The PAL units used as communicators throughout the
show are, in fact, obsolete distress signal units
used by Firefighters. A batch of them was bought
at the start of the show by the Art Department.
All of them are Fire Dept. Surplus and most have
seen action.

Very few were fixed up with a plastic bracket and
became the 'hero' versions used by the actors. Others
were mounted on the black communications panels
throughout the ship set, as part of the set-dressing.

This is a 'hero' version. I believe it's the
very one used by Zoe on top of Serenity in 'Trash'.

Mouseover images to enlarge.

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