OK, I just built a wired intercom
system for my school (well, bought the pieces, waiting for them to be delivered). There are 4 things you need. They are:
1) A
power supply. Clearly, the
system needs
power, you get a
power supply.
2) Boxes. These are boxes that clip on your waist. They have 2 buttons usually, a
PTT (push to talk) and a
call button. The
PTT button makes it so that your
microphone is live and you can talk. The
call button lights up a light on everyone else's belt back, and (maybe) they will put on their
headset when they see it and you can talk to them.
3) headsets. There are many styles of these. They go on your head and have either 1 or 2 earphones and a
boom microphone. you listen and talk. This plugs into the box on your hip. One
headset per
beltpack, one belt pack per person. The
headset and the belt packs can be switched around, but one is useless without the other
4)
XLR cable. Any modern wired
system that you would buy off the shelf runs on 3 pin
XLR cable. Make sure to have enough to pass around for everyone.
Notes:
I thought about going to a wireless
system. While working as run crew in my local theater, I have often wished for a wireless
clear-com system. However, it is not worth $6,000 to me to get 6 wireless
clear-com belt-packs. So I went with a wired
system.
Clear-Com is the big brand, but its sort of like calling a tissue Kleenex (or an elliptical spot light a
Leko). There are really 3 companies that make this type of
system.
Clear-com is the big one, most expensive, and the most durable and best.
Telex is the middle range, cheeper prices, but less quality.
Production Intercom is the third. It is cheep. I ordered my schools
system from them, but have not received it yet to tell you how well it works. However, I spent a tad under $1,500 and got a
system of 6 stations (1
power supply, 6 belt packs and 6 headsets). I already have enough
XLR to use, so I didn't order that.
Some
power supplies come with a station in them. These are usually the SM's. Also, some systems are 2
channel, so you could put your spot lights on
channel A, and your run crew on B, so one can talk without being bothered/bothering the other. The SM's
console was the only one that was able to
switch between the two systems, and had the option to broadcast on both at the same time. I did this last year because I had a talkative FSO, and I didn't want him bothering the rest of my crew.
I think that is enough info to set up a
system, at least I hope so. I told my school to
purchase from
http://northernsound.net/Sales/salesframe.html
On the left is
Production Intercom, click that and look at the prices of everything.
Good luck! I hope it is within your price range.
Oh, and walkie-talkies suck. i tried to run a show off them, and it was hell. Coming from a
house that had a lovely
clear-com system, it was horrible. It was worth the investment. As one of my friends said when we were trying to convince the board to approve the money "its like a company trying to run its self without telephone or fax service". It is worth the investment.