Pager Recommendations

Mhepburn20 · 11-11-05, 06:31 PM

Not sure if this should be here or in the tech forum. I would presume the tech forum but that seems to be almost exclusively computer and computer related information.

Our office is looking into getting a new pager and we basically just need a beeper for after hours emergencies, so it just needs to display numbers and have the option for people to leave a message. Any recommendations for a cheap and reliable pager?

Abelkems · 11-11-05, 06:55 PM

I didn't think people still used pagers.
I know a lot of businesses are going with Nextel for the walkie talkie feature. They also offer a discount to some companies

Phil L. · 11-11-05, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mhepburn20

Our office is looking into getting a new pager and we basically just need a beeper for after hours emergencies, so it just needs to display numbers and have the option for people to leave a message. Any recommendations for a cheap and reliable pager?

I discontinued my pager service about 4-5 years ago when everybody that needed to contact me stopped dialing that and just called me on my cell. I probably have a few pagers laying around in my junk drawer. Remember, you still need to subscribe to some service in addition to buying the pager.

A cheap cell plan with maybe text messaging is no good?

Mhepburn20 · 11-11-05, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil L.

I discontinued my pager service about 4-5 years ago when everybody that needed to contact me stopped dialing that and just called me on my cell. I probably have a few pagers laying around in my junk drawer. Remember, you still need to subscribe to some service in addition to buying the pager.

A cheap cell plan with maybe text messaging is no good?

I';ve actually already attempted to convince them of switching everything over to a cheap (very few minutes) cell service, but they pretty much won't hear of it. Apparently the belief in the battery life of pagers as well as being in control of when to call back (although this is possible with a cell phone as well) is too great.

uli2000 · 11-11-05, 09:11 PM

Im not even sure anyone manufactures pagers anymore. Motorola was the big name in pagers, but they quit making them about 3 years ago. Metrocall and Arch Communications were the big names in paging. I dont know if either is around anymore. The hospital I work at uses a voice pager system. I think the thing is almost as old as I am. Hopefully none of these pagers ever break, because I dont think they could replace them. I sure wish they would go to blackberrys. Thats what my father-in-laws work has done. They repalced their pager system with blackberrys. Im sure it took a while for all those old facilities guys to get the hang of them, but I know at least my FIL likes his. He knows exactly where he has to go and what he has to do. And if he is out, he never has to find a phone to call anyone back. Of course, if your company is too cheap to pay for cell phones, they sure as heck most likely wont pay for Blackberrys and BES.

Would your company purchase one or two cell phones that could be checked out to whoever was on call. I know someone mentioned Nextel. I worked for a company that gave us nextels. They had them set up to where we could only use the radio and not the phone. As well, we had a system that would dispatch us using text messages on the radios. What about partial cell phone reembursement for everyone who is on call? Even if there are those who dont have cell phones, there are alot of prepaid phones you can keep active for about $10/month, which is what pager service would cost at the bare minimum.

uli2000 · 11-11-05, 09:14 PM

You just reminded me that I have 3 or 4 pagers in my truck I found when I cleaned it out last week. I dont even remember the last job where I had a pager. Its been at least two years. I dont even know who I could send them back to.

Breakfast with Girls · 11-11-05, 09:37 PM

At your office, do you have to take the phone receiver off the hook and put it on the modem in order to go "on-line"?

wendersfan · 11-11-05, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Breakfast with Girls

At your office, do you have to take the phone receiver off the hook and put it on the modem in order to go "on-line"?

Acoustic couplers rule!

Mhepburn20 · 11-11-05, 11:45 PM

Actually it's funny, most of the office staff HAVE blackberrys and we recently all got new dells. It's just this one little issue that they seem unwilling to modernize. Our pager service at the moment is $62 a year which probably has something to do with it.

11-11-05, 06:31 PM	#1
Mhepburn20 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 761	Pager Recommendations Not sure if this should be here or in the tech forum. I would presume the tech forum but that seems to be almost exclusively computer and computer related information. Our office is looking into getting a new pager and we basically just need a beeper for after hours emergencies, so it just needs to display numbers and have the option for people to leave a message. Any recommendations for a cheap and reliable pager?

11-11-05, 09:11 PM	#5
uli2000 DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: The Great Basin Posts: 1,561	Im not even sure anyone manufactures pagers anymore. Motorola was the big name in pagers, but they quit making them about 3 years ago. Metrocall and Arch Communications were the big names in paging. I dont know if either is around anymore. The hospital I work at uses a voice pager system. I think the thing is almost as old as I am. Hopefully none of these pagers ever break, because I dont think they could replace them. I sure wish they would go to blackberrys. Thats what my father-in-laws work has done. They repalced their pager system with blackberrys. Im sure it took a while for all those old facilities guys to get the hang of them, but I know at least my FIL likes his. He knows exactly where he has to go and what he has to do. And if he is out, he never has to find a phone to call anyone back. Of course, if your company is too cheap to pay for cell phones, they sure as heck most likely wont pay for Blackberrys and BES. Would your company purchase one or two cell phones that could be checked out to whoever was on call. I know someone mentioned Nextel. I worked for a company that gave us nextels. They had them set up to where we could only use the radio and not the phone. As well, we had a system that would dispatch us using text messages on the radios. What about partial cell phone reembursement for everyone who is on call? Even if there are those who dont have cell phones, there are alot of prepaid phones you can keep active for about $10/month, which is what pager service would cost at the bare minimum. __________________ The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world that Larry the Cable Guy is funny.

11-11-05, 09:14 PM	#6
uli2000 DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: The Great Basin Posts: 1,561	You just reminded me that I have 3 or 4 pagers in my truck I found when I cleaned it out last week. I dont even remember the last job where I had a pager. Its been at least two years. I dont even know who I could send them back to. __________________ The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world that Larry the Cable Guy is funny.

11-11-05, 09:37 PM	#7
Breakfast with Girls DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Seattle Posts: 16,009	At your office, do you have to take the phone receiver off the hook and put it on the modem in order to go "on-line"? __________________ "Thus spoke BWG." - Groucho

11-11-05, 06:55 PM	#2
Abelkems DVD Talk Gold Edition Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NW GA Posts: 2,784	I didn't think people still used pagers. I know a lot of businesses are going with Nextel for the walkie talkie feature. They also offer a discount to some companies

11-11-05, 11:45 PM	#9
Mhepburn20 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 761	Actually it's funny, most of the office staff HAVE blackberrys and we recently all got new dells. It's just this one little issue that they seem unwilling to modernize. Our pager service at the moment is $62 a year which probably has something to do with it.