Why are dual toned sirens no longer made?

[theroofable]

Just FYI, I saw another thread that said the Federal 2T was discontinued in 1989. Wish they still made these!

[DJ2226]

While the design of a dual tone siren can hinder the amount of sound they could put out, this doesn't really, IMO, answer the question of which sound would carry the best. The best way to test to see which type of sound travels the greatest would be to take two or more mech. sirens, one being single tone, that have the same design and output like a Thunderbolt, since the blower doesn't change between the different models (1000/1000T/1003, various port ratios), get a Db meter, and on a nice day with good weather blast the siren and take measurments. It would be easier to do the same test between electronic sirens like two older Whelens or two sirens running on FS UV controllers, because there is no change in the siren head.

[Daniel]

With any single-tone siren, the number and shape of the ports determines both pitch and timbre. With dual-tones, there is also the harmonic generated by the musical interval produced. A typical Thunderbolt 5/6 rotor will generate a resultant harmonic buzz much lower than the two notes it produces. Different pitch intervals give different resultant pitches, some of which carry farther than others. Octave sirens like Sentry and Sterling dual-tones produce a less noticeable resultant than a fourth (SD-10) or fifth (40V2T) interval.

[dclarkct]

Dual tone has a lower SPL output but it sounds better. I would prefer the longer downrange of a single tone over the perceived quality sound of a dual tone. I am speaking of electronic sirens not Mechanical sirens.

[Stevan Z]

Federal told me a few months ago that they are thinking of making a 10/12 port siren. Probably will look like a 508.

[DJ2226]

Federal told me a few months ago that they are thinking of making a 10/12 port siren. Probably will look like a 508.

Got some proof there?

[sirendude2012]

Federal told me a few months ago that they are thinking of making a 10/12 port siren. Probably will look like a 508.

Federal was the one that led the pack by making single-toned sirens in the mid 80s. Federal was also the one that concluded that dual tone sirens are inefficient, leading to the single tone era.


Federal doesn't even make dual-tone Modulators anymore... that are dual tone form the factory, anyway. Either way, you're telling a lie, or you're telling a lie... unless you provide the official, legitimate message form Federal stating so, or you find some kind of prototype image/new patent visualizing this.

[Savage]

Federal told me a few months ago that they are thinking of making a 10/12 port siren. Probably will look like a 508.

[Jim Z]

Federal doesn't even make dual-tone Modulators anymore. They hate them.

Lolwut

[Stevan Z]

Federal told me a few months ago that they are thinking of making a 10/12 port siren. Probably will look like a 508.

Federal was the one that led the pack by making single-toned sirens in the mid 80s. Federal was also the one that concluded that dual tone sirens are inefficient, leading to the single tone era.


Federal doesn't even make dual-tone Modulators anymore... that are dual tone form the factory, anyway. Either way, you're telling a lie, or you're telling a lie... unless you provide the official, legitimate message form Federal stating so, or you find some kind of prototype image/new patent visualizing this.

They told me on Facebook that they were planning to test it out.