Dominator Brochure 2MB

THE DOMINATOR
www.phonak-communications.com/dominator • Tel. +41 26 672 9672 • dominator@phonak.com
DOMINATOR accessory cables include:
PELTOR Transition – allows operator to disconnect the DOMINATOR upper headset and use a Peltor circum-aural
headset by plugging directly into the accessory cable.
ICS Cable – allows operator to connect into an ICS by connecting one end of the cable to the DOMINATOR PTT housing and the
other into an ICS Nexus 4 conductor jack. Radio traffic can still be monitored when the ICS cable is connected.
REMOTE CHEST MOUNT – allows operator using the single comm. DOMINATOR Suite to store the DOMINATOR PTT housing
out of the way – using the small, shrouded PTT switch as a redundant model while clearing the vest profile. The chest mount housing
features a stainless steel MOLLE clip on back.
AUXILIARY COMMS – allows an operator to connect the DOMINATOR headset to a cellular phone or MP3 driven battlefield language converter. When connected to the DOMINATOR PTT housing, the phone’s speaker and microphone are disabled with functions taken over by the DOMINATOR’s earpieces and boom microphone.
THE DOMINATOR
www.phonak-communications.com/dominator • Tel. +41 26 672 9672 • dominator@phonak.com
LO-VIS R23 – ruggedized, swimmable 2 wire kit for low-visibility RQTs. Interfaces directly to the Peltor Transition Cable connected to
the DOMINATOR PTT housing. Features ruggedized cables and waterproof lapel microphone and speaker. Both alligator-style clips are
manufactured from stainless steel and blackened to decrease visibility.
Jump Mask Interface – a housing featuring a shrouded PTT actuation switch with mounting platform for use with current issue O2 masks.
The NISOH approved 2 pin ECP connector interfaces to it’s female counterpart on the mask, providing a link to the mask’s internal microphone. The interface cable was designed to connect directly to the DOMINATOR PTT housing.
AVON FM53 Mask Interface – interfaces directly to the FM53 VPU via the 2 pin ECP connector on the cable. When properly connected
to the mask and DOMINATOR PTT housing, the DOMINATOR headset microphone will become disabled. This unique feature allows
the operator to transmit through the internal microphone of the mask only without the headset’s boom microphone transmitting unwanted noise in his ambient environment.
Radio Interface Connectors – radio platform interface demands increase monthly particularly with international RQTs but traditional
DOMINATOR radio interfaces at the time of this printing (May 2011) include urban versions of the PRC 148 MBITR (std and JEMS) and
PRC152 Falcon, ruggedized PRC 148 10 pin, PRC 117, PSC-5 and Motorola XTS and GP344.
NEXT GENERATION TACTICAL MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS SUITE
THE DOMINATOR COMMUNICATIONS SUITE
WHAT?
WHAT IS THE “DOMINATOR NEXT GENERATION MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS SUITE”?
The DOMINATOR is the first and only tactical military communications headset available that allows an operator to choose
when and when not to employ electronic hearing protection. Most military communication systems require
the operator to either have his/her outer ears covered by some form of circum-aural design or ear canals
blocked by inner-aural devices – many of which act as both RX and TX devices. Issues surrounding these
designs include ear fatigue, sweat filling the inner ear canals and less than clear communications being
received when transmitting from the inner ear.
The DOMINATOR combines a waterproof/noise canceling boom microphone for TX while utilizing both
bone conductors and electronic earpieces for radio RX. The bone conductors and electronic earpieces work independently
of one another as well as in concert when operational requirements call for the implementation of hearing protection. The
electronic earpieces are capable of performing three functions – radio RX, electronic hearing protection and user-controlled
ambient environment amplification. When hearing protection is not required, the operator can remove the earpieces and stow
them away in their respective headset sidepiece holders. Crucial radio RX is maintained without the use of the electronic earpieces via the bone conductors integrated into the headset. Radio transmissions are received via the facial bone area directly
in front of each ear and passed to the inner ear canals. The DOMINATOR is available in both single and dual comm. models
and features a broad mix of mission specific accessory cables as well as connectors for most fielded military radio platforms.
WHO?
WHO WERE THE COMPANIES INVOLVED IN THE DOMINATOR’S DEVELOPMENT?
The two companies involved in the DOMINATOR’s development from the start were Atlantic Signal, LLC – North America’s
largest custom tactical communications manufacturer and Phonak, a Swiss company, and one of the world’s leading hearing
aid manufacturers known for cutting edge technology. While Atlantic Signal has been providing custom communications to
both tactical law enforcement groups and U.S. Military clients for nearly 22 years, Phonak has been providing the U.S. Department of Defense hearing aids for soldiers returning home with battlefield induced hearing loss. Furthermore, Phonak has
been providing miniaturized, covert communication earpieces to both the U.S. Military and Federal Agencies for many years.
While the two companies had worked together in the past, the DOMINATOR was the initial full-scale development project
undertaking between the two. A previously developed hearing protection device by Phonak was introduced to Atlantic Signal,
ultimately becoming part of the genesis for the DOMINATOR.
WHEN?
WHEN DID THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DOMINATOR BEGIN?
A meeting occurred in May of 2009 and included U.S. Military Command Staff, R & D representatives
and active operators along with Atlantic Signal personnel. Their familiarity with the Atlantic Signal products and the intrigue of the Phonak hearing protection system led to discussion of integrating the two
technologies into a tactical communications package capable of interface to the multitude of military
communication platforms. The DOMINATOR’s development reached a level of overall operator satisfaction in 2010 ultimately leading to a competitive evaluation both stateside and overseas. Upon subsequently being chosen over the competitors, the DOMINATOR entered the ‘fine-tuning’ mode which
led to nearly a dozen iterations of the product from top to bottom over the next several months. Initial
production began in the spring of 2011.
2009
THRU
2011
WHY?
The DOMINATOR Push-to-Talk Housing
WHY WAS THE DOMINATOR DEVELOPED?
The DOMINATOR was developed at the request of one of the U.S. Military’s Counter Terrorism Units.
The Unit had fielded most of the I.T.E (in-the-ear) and circum-aural headset/communication devices
available on the market and there was an overall dissatisfaction with the product mix when used in
theatre. In addition to the complaints previously referenced by the end-users about currently available products, dissatisfaction extended to concerns with battery maintenance/replacement, distracting
voices and/or tones generated by several of the other system’s software as well as repeated software
upgrades necessary for proper performance. The Unit voiced their desire for a system that was simple
to use, required little or no maintenance and afforded the operator the option to engage and disengage hearing protection
at will. Having something in, on or over the ear at all times to communicate was an ever repeated point of dissatisfaction by
operators. All of the components designed and used in the manufacture of the DOMINATOR meet water exposure requirements of 3 feet for 30 minutes..
The DOMINATOR Upper Headset
The DOMINATOR Upper Headset is available in four, stainless steel frame lengths to ensure proper positioning of the bone conductor sidepiece housings when worn. Each sidepiece housing was designed to be positioned directly in front of the ear, resting across the
upper cheek bone. Both sidepiece housings include a bone vibrator designed to receive radio transmissions that are subsequently passed to the inner ear canal via the facial bones.
Additionally, the sidepiece housings feature an earpiece holder designed to stow away the
earpieces when not required. The unique earpiece holder design has proven easy in the
field for operators to stow and remove the earpieces ‘blindly’ when the headset is secured
on the head. Each earpiece is designed to provide the operator a choice between twinflanged silicone or foam ear tips. Both models of ear tips are available in 3 sizes to ensure
comfort while providing maximum hearing protection. Additionally, each earpiece is to be
fitted with a short or long ‘concha bow’ as shown in the accompanying photographs. The
bow acts as the securing device when positioned properly in the ear – preventing the earpieces and ear tips from becoming
dislodged during rigorous activities. The individual earpiece shells, ear tips and concha bows are all field replaceable and
available for stock ordering. The DOMINATOR is available by order with the waterproof/noise canceling boom microphone
mounted on the left or right side to avoid potential cheek weld issues for both left and right handed shooters. The headset
cable is terminated with a color coded 14 conductor connector for quick release from the DOMINATOR push-to-talk housing. Each DOMINATOR headset includes an adjustable rear head strap for securing the headset when properly positioned
to eliminate unnecessary forward/rearward movement during use.
There are two models of DOMINATOR Push-to-Talk housings to choose from – single
and dual comm. Both models feature color coded, surface mounted receptacles on the
housing – providing easily identifiable connection points for the DOMINATOR cable assemblies. Because the DOMINATOR Push-to-Talk housing is custom manufactured per
order, on a single comm. model the operator can choose from an inboard or outboard
positioned, shrouded PTT switch/button. Likewise on dual comm. models, PTT actuation
switch layout can feature twin inboard buttons or an inboard and outboard configuration.
At the lower outer facing side of the DOMINATOR PTT housing is a shrouded rectangle
featuring twin padded actuation buttons. These buttons control the volume (+ & -) of the
ambient environment amplification of the earpieces. This allows the user to modify the
volume of sounds in his ambient environment when utilizing the DOMINATOR earpieces.
Note: this function does not increase or decrease the portable radio’s volume – only the
ambient environment. The back of the DOMINATOR push-to-talk housing features a tuck-tab design for affixing the housing firmly to a MOLLE vest. For those who prefer to ‘wire tie’ the PTT to their vest, you can remove the four screws and
washers, remove the tuck tab, and re-position the screws and washers into the housing. The dual comm. DOMINATOR
PTT housing is designed to allow for 2 radio connector cables to be connected at the bottom portion of the housing. The
single comm. model is designed for a single radio connector cable connection plus a unique chest mount PTT assembly.
This configuration allows the wearer to position/store the DOMINATOR PTT housing away from his chest, perhaps next
to his radio, and weave the chest mount PTT thru the vest and position in a preferred location.
DOMINATOR CABLES
Custom built cables are available in three colors – OD, Coyote Brown and Black. The jacket material was designed to
remain flexible in extreme cold and is tolerant of chemical and insect repellant exposure. The unique AMC connectors
were developed to provide extra pull tolerance when connected to the DOMINATOR PTT housing and are available in
both straight and 90 degree models. 90 degree connectors were selected as standard on several of the connector assemblies to reduce the overall ‘footprint’ of the housing and cables when connected to a vest as well as limit stress and
strain at the point of wiring and over-molding. Each cable includes a reorder number and cable description accompanied
by a unique serial number and web addresses for the two manufacturers and suppliers of the DOMINATOR – Atlantic
Signal and Phonak.