Friends who are engaged in overseas cultural tourism, museum operation or corporate reception often make a mistake when choosing a tour guide machine manufacturer: comparing the quotations of several companies and thinking, “If they can transmit sound, just choose the cheapest one.” But when I actually started using it, I found that all the troubles had come – when leading a tour group to the scenic area, the equipment suddenly stopped working while I was talking. Multiple teams use it simultaneously, with English explanations mixed in the Chinese channel. After using it for three months, the battery became less durable. I wanted to contact after-sales service for repair. When I called, either no one answered or they asked me to send it back to China. This back and forth took up more than ten days for the service.
We, Yingmi, have been engaged in the production of tour guide?aircraft for 18 years and have served over 6,000 overseas clients worldwide. From the British Museum to study bases on the African savannah, from overseas exhibition halls to German car factories, we have witnessed many such cases of “seeking bargains but suffering big losses”. In fact, when choosing a tour guide machine manufacturer, price is not the core factor. What truly determines whether you will be worry-free in the future and whether the cost is high or not are three things: the stability of the technology, the durability of the product, and the quality of after-sales service and customization capabilities. Today, starting from the actual needs of overseas users, we will break down these three major indicators to help you avoid pitfalls and select a reliable manufacturer that you can cooperate with for a long time.
1. Technical stability
For overseas users, the most fundamental requirement for a tour guide machine is to “not let it down at critical moments”. Just think about it: Taking a group of overseas tourists to climb Longhu Mountain in Jiangxi Province, we were just talking about the formation principle of Danxia landform when the equipment suddenly went silent. Or in the British Museum, several teams are using it simultaneously. You are talking about blue and white porcelain, but suddenly Japanese explanations pop up in the ears of tourists. This situation not only leaves tourists confused but also makes you seem particularly unprofessional, seriously affecting your reputation.
(1) The difference between having independent technology and not having it is really huge
A reliable manufacturer must have its own core transmission technology and not just assemble some parts randomly. Yingmi is a national high-tech enterprise with multiple patents. Our mainstream equipment uses UHF ultra-high frequency and 2.4G digital encryption technology, both of which are suitable for different scenarios.
UHF technology has an extremely strong anti-interference ability. It can transmit over 200 to 300 meters in open areas. Even if there are trees or walls blocking the way, the signal remains stable. For instance, in a study tour group on the African savannah, the tour guide talks about the habits of animals in the car, while tourists observe from outside. No matter how far away they are, they can still hear clearly. In a German car factory, when receiving clients, the noise from the machines in the workshop is loud. However, UHF technology can clearly transmit the explanations, and there will be no frequency crossover when multiple teams use it simultaneously.
2.4G technology is suitable for indoor use, such as museums and enterprise exhibition halls. It offers clear sound quality and can automatically synchronize frequencies. Visitors can start using the device as soon as they turn it on, without the need for manual channel adjustment. Last time I helped debug the equipment at the Suzhou Museum, there were a lot of wireless signals in the exhibition hall. However, the 2.4G technology can filter out interference. No matter which exhibit a visitor comes to, the explanation sound is very clear.
Those low-price manufacturers are different. They do not have their own technology and use outdated transmission modules, which are particularly prone to problems in complex overseas scenarios. A customer previously bought a low-priced machine. It would cut off noise after being over 50 meters in the scenic area. In the end, tourists had to closely follow the tour guide, and the experience was extremely bad. Later, it was solved by switching to our equipment.
(2) Multi-channel and long-range coverage, adapted to diverse overseas scenarios
The demands of overseas users are diverse: some are small teams of 10 people, while others are study Tours with over a hundred members. Some are in small exhibition halls of just a few dozen square meters, while others are in large scenic spots covering hundreds of square kilometers. This requires that the tour guide machine has a sufficient number of channels and can also travel a long distance.
Our equipment supports over 200 channels. Even if there are multiple teams in Chinese, English and Japanese in the same scenic area, each using their own channel, the sounds will never be mixed together. During the peak season, the Tianmu Lake Scenic Area in Jiangsu Province receives over ten overseas groups a day. With our equipment for channel management, the order is particularly good, and the tour guides no longer need to shout “Follow closely, everyone”.
The transmission distance must also be sufficient. For instance, when overseas tourists visit Longhu Mountain in Jiangxi Province and want to take more photos on the plank road, they can still hear the explanations clearly even if they are far from the tour guide and don’t have to run after the group all the way. Our UHF equipment can transmit signals up to 300 meters outdoors. Even if there are slopes or trees blocking the view, the signal will not be interrupted. This is extremely important in large overseas scenic spots.
(3) Sound quality and noise reduction: Don’t let noise ruin your experience
Many scenes overseas are noisy: people are jostling each other in scenic spots, machines are making noise in factories, and footsteps are constantly breaking out in exhibition halls. If the tour guide machine doesn’t have noise reduction function, tourists won’t be able to hear the explanations clearly, and even the best content will be in vain.
Our equipment adopts the national patented noise reduction technology, which can automatically filter out environmental noise and only retain the voice of the tour guide. An Arab client led a tour group to a desert scenic area. The wind was extremely strong, but the tourists wore our equipment and could still clearly hear “How do desert plants store water?” The feedback was very good. In contrast, those low-priced phones have no noise reduction. In a noisy environment, they just make a sound. Tourists can’t even hear the basic information clearly, let alone talk about the experience.

II.?Product durability + management convenience
Tour guide machines are “frequently used items” overseas – they are charged, recycled and used by different tourists every day. If the quality is poor, they will break down within a few months, and the cost of maintenance and replacement is even higher than the money spent on purchasing the equipment. Moreover, managing equipment overseas is not easy. Charging and statistics both require a lot of manpower, which is also a considerable burden.
(1) Industrial-grade material, durable and shock-resistant for peace of mind
When using equipment overseas, it is inevitable that there will be some bumps and knocks: tourists may accidentally drop the equipment on the ground, and outdoor scenic spots may encounter rain or sandstorms. Our equipment is made of industrial-grade materials. The shell is wear-resistant and can also be waterproof and dustproof. I conducted a test before. The device fell from a height of 1.5 meters and was picked up, but it still worked. Even after being exposed to light rain for half an hour, its function remains unaffected.
There was a study tour group of an African client who accidentally dropped the equipment in the sand on the grassland. When they picked it up and blew on the sand, it still worked normally. If I had changed to a low-priced model, the casing would have cracked long ago and the battery might have leaked, making it completely unusable.
(2) Centralized charging boxes, doubling management efficiency
Overseas users manage dozens or even hundreds of devices. If each one is plugged in and charged, it would be too labor-intensive. Our centralized charging box can charge 36 to 50 devices simultaneously. There’s no need to plug or unplug the charging cable; just put it in and start charging. It also has an ultraviolet disinfection function. Just put the device down at night, charge it and disinfect it. The next day, you can take it out and use it. It’s really worry-free.
Previously, the Suzhou Museum used ordinary chargers, and two people had to be assigned every day to charge and register the equipment. After switching to centralized charging boxes, one person can handle the task, significantly reducing labor costs. Those low-priced manufacturers do not come with charging boxes. Customers have to find power strips by themselves, which is both messy and dangerous, and it is particularly difficult to manage.
(3) Light and comfortable, tourists won’t feel uncomfortable wearing it
Overseas tourists may have to wear a tour guide device for 3 to 5 hours. If the device is too heavy, wearing it for a long time will cause ear pain and neck soreness, and the experience will definitely not be good. Our receiver weighs as little as 18 grams, even lighter than a pen. The ear hook is made of food-grade silicone, which is skin-friendly and breathable. The lanyard for the neck is also soft, and there is no sense of pressure when hung around the neck. Tourists wear the equipment to take photos and take notes without any delay.
There was a group of elderly tourists before. They reported that even after wearing our equipment to visit the museum for a whole day, their necks didn’t feel sore. It was much more comfortable than the bulky equipment they used before. Those low-priced machines, in order to cut costs, use hard plastic. Wearing them for a long time is extremely uncomfortable, and the complaint rate among tourists is particularly high.
Iii. After-sales Service + Customization Capability
The purchase of a tour guide machine is not the end of it – overseas users may need explanations in multiple languages, have logos printed on the equipment, and may also encounter sudden malfunctions that require maintenance. If the after-sales service of the manufacturer is not up to standard and customization is not possible, there will be a lot of trouble later on.
(1) Global after-sales service
The thing that overseas users are most worried about is that if their equipment breaks down, no one will repair it. We have cooperative after-sales service outlets all over the world. If there is any problem with the equipment, you can send it for repair. It will definitely be repaired and returned within 10 working days. If there is an urgent need, spare equipment can be provided first, which will never delay the reception.
A European client’s equipment broke down before the exhibition. We sent a spare one over three days later and it didn’t affect their event. Those low-priced manufacturers have no overseas after-sales service. When the equipment breaks down, it can only be sent back to China, which takes a month for a round trip. Customers can only wait passively, and the loss is too great.
We also offer 24-hour online technical support. Whether it’s equipment debugging, function setting, or operational issues, we can solve them at any time by making a phone call or sending a video. A customer encountered a problem while debugging the equipment in the scenic area in the middle of the night. Our technicians provided remote guidance and the problem was solved within half an hour.
(2) Customized services to meet overseas personalized demands
The demands of overseas users vary greatly: some museums require multilingual explanations, some enterprises want to print logos on their equipment, and some study Tours need group teaching functions. All of these require the manufacturer to have the ability to customize.
We can customize the language according to your needs. Besides common languages like Chinese, English, Japanese and Korean, we can also offer less popular languages such as Arabic, Russian and Portuguese. Last time, I customized Arabic language explanations for a scenic spot in the Middle East. Tourists listened in their native language, which was particularly friendly and their satisfaction increased significantly.
The appearance of the equipment can also be customized, printed with the LOGO of the museum or the logo of the enterprise, making it look more professional. The equipment in the overseas exhibition hall is printed with their brand logo. When customers hold it in their hands, they feel it is particularly upscale.
Content customization is also fine. We have a professional foreign language team and announcers who can help clients record authentic explanations. For instance, when recording the explanatory notes for the British Museum, we will conduct in-depth research on the historical background of the cultural relics to ensure that the content is accurate and vivid, so that overseas tourists can truly understand.
Those low-price manufacturers simply cannot offer customization services. They can only provide you with standardized equipment. If your requirements are special, they will say “they can’t do it”, and in the end, you can only make do with it, which affects the quality of service.
(3) Training and implementation support: Don’t let technology become a problem
The staff of overseas users may not understand Chinese and be unfamiliar with the operation of the equipment. We will provide operation manuals and video tutorials in multiple languages, and also offer online training to ensure that staff can quickly get started. If necessary, we can also go on-site to debug the equipment, record the explanation content, and help customers solve all problems. The equipment can be used immediately upon receipt.
There was an overseas museum that had never used an intelligent tour guide machine before. Our team remotely helped them debug the equipment and train the staff. It only took three days to complete everything, and it did not affect their normal reception.
Iv. Overseas Users Avoid Pitfalls: When choosing a manufacturer, First Consider these 4 points
1. Check qualifications: See if the manufacturer has the certification of a high-tech enterprise and patent certificates, and if the products have international certifications such as CE and ROHS. If not, do not choose.
2. Look at cases: Have you served well-known museums, scenic spots or enterprises? For instance, we have served the British Museum, etc. These cases can prove our strength.
3. Test samples: Before purchasing, conduct on-site tests with samples to see if the signal is stable, the sound quality is clear, and the durability is good. Don’t just listen to what the manufacturer says.
4. Inquire about after-sales service: Clearly state the warranty period, repair response time, and whether there are overseas service outlets. Be cautious of manufacturers with ambiguous after-sales service.
V. Conclusion: Choosing a manufacturer is choosing a long-term partner
Choosing a tour guide machine manufacturer overseas is not as simple as “buying a device”, but rather selecting a partner with which one can cooperate for a long time. Choosing a low-priced manufacturer only by looking at the price may seem like saving money, but in fact, you will encounter problems such as signal disconnection, equipment breakdown, and inability to find after-sales service personnel. In the end, you will spend more money and it will also affect your reputation.
Over the past 18 years, Yingmi?has served more than 6,000 customers worldwide with stable technology, durable products and reliable after-sales service. Whether you are an overseas museum, scenic spot, enterprise or study tour institution, if you need a tour guide machine, you might as well examine it from the aspects of technology, product and service. You are also welcome to ask us for samples for testing, so that the equipment can truly help you improve service rather than cause trouble.