how does "push-to-talk" work?
- Thread starter dpopiz
- Start date
When you want to talk, you push the button. Release it to listen to the other person. What are we talking about here?
yep, you have a special number (non-standard) that goes through different routing equipment within thier own network, basically you use 1/2 duplex instead of full duplex so each conversation saves them bandwidth therfore they can charge less for the service.
Nextel's has a separate network for the PTT calls, but the other versions share the cellular network, so there is a greater delay with them. But yeah, you have a separate Private ID number for making and receiving PTT calls.
Triumph
Lifer
- Oct 9, 1999
- 15,031
- 14
- 81
Can someone please explain the point of it to me? You still have to dial someone's number, correct? Then after you've dialed, you have to push to talk. So why don't I just call them like normal and not bother with the push the button step? I don't see what the attraction is.
whoa whoa whoa, slow down guys...
theres both a pushing action here AND a talking action? im not getting it...do i talk first, and then push? or push then talk, or push talk push, talk push wait, stop go push talk stop push talk?
theres both a pushing action here AND a talking action? im not getting it...do i talk first, and then push? or push then talk, or push talk push, talk push wait, stop go push talk stop push talk?
unlimited calling for free within companies, it's not really for the average joe, it for corporate bob.
Exactly. At one of our facilities, our maintenance guys had them. Half the time, they were talking to one another, between buildings, and didn't want to pay for minutes. But the walkie-talkie also doubles as a cell phone.
The day camp I work at uses nextel push-to-talk all the time. 45 of those things are running at a time during the day. If you want to talk to someone quickly and you have people at different sites, nextels are an EXTREMELY efficient and quick means to do so.
yeah I too would like to know how one goes about invoking ptt as well as how the technology works because I've never used a ptt phone.
triumph: I think the adavantage of ptt is that you don't have the delay you get when doing a normal cell call. I could be wrong though..anybody want to explain it to us?
To invoke PTT< you push the PTT button, then talk after you hear the connection confirmation beep. Then you let go when you are done talking, and the person you are talking to does the same thing. Then Rinse and Repeat.
As far as use goes, yes push AND hold button. You will hear the beep that indicates it got through and then you start blabbing. When done, let go. It generally is a lot faster than phone because you don't have to wait to dial, and they can answer immediately. Whether they say go ahead, shut up, or burp at you, they can reply quickly.
As far as taking the time to dial, I believe all of the current Nextels have the recent calls list, which you can generally access with one button to bring it up, scroll to your contact, and then hit PTT.
However, Nextel's only work on their network, so check their map, and ask around to people you know if they actually have good coverage in your area. You will also want to know that there are enough people you know with Nextels to make the Direct Connect feature useful, as they tend to be more expensive than most carriers.
They are incredibly useful for some jobs, anything that requires a work force spread out individually and needs a dispatch service will find them useful.
I don't know about Verizon's, I believe they are still only in-network PTT as well (although the reason Nextel is in-network only is because they use different technology--CDMA, if I remember right, whereas, most of the rest use GSM and could eventually be interconnected).
EDIT:
I believe Nextel phones DO keep a connection open. Or at least poll very frequently back and forth.
As far as taking the time to dial, I believe all of the current Nextels have the recent calls list, which you can generally access with one button to bring it up, scroll to your contact, and then hit PTT.
However, Nextel's only work on their network, so check their map, and ask around to people you know if they actually have good coverage in your area. You will also want to know that there are enough people you know with Nextels to make the Direct Connect feature useful, as they tend to be more expensive than most carriers.
They are incredibly useful for some jobs, anything that requires a work force spread out individually and needs a dispatch service will find them useful.
I don't know about Verizon's, I believe they are still only in-network PTT as well (although the reason Nextel is in-network only is because they use different technology--CDMA, if I remember right, whereas, most of the rest use GSM and could eventually be interconnected).
EDIT:
I believe Nextel phones DO keep a connection open. Or at least poll very frequently back and forth.
NutBucket
Lifer
- Aug 30, 2000
- 27,151
- 635
- 126
Actually, Nextel uses technology that's based on CDMA, iDEN. Sprint and Verizon both offer PTT as well but those are based on VoIP technology. Sprint's service is suppose to be very comparable to Nextel's except that it takes a tad longer to initialize the walkie-talkie link. Verizon's is junk. Verizon and Sprint both use CDMA technology.
Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh.....yeah, I knew there were differences, but those were the acronyms that popped into my head 
Oh well, as long as companies ignore the U.P., I'll ignore them.
Oh well, as long as companies ignore the U.P., I'll ignore them.
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.
silverpig
Lifer
- Jul 29, 2001
- 27,703
- 12
- 81
I've got a PTT phone with telus here in Vancouver. It's called a Mike phone. It's not that much more, the mike phones I had to choose from were better than the PCS phones, and it's kinda cool actually. I talk to my dad with it all the time. Here's how it works:
I punch in dad's Private ID number (mike phone number... sorta different from his cell number). Instead of hitting the dial button, I hit the PTT button and release.
Dad's phone rings with a special tone and says that I want to talk to him.
He picks up the phone and pushes his PTT button and holds it. A beep sound is made on both phones signalling him to talk and me to listen. He speaks. When he's done, he releases his PTT button and a second beep sound is played on both phones indicating he's done talking.
I then push and hold my PTT button until I hear a beep, then I talk, release button, hear beep, etc...
I punch in dad's Private ID number (mike phone number... sorta different from his cell number). Instead of hitting the dial button, I hit the PTT button and release.
Dad's phone rings with a special tone and says that I want to talk to him.
He picks up the phone and pushes his PTT button and holds it. A beep sound is made on both phones signalling him to talk and me to listen. He speaks. When he's done, he releases his PTT button and a second beep sound is played on both phones indicating he's done talking.
I then push and hold my PTT button until I hear a beep, then I talk, release button, hear beep, etc...
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