Wireless of the Week - week 8

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by Bruce Parker

On no…another 19 set!!

A feature of 19 sets, and one that added to its versatility, is the control systems used. On most other wireless sets headsets (or individual microphone and earphones) plugged into the radio itself or a junction box amounting to the same thing. 19 sets, alternatively, used separate control boxes that not only accommodated the headset plugs (called ‘snatch’ plugs) but allowed for easy switching between the A, B and intercom functions. Different control units allowed different access and therefore controlled who talked to whom with what radio function. Typically the senior person in a station or vehicle had the unit with the most control. The individual control units also allowed them to be placed in different locations throughout a vehicle to be near crew member positions.

Some control units had an ‘N/R’ switch (‘Normal’ and ‘Remote’) that let the operator switch between the A, B and IC sets from the same headset. This might occur, for instance, when a tank commander talking to other tanks on the short range B set needed to quickly transmit something back to base on the A set. When switched to ‘Remote’ the operator could be working the B set and talk on the A, be operating the A set and talk on the B or transmit on both. A pilot lamp (seen in picture 2) would go on when switched to remote operation to prevent mistaken transmissions on the wrong set.

Er, not quite. <engage nitpick mode>

The wireless operator usually had the most control, via Control Unit No.2 (or 3, 6 and 16); the commander (in a multiple control unit installation) would have access to all sets + intercom, and most other users would be Intercom only.

The N/R switch is "Normal" and "Rebroadcast", which allows the receiver output of any set to be retransmitted using a particular other set. This can get quite complicated in things like Command tanks, with a 2 or 3-set installation and Control Units 16 and 17 (or 33), or the ACV/LCV setup with 2 sets and Control Units 4 & 6.

Rebroadcast facilities are on the Operator control unit (2, 3, 6 or 16), the Commander's unit will be a No. 1, 4, 17 or 33 and just allows the droplead to be switched to particular set outputs or intercom.

No.6 is the most complicated that I've encountered, for two WS19s in a command vehicle. (Though I believe there was also one (No. 39?) that allowed a WS38/31/88 AFV set to be added to the mix.)

No.6 settings:

Operator droplead switch positions: A1, IC, B, A2, R

In the "R" position, the 12-position switch comes into play. There are three "Listen" positions for monitoring, where the transmit switch is disabled:

1) "Listen All (A1, B, IC & A2)"
2) "Listen A1 & B"
3) "Listen A2 & B"

There are then three sets of switch positions, controlling the Rebroadcast function. The middle position is for the control operator - to announce the rebroadcast, then switch the traffic in appropriate directions when required (in the middle position transmit is controlled by the operator's microphone, in the other two (rebroadcast) positions the set is locked on transmit and the operator's microphone disconnected - headphone is still connected to the set being rebroadcast, of course, so the operator knows when to switch the rebroadcast direction).

4) B -> A1 (rebroadcast B set on A1)
5) B + A1 (receive & transmit on both - for setting up rebroadcast)
6) A1 -> B (rebroadcast A1 set on B)

7) A2 -> B (rebroadcast A2 set on B)
8) A2 + B (receive & transmit on both - for setting up rebroadcast)
9) B -> A2 (listen A2. R: rebroadcast B set on A2)

10) A2 -> A1 (rebroadcast A2 set on A1)
11) A1 + A2 (receive & transmit on both - for setting up rebroadcast)
12) A1 -> A2 (rebroadcast A1 set on A2)

I suspect using this facility took a lot of practice!

The red light (on the Operator control units) is "A set unattended" and is to warn you that no headset is switched to the "A" set position.

Control Unit No.16 just added the "C" set (WS38, 88, or 31 AFV) to a standard No.2 control unit, the No.17 was the commander's version (No.1 with AFV set), and No.33 is a command tank version of the No.17 with A1, IC, A2, 31/88AFV positions (the 'B' set had been discontinued at this point and its switch position repurposed).

Yes, it's complicated.

Chris.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Ya got me. It is Rebroadcast (actually, in the 19 set manual it is 'Re-Broadcast'). The 'remote' seems to have crept in because I was writing up next week's installment on RCU's at the same time. I'd have to look at other AFV installations but in the Fox armoured car it's the commander who gets the control unit with the N/R switch.

I WAS going to do something on various 19 set control units...but...ah...never mind, I think you've got it covered.

Originally Posted by Chris Suslowicz

Er, not quite. <engage nitpick mode>

The wireless operator usually had the most control, via Control Unit No.2 (or 3, 6 and 16); the commander (in a multiple control unit installation) would have access to all sets + intercom, and most other users would be Intercom only.

The N/R switch is "Normal" and "Rebroadcast", which allows the receiver output of any set to be retransmitted using a particular other set. This can get quite complicated in things like Command tanks, with a 2 or 3-set installation and Control Units 16 and 17 (or 33), or the ACV/LCV setup with 2 sets and Control Units 4 & 6.

Rebroadcast facilities are on the Operator control unit (2, 3, 6 or 16), the Commander's unit will be a No. 1, 4, 17 or 33 and just allows the droplead to be switched to particular set outputs or intercom.

No.6 is the most complicated that I've encountered, for two WS19s in a command vehicle. (Though I believe there was also one (No. 39?) that allowed a WS38/31/88 AFV set to be added to the mix.)

No.6 settings:

Operator droplead switch positions: A1, IC, B, A2, R

In the "R" position, the 12-position switch comes into play. There are three "Listen" positions for monitoring, where the transmit switch is disabled:

1) "Listen All (A1, B, IC & A2)"
2) "Listen A1 & B"
3) "Listen A2 & B"

There are then three sets of switch positions, controlling the Rebroadcast function. The middle position is for the control operator - to announce the rebroadcast, then switch the traffic in appropriate directions when required (in the middle position transmit is controlled by the operator's microphone, in the other two (rebroadcast) positions the set is locked on transmit and the operator's microphone disconnected - headphone is still connected to the set being rebroadcast, of course, so the operator knows when to switch the rebroadcast direction).

4) B -> A1 (rebroadcast B set on A1)
5) B + A1 (receive & transmit on both - for setting up rebroadcast)
6) A1 -> B (rebroadcast A1 set on B)

7) A2 -> B (rebroadcast A2 set on B)
8) A2 + B (receive & transmit on both - for setting up rebroadcast)
9) B -> A2 (listen A2. R: rebroadcast B set on A2)

10) A2 -> A1 (rebroadcast A2 set on A1)
11) A1 + A2 (receive & transmit on both - for setting up rebroadcast)
12) A1 -> A2 (rebroadcast A1 set on A2)

I suspect using this facility took a lot of practice!

The red light (on the Operator control units) is "A set unattended" and is to warn you that no headset is switched to the "A" set position.

Control Unit No.16 just added the "C" set (WS38, 88, or 31 AFV) to a standard No.2 control unit, the No.17 was the commander's version (No.1 with AFV set), and No.33 is a command tank version of the No.17 with A1, IC, A2, 31/88AFV positions (the 'B' set had been discontinued at this point and its switch position repurposed).

Yes, it's complicated.

Chris.

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by Bruce Parker

Ya got me. It is Rebroadcast (actually, in the 19 set manual it is 'Re-Broadcast'). The 'remote' seems to have crept in because I was writing up next week's installment on RCU's at the same time. I'd have to look at other AFV installations but in the Fox armoured car it's the commander who gets the control unit with the N/R switch.

I WAS going to do something on various 19 set control units...but...ah...never mind, I think you've got it covered.

Once I get stuff sorted out (like the impending (and involuntary) house move) I will be able to lay stuff out and photograph it. I'll probably have more free time, too, in which to do the things I want to. (Stop Laughing!)

Small AFVs like the Daimler Dingo tended to use one control unit like the No.3, which is a double-sized box containing (effectively) the No.1 (commander) and No.2 (operator) units thus reducing the need for extra cabling. It's only when you get to large AFVs with more crew that things get complicated.

The WS19 control harness began life with Control Units No.1 and No.2, plus Junction Distributions No.1 and No.2 (Then things got out of hand somewhat.)

I like the idea of Control Unit No.8, with two dropleads: one standard length, and one 15 feet long.

(It was intended for AFV training, where the instructor could ride outside the tank and give directions over the intercom. Sanity prevailed with the No.8 Mk.1* that had two normal length dropleads and was presumably used with a suitable extension cable that could be quickly replaced when it got chewed up by the tracks or snagged on an obstruction, rather than having to dismantle the CU and wire in a new lead.)

Chris. (Wondering if strikethrough works on this system?)