Meeting up with friends / Communications on the playa

[c1dh3d]

I've heard that cell phones get no reception in BRC, and I have quite a few different friends coming from all over, that I'd like to meet up with. Problem is, between delays getting there and helping my camp set up, I doubt a meeting place / time is really going to work.

I am looking for suggestions as to how to meet up with people, as a "Meet me here at this time" system probably is unreliable in such a chaotic environment.

I was thinking of maybe purchasing some types of walkie talkies, any commentary on that idea?

All suggestions are groovy

[Savannah]

Here are some ideas I've either used or heard of:

* Agree to mutually register your whereabouts at "Playa Info" at Center Camp. (Make sure there is an exchange of both personal names & camp names ahead of time). If possible, list yourself as "7:50 and C, West [side of street]" to increments of 5, rather than increments of 30 alone. "8 & C" can still technically mean 100 yards North, South, East or West of that actual intersection, and it can be confusing.

* Exchange camp descriptions, tent colors, vehicle colors, flags or no flags, domes, carport presences etc, ahead of time. Even if they get to the right place, they might have no idea who they're looking at if you're in the bathroom.

* Have a white board and tethered marker strapped to a table in your shade so people can leave you messages.

* If you decide to attempt meeting at a location, make it an exact intersection, or something else small, fixed, and easy to find, memorable, like: "outside the ice station on the 3 o'clock plaza every day at 3pm, 3 days in a row until contact is made". Locations that are halfway between you are nice. Wait 10-15 minutes, if no show, try again the next day. (If you try to meet at "Center Camp" or "The Man" it might be difficult unless you're more specific, like "North side".)

* Bring a timepiece to help synch up. You don't have to wear it.

[illy dilly]

Here is one that I've heard of but never used, but plan to this year.
Background: My sister is coming in on Wednesday, gonna have to come in alone.
Last year Apokliptika (and I think all of Terminal City) got moved upon arrival. They are one of the largest, most experienced villages, and even their theme camp placement wasn't solid. Our little 12 person camp could be moved easily (if we get placed even).

Our Plan:
Tap paper sign to pre determined porta potties. They always come out with the map and it will tell you where the portos are. This doesn't really change much, might move to the opposite corner, but will still be at that intersection.
My sister will drive to the portos near 3:30,E on the end porto closest to the man, there will be a piece of paper with exactly where we are located. Inside one of those clear slip things that you put in a 3 ring binder. She will then drive to our camp! Ta DAAA!

[Elderberry]

We have used playa info many times to locate people we knew were going to be there. Registering there is always a good idea if you need to be found.

[grogling]

c1dh3d...

If you're going to buy some walkie-talkies, you'll be seriously disappointed by about mid-week with them. The standard consumer FRS radios that advertise dozens of miles of range are basically full of shit. You'll never get that kind of range out of them anywhere, including Burning Man. Regardless of what the packaging says, none of them have any more transmit power than the others. If you buy the 22 channel models and decide to use the higher-powered channels in the radio they offer, you're violating FCC rules unless you get a license.

The biggest problem is the 14 channels used by FRS are absolutely overcrowded with several thousand people at the event. A better bet is to spend a few dollars more and get a couple of MURS radios that not only will give you some very underutilized channels to talk on legally, but will also allow you to communicate directly with Emergency Services dispatch on the playa should you or your friends need help.

For a standard MURS radio, look here:

http://www.google.com/products/catalog? ... ps-sellers

Also, check out...

http://www.burningman.com/preparation/e ... playa.html

Hope that helps.

-g-

[Frostbite]

If you do go with MURS, be aware that channel 5 (154.600) is used for EMS. Be sure you stay off of that frequency.

[ibdave]

c1dh3d...

If you're going to buy some walkie-talkies, you'll be seriously disappointed by about mid-week with them.

A better bet is to spend a few dollars more and get a couple of MURS radios that not only will give you some very underutilized channels to talk on legally, but will also allow you to communicate directly with Emergency Services dispatch on the playa should you or your friends need help.
Hope that helps.

-g-

Yup, that's what did early on, now everyone knows the drill...

brief personal comment:

I would never be caught on the Playa with said radio's or cell phone calling to find or to say come see this , he dinner's ready or to call home
and say,"you'll never believe where I'm calling you from" Once the campmates showed up, the radio get parked.. No cell Towers Please......

[HandJamMasterC]

The FRS radios work OK if you get Motorola models with subchannels, and use them. Make sure the radios have fresh batteries and everyone with them knows the channel and subchannel. We've used them for 3 years now to help friends find us. The range starts inside the greeters gate though, but they do work !!

[some seeing eye]

Texting will be back on the playa this year. It's not guaranteed, and it may not be working until later in the week. About 5000 people used it last year. Playa Info has worked in the past for me, but it's not guaranteed either!

[Savannah]

Playa Info has worked in the past for me, but it's not guaranteed either!

Indeed. I think they store the information on computers (not positive, but seems likely) and I think an outage is not unheard of, in addition to human error on the part of the seeker or the location-poster.

A good attitude to take--with all but the most necessary meet-ups--is one of energy & enterprise (at first) and forgiveness (if needed). It's easy to miss finding someone the entire week.

(And yet somehow, very easy to run into someone you haven't seen in a decade.)

[Mr.Coffee]

I have a set of GMRS radios that I have a license for (I think im one of the 15 people in this country who actually filled out the little card and sent my money in). I gave one to friends that I plan to meet out on the playa, so I guess we'll see how the longer, higher power works out. Wish I knew about MURS beforehand, I spent more on the license fees than I did my radios! Not to mention, now that I think of it, my license only covers me, not the other guy with the radio.

[motskyroonmatick]

Another basic way to direct people to a location as they arrive is to agree in advance which side of the city you will be camped on. The dividing line is at 6:00 and the sides of the city are 3:00 or 9:00.

Lets say you decide 3:00(the opposite of my camp)

Everybody who wants to go directly to your camp as they enter BRC takes a right at the Y just past greeters staying on the outer most road.

Then they start looking for your camp sign that is secured to the sign post. I use camp name and an arrow. Once they see that sign they turn on to that street and start looking for the next sign where they again make a turn in the direction that the sign indicates. Then they look for camp which is recognizable, well marked or has a sign just like the ones directing them in. Clear as mud?