how does "push-to-talk" work?

[Triumph]

Originally posted by: Marauder911

Originally posted by: Sysadmin

Originally posted by: DurocShark
I think he's asking if the channel is maintained 24/7 even when he's not using it.

Yeah I am intested in knowing the answer also.


Sysadmin

The channel between you and the person you are talking to is active when it says "Private in Use" on the screen. Once that clears, you are no longer directly linked to them, and can receive other calls, or PTT's. You are not connected to every direct connect contact in your phonebook 24/7, only when you connect to them, similar to the phone. When you make a phone call on any cell phone, you are only connected to the other person as long as the call is transpiring.

So let me get this straight. In order to use PTT, you connect to someone, which is basically CALLING them. Then you have to deal with the bother of pushing the button just to talk. So why again would I want this over just a regular cell phone?

And as someone pointed out, most providers have unlimited in-network calling now. I could basically call my coworker and leave it connected indefinitely. Now I don't have to mess with a stupid button.

 

[PowerMacG5]

Originally posted by: Triumph

Originally posted by: Marauder911

Originally posted by: Sysadmin

Originally posted by: DurocShark
I think he's asking if the channel is maintained 24/7 even when he's not using it.

Yeah I am intested in knowing the answer also.


Sysadmin

The channel between you and the person you are talking to is active when it says "Private in Use" on the screen. Once that clears, you are no longer directly linked to them, and can receive other calls, or PTT's. You are not connected to every direct connect contact in your phonebook 24/7, only when you connect to them, similar to the phone. When you make a phone call on any cell phone, you are only connected to the other person as long as the call is transpiring.

So let me get this straight. In order to use PTT, you connect to someone, which is basically CALLING them. Then you have to deal with the bother of pushing the button just to talk. So why again would I want this over just a regular cell phone?

And as someone pointed out, most providers have unlimited in-network calling now. I could basically call my coworker and leave it connected indefinitely. Now I don't have to mess with a stupid button.

I just find it more convenient (some might call it annoying) that you don't have to have the other party answer you to begin talking. And yes, connecting to someone, is just like calling them, except its half duplex (like already said).

 

[Triumph]

Don't have to have to wait for the other person to answer? You could just as well be talking to a wall! PTT seems like nothing more than a novelty.

 

[luv2chill]

Well I think the advantages were already given:

1. Your PTT/Direct Connect minutes are a different bucket from your cellular minutes. Nextel does not offer unlimited in-network calling (or at least I am pretty sure of that). And that is a recent addition for most all carriers. Our company has a HUGE investment in Nextel equipment that would be lost if we switched to any other carrier (Nextel phones won't work with any other US provider).

2. For quick, yes/no quesions, PTT is definitely faster (on Nextel anyway--Sprint and Verizon use a totally different system that uses VoIP--high latency). Call setup takes a fraction of a second, and you can ask your question and get an answer in less time than if you used the phone.

3. An advantage that I don't believe anyone mentioned, but definitely has its place, is the ability to utilize talkgroups (i.e. you can "beep" a bunch of phones at once and all parties can hear each other and speak to each other.). Our company doesn't use that function but I know many others do.

That said, I wish we'd scrap Nextel and go to a GSM carrier. I want the Motorola MpX!!!

l2c

 

[dbk]

The Motorola one cuts off a lot, don't know about Nextel ones but Nextel sure has some annoying commercials!

 

[luv2chill]

Originally posted by: bykim5
The Motorola one cuts off a lot, don't know about Nextel ones but Nextel sure has some annoying commercials!

Eh? Every single one of Nextel's phones is made by Motorola. I've used Nextel for six years now and haven't had any problems with conversations getting cut off (although I'm sure it's possible if signal strength is poor at your or the other phone's location).

Motorola makes some sweet phones (reference the new MpX for instance) but their Nextel offerings have always lagged behind. They make great heavy-duty, no frills, construction type phones but their smallest phone is still a brick and has poor battery life and lacks a lot of features other phones have.

l2c

 

[stonecold3169]

Here in Westchester we use them like super long range 2 way radios for playing car tag. You set up a talk group, and every time you talk, it sends the message to all the phones in the group, can be any distance apart that you want.

Makes for a fun game