How It Works
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In diver communications systems, the impedance values for microphone and earphone systems can vary greatly depending on who the manufacturer of the diver radio is. Earphone (or supervisor speaker) values do not normally vary much, but supervisor microphone impedance values vary greatly from brand to brand.
The result is specific or custom headsets being required for each radio and usually they are not interchangeable. Some headsets will allow the supervisor to hear the divers on several radios, but problems arise when the microphone impedance values become mismatched. Of course, each radio manufacturer also has to use a unique headset jack, just to make it more difficult for the supervisors and system technicians to match everything up.
The Wireless Headset Interface solves all of these problems by providing wide range bi-directional gain adjustment control to the diver audio signal. The MIC gain adjustment control tunes the headset microphone output impedance to match the impedance of the diver radio microphone input. The EAR gain adjustment control tunes the diver radio speaker output impedance to match the impedance of the headset speaker input.
The Wireless Headset Interface will reduce audio interference (e.g. ground loop) and will reduce the effects of other common problems in diver audio circuits (e.g. poor shielding, feedback, short-circuits).
The natural choice for a headset system to interface with is wireless. Wireless telephony headset systems, such as those used in call-centres, are designed to remain comfortable over many hours of use, have long talk times, high quality audio, resistant to interference, call conferencing etc. All of these features are essential for the diving supervisor.
The Wireless Headset Interface is designed to work best with 4-wire duplex comms systems (round-robin). It’s true advantage is in making the diving supervisor truly hands and cable-free. The wireless headsets all have a microphone mute capability, so the supervisor can easily mute his/her voice to the divers as required. It will work with 2-wire simplex systems as well, but a separate press-to-talk (PTT) is still required.
The Wireless Headset Interface will NOT work with a wireless headset system designed for multimedia or computer-based applications. It will only work with telephony systems.
It takes power from the existing communications circuit and requires no dedicated power source or batteries.
The Poly (formerly Plantronics) wireless headset base unit does require a 100-240 volt power supply.
The Wireless Headset Interface will plug into Amcom, OTS, Helle, Divex and Nautronix diver radios when used with the appropriate plug adapter. Custom adapters for unique diver radio jacks are easy to make up and wiring instructions are provided in the User Guide.
The result is specific or custom headsets being required for each radio and usually they are not interchangeable. Some headsets will allow the supervisor to hear the divers on several radios, but problems arise when the microphone impedance values become mismatched. Of course, each radio manufacturer also has to use a unique headset jack, just to make it more difficult for the supervisors and system technicians to match everything up.
The Wireless Headset Interface solves all of these problems by providing wide range bi-directional gain adjustment control to the diver audio signal. The MIC gain adjustment control tunes the headset microphone output impedance to match the impedance of the diver radio microphone input. The EAR gain adjustment control tunes the diver radio speaker output impedance to match the impedance of the headset speaker input.
The Wireless Headset Interface will reduce audio interference (e.g. ground loop) and will reduce the effects of other common problems in diver audio circuits (e.g. poor shielding, feedback, short-circuits).
The natural choice for a headset system to interface with is wireless. Wireless telephony headset systems, such as those used in call-centres, are designed to remain comfortable over many hours of use, have long talk times, high quality audio, resistant to interference, call conferencing etc. All of these features are essential for the diving supervisor.
The Wireless Headset Interface is designed to work best with 4-wire duplex comms systems (round-robin). It’s true advantage is in making the diving supervisor truly hands and cable-free. The wireless headsets all have a microphone mute capability, so the supervisor can easily mute his/her voice to the divers as required. It will work with 2-wire simplex systems as well, but a separate press-to-talk (PTT) is still required.
The Wireless Headset Interface will NOT work with a wireless headset system designed for multimedia or computer-based applications. It will only work with telephony systems.
It takes power from the existing communications circuit and requires no dedicated power source or batteries.
The Poly (formerly Plantronics) wireless headset base unit does require a 100-240 volt power supply.
The Wireless Headset Interface will plug into Amcom, OTS, Helle, Divex and Nautronix diver radios when used with the appropriate plug adapter. Custom adapters for unique diver radio jacks are easy to make up and wiring instructions are provided in the User Guide.
Some points about portable power supplies
As mentioned above, the Poly (formerly Plantronics) Wireless Headset base unit requires a power supply, as does the WHI-PTT when using the PTT function. Both require a 9 volt DC supply. The transformer supplied with the Poly Wireless headset provides 300mA at 9 volts DC, which is sufficient power for both the wireless headset and the PTT function of the WHI-PTT when used with the supplied power supply splitter cable.
Normally, a 100-240 volt AC supply would be required for the transformer power supply included with the wireless headset. This is not particularly helpful in civil or inshore dive sites where an AC power supply might not be available. In such cases, even the diver radio would be run on battery supply.
We have recently done some trials where we have run the wireless headset base unit and the WHI-PTT on batteries and portable power banks to test functionality. We have found that the following power systems worked ok:
1. "Gorilla" style portable power bank with 5vdc USB port and a USB to 9vdc converter cable. The power bank capacity required to run for a full day is still uncertain, but go for the biggest you can afford. The USB power port must be capable of providing 2000mA (or 2A) of power to ensure that the system does not lag or drop out. Use a USB 5vdc to 9vdc converter cable with a 9vdc plug (same as the transformer cable) with an output of at least 300mA at 9vdc - these USB converters will soon be available in our online store. The USB 5vdc to 9vdc converter must be capable of delivering 300mA at 9vdc. Trials have shown that a 30,000mAh power bank will provide 25 to 30 hours of operation when using a Plantronics/Poly Savi 8200 series wireless headset and a WHI-PTT.
2. 12 volt battery and a 12vdc to 9vdc converter. A 12vdc battery with terminals can be connected via a 12vdc to 9vdc converter. A car or motorcycle battery should provide quite a lot of talk time and certainly more than 1 day, although the exact amount of hours has not been tested. The 9vdc output must be at least 300mA. This 12vdc to 9vdc converter will soon be available in our online store.
3. 12 volt power supply with cigarette lighter socket and a 12vdc to 9vdc converter. A power bank with a 12vdc cigarette lighter style socket can be connected via a 12vdc to 9vdc converter. The 9vdc output must be at least 300mA. The available talk-time would depend on the milliAmp-hour (mAh) capacity of the power bank. It would be worth it to buy the best you can afford. Waterproof 48000mAh units are currently available for around AUD $300 and that it what we would buy, although it is likely that smaller units would get through at least a day of heavy use. The 12vdc to 9vdc converter will soon be available in our online store.
As mentioned above, the Poly (formerly Plantronics) Wireless Headset base unit requires a power supply, as does the WHI-PTT when using the PTT function. Both require a 9 volt DC supply. The transformer supplied with the Poly Wireless headset provides 300mA at 9 volts DC, which is sufficient power for both the wireless headset and the PTT function of the WHI-PTT when used with the supplied power supply splitter cable.
Normally, a 100-240 volt AC supply would be required for the transformer power supply included with the wireless headset. This is not particularly helpful in civil or inshore dive sites where an AC power supply might not be available. In such cases, even the diver radio would be run on battery supply.
We have recently done some trials where we have run the wireless headset base unit and the WHI-PTT on batteries and portable power banks to test functionality. We have found that the following power systems worked ok:
1. "Gorilla" style portable power bank with 5vdc USB port and a USB to 9vdc converter cable. The power bank capacity required to run for a full day is still uncertain, but go for the biggest you can afford. The USB power port must be capable of providing 2000mA (or 2A) of power to ensure that the system does not lag or drop out. Use a USB 5vdc to 9vdc converter cable with a 9vdc plug (same as the transformer cable) with an output of at least 300mA at 9vdc - these USB converters will soon be available in our online store. The USB 5vdc to 9vdc converter must be capable of delivering 300mA at 9vdc. Trials have shown that a 30,000mAh power bank will provide 25 to 30 hours of operation when using a Plantronics/Poly Savi 8200 series wireless headset and a WHI-PTT.
2. 12 volt battery and a 12vdc to 9vdc converter. A 12vdc battery with terminals can be connected via a 12vdc to 9vdc converter. A car or motorcycle battery should provide quite a lot of talk time and certainly more than 1 day, although the exact amount of hours has not been tested. The 9vdc output must be at least 300mA. This 12vdc to 9vdc converter will soon be available in our online store.
3. 12 volt power supply with cigarette lighter socket and a 12vdc to 9vdc converter. A power bank with a 12vdc cigarette lighter style socket can be connected via a 12vdc to 9vdc converter. The 9vdc output must be at least 300mA. The available talk-time would depend on the milliAmp-hour (mAh) capacity of the power bank. It would be worth it to buy the best you can afford. Waterproof 48000mAh units are currently available for around AUD $300 and that it what we would buy, although it is likely that smaller units would get through at least a day of heavy use. The 12vdc to 9vdc converter will soon be available in our online store.