Prop Phone

[Micah]

Hey folks,

 

I've been using an app called 'prop phone' recently to make iphones ring on stage, but I think it only works with a 1 to 1 pair of phones. I now need to make a bunch of different phones ring in a show, and if I use that app I'll essentially double the number of working iphones I need to source, which will get expensive. Does anyone know a good way to make phones ring on stage? I'm in a very small theater where the audience can easily tell when sounds are coming from, so a iem in a bag isn't going to cut it...

Ideas?

 

Cheers guys,

 

Micah

 

p.s. - I was thinking of putting this in the props forum, but it seems much more active in here, and you guys know this sort of stuff, right? ...right?

[Mixermend]

Small home/office telephone PABX's from China are now inexpensive (check eBay)and available with as few as 4, 6 or 8 extensions. They work with standard phones - so plug in and use.

 

Such a telephone switching system will surely find other uses after this performance - so could be a handy investment.

 

(One maker of these products uses the same name as my company - please note that I have NO connection with them, although I get occasional enquiries from users asking how to program them!).

[david.elsbury]

John, not sure exactly how a PBX would help the OP, who wants to make iPhones (or at least, cellphones) ring on stage?

 

David

[cedd]

It's a shame that these units aren't a little smaller. One could maybe live under a table that the phone is sat on though? Needs mains but a battery bodgy shouldn't be that hard.

 

How big does the prop phone need to be? If it can be a slightly larger model then you could get hold of one of these, a simple amplifier, a speaker and a remote control module like a garage door opener. Might be an option?

[Shez]

Someone cleverer than I might be able to answer this one... How complex or otherwise would it be to create an app (for whatever flavour of phone) that would enable it to play a sound file (e.g. a ringtone) under the control of another device connected to the same wifi network? (I'm perhaps slightly inspired by the latest version of Airfader which allows several smartphones to interact with one "server" tablet so that several musicians can tweak their monitor mixes at the same time - the communication aspect is obviously possible.)

 

In my mind, it seems quite simple although perhaps rather niche. I've never looked at phone app development in any detail although I'm not new to software programming on other platforms. Seems like it would be an increasingly useful app for our business. I'll expect 5% commission on all sales ;)

[sleah]

Two ideas if we are keeping it hi-tech ;)

 

If one is *determined* to use iPhones, one rather over-engineered way would be use that (now working apparently ) feature where you can set it so it only allows certain numbers to activate the ringer.... and make sure it will only respond to the phone back-stage. B-)

 

Or... (and this is not phone specific) is to just buy a pile of pre-pay SIM cards, and don't tell anyone the numbers :) there's only the slight chance that someone will *not* try to sell you something or let you know you are owed £4327 in miss-sold PPI half way through the show. Actually - that might make things a bit more realistic :** laughs out loud **: :** laughs out loud **: :** laughs out loud **: :** laughs out loud **:

[peza2010]

Have a google for find my iphone.

 

Im a android user, that uses a similar service called wheres my droid. Essentially created for if you lose your phone around your house, but you logon to the website, click a button and your phone pops itself out of silent mode and starts ringing. On my connection its instantanious, however I cant gurantee it will be for you.

 

You should be able to do this with as many phones as you like - and im certain there is the same thing available for iphones. (you can make your own mind up if this is accurate enough to work for props)

[kalmatthew]

Also look at Media servers that allow the phone be a DLNA player, you could use a device at the control point to control multiple phones to make them play what ever you want. Might take some playing with but would also allow one phone to play different rings.

[Mixermend]

John, not sure exactly how a PBX would help the OP, who wants to make iPhones (or at least, cellphones) ring on stage?

 

David

 

You are quite right - I didn't read the question properly - assuming normal wired type phones.......

 

I can imagine guilty looks in the audience at the sound of a mobile phone ringing though! Seems a little ironic to hear such noises coming from the stage?

[pritch]

If one is *determined* to use iPhones, one rather over-engineered way would be use that (now working apparently ) feature where you can set it so it only allows certain numbers to activate the ringer.... and make sure it will only respond to the phone back-stage. B-)

 

Or... (and this is not phone specific) is to just buy a pile of pre-pay SIM cards, and don't tell anyone the numbers :)

 

The thing about relying on the mobile network is that you're not guaranteed to have the phone ring when you need it. Try it now, if you don't believe me - ring your mobile, either from another mobile or a landline, and time how long it takes.

 

Now try it again - did it take the same amount of time? Might do. Might not - sometimes it'll be almost immediate, other times it could take ten seconds or more from the time you dial.

[mervaka]

Have you thought about snooping on what happens on the network when you initiate a call, and writing a small program to recreate those conditions?

 

Shame it isn't a landline phone, you could stick a 50V ~20Hz AC wave on the line to make the phone ring.