Tech: Speaker phones. Anyone knowledgable?

Subject: Speaker phones. Anyone knowledgable?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 12:45 PM

Hi. Hoping folks can be as helpful with this as they were in my "mini-disc" and "omni-directional mike" queries.

I've started doing something a little different and finding it really interesting, and more effective than I imagined...and that's helping folks with their instrument learning over the phone.

I'm using my speaker phone which is the standard Nortel unit supplied by Bell. Is there a phone with a really good speaker system? Perhaps even one that I could plug a good mike into.

Remember, I'm a complete technophobe, so home-wiring is probably out of the question, but if it's possible to upgrade a bit in order to make phone to phone communication a little clearer, I'd love to know.

Thanks

Rick

Subject: RE: Speaker phones. Anyone knowledgable?
From: JenEllen
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 01:44 PM

Well, I'm far from what anyone would consider knowledgable...

We use GBH phones and accessories. One thing I DO know is that their speakerphones are good enough to pick up my muttered comments during teleconferences. Embarassing on more than one occasion.

You might be able to rig a headset up using a voice tube, what are you trying to amplify by using a microphone? Voice or instrument? A tube could be bent fairly closely to whatever instrument you were using.

Check out their accessory link, they have the voice tubes, as well as cables to connect and record phone conversations, microphones, etc.

Best of luck,
~Jen

Subject: RE: Speaker phones. Anyone knowledgable?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 02:01 PM

I bought a white, GE single Duplex speakerphone from Zellers for 40 bucks and it works fine...

A few days ago we got a 2.4 GHz sanyo cordless from our local Bell Phone centre... the hand set has speaker-phone as well... and it works really well... and the plug-in head set is pretty cool too...

Ya plannin' on phoning in yer gigs Rick??

LOL!!

Subject: RE: Speaker phones. Anyone knowledgable?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 03:41 PM

So far so good. Thanks guys. The headset is no good for this application 'cause I need to be able to get both Guitar and voice clearly to the other person. Any other suggestions welcomed.

Rick

Subject: RE: Speaker phones. Anyone knowledgable?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 03:52 PM

If the other parties have PCs, give Paltalk a try. Dpending on your soundcard and mic set up the sound quality can be very good. You could even give lessons world wide, in many cases without any worry over the cost of phone calls.

Jon

Subject: RE: Speaker phones. Anyone knowledgable?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 07:37 PM

So you are planning on phoning in yer gigs eh?!?!?!

That's cheating!!

LOL!!!!!

Subject: RE: Speaker phones. Anyone knowledgable?
From:
Date: 28 Nov 01 - 10:26 PM

Rick, what did you mean by "good speaker system"? Are you wanting to have good "Hi Fidelity" sound? Chances are not good. You might be able to pick up low level sounds, but phone system still have a limited bandwidth. Typically, from memory, we are talking about between 300Hz to 3000Hz. It might only be 500Hz at the low end.

I'd have to say, if you want accuracy, may I suggest trying one of the i-phones? I have never used these, but they might be better in that respect.

Good luck.