Tag: megaphones

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The Best Bullhorn Used To Manage Crowds

A THUN-1200 bullhorn used to manage crowds at an outdoor fair is currently resting on a field beside vendor tents.

Are you getting ready for your next big outdoor event? While there are plenty of factors to prioritize — from sanitation and pest control, to permits, power, and cleanup — the one area you can’t afford to go without is communication. Make sure that you have all of the equipment necessary for keeping your event organized, efficient — and, most importantly, safe. If you’re anticipating a lot of people, here are our suggestions on the communication areas you’ll need to focus on, as well as the best bullhorn used to manage crowds.

Lighting

If your event runs after sunset, do you have the proper lighting planned? This isn’t just for your vendors and performers — we’re also referring to lights that will help your customers know where to park, find their way around your venue, and know where to go in the event of an emergency. And, if the weather ever becomes too troublesome, that lighting could also come in handy with the next item on our list.

Directing Traffic to a Backup Location

Having a secondary location in mind for your event is ideal if you’re anticipating any last-minute changes. Weather is certainly a big one, but it’s possible that other unforeseen circumstances would warrant a new venue. Regardless of the reason, you’ll want to make sure that the majority of your equipment is easy to transport and reassemble at your backup site. The lighting we mentioned above could be part of those efforts if the secondary location is within walking distance, or to identify it for others when arriving by car. 

Coordinating these efforts also means advanced prep work, as well as the best bullhorns to relay instructions if and when the time comes.

Bullhorns (or Megaphones)

Whether you call them bullhorns or megaphones, these are the best tools for interacting with — and directing — large groups of people. Vendors can use them to get more people to come to their tents or displays, parking attendants can use them to direct traffic, and stage performers can use them to get your crowd energized. They’re also ideal for communicating group instructions to event team members while they’re breaking down and transporting equipment, responding to emergencies, or getting attendees to listen to important announcements. 

In our experience, the best bullhorn to manage crowds is the THUN-1200. Referred to as “The Earthquake Maker,” it offers 45 watts of power and a range of up to 2000 yards! 

How loud is that, exactly? We’re talking the same level as a rock concert or a thunder clap. In other words, you will be the loudest voice at your event. 

To stay portable in spite of its size, the THUN-1200 comes with a carrying strap and a palm mic. It’s also designed with heavy-duty, industrial-grade plastic to protect it from normal wear and tear, including potential drops that may happen along the way.

Does the THUN-1200 sound like too much megaphone for your event? We offer other models with reduced ranges to fit any venue, crowd size, or personal preference. Check out our full lineup, all of which are on sale as of this post!

Honorable Mention: Industrial Two-Way Radios

Looking for a less conspicuous way to coordinate a crowd? Don’t forget about industrial two-way radios. These are designed to make every aspect of your event appear effortless, thanks to uninterrupted, dependable, crystal-clear communication. You can also pair them with earpieces and speaker mics to give your users a more hands-free experience while they work.

Head over to our friends at Discount Two-Way Radio for more information about the best models that will fit your needs and budget.

Ready To Choose Your Next Bullhorn?

While we think the best bullhorn used to manage crowds is the THUN-1200, don’t be discouraged from comparing all of ThunderPower’s phenomenal models. It really comes down to crowd size, venue location, and what you’ve got planned that will determine the best bullhorn for your needs.

While you can certainly compare the specs for these models on our website, why not make that process easier and talk directly with one of our megaphone specialists? Give us a call at 877-782-7073 when you’re ready to learn more.

Looking for more bullhorn tips when it comes to larger crowds? Check out our three strategies for attracting one!

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Bullhorns and Megaphones: What’s the Difference?

Megaphones and bullhorns concept. A vintage, wooden megaphone is compared to a current-day bullhorn, with the tagline,

Maybe you’ve already been using bullhorns and megaphones for a while, or perhaps this is the first time you’re looking to purchase. Either way, you may have wondered: is there a difference between the two? And does that mean you’ve been looking at the wrong products? Learn more about what each term really means, its history, and the models that we recommend.

Is There Really a Difference?

Technically, yes. 

Megaphones came first. These are defined as horn- or cone-shaped tubes that make sound audible over greater-than-normal distances. Bullhorns are actually a type of megaphone, but are defined as those that project sound electronically. 

It’s that simple.

That being said, most people use these terms interchangeably today, to the point that distinguishing them isn’t so important when you decide to go shopping. You can use either term and still find the products you’re looking for, without having to worry about ending up with a simple plastic tube you could have easily fashioned yourself. Not that there’s anything wrong with traditional megaphones — they share a long history with the Olympics and cheerleading, after all.

How Long Have Bullhorns and Megaphones Been Around?

You might think the 1908 Olympics were a long time ago, but megaphones have arguably been in use for far longer. According to Acoustical Engineer, Native Americans and the ancient Greeks both used versions of “speaking horns” to communicate with large crowds and during theater performances, respectively.

By comparison, bullhorns are still babies, having only been around since the 1950s after the development of microelectronics.

How Do Bullhorns and Megaphones Work?

Bullhorns and megaphones depend on the concepts of directivity and acoustic impedance. Again, Acoustical Engineer offers the best summary of each: directivity measures “how much sound energy goes in what direction,” while acoustic impedance measures the amount of resistance that sound encounters as it crosses different forms of matter. For example, when you speak, the sound from your vocal cords encounters acoustic impedance from the air as it leaves your mouth — so much so that some of that sound is even reflected backwards.

Megaphones ease this transition so that more sound is able to pass from you into the air, allowing it to be audible farther away.

Bullhorns operate on the same principles, but offer expanded range thanks to electronic components like microphones and amplified speakers. Most bullhorns are handheld units, although some get large enough that they require these components to be separated. The THUN-1200, for example, is designed to be carried with a shoulder strap, while allowing users to communicate through a corded microphone similar to those you see on mobile two-way radios.

What Are the Best Options?

Below, you’ll find a full breakdown of each of the bullhorns that ThunderPower currently offers, including their ranges and the industries or activities that benefit from them the most. As of this blog post, all of our units are also on sale!

THUN-150. Operating at 15 watts, this bullhorn can project sound up to 600 yards. It requires eight (8) AA batteries, and is ideal for teachers, parade operators, event organizers, tour groups, sporting events, and cheerleading.

THUN-120. Similar to the THUN-150, this unit also operates at 15 watts and takes eight (8) AAs, but increases its maximum range to 800 yards. This comes in handy for coaching and cheerleading, as well as theater productions, school and university crowd control, parades, fairs, and farmers’ markets.

THUN-250. This bullhorn offers 25 watts of power, reaches up to 1200 yards, and requires six (6) C batteries. It’s designed to work best for teachers, coaches, demonstrators, law enforcement, and preachers.

THUN-450. Eight (8) C batteries gives this model 35 watts of power and a range of up to 1400 yards, which is perfect for political rallies, outdoor festivals, religious congregations, and sporting events.

THUN-1200. Commonly referred to as “The Earthquake Maker,” this is the loudest and biggest bullhorn we carry. It packs a punch at 45 watts, giving you a range of up to 2000 yards, and only requires eight (8) C batteries. This model is ideal for military training, law enforcement, firefighters, security professionals, and mass gatherings.

Are You Ready To Buy Your Next Bullhorns or Megaphones?

It doesn’t matter what you call them, it only matters that you’re heard. If you have any questions about the information above or the megaphones and bullhorns that we offer, don’t hesitate to give us a call at 877-782-7073. Our experts are ready to help you find the best models to fit your needs.

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The 4 Best Ways To Improve School Intercom Systems

A teacher uses a THUN-150 megaphone to get the attention of students outside their lockers.

This year, the US is estimated to have more than 49.9 million students in the public school system — that’s a lot of kids! With classes now back in session, it’s imperative that your educators, administrators, and staff have the tools they need to keep programs organized and safe for everyone involved. That organization depends on an effective communications network. If you’re looking for ways to update yours, ThunderPower is here to help! Check out our list of the four (4) best ways to improve school intercom systems.

1. Invest in Powerful Megaphones

Whether you’re trying to be heard over rowdy students at an auditorium meeting, or to get players and fans hyped up during an outdoor game, megaphones and bullhorns will serve you well. They’ve also been an essential component to school intercom systems for many years. Mentioning them may conjure up images of football games, pep rallies, homecoming parades, swim meets, and cheerleading squads. 

They’re equally important to the administrative and security sides of education. School crossing guards, principals, superintendents, and hall monitors can use them to get the attention of large crowds and relay information to keep those people informed and safe.

Regardless of who’s using these devices, there are a couple important questions to keep in mind when choosing the best megaphones for the job:

How many people are you talking to?

How wide of a space are you working in?

For instance, if you’re trying to get the attention of a hallway of students, you’ll probably only need the range of the THUN-150 at most. But if you’re facing a large crowd at a major school sporting event…well, you might need to bust out the “The Earthquake Maker” if you want everyone to hear you.

Regardless of their size or range, the nice part about ThunderPower megaphones is that all of them feature alerts and sirens that are clear and effective at getting people’s attention.

2. Install Wireless PA Systems

We all know how schools love to use public address (PA) systems to make daily announcements, or to send out alerts when classes start and end. But maintaining or updating your system can be both expensive and cumbersome due to the extensive wiring that is required throughout your buildings. 

Wireless PA systems are a great alternative for augmenting school intercom systems. You can make an announcement from anywhere on campus, thanks to a combination of wireless speakers and two-way radios. Speakers work anywhere that you can plug them into a power outlet. Plus, when you choose the best two-way radios in the industry, you’ll have optimum coverage and crystal-clear sound. (More on that below.)

Does this make you worry that you’ll have to gut your current PA system? Don’t sweat it. You can keep what you have and simply integrate wireless units wherever you need. The same goes for syncing them with the two-way radios you’ll use to make these announcements. 

That’s still cheaper and more convenient than updating a wired network.

3. Stock Up on Two-Way Radios

School intercom systems work better with two-way radios. Portable handheld units and compact base stations are the most convenient means of staying in touch with school faculty, custodians, security, contractors, and other officials while on campus. 

We’ll admit, we are a little biased as to what we consider the best two-way radios on the market. Our parent company, Discount Two-Way Radio, has long touted the benefits of the RCA radio brand, so we’d be remiss if we didn’t recommend them here.

Plus, we’ve heard from many school systems that have made the switch to RCA that they appreciate the durability, sound, performance, and battery life of those units. (Need references? We’d be happy to provide them!)

4. Take Advantage of ESSER Funds

During the start of the pandemic, Congress passed the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) program. These ESSER funds are meant to finance school upgrades for minimizing the spread of COVID-19, from stocking up on personal protective equipment (PPE) and installing improved air filters, to updating school communications equipment and emergency response.

Megaphones, wireless PA systems, and two-way radios are generally eligible, although it’s best to check with your state board of education and school district to make sure there aren’t any limitations. The best part is that you don’t have to use these funds immediately — you just have to establish a plan for how you’re going to allocate them. 

While the first of three ESSER funds must be obligated soon (September 30th), you can still apply for ESSER II and ARP ESSER. You can find more information about each ESSER fund here. Should you choose to take advantage of these funds, ESSER II must be obligated by September 30th of next year, and ARP ESSER by September 30th of 2024.

Choosing Solutions for School Intercom Systems

If you’d like to apply any of these solutions to your own intercom system, we’re ready to help. Give us a call today at 877-782-7073 to discuss inventory and pricing, as well as any additional questions you may have.

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Use These 3 Genius Strategies to Attract a Crowd

Use a bullhorn to attract a political crowd

Drawing a crowd is the whole objective behind presenting a position, statement, or platform. Politicians, preachers, and peddlers throughout history have needed to attract a crowd in order for people to hear their messages. And in many cases, the megaphone has been one of the most effective ways to attract a crowd. However, even with a megaphone in hand, what are some other strategies to draw a crowd?  Below are three of the most foolproof ways of bringing a crowd to your message:

Strategy One: Crowds Attract Crowds

The late evangelist, teacher and author, R.A. Torrey, once wrote:

“Get as many people to go with you as possible. Crowds draw crowds. There is great power in numbers. One man can go out on the street alone and hold a meeting; I have done it myself; but if I can get fifteen or twenty reliable men to go with me, I will get them every time.”

The famous preacher was correct. Crowds attract people, and using a voice amplification tool like a bullhorn is a great way to attract a crowd. It’s a sociological phenomenon that when people see other people gathering, their curiosity gets the best of them, and they are drawn toward the crowd to see what is happening.  People are just curious by nature and want to be in the know.

People also love to be entertained; be a part of the group and involved in a perceived conflict. Another great example to underline the power of this strategy is to think about businesses. If a restaurant is busy, it must be good and need to be tried. How about Barnes and Nobles? Half the people inside these stores aren’t buying a thing, they are just hanging out in comfortable chairs. This is a purposeful marketing strategy to attract a crowd that one day will actually buy something.

Another clever strategy for attracting crowds is to involve what are sometimes called, “rent-a-crowd.” Street preachers have used this trick for years, inviting Christian brethren to help draw crowds and invite others to participate.

Strategy Two: Turn Up the Music

Using live music to draw a crowd has been a trusty go-to strategy for more than 200 years. In fact, the famous street preachers George Whitefield and Charles Wesley were both musical prodigies and used the streets as open air chapels and musical street corner ministries. The Salvation Army picked up where Whitefield and Wesley left off, and “invaded” America with their “Six Hallelujah Lassies” in 1880. And the music doesn’t necessarily need to be professionally polished either. Hymns, ballads, dittys, duets, instrumentals – any kind of music played in the open air is great way to draw crowds.

Strategy Three: Use Trivia Questions to Pique a Crowd’s Interest

What is the largest freshwater lake in the world? Who is the Benedictine monk who invented Champaign?  How many furlongs are in a mile?

Catch you by surprise? Having trivia questions thrown at you is not only fun, it’s also a great way to draw a crowd, and keep them coming back. In fact, one of the most influential street preachers in history, Ray Comfort, is credited with being one of the first people to leverage this strategy. He would start every one of corner preaches by asking trivia questions to draw a crowd. He would also give a dollar to each person who answers correctly.

He pointed out that initially people are slow to gather because they are naturally wary of the man using a megaphone, standing on a box and giving away money. But once they realize he is giving away his own money for answers to trivia questions, their love for money takes over and they begin shouting answers. The sound of people shouting, laughing, and clapping is the kind of raucousness that lures curious people to join the crowd.

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ThunderPower Megaphones and Cheerleading Have a Great History

Megaphones and cheerleading have gone together for years. Both are used to energize crowds during sporting events.

When it comes to cheerleading, the ThunderPower Megaphone has been a visible tool on the sidelines of hundreds of sporting events for decades. Whether it’s a cheering for a football team, basketball team, or even roller derby, ThunderPower Bullhorns are the number one choice for majorettes across the country.

The megaphone is a portable handheld, cone-shaped device used to amplify the human voice in any direction and is most often used at events involving large audiences. There are two kinds of megaphones, acoustic and powered. The acoustic kind is shaped like a funnel where the voice can be projected from the wide end or “bell”. These days, most people use battery powered electric megaphone like the ThunderPower 250 because it is so much easier to use when wanting to project your voice for sporting events, rallies, or cheerleading events.

ThunderPower Megaphone Works Great for All Sporting and Cheerleading Events

The ThunderPower Megaphone is considered one of the most powerful and well-made bullhorns anywhere and is especially popular for cheerleading squads. Because ThunderPower bullhorns come in a variety of sizes and power options, they can be used at every playing field configuration, pool or waterway, and hardwood or concrete court. But what really makes ThunderPower megaphones so popular is that they are all constructed from industrial grade materials and designed for maximum comfort and ergonomic appeal. The hardware, attached parts, and the lightweight chassis allows the ThunderPower megaphone to pack plenty of power in a lightweight, easy-to-handle design. Most ThunderPower megaphones come with a combination of standard talk speaker mode and a built-in siren and whistle component for maximum attention getting ability.

The specific models of ThunderPower megaphones available include:

  • ThunderPower 120 – 15 Watts, and a 700 Yard Range for $49.00
  • ThunderPower 150 (Ultra compact) – 15 Watts and a 600 Yard Range for $59.00
  • ThunderPower 250 – 25 Watts and a 800 Yard Range for $79.00
  • ThunderPower 450 (Palm Mic) – 35 Watts and a 1200 Yard Range for $109.00
  • ThunderPower 1200 – 45 Watts and a 2000 Yard Range for $189.00

The History of the Megaphone and Cheerleading

The origin of the megaphone can be traced back to seventeenth century England when a religious scholar began exploring ways to amplify his voice. He found that by forming a funnel shaped cone, his voice could be both directed and amplified dramatically. Throughout the centuries, the megaphone continued to be leveraged by athletes, actors, and activists. However, it was in the 1880’s when the megaphone started playing a big part of cheerleading teams. Although women currently dominate the world of cheerleading, the original cheering concept was started by men. In 1884 Princeton University got the idea that crowd chanting at football games would boost school spirit so they came up with a catchy cheer. The University of Minnesota heard about the novel idea for arousing spirit, and so in 1898 the university cheer club created their own catchy cheer:

 “Rah, Rah, Rah! Ski-U-Mah! Hoo-Rah! Varsity! Varsity! Varsity! Minn-E-So-Tah!”

Inventor Henry C. Dalrymple developed and patented the first electric voice amplifier using a microphone.

Modern Electronics Magazine

That same year, the University of Minnesota organized the first official cheerleading fraternity, and before long other colleges caught on making organized cheers yelled through a megaphone a common addition to many sporting events. By the 1920s women joined the sport of cheerleading, but the men’s voices were the ones that were projected through the megaphone.

Obviously, the earlier, funnel-shaped megaphones were totally acoustic, absent of any electricity. However, by the nineteenth century Thomas Edison had invented the phonograph, and recognizing the potential, inventor Henry C. Dalrymple developed and patented the first electric voice amplifier using a microphone.

Today, the modern megaphone like ThunderPower bullhorns are used for the modern era of cheerleading, where it is less about eliciting audience participation, and more about entertaining spectators with flashy moves and dance routines. But regardless of how cheerleading advances and evolves, the ThunderPower Megaphone will always be home on the sidelines.

To find out more about ThunderPower megaphones, call one of our friendly and knowledgeable sales representatives at 866-927-7955.

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ThunderPower Megaphone’s Ten Favorite Protest Songs

This is a picture of a woman using a megaphone during a protest.

Megaphone’s are great for protests. In fact, there is a good chance that if someone is singing a protest song, walking in a demonstration, or marching for a cause, a ThunderPower Megaphone is probably somewhere nearby. Almost daily, ThunderPower, the most powerful bullhorn in the industry, is being used by protesters demonstrating against everything from politics to petroleum.

But why are ThunderPower Megaphones so popular with people who have something to say and need to be heard? It’s probably because ThunderPower bullhorns are considered one of the best voice amplification tools on the planet, able to project the range of the human voice much further than non-battery powered megaphones. In addition, because ThunderPower Megaphones are so well made, they can take the punishment of even the most chaotic environment.

The ThunderPower Lineup of Megaphones

Since its founding more than 22 years ago, ThunderPower Megaphones has been a big supporter of free speech and public demonstrations. We believe that protests and demonstrations have been an important part of American history going all the way back to the famous Boston Tea protest in 1773.

ThunderPower Megaphones

ThunderPower Megaphone line-up includes several models of high-quality battery powered bullhorns that have a variety of unique features that can be used during any size demonstration when you want to lift your voice above the crowd.

The ThunderPower collection of battery powered bullhorns include:

  • ThunderPower 120 – 15 Watts w 700 Yard Range w $49.00
  • ThunderPower 150 (Ultra compact) – 15 Watts w 600 Yard Range w $59.00
  • ThunderPower 250 – 25 Watts w 800 Yard Range w $79.00
  • ThunderPower 450 (Palm Mic) – 35 Watts w 1200 Yard Range w $109.00
  • ThunderPower 1200 – 45 Watts w 2000 Yard Range w $189.00

ThunderPower Believes in Free Speech and Helps People be Heard

Since its founding more than 22 years ago, ThunderPower Megaphones has been a big supporter of free speech, protest songs, and public demonstrations. We believe that protests and demonstrations have been an important part of American history going all the way back to the famous Boston Tea protest in 1773.  Throughout the years, protests and demonstrations have been a powerful strategy for Americans to leverage when they need to be heard, and ThunderPower Megaphones is proud to be a favorite choice for people when they have the need to be heard.

Ten of America’s Most Famous Protest Songs

Because ThunderPower bullhorns are so popular at rallies, demonstrations, and marches, we thought it might be interesting to share some of the top protest songs in America’s history according to a recent poll by RollingStone Magazine.

Number One: “Masters of War” by Bob Dylan

While it was President Dwight D. Eisenhower that warned the country about the dangers of a “military-industrial complex”, it was Bob Dylan who wrote his protest song that funneled his anger at arms dealers who were making a fortune and spreading their money all around Washington, D.C.

Number Two: “Ohio” by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

After Neil Young saw a photo of a 14-year-old girl kneeling over the dead body of a Kent State student, he poured his rage and sadness into the song he called “Ohio”. A day after he wrote the song, he called his bandmates (Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young) into the studio to record the new song.

Number Three: “For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield

While many people think that Stephen Stills wrote “For What It’s Worth” about Vietnam, it was a protest song in support of Hollywood’s Sunset Strip hippies who fought the police over a potential new curfew.

Number Four: “The Times They Are a Changin” by Bob Dylan

Written just a few weeks after John F. Kennedy’s death and just a few months before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 passed, Bob Dylan beautifully summed up massive cultural changes he was witnessing in a three-minute folk song.

Number Five: “Eve of Destruction” by Barry McGuire

When P.F. Sloan wrote the “Eve of Destruction” in 1965, Barry McGuire quickly took the song to reflect the early days of the Vietnam war, the Cuban Missile Crisis and widespread fear of a nuclear war that would destroy the world.

Number Six: “Killing in the Name” by Rage Against the Machine

“Killing in the Name” combines a unique fusion of rap and rock and was released in 1992. It’s a furious song about racism, police brutality and defiance, culminating in a furious cry. This song stirs a crowd like no other song in human history.

Number Seven: “Blowing in the Wind” by Bob Dylan

“Blowin’ in the Wind” is considered one of the most popular protest songs of all time. It’s been translated into at least a dozen languages, featured in many movies and played live 2,500 times by Dylan alone.

Number Eight: “Fortunate Son” by Creedence Clearwater Revival

John Fogerty wrote “Fortunate Son” 45 years ago, but it continues to move people. Ironically, the artist actually served in the Army Reserves and wrote the song about how rich families made sure their own children never made their way to Vietnam. Like most great protest songs, it’s as relevant today as it was on the day of its release.

Number Nine: “Hurricane” by Bob Dylan

After ten years from writing his last protest song, Bob Dylan returned again to write about Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, a professional boxer in jail for a murder he claimed he didn’t commit. The tune is an impassioned eight-minute piece about Hurricane’s ordeal.

Number Ten: “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die Rag” by Country Joe and the Fish

A straightforward and simple song, Country Joe McDonald spoke for young people all over America when he released the anti-Vietnam classic “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-To-Die Rag.” “One, two, three, what are we fighting for?” he sang. “Don’t ask me, I don’t give a damn/Next stop is Vietnam.” The song exploded when the artist sang an impromptu rendition at Woodstock.

For more information on how you can add a ThunderPower Megaphone to your next protest, call 866-927-7955.

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Rowing Clubs Rely on ThunderPower Megaphones & RCA Two-Way Radios

Female rower with ThunderPower megaphone and RCA two-way radio.

Discount Two-Way Radio is the exclusive distributor for both RCA professional two-way radios and ThunderPower megaphones, combining two powerful communications tools under one roof. After all, the two products are almost family, with some of the common threads being they both improve safety, productivity, and efficiency through improved communications.

Recently, a California crew team, “Pacific Rowing Club”, combined the power of both RCA two-way radios and ThunderPower megaphones for its San Francisco Bay Area group of scullers. The group is a youth rowing club that teaches 6th – 12th grade students the sport of rowing. Because the sport is completely focused on obtaining perfect balance, coordinating movement, and maximizing power, the Pacific Rowing Club coaches and trainers rely on two-way radios to communicate among themselves and their young rowers while leading or following the rowers on a boat. In addition, instructions on correcting hand-height on the oars, head positions in the shell, and body centeredness on the footboards are all communicated via the powerful ThunderPower Megaphone.

“Many of our customers take advantage of the synergy between two-way radios and megaphones by purchasing them together as a kind of communication bundle. The Pacific Rowing Club is a great example of how they combined both radios and megaphones for an improved coaching scenario.

Ben Burns, Founder Discount Two-Way Radio and ThunderPower megaphones

Ben explained that because the team practices on water, the coach has to observe somewhere on the land, along with coordinating with other trainers along the raceway or back at the boatyard. Therefore the coaches decided to combine the ThunderPower 1200  megaphone and RCA2500 two-way radios as the perfect communication solution for their club needs.

About ThunderPower 1200 Megaphones

The ThunderPower 1200 is the most powerful megaphones on the market, and with 45 Watts of power it can communicate over 2,000 yards away! In addition, a cigarette plug power supply makes it possible to charge the megaphones straight from a vehicle, so you don’t have to worry about batteries.

Another quality the rowing club appreciated about the ThunderPower 1200 was its extra strong polycarbonate design, making it tough enough to use in harsh environments like on open water, beachside, or launching dock. In addition, the ThunderPower 1200 has a handheld microphone that delivers amazing clarity, and shoulder strap for easy carrying. Discount Two-Way Radio also offers complete VIP support and guarantees the megaphone with a comprehensive one-year warranty.

About RCA RDR2500 Radios

Regarding two-way radio recommendations, one of DTWR’s professional account representatives advised the rowing club that RDR2500 radios would be perfect for them because of the radio’s durability, reliability, and affordability. The team ultimately purchased a fleet of radios that included:

  • Genuine RCA RDR2500 Digital Handheld Radios
  • Genuine RCA Handheld Radio Antennas
  • Genuine RCA Handheld Lithium Batteries
  • RCA Heavy-Duty Belt Clips
  • Genuine Six Bank Rapid Charger Package
  • Genuine RCA Speaker Mics 

In addition, because the Pacific Rowing Club has been a long-time customer of DTWR, they safely stored a complete record of the club’s radio frequencies and programming information, so factory trained technicians were able custom program the radios exactly the way they needed. With the largest two-way radio selection and inventory in the industry, DTWR was also able to ship the team’s order out the same day for next day delivery.

To find out more about ThunderPower megaphones, call one of our friendly and knowledgeable sales representatives at 877-782-7073.

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Hollywood Continues to Love ThunderPower Megaphones and Bullhorns

One of Hollywood’s most vivid images is of a director sitting in a folding canvas chair holding a heavy-duty megaphone in front of his mouth and yelling, “Lights, Camera, Action!”  Believe it or not, while very few of those quintessential romantic images still occur on a Hollywood set, the ThunderPower megaphone continues to play a big part of movie sets, television talent competitions, reality TV shows, and even as stage props.

Hollywood Producer Robert Koster recalls vividly how his megaphone was critical while shooting a film on Hawaii’s North Shore.

“We were filming in a house on the North Shore, several acres of property. The AD’s (assistant directors) had to operate with bullhorns, hand signals, signal mirrors, anything that could help us communicate. I personally loved the megaphone because the crew could easily hear the command to ‘Roll it!,” said Koster in his memoir Adventures in Hollywood.

The fact is, ThunderPower megaphones are the loudest and most durable megaphones in the world, making them a popular addition to movie and television sets across the country. Not only are they perfect for a tight budget, they also are durable enough to survive even the most rugged location conditions or on-set abuse. 

“Celebrities like to be seen. But when they want to be heard, they use ThunderPower Megaphones,” said Ben Burns, CEO and Founder of Discount Two-Way Radio, the parent company of ThunderPower Megaphones.

Megaphone to the Stars

Because megaphones are incredibly popular for the entertainment industry, it’s not surprising to learn that ThunderPower is often seen on the sets and in the hands of celebrities.

Ryan Seacrest, the host of American Idol, recently used the ThunderPower 450 to generate energy among 10,000 American Idol contestants and even leveraged the bullhorn’s powerful 35 watts of power and decibel strength to garner a sing along among the crowd. This scenario also underscored how the ThunderPower megaphone works incredibly well when needing to engage in crowd control.

When Kirstie Alley was filming her reality TV show, “Kirstie Alley’s Big Life,” the actress used a ThunderPower heavy-duty megaphone to direct her family members through an emergency preparedness drill. The scene punctuated how megaphones can be excellent tools to navigate family members toward safety in case of a fire, earthquake, tornado, and many more.  

Fiery celebrity cook Gordon Ramsey also used a ThunderPower megaphone to loudly direct his cooks on “Hell’s Kitchen” while 80’s rocker Cyndi Lauper used one on her show “Cyndi Lauper: Still So Unusual.”

Our megaphones have helped other celebrities communicate on TV shows like “So You Think You Can Dance,” “Master Chef,” “Monk,” “Last Comic Standing,” and “Sharknado.”

But don’t get the impression that these lightweight and powerful megaphones are only used by movie and television stars. The ThunderPower megaphone also gets red-carpet treatment from these important stars as well:

  • U.S. Army
  • U.S. Marines
  • U.S. Navy
  • NASA
  • Churches
  • Schools

“ThunderPower is the premier megaphone supplier to Hollywood, the military and everyone from the Pop Warner coach to the school principal. ThunderPower has earned a reputation for quality and power,” said Burns.

To find out more about ThunderPower megaphones, call one of our friendly and knowledgeable sales representatives at 866-927-7955.