast range easily covers the refinery grounds.

If you haven't already, I would definitely try out the mototrbos (or any digital radio system) before purchasing.

Digital often run into problems with machinery and equipment.

I'll also add that just because of the narrowband mandate (if that's what you're talking about when you say "federal mandate") may not mean that you have to go out and buy a whole new radio system. Although the dealers love it that buyers think that's what it means.

Radios were delivered today. Its not my choice as to which model or what broadcast method we use. The refinery says "We are going to Digital and we are using the Mototrbo" therefore we buy said radios.

[nacho]

I have more experience with P25 than DMR/Trbo, but the digital radios tend to do noise rejection better, and EMI doesn't cause interference as easily as analog. I've never worked in an oil refinery, but MotoTrbo should work fine. I know for a while the feds were giving grants for digital systems, but I'm not sure if that was just for PS or not.