A. You can use any device that says MURS and it receives transmissions from other MURS devices (the Customer Service callboxes, Wireless PA system and Wireless Alert devices transmit only so they won't work). Most people use the MURS Multi-Mile Intercoms or the MURS Commercial base or handheld depending on their application.
Q. I want to use a MURS Callbox to open a gate or door. What devices do I need to do that ?
A. First you need a callbox that has a gate relay. That relay is connected via two wires to your gate or door. Plus you need either the MURS 110 Commercial Handheld Two-Way Radio or the MURS Commercial Wireless Intercom. These devices have a button programmed on them to operate the gate relay in the callbox. We have the button pre-programmed so you don't have to do that.
How does the callbox hook up to my gate or door so it can unlock it?
A. There are two wires that run from the callbox to the gate or door. These wires are connected to a relay in the callbox that acts like a switch. That relay can be programmed to operate two different ways when someone presses the open button on an intercom or two-way radio. The default way is a momentary operation where the switch is closed for one second when the button is pressed and then it opens again. The second way is to have the switch toggle alternately between open and closed when the button is pressed.
MURS Intercoms For Use With Callboxes
For MURS system, is there one master base station and then separate slave sub-stations?
A: No, all the stations are the same. All the units are exactly the same unit whether you buy a set of two, or you add on a single unit. You can mix these units anyway you like.
Q. Can I use MURS intercoms to call individual rooms?A. MURS intercoms have five channels and you could set up rooms on their own channels. To call a room you would change your intercom to the channel of the room you want to call, and then change it back to your channel when done. As long as everyone remembers to change back to their channel, this could work. Ideally wireless works better to broadcast messages to everyone.
If you only need one master station that calls or receives calls from other rooms, and those rooms don't call each other, then you could use the MURS Commercial Wireless Intercom which has scanning capability so it can scan all channels. If a room calls it, it will lock on to that channel so communication can take place. The cheaper MURS Multi-Mile Intercoms can be used in the rooms since they don't need to scan channels.
Q. Can I wall-mount the MURS Multi-Mile Base Wireless Intercom?
Q. Do the MURS base station intercoms have a monitor mode that allows me to listen in to an area around them like a baby monitor?
A. No. The Monitor button you see on the MURS Multi-Mile Base Wireless Intercom only lets you listen for any activity on the channel you are on. MURS intercoms have 38 "quiet codes" and one of these codes can be transmitted at the beginning of a call. If the receiving radios are set to same code, then they will turn on their speaker and play the message. If not they remain silent even though the channel is active. You can use the Monitor feature to listen before you broadcast a message so you can hear if the channel is being used by someone else.
Q. Should I buy a UHF or VHF radio or intercom?
A. That depends on your application and whether or not you want to get an FCC license. VHF has the non-licensed MURS frequencies whereas UHF requires getting a license. Overall UHF is better in buildings than VHF. VHF may get better range outdoors in open environments. For a more detailed description click here: UHF versus VHF
General Wireless Intercom Questions
Q: Do walls and other obstructions limit the ranges specified for the wireless intercoms?
A. Yes they can have a dramatic effect on the range. Using an external antenna to get the signal outside the building can eliminate that problem.
Q. We have a workshop that is a metal building in our backyard, which wireless intercom will work in it?
A. The best choice for this application is the high-powered MURS base intercoms. The MURS intercoms have the power to punch through both the metal walls of the building plus brick walls of a house. The range will be significantly less than four miles, but for most applications they should still work. You can also put an external antenna on a MURS base intercom and route it outside the metal building to increase your range.
Q: Will your intercoms interfere with my wireless network for my computers?
A: Wireless home PC networks operate in the 2.4GHz range. Our voice only wireless intercoms operate in other frequencies so they won't interfere.
Q: I need an intercom in a commercial building. Should I go with wireless or wired?
A: A wired system would likely provide the most reliable service, but it depends on your building. In most cases a commercial wireless system will do fine. But the more concrete and electrical equipment you have, the higher the chance that the wireless system won't work for you. If you can afford the expense of running the wiring, then you know the system will work. We do have a 45-day return policy, so if you want to try wireless, you have nothing to risk except shipping costs. If you go wireless, use the license-free MURS Wireless System or pick a UHF system that needs an FCC license to operate.
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