Stringing in Hartford

[The Thing on The Sticks]

I'm thinking of moveing back to my native Connecticut and stringing untill I can land myself a staff job somewhere. My question for you fine people is do the local stations pay for stringer video, nights weekends etc. What is the competition like as in if anybody knows roughly how many others are here. And are the police and firedepartments up there useing any kind of encription on their frequencys that I would need a specialised scanner for.

Geoff

[Natural Born Stringer]

Looks like you're in luck with the radio systems. They are using standard EDACS. Have a look:

http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=TRSDB&sid=1023

(You might need to register to see this page - if so, it's free. Good site, highly recommended)

Right now RadioShack is closing out the PRO-95 for $150. That would be a perfect scanner for that area.

Good luck!

[jbar]

I picked up a pro-95 a couple months ago for $129 at Radio Shack...as NBS says: it's a nice scanner.

[andypoms]

RadioReference is a great site, you should also check out http://fordyce.org/scanboard/

CSP is digital, but in the clear
Bristol PD is digital & encrypted full time

There are a several different types of trunked radio systems from LTR to EDACS to Motorola for the localities.

[ June 29, 2005, 09:57 AM: Message edited by: fmrIntern ]

[The Thing on The Sticks]

thanks this helps what about the other stuff. How often do the statons there buy off stringers can I reasonably hope to make a liveing stringing in CT. What do they pay per story.

Geoff

[Natural Born Stringer]

Originally posted by The Thing on The Sticks:
thanks this helps what about the other stuff. How often do the statons there buy off stringers can I reasonably hope to make a liveing stringing in CT. What do they pay per story.

Geoff Don't know about Hartford, but here in Phoenix it's best to have a day job to pay the bills with, unless you can just run and gun 24/7. I did it full time for a while, and if I had been single I could have lived quite comfortably on just stringing, but add in a wife and 2 kids and things start getting scary at times, especially if there's a slump for a week or two.

If you're just starting out, I'd definitely recommend getting a day job for the first 6 months while you build a relationship with the stations. That way your not under immediate pressure to produce in an unknown market. If things turn out great, then you can always leave the day job early. Just about every major metro has a call center of some sort and they hire just about anybody - usually on the spot. These are a good source of bill paying money while you establish yourself, and they won't get too upset when you quit - people come and go in those places all the time.

[The Thing on The Sticks]

hmm well right now I am single and was thinking of trying to go full time if I could. And trying to move to a staff job eventualy. I would try and go straight to a staff job but my resume stuff is prety dated right now. I kinda figureed that this may give me a chance to shoot some good video and establish a relationship with the local CP's.

[Gallifk111]

Hey,
I used to live in CT. I stringed for NBC30 CT News. I also stringed for The Weather Channel. I am 22 and made some money here and there as I was trying to get my foot in the door at NBC30, but they could not because of my lack of expierence, none really, except for 'real world". So anyhow I just moved to TN last month and I am now working at a Station down here as a News Editor-Photographer and I am truly excited that I can do what I love.

[ July 04, 2005, 08:25 PM: Message edited by: Gallifk111 ]

[The Thing on The Sticks]

kevin

How were they about takeing stuff in, provided of course it was news worthy etc. If you had the footage would thay buy it or were there other considerations which might screw me if I do this. As I have stated before I would love to do news did some in college and loved it then too. But seeing how I have lost much of the content for my resume tape to magnetic or heat damage, not realy sure which. I need to do somthing to aquire new footage not to mention the thing about liveing for a while.

Geoff

[V-O Patrol]

In Minneapolis, they dont pay the greatest.. But I didnt get into being a stinger to become rich either... It's been nothing but a great educational experience for me. I am writing it of as FREE education!