This month, a closer look at the equipment we saw in the last issue. On the left is the K Tube reel, which is just what it sounds like, a large reel for storing the line for the K Tube frame (which we'll look at more closely later) and the compensator.
To deploy the K Tube, the frame would be thrown overboard, and the line reeled out. The floats on the line allow the crew to see the position of the frame relative to the boat. On the side of the reel is a connector for the line to the compensator, to complete the connection from the microphones on the frame to the compensator. On the left side of the compensator is a connection for a stethoscope-like headset.
The compensator controls allow the listener to select a pair of microphones on the frame, and receive the sound from them in separate ears. The large dial changes the length of the airway to one ear relative to the other; so that by turning it until the sound is at the same volume in both ears, the Listener can view how far the dial was turned and convert that to determine the bearing of the sound relative to the K Tube frame; and then adjust to determine the bearing of the sound relative to the boat.
As a check, the Listener could select a different pair of microphones, repeat the process, and compare the results.
Enjoy the summer!
—Todd Woofenden, editor