Thanks for the replies, folks. A little more detail on what my situation's like...
At most, we've had three functioning ClearComs running. (We have four headsets, but one's always on the bench getting re-soldered!) We don't have catwalks, don't run flys or anything like that, so four --- two for the booth, one for each
wing --- would probably be plenty.
I also questioned whether wireless is necessary. I'm the sort of person who buys cars with hand-rolling windows and
manual locks because I figure the more complicated something is, the more there is to go wrong with it. But the other techs here have brought up several situations where the ability to roam,
headset and all, would have eased some hectic situations.
We don't use intercoms daily (or even weekly); my
venue is primarily used for lectures and concerts, with a few plays that require communication between booth and backstage. I just looked over our calendar, and right now we're looking at about a dozen events for this year that will require intercoms. They wouldn't see use comparable to that a fulltime playhouse/concert
venue.
The money issue is a complicated one, as my
venue is part of a county organization, funded by local government money. We've got our hunk of money for the year, about which my boss is all "spend it! spend it now before another department dips into it!"
I'm thinking: take Icewolf's suggestion and clean up the old CC as a back-up, but buy something new while we can. Even if we don't need something new now, lord knows when we'll have the money again. My predecessor worked out a budget of $7000 for a new intercom (I think he was looking at ClearCom brand). If I can come in under budget, that's more stuff we can buy this year. We already know that the next fiscal year will be tight, so I'm thinking I should blow more money on things we use more regularly, like monitors, lights,
etc.
Whew, sorry to bore you with all that. Thanks again for the input and points to ponder!