Something that I have always noticed but never bothered to find out...
On all the CCII systems, the dispatcher/console audio out the the field never sounded as good as the audio from a desk remote (1992ish era slick telephone looking ones). The desk remote always sounded good/crisp in the field, head headset/gooseneck stuff didn't.
Console audio vs remote audio
Moderator: Queue Moderator
Console audio vs remote audio
Lowband radio. The original and non-complicated wide area interoperable communications system
Re: Console audio vs remote audio
Start by doing a good (i.e., instrumented) audio input level set.
Also consider whether the desk set is being used via the handset mike (i.e., handset lifted from the instrument) or the front panel (sometimes, "hands free") mike.
If the console mikes are too high, you could get some distortion from the audio limiting (clipping) circuits.
Likewise, the console mikes, particularly if set hot, could be picking up more background noise, which has the same effect as lowering their SNR vis-a-vis the dispatcher's voice. This will be particularly noticeable if compared to the handset mike on the deskset, which, by definition, is set quite cool. And the effect is amplified if the console operators are in the habit if speaking into the console mikes from a distance.
Also consider whether the desk set is being used via the handset mike (i.e., handset lifted from the instrument) or the front panel (sometimes, "hands free") mike.
If the console mikes are too high, you could get some distortion from the audio limiting (clipping) circuits.
Likewise, the console mikes, particularly if set hot, could be picking up more background noise, which has the same effect as lowering their SNR vis-a-vis the dispatcher's voice. This will be particularly noticeable if compared to the handset mike on the deskset, which, by definition, is set quite cool. And the effect is amplified if the console operators are in the habit if speaking into the console mikes from a distance.
Re: Console audio vs remote audio
This is most likely a level setting issue.
CCII Console Headsets typically sound the best. (Use headsets w/noise cancelling). The gooseneck mic generally sounds pretty good, unless you have a lot of background noise or it is mounted on something that vibrates (Console furniture w/fan)
If levels are set properly in the station and console, remote levels should set to mirror the console vx envelope. Something else to keep in mind is if the console is terminated on the phone line (Typical). All parallel remotes need to be unterminated. (Otherwise it dogs the audio levels).Rule of thumb says to terminate the furthest device on the cicuit, but if remotes are shuffled around, this can cause a problem. The levels most affected by improper terminations are tx, as rx circuitry auto levels to a certain extent.
Systems with proper level setting should have the VU meter reflect the incoming voice.
With proper test equipment and using your eyes and ears, you should have no problem.
Brian
CCII Console Headsets typically sound the best. (Use headsets w/noise cancelling). The gooseneck mic generally sounds pretty good, unless you have a lot of background noise or it is mounted on something that vibrates (Console furniture w/fan)
If levels are set properly in the station and console, remote levels should set to mirror the console vx envelope. Something else to keep in mind is if the console is terminated on the phone line (Typical). All parallel remotes need to be unterminated. (Otherwise it dogs the audio levels).Rule of thumb says to terminate the furthest device on the cicuit, but if remotes are shuffled around, this can cause a problem. The levels most affected by improper terminations are tx, as rx circuitry auto levels to a certain extent.
Systems with proper level setting should have the VU meter reflect the incoming voice.
With proper test equipment and using your eyes and ears, you should have no problem.
Brian
Re: Console audio vs remote audio
Everything was ok in the system. In my various employments, I found this to be true in four different systems. Anytime someone used the deskset, the outgoing voice was extremly crisp, like they were standing right next to you. I guess you could (sorta) say that it had more "treble" to it.
Lowband radio. The original and non-complicated wide area interoperable communications system
Re: Console audio vs remote audio
This is usually a 'human factors" issue. A telephone handset type remote positions the microphone close to the users mouth.
Some headsets have kind of mushy audio at best and the tube needs to be adjusted close to the users mouth, not pointing away. Setting desk or gooseneck mic audio is always a problem in a noisy room and if the dispatchers will not talk "into" the mic.
My former employer had a problem with dispatchers who would face away from the desk or gooseneck mic and mumble. The boss decided to require the use of headsets after repeated attempts failed to get the dispatchers to use the mics properly. Eveything sounded good for a few days then we got a call-out in the evening that the dispatcher was unreadable and covered by a heavy hum. The tech that responded found the dispatcher had converted his headset to desk mic by taping the headset to a flourescent desk lamp.
We had the same issue with a mix of handsets and consoles. We always had complaints from field units that they had to turn the volume all the way up to hear the dispatcher and then "got blown out of the truck" when the info clerk transmitted from the handset. You can't keep gooseneck mic audio at full level without background pickup if the dispatcher will not face the mic when talking. We did set the handset audio a few db lower to help minimize the difference.
Even the handset can be abused. We had some users that persisted in holding the handset a foot or more away and off to the side of their head and mumbling.
Some headsets have kind of mushy audio at best and the tube needs to be adjusted close to the users mouth, not pointing away. Setting desk or gooseneck mic audio is always a problem in a noisy room and if the dispatchers will not talk "into" the mic.
My former employer had a problem with dispatchers who would face away from the desk or gooseneck mic and mumble. The boss decided to require the use of headsets after repeated attempts failed to get the dispatchers to use the mics properly. Eveything sounded good for a few days then we got a call-out in the evening that the dispatcher was unreadable and covered by a heavy hum. The tech that responded found the dispatcher had converted his headset to desk mic by taping the headset to a flourescent desk lamp.
We had the same issue with a mix of handsets and consoles. We always had complaints from field units that they had to turn the volume all the way up to hear the dispatcher and then "got blown out of the truck" when the info clerk transmitted from the handset. You can't keep gooseneck mic audio at full level without background pickup if the dispatcher will not face the mic when talking. We did set the handset audio a few db lower to help minimize the difference.
Even the handset can be abused. We had some users that persisted in holding the handset a foot or more away and off to the side of their head and mumbling.