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GSM Codecs

I

iman

Guest
Hi all,

I'm in an area where Marti shots are few and far between because of mountains. I've used POTS codecs, like the Blue Box, and have been pleased, but many of my remotes are not in areas where there's a POTS line nearby. Let's face it, you can't install a phone line everytime you go out to a new business, and most of these businesses are not going to say, "SURE! Go ahead and tie up my phone line for 3 hours!"

So, this brings me to GSM codecs.

Has anybody used a GSM codec successfully? Specifically, the Comrex Matrix with the GSM module? If this thing really works, and I mean R E A L L Y works, then I think we'll definitely consider purchasing a pair.

Most of the remotes we do are at car dealers where the cell phone service is good, and all we need is some good quality voice-only audio. I'm tired of crappy sounding Cell-jacks! Can anyone attest to the reliability and sound quality of any GSM codecs?
 
I have a Comrex Matrix GSM Module...When we first got it I was happy with it. The audio quality was not as good as the Matrix on a POTS line but certainly better than a cell phone...The delay is a good bit longer than the POTS line...No way the talent can listen to the return without it being a mix-minus....

After a few months we developed a problem with our carrier, Cingular. They would turn the necessary Switched Circuit Data service off. It would take an act of Congress to get it turned back on. Once Cingular merged with AT&T Wireless the module was rendered useless. AT&T Wireless did not support Switched Circuit Data...Before the merger you could tell the module to work only on the home system which was Cingular. After AT&T was considered part of the home system therefore you could not force the module to only see Cingular.

Now we use the module in the Voice Mode to dial up a auto-answer coupler with talkback on it for Marti remotes...

I am hoping an IP solution is on the way. I have tried out a pair of Comrex Access units with very little success. I was trying to connect the Accesses using a Sprint EVDO High Speed Wireless card in a laptop to DSL at the studio. I was never able to make it work. More than likely my lack of IT knowledge was the problem...

I have tried connecting the same laptop/DSL setup using Skype. The audio quality was not too bad...

t123
 
I guess that leaves T-Mobile as the only carrier known to have CSD turned on.

Some regional GSM carriers might support CSD. I don't know if Cincinnati Bell supports it in my area as they do run their own network and then roam onto ATT/Cingular in other areas.
 
As of 2 weeks ago, Comrex has stopped offering their GSM module for the Matrix. This is mainly due to the continuing problems getting a CSD account activated with Cingular. Tieline is still offering theirs though. I've been round and round with both Comrex and Cingular over this...as I recently sold a GSM module to one of my stations and Cingular refused to activate it. Very frustrating...it was a good service. Hopefully the IP stuff will be a viable option in the near future.

-Chris Hall
www.reelaudio.net
www.rfspec.com
 
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