Quote:
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.
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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.