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Walkie Talkie...

Original Post
wankel7 · · Indiana · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 10

Who uses them on multi pitch climbs?

Any info on their use and how not to drop them?

I've already picked some up.

I understand you can drop them and the batteries will die. So I phave a rope tug backup worked out.

Thanks!

Chris D · · the couch · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 2,230

Lots of discussion about this recently.

mountainproject.com/v/commu…

mountainproject.com/v/2-way…

Search around for more.

If there's a hole somewhere on the clip (as there is on my radios) tie a loop of accessory cord through it and use that to girth-hitch (or clip with a biner) the radio to your harness/gear sling/etc. Works well. Do something like this, or you WILL drop your radio.

Matt Marino · · Georgetown, MA · Joined Jan 2010 · Points: 10

If you use radios make sure you think about where you keep them (harness, sling, ect..) and how breakable ithey are in the event of a fall. Chances are that radio is the only thing you're carrying that's made of very stiff cheap plastic. I took a 30+ foot lead fall while aiding and my radio was shattered into little pieces.

wankel7 · · Indiana · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 10
caughtinside wrote: Mostly slow n00bs in my experience.
It's me ....over here....slow noob!

Look no further !

But I'm learning quickly .
Ed Wright · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2006 · Points: 285
caughtinside wrote: Mostly slow n00bs in my experience.
And deaf guys like me. I frequently use radios on multi-pitch, especially when I'm bolting a new route and communications with my partner can get complex--as opposed to simple on-belay, off-belay stuff that can be done with rope tugs.

I've found the most convenient way to carry the radio is on a lanyard around my neck.

The key to using radios is to always acknowledge each other's communication and to bring extra batteries.
NickinCO · · colorado · Joined Sep 2010 · Points: 155

I've taped them to a sling before and had good results

Brian Snider · · NorCal · Joined Mar 2010 · Points: 732

I normally carry a backpack on long routes and clip to my shoulder strap, that way its right by my face and don't have to remove it. I was climbing next to a water fall with some noobs and the simplicity of it was great. Had the radio died we would have been screwed, next time ill have a back up plan.

Alicia Sokolowski · · Brooklyn, NY · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 1,781
caughtinside wrote: Mostly slow n00bs in my experience.
And people that climb a lot of roof routes. I also have a partner that has decreased hearing. Oh yeah, crowded areas where everyone is screaming over each other.

I think it has more to do with personal preference than climbing experience.

To answer the original question, my partner secures his using accessory cord through the little loop in the top to a biner. I carry mine in a Velcro pouch on a shoulder sling.
Brice Harris · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2011 · Points: 0

I had a mostly deaf climbing partner for a while, multipitching was always interesting. She always claimed to have some sort of voice activated in ear mic type walkie, but never produced them when we climbed. More rope pulling than you can possibly want. Could be useful in some situations but I know my partners well enough to understand what they do and know by feel if I'm on belay.

In rope access work we use a radio harness. They don't fit the cheaper radios very well, but they work great and strap to just about anything offering only to reach up and grab the button and yak.

camhead · · Vandalia, Appalachia · Joined Jun 2006 · Points: 1,240
caughtinside wrote: The Gunks... my ultimate n00b nightmare. There is no need to scream, shout, or carry on extensive conversations from opposite ends of the rope. That is n00b behavior. The whole operation is easily conducted in silence.
BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE GROUND, THERE'S SOMETHING YOU NEED TO KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!
H BL · · Colorado · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 95

I've used them before on the Teton and I used to use them on some shorter trad climbs. Dummy chord them to yourself. I had a partner who was hard of hearing (literally.) Mixed bag for me. Kind of annoying but kind of useful. Annoying to have one more thing on my harness, but useful as we could hear each other in high wind and when we were out of site of each other and it it made it difficult to hear.

-sp · · East-Coast · Joined May 2007 · Points: 75
caughtinside wrote: The Gunks... my ultimate n00b nightmare. There is no need to scream, shout, or carry on extensive conversations from opposite ends of the rope. That is n00b behavior. The whole operation is easily conducted in silence.
And I thought I was the last climber on the planet that thought that.
Derek W · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 20
caughtinside wrote: The Gunks... my ultimate n00b nightmare. There is no need to scream, shout, or carry on extensive conversations from opposite ends of the rope. That is n00b behavior. The whole operation is easily conducted in silence.
Until you can't see your partner and there is too much rope drag on a wandering alpine route for rope tugs to be clear...

However, I do really enjoy silent communication and it is my primary form of communication.
Alicia Sokolowski · · Brooklyn, NY · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 1,781
-sp wrote: And I thought I was the last climber on the planet that thought that.
Actually I find it to be one of the most overused, tired, old complaints ever. Yeah, the Gunks are packed with noobs, big shock. If you go to the Disneyland of climbing (no approach at all, well known spot, regular guiding spot, etc.) don't be too surprised at the admittedly sometimes annoying crowds.

Or just spend the height of the summer season hiding out in the ADKs and return once fall comes and the crowds thin out.
-sp · · East-Coast · Joined May 2007 · Points: 75
Alicia Sokolowski wrote: Actually I find it to be one of the most overused, tired, old complaints ever. Yeah, the Gunks are packed with noobs, big shock. If you go to the Disneyland of climbing (no approach at all, well known spot, regular guiding spot, etc.) don't be too surprised at the admittedly sometimes annoying crowds. Or just spend the height of the summer season hiding out in the ADKs and return once fall comes and the crowds thin out.
I could have parsed the quote better - I have no issue with noobs or the Gunks, just that so many people feel compelled to scream commands when it's almost entirely unnecessary.
Alicia Sokolowski · · Brooklyn, NY · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 1,781
-sp wrote: I could have parsed the quote better - I have no issue with noobs or the Gunks, just that so many people feel compelled to scream commands when it's almost entirely unnecessary.
Aw, then big apologies to you. I'm very "he's not heavy, he's my brother," about my home crag :)
Chris D · · the couch · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 2,230

I recommend these.

If you get a pair, let me know how they work!

at $8, whaddaya got to lose?

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

General Climbing
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