Wrist Walkie Talkies

[KyKi]

I am looking for some wrist walkie talkies and was wondering if anyone could give me any opinions on brands. I think the one's I'm finding online are more for recreational use rather than personal use - and the last thing I want is to have them fail me at a bad time.

I'm a client, a licensed dancer who does private parties & one-on-ones. I've been having my security guy come in with me at all times, but that can be a bit awkward for one on one dances. I'd like to have my security guy have one of the wrist walkie talkie's and I'd wear the other. Then I could have the client give my security guy the hotel room key/leave the door unlocked and wait outside/ wait in another room. If the client started giving me a bad time or I thought things were getting out of hand I could just press the "call" button on the wallkie talkie for help. I'm leaning more towards the type that have voice activation though so the security can hear everything being said and already be at alert in case I need to actually press the button.

These are the one's I'm finding online so far, like I said - they look to be for recreational use though.

Agptek 1 (http://www.agptek.com/Walkie-Talkie-139-35-1.html)
Agptek 2 (http://www.agptek.com/Walkie-Talkie-Radio-Watch-140-35-1.html)
Xact Communications (http://www.xactcommunication.com/cat_info.php?phrase=walkie&x=0&y=0)
FreeTalker (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=freetalker&x=0&y=0) (can't find their website)

Can anyone recommend a professional brand or tell me about experiences they've had with any of these?

Thanks!

[Curtis Baillie]

This should be interesting.

[FireRanger]

Well Curtis at least she is taking her personal safety serious given the umm, profession she has choosen.

To KyKi,
I hate to say it but all of these "wrist walkie talkies" are ment for recreational / personal use. They aren't really ment for commercial use, even FRS/GMRS radios that are sold in blister backs at places like Wal-Mart, Radio Shack, etc are not ment for business use, even though they are used by companies on a daily basis.

Also as a guy, I am not so sure I want the chick who is stripping for me to be wearing a box on their wrist or have Joe the local italian tuff guy watching. I understand the need you have for safety, trust me I get it. However their maybe better ways like set up your own shop and have cameras set up and monitored in the next room. Hell you could even do that know get your Tuff guy a room next door and very close by and set up your performance room with wireless microphones and cameras (they can be had pretty cheap). Does the same thing, plus it can be set up to record everything (assuming what you do, 1-on-1 is legal) for evidence against your John, errr I mean client if things turn bad.

Then again you can always go work at a local club that already has security and bouncers in place.

[KyKi]

I hate to say it but all of these "wrist walkie talkies" are ment for recreational / personal use. They aren't really ment for commercial use, even FRS/GMRS radios that are sold in blister backs at places like Wal-Mart, Radio Shack, etc are not ment for business use, even though they are used by companies on a daily basis.

I was afraid that's what I was going to hear.



Also as a guy, I am not so sure I want the chick who is stripping for me to be wearing a box on their wrist or have Joe the local italian tuff guy watching. I understand the need you have for safety, trust me I get it. However their maybe better ways like set up your own shop and have cameras set up and monitored in the next room. Hell you could even do that know get your Tuff guy a room next door and very close by and set up your performance room with wireless microphones and cameras (they can be had pretty cheap). Does the same thing, plus it can be set up to record everything (assuming what you do, 1-on-1 is legal) for evidence against your John, errr I mean client if things turn bad.

I actually do have a location that I rent, and could do that with... but it won't help me for when customers call and want me to come to their location. I can't just re-setup a whole security system. So then it's a matter of deciding between two evils: tacky looking equipment/wrist watch thing or my security guy in the room with me?


Then again you can always go work at a local club that already has security and bouncers in place.

I've been doing that already for 10 years, I'm in my 11th year of dancing. The clubs book me in advance, I get a paycheck to come out, plus tips. The issue though is that the last three times I've been booked the security was bad... really bad. The final time I came very close to ending up in the hospital. I'm getting to the point of no longer trusting club security. I tip them out, but since they aren't getting a regular paycheck from me they don't seem to think that they have to be on top of security issues - plus they don't know me very well. Whereas my personal security guy I pay $50/hr for my bookings, and I know he is fully responsible to me.

If anyone else can make more suggestions on this I'd appreciate it. Even if it means having full sized walkie talkies on all the time. I'm not sure if such a thing exists?

Thanks!

[zm88]

You're not that dancer from Lynn that mixed it up with the off duty Brookline cops are ya...? Probably not, there are those small panic button bracelet things I know I've seen them before, just can't remember the name.

[SecTrainer]

Check out some of the jillions of online "spy gear" shops for ideas - or the NAIS online store - PI Mall (see link below). For instance, you could rig up your purse/bag (do you bring props?) with a covert camera and/or mike and a wireless transmitter; your "security guy" would have the receiver, of course, and would be monitoring the "party". Then you wouldn't have to wear anything like a panic pendant, and all you'd have to do is holler for help (if you use a mike).

http://www.pimall.com/nais/equ.find.html

You've probably seen TV shows where reporters go in somewhere and conduct a "sting" with their purse or bag equipped with wireless rigs like these. Of course, with a camera (as opposed to a microphone), positioning the bag is critical for your guy to see what's going on, so I'd probably recommend going with the audio (or both), not just video.

As a cheaper idea, go in with your cell phone already dialed in to your security guy's cell - i.e., an "open line". Put your cell phone down beside, or at the top of your purse or in its case hooked to the strap. As long as it isn't buried in the bottom of your purse, he can listen in to the party and again, all you'd have to do is scream for help. Doesn't matter if he can't hear a "normal" conversation in the room clearly. The advantage with cell phone over the wireless route is that some environments aren't very "wireless friendly" or he might not be able to position himself within range of the wireless transmitter in a discreet way. A cell phone call wouldn't have any such range limitation, of course....and you both probably already have cell phones, I assume. I bet cell phone charges would be easier to write off as a business expense too! If you're REAL popular, get an unlimited minutes plan, but even if you're paying 10 cents a minute the cost for an hour's "party" would be $6...probably a small percentage of the going rate? (Pardon my ignorance but I party exclusively with my wife, and she costs me a lot more than you probably charge. :D)

Get a couple of TracFones at 7-11 if you want to increase the anonymity factor. They have "Value Plans" online: www.tracfone.com

With any method/gear you use, make sure you test it thoroughly to learn its limitations before you risk your life on it.

[KyKi]

You're not that dancer from Lynn that mixed it up with the off duty Brookline cops are ya...? Probably not, there are those small panic button bracelet things I know I've seen them before, just can't remember the name.

No, not the same person.

I do have the panic button jewelry on my list of things to look into. Although, I still like the idea of having some sort of walkie talkie just in case. What I'm finding with the panic jewelry is that they tend to connect to some sort of receiver that I don't want to lug around with me. Also, when the button is pressed they dial multiple numbers - most include 911, which would be useless to me for outcalls unless it had some sort of GPS on it - which I highly doubt.



Check out some of the jillions of online "spy gear" shops for ideas - or the NAIS online store - PI Mall (see link below). For instance, you could rig up your purse/bag (do you bring props?) with a covert camera and/or mike and a wireless transmitter; your "security guy" would have the receiver, of course, and would be monitoring the "party". Then you wouldn't have to wear anything like a panic pendant, and all you'd have to do is holler for help (if you use a mike).

http://www.pimall.com/nais/equ.find.html

You've probably seen TV shows where reporters go in somewhere and conduct a "sting" with their purse or bag equipped with wireless rigs like these. Of course, with a camera (as opposed to a microphone), positioning the bag is critical for your guy to see what's going on, so I'd probably recommend going with the audio (or both), not just video.

As a cheaper idea, go in with your cell phone already dialed in to your security guy's cell - i.e., an "open line". Put your cell phone down beside, or at the top of your purse or in its case hooked to the strap. As long as it isn't buried in the bottom of your purse, he can listen in to the party and again, all you'd have to do is scream for help. Doesn't matter if he can't hear a "normal" conversation in the room clearly. The advantage with cell phone over the wireless route is that some environments aren't very "wireless friendly" or he might not be able to position himself within range of the wireless transmitter in a discreet way. A cell phone call wouldn't have any such range limitation, of course....and you both probably already have cell phones, I assume. I bet cell phone charges would be easier to write off as a business expense too! If you're REAL popular, get an unlimited minutes plan, but even if you're paying 10 cents a minute the cost for an hour's "party" would be $6...probably a small percentage of the going rate? (Pardon my ignorance but I party exclusively with my wife, and she costs me a lot more than you probably charge. :D)

Get a couple of TracFones at 7-11 if you want to increase the anonymity factor. They have "Value Plans" online: www.tracfone.com

With any method/gear you use, make sure you test it thoroughly to learn its limitations before you risk your life on it.

Great ideas! Thanks! I hadn't thought about just storing something in my purse. Obviously that means no panic button on me - and there's pros and cons to that. I'll think about that a bit more. If I had some way to do a camera on the purse so my security guy could watch everything that would be super handy!

My cell phone has unlimited minutes and I have a second number that forwards to it that is anonymous. I could get a second line for the security guy for $20/mo.

By the way, I did talk to the head detective yesterday for the city about this. He really didn't have any advice, but was able to give me the names of two stores that carry police supplies that I could check with.

If anyone else comes across other ideas let me know.

Thanks!

[FireControlman]

Like this?

http://www.neatstuff.net/space-robots/communication-toy/Buck-Rogers-walkie-talkies.jpg

Or this?

http://craziestgadgets.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/walkie-talkie-watch.jpg

[KyKi]

^^^ That second one is similar to what I was originally looking at.

I'm still throwing around ideas. I like the spy cam in the purse idea still, and I'm looking into doing that. I've only found one, it comes pre-built in, and it's pretty pricey. I'd like to find one that is totally wireless with a handheld monitor for the security guy. Anyone know of one? That PI mall is huge and I'm not finding any. A potential answer would be a video baby monitor or a nanny cam type of thing for now - though it isn't small, but it would have audio - potentially two way audio as well.

I'm looking at these:
1. http://www.amazon.com/Interference-Switching-Digital-Safe-Capability/product-reviews/B001XPMJ82/ref=cm_cr_pr_hist_5?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&filterBy=addFiveStar
2. http://www.amazon.com/Handheld-Monitor-2-4GHz-Wireless-Camera/dp/B000K6XDHQ

I'm thinking of also doing the video in conjunction with the Philips LifeLine Tempo Watch (http://www.qlpllc.com/pdfs/Tempo%20Watch.pdf), programmed to dial my security guy - just in case he's not paying attention or I don't want to tip off the customer in case he might get violent. I'm planning to call lifeline tomorrow to figure out how the watch works.

I spoke to the head Detective in my city. There aren't many women licensed for this, but he said he can't recall a situation where one of them ever had a problem with a customer other than not wanting to pay... and I always get my money upfront. Chances are I'll never have problems either, but better safe than sorry. The detective gave me the number to two local "cop shops" that sell to the public. Both said they hadn't seen the wrist walkie talkies and suggested calling Motorola. Motorola said they didn't carry anything like that.

Thanks again for your help everyone!

[waldosaw]

^^^ That second one is similar to what I was originally looking at.

I'm still throwing around ideas. I like the spy cam in the purse idea still, and I'm looking into doing that. I've only found one, it comes pre-built in, and it's pretty pricey. I'd like to find one that is totally wireless with a handheld monitor for the security guy. Anyone know of one? That PI mall is huge and I'm not finding any. A potential answer would be a video baby monitor or a nanny cam type of thing for now - though it isn't small, but it would have audio - potentially two way audio as well.

I'm looking at these:
1. http://www.amazon.com/Interference-Switching-Digital-Safe-Capability/product-reviews/B001XPMJ82/ref=cm_cr_pr_hist_5?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&filterBy=addFiveStar
2. http://www.amazon.com/Handheld-Monitor-2-4GHz-Wireless-Camera/dp/B000K6XDHQ

I'm thinking of also doing the video in conjunction with the Philips LifeLine Tempo Watch (http://www.qlpllc.com/pdfs/Tempo%20Watch.pdf), programmed to dial my security guy - just in case he's not paying attention or I don't want to tip off the customer in case he might get violent. I'm planning to call lifeline tomorrow to figure out how the watch works.

I spoke to the head Detective in my city. There aren't many women licensed for this, but he said he can't recall a situation where one of them ever had a problem with a customer other than not wanting to pay... and I always get my money upfront. Chances are I'll never have problems either, but better safe than sorry. The detective gave me the number to two local "cop shops" that sell to the public. Both said they hadn't seen the wrist walkie talkies and suggested calling Motorola. Motorola said they didn't carry anything like that.

Thanks again for your help everyone!

Honestly you should be able to find a wireless camera that transmits to a reciever that plugs into a small monitor for viewing. I know I have used such technology in the past where I have a wireless camera and I plug the reciever into a monitor and I can get both picture and audio; however it's been awhile since I've used such items and I can't be for sure. I do know that the reception can be fuzzy and distorted based on the distance of the camera and the reciever....meaning if the reciever is going through brick walls and such you won't have much luck unless he is pretty much directly near-by. Using a nanny cam seems very off base and I really think there some better alternatives out their for you. I'm really not a tech-head, but if you buy a good enough wireless camera and a strong enough reciever that you can uplink to a small monitor I think it would work out for you. I don't think it will be the cheapest tool though; however it is something too look into.

I know I really wanted to invest into a strong wireless and reciever setup with a monitor in the past and it can be very expensive indeed.

One thing you could do is buy a non wireless hidden security camera which are very cheap and wire it to your purse....where you can buy a small camcorder to attach it to and then you can poke a hole into your purse to hide the camera and then you can press the record button before your client enters the room and then if something should happen you could have proof of any misdoings. I just wanted to give a suggestion. You can get non-wireless spy-cameras for very cheap these days and they come in all forms of sizes and styles....anything from cigarette boxes, beapers, pens, watches, cellphones, or other mondain devices that you can just clip to a purse that some wouldn't think about.

[KyKi]

^^^ Can you give me links to any of these? I'm sort of struggling with all this. I'm totally not a techie. I still don't know how to get the DVD players to work and its been years since they replaced VHS!

I do know that I for sure would prefer something that my security guy could see on a hand held monitor. If anything were to happen to me the first thing the customer would probably do is take off with the purse - and then there goes the evidence if it were just on record mode!

[waldosaw]

^^^ Can you give me links to any of these? I'm sort of struggling with all this. I'm totally not a techie. I still don't know how to get the DVD players to work and its been years since they replaced VHS!

I do know that I for sure would prefer something that my security guy could see on a hand held monitor. If anything were to happen to me the first thing the customer would probably do is take off with the purse - and then there goes the evidence if it were just on record mode!

I would go to www.spyshop.com and look through their looks as well as you can find such equipment by just going to ebay another popular auctoin website and simpy type spy equipment as your key word or surveillance.