PTT - Advantages over regular wireless??

Hello,

I am a Verizon wireless customer and was wondering what advantages the
PTT (Push to Talk) features provides? I mean, is it all that different from
calling someone normally? In fact if I understand correctly it is
half-duplex as opposed to full-duplex with a normal cell call. If one was
to take a regular cell phone with speaker phone capability, what would the
advantage to PTT be? I am not trying to be sarcastic, rather I am just
wondering if I am missing something. Thanks!

- Drek

---

› See More: PTT - Advantages over regular wireless??

Drk wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I am a Verizon wireless customer and was wondering what advantages the
> PTT (Push to Talk) features provides? I mean, is it all that different
> from calling someone normally? In fact if I understand correctly it is
> half-duplex as opposed to full-duplex with a normal cell call. If one was
> to take a regular cell phone with speaker phone capability, what would the
> advantage to PTT be? I am not trying to be sarcastic, rather I am just
> wondering if I am missing something. Thanks!
>
> - Drek


PTT is great for short conversations, but its main purpose is really
directed towards a business audience. I find it great for those calls
where I only need a quick answer to a question, or to find out where
someone is. It does get a little cumbersome when trying to carry on a
'normal' conversation, but as a business tool (talk to your whole team at
once) it is a great thing.

Drk wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I am a Verizon wireless customer and was wondering what advantages the
> PTT (Push to Talk) features provides? I mean, is it all that different
> from calling someone normally? In fact if I understand correctly it is
> half-duplex as opposed to full-duplex with a normal cell call. If one was
> to take a regular cell phone with speaker phone capability, what would the
> advantage to PTT be? I am not trying to be sarcastic, rather I am just
> wondering if I am missing something. Thanks!
>
> - Drek


PTT is great for short conversations, but its main purpose is really
directed towards a business audience. I find it great for those calls
where I only need a quick answer to a question, or to find out where
someone is. It does get a little cumbersome when trying to carry on a
'normal' conversation, but as a business tool (talk to your whole team at
once) it is a great thing.

The only advantage it has is you can talk to a whole group of
similarly-equipped people in the SAME GROUP at once. A boss can make
announcements to all his employees at once, for instance, over a wide
area.

There are no advantages for speaking to one person, but many many
disadvantages...lack of privacy, rudeness in public, and of course
WAIT, WAIT, WAIT every time it switches.



On Mon, 6 Oct 2003 23:40:39 -0400, Drk <[email protected]> wrote:

>Hello,
>
> I am a Verizon wireless customer and was wondering what advantages the
>PTT (Push to Talk) features provides? I mean, is it all that different from
>calling someone normally? In fact if I understand correctly it is
>half-duplex as opposed to full-duplex with a normal cell call. If one was
>to take a regular cell phone with speaker phone capability, what would the
>advantage to PTT be? I am not trying to be sarcastic, rather I am just
>wondering if I am missing something. Thanks!
>
>- Drek


Larry W4CSC

3600 planes with transponders are burning 8-10 million
gallons of kerosene per hour over the USA. R-12 car air
conditioners are responsible for the ozone hole, right?

The only advantage it has is you can talk to a whole group of
similarly-equipped people in the SAME GROUP at once. A boss can make
announcements to all his employees at once, for instance, over a wide
area.

There are no advantages for speaking to one person, but many many
disadvantages...lack of privacy, rudeness in public, and of course
WAIT, WAIT, WAIT every time it switches.



On Mon, 6 Oct 2003 23:40:39 -0400, Drk <[email protected]> wrote:

>Hello,
>
> I am a Verizon wireless customer and was wondering what advantages the
>PTT (Push to Talk) features provides? I mean, is it all that different from
>calling someone normally? In fact if I understand correctly it is
>half-duplex as opposed to full-duplex with a normal cell call. If one was
>to take a regular cell phone with speaker phone capability, what would the
>advantage to PTT be? I am not trying to be sarcastic, rather I am just
>wondering if I am missing something. Thanks!
>
>- Drek


Larry W4CSC

3600 planes with transponders are burning 8-10 million
gallons of kerosene per hour over the USA. R-12 car air
conditioners are responsible for the ozone hole, right?

Here are some notes from a previous posting, in part:

ABOUT DC:
For us it is a very welcome addition. It takes some getting use to
but once you do (IMO) you will DC others that have Nextel units much
more than you will call them.

First, the setup time is ~1 second vs. a phone call which is ~5-8
seconds. More significant is the async nature of direct connect. On
a phone call you are 'bound' to that interaction to the exclusion of
others. e.g. you can't be talking to somone in your office while on
your cell phone, etc. With DC it is more like using an instant
message service vs. a phone call. You can divide your attention
between other interactions.

There is also the general felling of a DC interaction vs. a phone
call. It is hard to describe but I will give it a go... My wife and I
both have Nextel units and often DC each other in the course of
driving home (~30-50 min.) from work. Now, on a phone call we would
feel like we have to keep talking for the full time but with DC we can
just DC each other when we have something to say without the
expectation that one of us will be talking non-stop for 30 min. It
has the feel of a long conversation without the negitives, IMO.

Same goes for work...you can DC someone who is woking on an issue to
answer questions, etc, off and on for hours without having to be on
the phone with them for hours.

And, DC is unlimited on most plans for as you use DC between other
Nextel users you have far more min. available for phone calls.

Drk <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Hello,
>
> I am a Verizon wireless customer and was wondering what advantages the
> PTT (Push to Talk) features provides? I mean, is it all that different from
> calling someone normally? In fact if I understand correctly it is
> half-duplex as opposed to full-duplex with a normal cell call. If one was
> to take a regular cell phone with speaker phone capability, what would the
> advantage to PTT be? I am not trying to be sarcastic, rather I am just
> wondering if I am missing something. Thanks!
>
> - Drek

Here are some notes from a previous posting, in part:

ABOUT DC:
For us it is a very welcome addition. It takes some getting use to
but once you do (IMO) you will DC others that have Nextel units much
more than you will call them.

First, the setup time is ~1 second vs. a phone call which is ~5-8
seconds. More significant is the async nature of direct connect. On
a phone call you are 'bound' to that interaction to the exclusion of
others. e.g. you can't be talking to somone in your office while on
your cell phone, etc. With DC it is more like using an instant
message service vs. a phone call. You can divide your attention
between other interactions.

There is also the general felling of a DC interaction vs. a phone
call. It is hard to describe but I will give it a go... My wife and I
both have Nextel units and often DC each other in the course of
driving home (~30-50 min.) from work. Now, on a phone call we would
feel like we have to keep talking for the full time but with DC we can
just DC each other when we have something to say without the
expectation that one of us will be talking non-stop for 30 min. It
has the feel of a long conversation without the negitives, IMO.

Same goes for work...you can DC someone who is woking on an issue to
answer questions, etc, off and on for hours without having to be on
the phone with them for hours.

And, DC is unlimited on most plans for as you use DC between other
Nextel users you have far more min. available for phone calls.

Drk <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Hello,
>
> I am a Verizon wireless customer and was wondering what advantages the
> PTT (Push to Talk) features provides? I mean, is it all that different from
> calling someone normally? In fact if I understand correctly it is
> half-duplex as opposed to full-duplex with a normal cell call. If one was
> to take a regular cell phone with speaker phone capability, what would the
> advantage to PTT be? I am not trying to be sarcastic, rather I am just
> wondering if I am missing something. Thanks!
>
> - Drek

Thanks for your posting. I've never been a fan of seeming-rude people
broadcasting their conversation in the open air, but I DO get what you
are trying to say. Now PTT makes at least a little sense to me.


> ABOUT DC:
> For us it is a very welcome addition. It takes some getting use to
> but once you do (IMO) you will DC others that have Nextel units much
> more than you will call them.
>
> First, the setup time is ~1 second vs. a phone call which is ~5-8
> seconds. More significant is the async nature of direct connect. On
> a phone call you are 'bound' to that interaction to the exclusion of
> others. e.g. you can't be talking to somone in your office while on
> your cell phone, etc. With DC it is more like using an instant
> message service vs. a phone call. You can divide your attention
> between other interactions.
>
> There is also the general felling of a DC interaction vs. a phone
> call. It is hard to describe but I will give it a go... My wife and I
> both have Nextel units and often DC each other in the course of
> driving home (~30-50 min.) from work. Now, on a phone call we would
> feel like we have to keep talking for the full time but with DC we can
> just DC each other when we have something to say without the
> expectation that one of us will be talking non-stop for 30 min. It
> has the feel of a long conversation without the negitives, IMO.
>
> Same goes for work...you can DC someone who is woking on an issue to
> answer questions, etc, off and on for hours without having to be on
> the phone with them for hours.
>
> And, DC is unlimited on most plans for as you use DC between other
> Nextel users you have far more min. available for phone calls.


[posted via phonescoop.com]

Thanks for your posting. I've never been a fan of seeming-rude people
broadcasting their conversation in the open air, but I DO get what you
are trying to say. Now PTT makes at least a little sense to me.


> ABOUT DC:
> For us it is a very welcome addition. It takes some getting use to
> but once you do (IMO) you will DC others that have Nextel units much
> more than you will call them.
>
> First, the setup time is ~1 second vs. a phone call which is ~5-8
> seconds. More significant is the async nature of direct connect. On
> a phone call you are 'bound' to that interaction to the exclusion of
> others. e.g. you can't be talking to somone in your office while on
> your cell phone, etc. With DC it is more like using an instant
> message service vs. a phone call. You can divide your attention
> between other interactions.
>
> There is also the general felling of a DC interaction vs. a phone
> call. It is hard to describe but I will give it a go... My wife and I
> both have Nextel units and often DC each other in the course of
> driving home (~30-50 min.) from work. Now, on a phone call we would
> feel like we have to keep talking for the full time but with DC we can
> just DC each other when we have something to say without the
> expectation that one of us will be talking non-stop for 30 min. It
> has the feel of a long conversation without the negitives, IMO.
>
> Same goes for work...you can DC someone who is woking on an issue to
> answer questions, etc, off and on for hours without having to be on
> the phone with them for hours.
>
> And, DC is unlimited on most plans for as you use DC between other
> Nextel users you have far more min. available for phone calls.


[posted via phonescoop.com]

I may not be entirely accurate in this portrayal, but the Verizon (and soon
others) version of PTT uses an "unconnected packet" approach; in which it
negotiates a path and connection for each transmission. The connection is
dropped as soon as the PTT button is released and the packet clears the last
tower into the receiver's area. This is the cause for the delay in connect
times. I believe this will be the way that the other carriers will try to
cash in on the success that Nextel has created with their trunked network.

OTOH, Nextel is a connected system, in which the connection; once
negotiated, is maintained until the conversation is finished and one of the
participants closes the connection. This is a view from a Direct Connect
perspective. Another good thing for consideration is the depth of
commitment that Nextel has created by making their service available to
public service, law enforcement, government, etc. users.

In the old days, the cellular carriers all had the equivalent of an "Access
Overload Class" which would stratify the users into levels of importance in
times of disaster or service overload. Usually, the garden variety citizen
would have a number around 15 on the list. That way, lower numbers in this
field would give higher priority access to the cellsite in times where the
service reached overload capacity.

With the amount of "professional" customers that Nextel has in service,
their system may fare better in an overload situation. I would venture a
guess that the cellsites that have a large government or enforcement user
base would be given a lot of support to keep them on the air in times of
disaster.

I have no concrete evidence to back this guess, but I feel it has some
merit.

This isn't so much an indication of 2-way over cellular, but possible
insight into the difference in the carriers and how their systems may hold
up at "crunch time".



"Drk" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hello,
>
> I am a Verizon wireless customer and was wondering what advantages the
> PTT (Push to Talk) features provides? I mean, is it all that different
from
> calling someone normally? In fact if I understand correctly it is
> half-duplex as opposed to full-duplex with a normal cell call. If one was
> to take a regular cell phone with speaker phone capability, what would the
> advantage to PTT be? I am not trying to be sarcastic, rather I am just
> wondering if I am missing something. Thanks!
>
> - Drek

I may not be entirely accurate in this portrayal, but the Verizon (and soon
others) version of PTT uses an "unconnected packet" approach; in which it
negotiates a path and connection for each transmission. The connection is
dropped as soon as the PTT button is released and the packet clears the last
tower into the receiver's area. This is the cause for the delay in connect
times. I believe this will be the way that the other carriers will try to
cash in on the success that Nextel has created with their trunked network.

OTOH, Nextel is a connected system, in which the connection; once
negotiated, is maintained until the conversation is finished and one of the
participants closes the connection. This is a view from a Direct Connect
perspective. Another good thing for consideration is the depth of
commitment that Nextel has created by making their service available to
public service, law enforcement, government, etc. users.

In the old days, the cellular carriers all had the equivalent of an "Access
Overload Class" which would stratify the users into levels of importance in
times of disaster or service overload. Usually, the garden variety citizen
would have a number around 15 on the list. That way, lower numbers in this
field would give higher priority access to the cellsite in times where the
service reached overload capacity.

With the amount of "professional" customers that Nextel has in service,
their system may fare better in an overload situation. I would venture a
guess that the cellsites that have a large government or enforcement user
base would be given a lot of support to keep them on the air in times of
disaster.

I have no concrete evidence to back this guess, but I feel it has some
merit.

This isn't so much an indication of 2-way over cellular, but possible
insight into the difference in the carriers and how their systems may hold
up at "crunch time".



"Drk" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hello,
>
> I am a Verizon wireless customer and was wondering what advantages the
> PTT (Push to Talk) features provides? I mean, is it all that different
from
> calling someone normally? In fact if I understand correctly it is
> half-duplex as opposed to full-duplex with a normal cell call. If one was
> to take a regular cell phone with speaker phone capability, what would the
> advantage to PTT be? I am not trying to be sarcastic, rather I am just
> wondering if I am missing something. Thanks!
>
> - Drek

I use PTT thru nextel to talk to my wife. I've used it to talk to co
workers for hours. Reason, I have unlimited direct connect for pennies
on the dollar compared to cellular. I have nationwide direct connect.
I have many friends with nextels.

[email protected] (Larry W4CSC) wrote in article
<[email protected]>:
> The only advantage it has is you can talk to a whole group of
> similarly-equipped people in the SAME GROUP at once. A boss can make
> announcements to all his employees at once, for instance, over a wide
> area.
>
> There are no advantages for speaking to one person, but many many
> disadvantages...lack of privacy, rudeness in public, and of course
> WAIT, WAIT, WAIT every time it switches.
>
>
>
> On Mon, 6 Oct 2003 23:40:39 -0400, Drk <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >Hello,
> >
> > I am a Verizon wireless customer and was wondering what advantages the
> >PTT (Push to Talk) features provides? I mean, is it all that different from
> >calling someone normally? In fact if I understand correctly it is
> >half-duplex as opposed to full-duplex with a normal cell call. If one was
> >to take a regular cell phone with speaker phone capability, what would the
> >advantage to PTT be? I am not trying to be sarcastic, rather I am just
> >wondering if I am missing something. Thanks!
> >
> >- Drek
>
>
> Larry W4CSC
>
> 3600 planes with transponders are burning 8-10 million
> gallons of kerosene per hour over the USA. R-12 car air
> conditioners are responsible for the ozone hole, right?

[posted via phonescoop.com]

I use PTT thru nextel to talk to my wife. I've used it to talk to co
workers for hours. Reason, I have unlimited direct connect for pennies
on the dollar compared to cellular. I have nationwide direct connect.
I have many friends with nextels.

[email protected] (Larry W4CSC) wrote in article
<[email protected]>:
> The only advantage it has is you can talk to a whole group of
> similarly-equipped people in the SAME GROUP at once. A boss can make
> announcements to all his employees at once, for instance, over a wide
> area.
>
> There are no advantages for speaking to one person, but many many
> disadvantages...lack of privacy, rudeness in public, and of course
> WAIT, WAIT, WAIT every time it switches.
>
>
>
> On Mon, 6 Oct 2003 23:40:39 -0400, Drk <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >Hello,
> >
> > I am a Verizon wireless customer and was wondering what advantages the
> >PTT (Push to Talk) features provides? I mean, is it all that different from
> >calling someone normally? In fact if I understand correctly it is
> >half-duplex as opposed to full-duplex with a normal cell call. If one was
> >to take a regular cell phone with speaker phone capability, what would the
> >advantage to PTT be? I am not trying to be sarcastic, rather I am just
> >wondering if I am missing something. Thanks!
> >
> >- Drek
>
>
> Larry W4CSC
>
> 3600 planes with transponders are burning 8-10 million
> gallons of kerosene per hour over the USA. R-12 car air
> conditioners are responsible for the ozone hole, right?

[posted via phonescoop.com]

Not sure if you new this or not, but you can shut the speaker off and
hold the phone up to your ear for PTT with a nextel. That way your
conversation is private. Just remember to push the button when
speaking.

[email protected] (penael ) wrote in article
<[email protected]>:
> Thanks for your posting. I've never been a fan of seeming-rude people
> broadcasting their conversation in the open air, but I DO get what you
> are trying to say. Now PTT makes at least a little sense to me.
>
>
> > ABOUT DC:
> > For us it is a very welcome addition. It takes some getting use to
> > but once you do (IMO) you will DC others that have Nextel units much
> > more than you will call them.
> >
> > First, the setup time is ~1 second vs. a phone call which is ~5-8
> > seconds. More significant is the async nature of direct connect. On
> > a phone call you are 'bound' to that interaction to the exclusion of
> > others. e.g. you can't be talking to somone in your office while on
> > your cell phone, etc. With DC it is more like using an instant
> > message service vs. a phone call. You can divide your attention
> > between other interactions.
> >
> > There is also the general felling of a DC interaction vs. a phone
> > call. It is hard to describe but I will give it a go... My wife and I
> > both have Nextel units and often DC each other in the course of
> > driving home (~30-50 min.) from work. Now, on a phone call we would
> > feel like we have to keep talking for the full time but with DC we can
> > just DC each other when we have something to say without the
> > expectation that one of us will be talking non-stop for 30 min. It
> > has the feel of a long conversation without the negitives, IMO.
> >
> > Same goes for work...you can DC someone who is woking on an issue to
> > answer questions, etc, off and on for hours without having to be on
> > the phone with them for hours.
> >
> > And, DC is unlimited on most plans for as you use DC between other
> > Nextel users you have far more min. available for phone calls.
>
>
> [posted via phonescoop.com]

[posted via phonescoop.com]

Not sure if you new this or not, but you can shut the speaker off and
hold the phone up to your ear for PTT with a nextel. That way your
conversation is private. Just remember to push the button when
speaking.

[email protected] (penael ) wrote in article
<[email protected]>:
> Thanks for your posting. I've never been a fan of seeming-rude people
> broadcasting their conversation in the open air, but I DO get what you
> are trying to say. Now PTT makes at least a little sense to me.
>
>
> > ABOUT DC:
> > For us it is a very welcome addition. It takes some getting use to
> > but once you do (IMO) you will DC others that have Nextel units much
> > more than you will call them.
> >
> > First, the setup time is ~1 second vs. a phone call which is ~5-8
> > seconds. More significant is the async nature of direct connect. On
> > a phone call you are 'bound' to that interaction to the exclusion of
> > others. e.g. you can't be talking to somone in your office while on
> > your cell phone, etc. With DC it is more like using an instant
> > message service vs. a phone call. You can divide your attention
> > between other interactions.
> >
> > There is also the general felling of a DC interaction vs. a phone
> > call. It is hard to describe but I will give it a go... My wife and I
> > both have Nextel units and often DC each other in the course of
> > driving home (~30-50 min.) from work. Now, on a phone call we would
> > feel like we have to keep talking for the full time but with DC we can
> > just DC each other when we have something to say without the
> > expectation that one of us will be talking non-stop for 30 min. It
> > has the feel of a long conversation without the negitives, IMO.
> >
> > Same goes for work...you can DC someone who is woking on an issue to
> > answer questions, etc, off and on for hours without having to be on
> > the phone with them for hours.
> >
> > And, DC is unlimited on most plans for as you use DC between other
> > Nextel users you have far more min. available for phone calls.
>
>
> [posted via phonescoop.com]

[posted via phonescoop.com]