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- Paul Francis
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29 Aug 2013 07:54 #61
by Paul Francis
You can tell a builder from an archaeologist by the size of his trowel. Mine is a small one!
Replied by Paul Francis on topic Uniter
UNITER provided a resilient switching network and an on-site communications facility for operational RAF stations. It is not an acronym, but a project name denoting the fact that it provided new operational communications to meet a defined threat, and in so doing subsumed a number of other obsolescent voice and data networks. There were 43 UNITER sites built across the UK.
The original communications equipment designs were either the brainchild of Plessey or GEC, but these two telecom businesses merged in 1988 as GEC-Plessey Telecommunications, then as GPT and later still as Marconi. GEC-Plessey Telecommunications was the prime contractor for UNITER. The company was responsible not only for the entire network design and installation of equipment at RAF stations, but also for the design and layout of the hardened building which housed it. By May 2002, the network had been downsized by Marconi to achieve cost savings and was reduced to 32 sites. It is unknown how many, if any at all, are in commission in 2013.
The original communications equipment designs were either the brainchild of Plessey or GEC, but these two telecom businesses merged in 1988 as GEC-Plessey Telecommunications, then as GPT and later still as Marconi. GEC-Plessey Telecommunications was the prime contractor for UNITER. The company was responsible not only for the entire network design and installation of equipment at RAF stations, but also for the design and layout of the hardened building which housed it. By May 2002, the network had been downsized by Marconi to achieve cost savings and was reduced to 32 sites. It is unknown how many, if any at all, are in commission in 2013.
You can tell a builder from an archaeologist by the size of his trowel. Mine is a small one!
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29 Aug 2013 08:29 #62
by Paul Francis
You can tell a builder from an archaeologist by the size of his trowel. Mine is a small one!
Replied by Paul Francis on topic Uniter
Plan of the Uxbridge building
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You can tell a builder from an archaeologist by the size of his trowel. Mine is a small one!
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- canberra
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29 Aug 2013 08:36 #63
by canberra
Replied by canberra on topic Uniter
I mentioned earlier that we had a UNITER building at Cranwell. I remember talking to one of the telegraphists who was involved with it and he mentioned that the Cranwell one was linked to Chelveston.
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29 Aug 2013 09:02 #64
by ted angus
I left the service ( Leuchars) early 2004, Uniter was winding down then. The system had one big flaw in my eyes, if the national grid power went down , the system went down with it; It was not connected to the station standby power: as an aside the stand by power house was abandoned in the mid 1990 - followed by the station siren set-up yes we were very resilient -not ! I do know that the sirens have now been reactivated some one realised they were the only tool availible for a recall of personel living in on base barrack, mess and SF accom.
TED
Replied by ted angus on topic Uniter
UNITER provided a resilient switching network and an on-site communications facility for operational RAF stations. It is not an acronym, but a project name denoting the fact that it provided new operational communications to meet a defined threat, and in so doing subsumed a number of other obsolescent voice and data networks. There were 43 UNITER sites built across the UK.
The original communications equipment designs were either the brainchild of Plessey or GEC, but these two telecom businesses merged in 1988 as GEC-Plessey Telecommunications, then as GPT and later still as Marconi. GEC-Plessey Telecommunications was the prime contractor for UNITER. The company was responsible not only for the entire network design and installation of equipment at RAF stations, but also for the design and layout of the hardened building which housed it. By May 2002, the network had been downsized by Marconi to achieve cost savings and was reduced to 32 sites. It is unknown how many, if any at all, are in commission in 2013.
I left the service ( Leuchars) early 2004, Uniter was winding down then. The system had one big flaw in my eyes, if the national grid power went down , the system went down with it; It was not connected to the station standby power: as an aside the stand by power house was abandoned in the mid 1990 - followed by the station siren set-up yes we were very resilient -not ! I do know that the sirens have now been reactivated some one realised they were the only tool availible for a recall of personel living in on base barrack, mess and SF accom.
TED
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29 Aug 2013 09:09 #65
by Paul Francis
You can tell a builder from an archaeologist by the size of his trowel. Mine is a small one!
Replied by Paul Francis on topic Uniter
They all had stand-by generators ted, a battery room and interrupted power supplies, all of this plant took up half the building so if there was a loss of mains power, they were well backed-up.
You can tell a builder from an archaeologist by the size of his trowel. Mine is a small one!
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- Alex Brown
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29 Aug 2013 09:15 #66
by Alex Brown
Indeed, even the small NUBs had backup power independent from the station mains/standby.
So if they went down in a power outage, there must have been a problem with the plant/switching.
Yes, I'm back(ish).
Replied by Alex Brown on topic Uniter
They all had stand-by generators ted, a battery room and interrupted power supplies, all of this plant took up half the building so if there was a loss of mains power, they were well backed-up.
Indeed, even the small NUBs had backup power independent from the station mains/standby.
So if they went down in a power outage, there must have been a problem with the plant/switching.
Yes, I'm back(ish).
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- mawganmad
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29 Aug 2013 10:16 #67
by mawganmad
James Thomas
Replied by mawganmad on topic Uniter
Fantastic information all, thanks for laying it all out in a understandable fashion.
Like Ted, I assume disused by mid 2000s, especially as I was able to wander around a dissued one with the doors left wide open!
Also did UNITER replace, or just supplement the hardened BT exchanges, such as at UH?
Like Ted, I assume disused by mid 2000s, especially as I was able to wander around a dissued one with the doors left wide open!
So why Dunkeswell?UNITER provided a resilient switching network and an on-site communications facility for operational RAF stations.
Also did UNITER replace, or just supplement the hardened BT exchanges, such as at UH?
James Thomas
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- ted angus
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29 Aug 2013 12:18 #68
by ted angus
What problem there might have been with switching I do not know but after the first handful of power cuts where we lost Uniter there was a rethink on the PBX system that was scheduled to be totally shut down in buildings served by Uniter. I had 3 phones on my desk - normal PBX line that never died , a direct line to Ops which never died, and a Uniter extension with all sorts of built in facilities, when ever power went down Uniter died; Why I don't know but at several heads of sheds we lobbied the Stantion Commander to halt the removal of PBX lines from Uniter served buildings.
TED
Replied by ted angus on topic Uniter
They all had stand-by generators ted, a battery room and interrupted power supplies, all of this plant took up half the building so if there was a loss of mains power, they were well backed-up.
What problem there might have been with switching I do not know but after the first handful of power cuts where we lost Uniter there was a rethink on the PBX system that was scheduled to be totally shut down in buildings served by Uniter. I had 3 phones on my desk - normal PBX line that never died , a direct line to Ops which never died, and a Uniter extension with all sorts of built in facilities, when ever power went down Uniter died; Why I don't know but at several heads of sheds we lobbied the Stantion Commander to halt the removal of PBX lines from Uniter served buildings.
TED
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- canberra
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29 Aug 2013 12:25 #69
by canberra
Replied by canberra on topic Uniter
This subject was aired before Ted, Leuchars UNITER SHOULDNT have died when the power went down, apparently Leuchars was unique in not having UNITER tied in to standby power. And the standby power house was got rid of purely to save money.
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29 Aug 2013 21:01 #70
by a10694
Replied by a10694 on topic Uniter
Rawcliffe had a standby generator. I was told (reputable) that the instructions to the fire brigade were to "let it burn". The problem at Rawcliffe appeared to be that the inlets for the fibre optics were not very well sealed, and it became waterlogged.
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