TC Lights Suggestion - UK USERS READ

[Quattro10V]

(2017-02-11 15:24)Elmo Wrote:  

(2016-12-22 12:33)Quattro10V Wrote:  It's an odd mix of UK and American siren styles atm. We have the horn beep between tones like in the UK, but the ability to play dual sirens, something we can't do in the UK.

Strictly speaking, they pretty much all use Whelen* control boxes both sides of the pond and the UK ones can indeed run two sirens simultaneously.
However, it's pretty rare for the police to use simultaneous sirens and you have to use the button panel to do so (assuming it's even set up). I've seen paramedics use it a few times and fire trucks do regularly (sometimes even slow wail + yelp + two-tone air horn at the same time - they like people to get the hell out of the way of a speeding truck ).

The main difference between UK and US is that the primary siren control in the UK is the horn button, whereas the US mainly use the button box and/or extended button-on-a-stick controls to make them easier to reach.


*Typically Whelen Alpha in the UK - our official siren pack is based on the Alpha.

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The reasons for doing the sirens the way I did were partly to ease the transition to the new system and new sound files (especially as the meanings of horns 4/5 changed) and also make it less likely for people to use horns 4/5 incorrectly.

Also, a very common siren cycle is Wail -> Yelp -> Two-tone (which we don't have) -> Wail etc. The Piercer (which we do use) isn't in the main loop, but is activated by a longer press.I was trying to approximate that version, as it makes more sense with the way the piercer should be used.
It got a bit more complicated than just that, as we now have the opportunity for proper bullhorn support, however I didn't want to add more buttons than necessary in the initial simple, zero configuration version.

I'll probably have various optional modes eventually. I'm not too keen on having the Piercer in the main loop, due to the restrictions on its usage (I guarantee it will mean that many people use it when they shouldn't, accidentally or not)

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I intended from the start to make improvements over time, with various features in mind. However, time has been in pretty short supply, so I haven't got very far yet.

I've written a demo program that I used to help make a library to access controller input, but integrating it into TC Lights will be fairly complicated. I also need to add some way for people to customise keys/buttons in a user-friendly way.

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(2017-01-12 15:36)Quattro10V Wrote:  

(2017-01-10 22:23)Pete Wrote:  

(2017-01-10 22:09)J4ME510 Wrote:  Where is Chuck?!

How is this relevant to the topic?

Pretty sure he thinks it's Chuck who made TC Lights, Pete.

Does no-one read the Readme/forum thread/download link?

Good to see your take on things Elmo. Pretty spot on in terms of knowledge, which I never doubted.

Generally UK police will use OptiLink control panels which can be configured in a number of ways with custom buttons etc. This is a friend of mine's.

Typically as mentioned, you will hear a Whelen Alpha used on at least one type of emergency vehicle, whether it be from Police, Fire or Ambulance, no matter what are of the UK you go to. For me, it's Fire and Ambulance that use the Whelen Alpha. Only distinguishing feature is that Ambulances use a pier and Fire use a Hi-Lo.. Well, they can, they never seem to lol..

In this video you can hear that the first car has 4 tones enabled. You'd typically only see 3 tones, which will either be Hi-Lo of Pier, despite you mentioning it's more commonly a Hi-Lo, I wouldn't agree that that is the case.



Down my way they'll be using Premier Hazard Shockwave 9005's (same as on the Met Area Cars, and as heard in that video, as well as Premier Hazard 7109 on the older Ambulances. Newer ones practically all have Whelen Alphas or the Whelen Gamma siren (often used in US and runs dual tones over there too). Lots of variety around the country etc, but that's not anything we need to worry about. Seems as though Ras has nailed the various sirens, especially with his release of a load of Premier Hazard tones. Just waiting on a Whelen Gamma version and a Shockwave 9005 using the Met's IRV speaker!

When I was out with response we had both sirens enabled on the box. We had two wails, two yelps, two hi-los and two piers. Just found and uploaded a video. Sorry that I had to pixelate



Elmo, as for implementing different operational versions, that would be fantastic. Now that you mentioned there's a specific bullhorn feature, that could remain the same, in that you hold the horn or press a different button (that way you don't get the irritating beep first). Running 3 tones. E.G Wail>Yelp>Hi-Lo/Pier is the most realistic way, all from one button, in terms of representing the UK's way of doing it. Essentially keeping it the way it is now, but adding in one extra tone, that is currently accessed through the tap and hold feature.

Glad this discussion is going somewhere, and look forward to seeing what it can bring.