Why International Film Crews Should Never Pack Their Own Walkie Talkies for Australian Shoots
Setting up an international feature film or major TV series in Melbourne makes perfect sense. The studio facilities are world-class, the urban locations are versatile, and the local Australian crews are some of the best in the business.
But when a Line Producer sitting in Los Angeles or London tries to save a line item by throwing 100 walkie-talkies into a Pelican case and flying them over, they are walking into a massive logistical trap.
If you are crewing up for a shoot down under, here is why you need to leave your comms at home and hire locally.
The ACMA Frequency Trap
Radio frequencies are not universal. The airwaves in Australia are strictly monitored by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). The two-way radio frequencies that are perfectly legal for a soundstage in Hollywood might be reserved for emergency services, police, or commercial operations in downtown Melbourne.
If your international crew fires up imported radios and accidentally steps on a restricted Australian channel, the ACMA won't just ask you nicely to switch channels—they can shut down your production and hand out massive fines.
When you rent walkie talkies for film crews locally, that legal headache completely disappears. Our fleet is fully licensed, legally programmed, and ready to transmit safely the moment you call "Action."
Seamless Synergy with the Local Crew
When your international Directors and Heads of Department land, they need to instantly mesh with the local Australian hires.
If the US team brings their own comms and the local Melbourne grips and gaffers are using theirs, the set breaks down. You cannot have two different radio systems operating on the same studio floor.
The Motorola DP2600 is the undisputed industry standard for film production in Australia. By renting this exact local standard, your entire crew syncs up instantly. You can easily carve out dedicated multi-channel loops (Channel 1 for Production, Channel 2 for Camera/Grips, Channel 3 for Art) so everyone is on the same page.
(And yes, we supply the mandatory discrete in-ear earpieces so your 1st AD can whisper background cues without spilling audio into a live take).
The Ultimate Lifesaver: Same-Day Weekend Pickup
Here is the biggest reality check of bringing your own gear: film sets are brutal on equipment, and they don't operate on a Monday-to-Friday schedule.
If you bring your own comms from overseas and a radio gets crushed by a camera dolly on a Saturday morning, or your daily extra count suddenly balloons by 20 people for a Sunday shoot, you can't just overnight replacements from California.
Because Roar Radios is a hands-on Melbourne business, we act as your immediate backup. If you need extra radios, replacement batteries, or fresh earpieces, we can have them prepped and ready for same-day pickup from our Melbourne office—even on weekends. Just send your Unit Runner our way, and we'll have the gear programmed and waiting so they can be back on set before lunch. You handle the creative. We’ll make sure your crew stays connected.
Planning your Melbourne shoot? Drop us a line with your dates and crew size.
