[trees]

What are you using for communication with field employees? Right now, I'm using cell phones, but the cost is... well, you know.

I'm looking at some of these 2-way radios with GPS tracback technology. The price isn't bad, and would have the bonus features of being able to download maps to job sites, track travel time between and be able to relay back to another peer radio position within a 1 mile radius or so (more accurate for more $$$). I would still put a pre-paid cell phone in each truck with these.

Does anyone use this or something similar? What are the cost advantages of 2 way radios over cell phones?

I'm just in the infancy of looking at this and would appreciate any feedback...

[Dale Wiley]

We went to Sprint / Nextel a few months ago. We get unlimited direct connect, so I can talk to the foremen all the time, and other vendors, contractors, associates with out burning my cell time.

The foremen get them company paid unless they go over time, which they do not anymore. We like the instant communication features. We also have GPS enabling on them, so I know where everyone is at. We can also use them "off grid" as site radios.

I still don't think all these map downloading and all that is fleshed out enough, to make them work as a standard operating procedure yet.

Our crews get maps, but our system has the foreman and myself making a site visit BEFORE the crew even thinks about the job. Thomas bros is a standard around here, so everything bases off that.

I am getting a Garmin talking GPS to put in our nursery delivery vehicle to make things a little easier. I tried a friends out last year on a trip up to Tacoma, and it worked great. Map Quest sucks.

[dan deutekom]

Maybe I am missing the point but I don't really see why you would need GPS capabilities. If it is for your workers to find the job site or for a delivery vehicle, a current Perly's guide works quite well for the $12.95 a copy that it costs and if you have to track where your workers are by GPS then I think there are large problems in your work force. I love technology, but at times there is just more than you need. I think a cell phone that is security locked to just authorized numbers is all that is really needed or just a strict usage policy. Charge the guys for any non business use.

[Nebraska]

We went to Sprint a few months ago as well. Sprint to Sprint is unlimited minutes...nights start at 6p. Each foreman has one and is alloted 500 minutes and they do take the phone home with them. They go over the minutes they owe us. They break the phone they buy a new one. It's worked for us quite well.

The only problem I've encountered with this setup is my Wife has one of the phones and she's the one that goes over on minutes and she's the one who keeps breaking the phone...

[HRLand]

We use sprint/nextel also but I'm getting tired of the spotty service. I would love to change to cingular now that they have a 2-way feature but I'm tied to all the other people I communicate with during the day.