diff --git a/src/libCom/osi/os/VMS/osdWireFormat.h b/src/libCom/osi/os/VMS/osdWireFormat.h
index a6465085e..2bf036355 100644
--- a/src/libCom/osi/os/VMS/osdWireFormat.h
+++ b/src/libCom/osi/os/VMS/osdWireFormat.h
@@ -23,12 +23,16 @@
 #define EPICS_LITTLE_ENDIAN
 #define EPICS_CONVERSION_REQUIRED
 
-inline void WireGet ( const epicsUInt8 * pWireSrc, epicsFloat32 & dst )
+template <>
+inline void WireGet < epicsFloat32 > ( 
+    const epicsUInt8 * pWireSrc, epicsFloat32 & dst )
 {
     cvt$convert_float ( pWireSrc, CVT$K_IEEE_S, & dst, CVT$K_VAX_F, CVT$M_BIG_ENDIAN );
 }
 
-inline void WireGet ( const epicsUInt8 * pWireSrc, epicsFloat64 & dst )
+template <>
+inline void WireGet < epicsFloat64 > ( 
+    const epicsUInt8 * pWireSrc, epicsFloat64 & dst )
 {
 #   if defined ( __G_FLOAT ) && ( __G_FLOAT == 1 )
         cvt$convert_float ( pWireSrc, CVT$K_IEEE_T, & dst, CVT$K_VAX_G, CVT$M_BIG_ENDIAN );
@@ -37,17 +41,22 @@ inline void WireGet ( const epicsUInt8 * pWireSrc, epicsFloat64 & dst )
 #   endif
 }
 
-inline void WireGet ( const epicsUInt8 * pWireSrc, epicsOldString & dst )
+inline void WireGet ( 
+    const epicsUInt8 * pWireSrc, epicsOldString & dst )
 {
     memcpy ( & dst, pWireSrc, sizeof ( dst ) );
 }
 
-inline void WireSet ( const epicsFloat32 & src, epicsUInt8 * pWireDst )
+template <>
+inline void WireSet < epicsFloat32 > ( 
+    const epicsFloat32 & src, epicsUInt8 * pWireDst )
 {
     cvt$convert_float ( & src, CVT$K_VAX_F , pWireDst, CVT$K_IEEE_S, CVT$M_BIG_ENDIAN );
 }
 
-inline void WireSet ( const epicsFloat64 & src, epicsUInt8 * pWireDst )
+template <>
+inline void WireSet < epicsFloat64 > ( 
+    const epicsFloat64 & src, epicsUInt8 * pWireDst )
 {
 #   if defined ( __G_FLOAT ) && ( __G_FLOAT == 1 )
         cvt$convert_float ( & src, CVT$K_VAX_G , pWireDst, CVT$K_IEEE_T, CVT$M_BIG_ENDIAN );
@@ -56,27 +65,36 @@ inline void WireSet ( const epicsFloat64 & src, epicsUInt8 * pWireDst )
 #   endif
 }
 
-inline void WireSet ( const epicsOldString & src, epicsUInt8 * pWireDst )
+inline void WireSet ( 
+    const epicsOldString & src, epicsUInt8 * pWireDst )
 {
     memcpy ( pWireDst, & src, sizeof ( src ) );
 }
 
-inline void AlignedWireGet ( const epicsUInt16 & src, epicsUInt16 & dst )
+template <>
+inline void AlignedWireGet < epicsUInt16 > ( 
+    const epicsUInt16 & src, epicsUInt16 & dst )
 {
     dst = byteSwap ( src );
 }
 
-inline void AlignedWireGet ( const epicsUInt32 & src, epicsUInt32 & dst )
+template <>
+inline void AlignedWireGet < epicsUInt32 > ( 
+    const epicsUInt32 & src, epicsUInt32 & dst )
 {
     dst = byteSwap ( src );
 }
 
-inline void AlignedWireGet ( const epicsFloat32 & src, epicsFloat32 & dst )
+template <>
+inline void AlignedWireGet < epicsFloat32 > ( 
+    const epicsFloat32 & src, epicsFloat32 & dst )
 {
     cvt$convert_float ( & src, CVT$K_IEEE_S, & dst, CVT$K_VAX_F, CVT$M_BIG_ENDIAN );
 }
 
-inline void AlignedWireGet ( const epicsFloat64 & src, epicsFloat64 & dst )
+template <>
+inline void AlignedWireGet < epicsFloat64 > ( 
+    const epicsFloat64 & src, epicsFloat64 & dst )
 {
 #   if defined ( __G_FLOAT ) && ( __G_FLOAT == 1 )
         cvt$convert_float ( & src, CVT$K_IEEE_T, & dst, CVT$K_VAX_G, CVT$M_BIG_ENDIAN );
@@ -85,22 +103,30 @@ inline void AlignedWireGet ( const epicsFloat64 & src, epicsFloat64 & dst )
 #   endif
 }
 
-inline void AlignedWireSet ( const epicsUInt16 & src, epicsUInt16 & dst )
+template <>
+inline void AlignedWireSet < epicsUInt16 > ( 
+    const epicsUInt16 & src, epicsUInt16 & dst )
 {
     dst = byteSwap ( src );
 }
 
-inline void AlignedWireSet ( const epicsUInt32 & src, epicsUInt32 & dst )
+template <>
+inline void AlignedWireSet < epicsUInt32 > ( 
+    const epicsUInt32 & src, epicsUInt32 & dst )
 {
     dst = byteSwap ( src );
 }
 
-inline void AlignedWireSet ( const epicsFloat32 & src, epicsFloat32 & dst )
+template <>
+inline void AlignedWireSet < epicsFloat32 > ( 
+    const epicsFloat32 & src, epicsFloat32 & dst )
 {
     cvt$convert_float ( & src, CVT$K_VAX_F , & dst, CVT$K_IEEE_S, CVT$M_BIG_ENDIAN );
 }
 
-inline void AlignedWireSet ( const epicsFloat64 & src, epicsFloat64 & dst )
+template <>
+inline void AlignedWireSet < epicsFloat64 > ( 
+    const epicsFloat64 & src, epicsFloat64 & dst )
 {
 #   if defined ( __G_FLOAT ) && ( __G_FLOAT == 1 )
         cvt$convert_float ( & src, CVT$K_VAX_G , & dst, CVT$K_IEEE_T, CVT$M_BIG_ENDIAN );
diff --git a/src/libCom/osi/os/default/osdWireFormat.h b/src/libCom/osi/os/default/osdWireFormat.h
index f2b739c46..000c0e821 100644
--- a/src/libCom/osi/os/default/osdWireFormat.h
+++ b/src/libCom/osi/os/default/osdWireFormat.h
@@ -95,7 +95,9 @@
 // but inconsistent with the vast majority of CPUs
 //
 
-inline void WireGet ( const epicsUInt8 * pWireSrc, epicsFloat64 & dst )
+template <>
+inline void WireGet < epicsFloat64 > ( 
+    const epicsUInt8 * pWireSrc, epicsFloat64 & dst )
 {
     // copy through union here 
     // a) prevents over-aggresive optimization under strict aliasing rules
@@ -116,12 +118,15 @@ inline void WireGet ( const epicsUInt8 * pWireSrc, epicsFloat64 & dst )
     dst = tmp._f;
 }
 
-inline void WireGet ( const epicsUInt8 * pWireSrc, epicsOldString & dst )
+inline void WireGet ( 
+    const epicsUInt8 * pWireSrc, epicsOldString & dst )
 {
     memcpy ( & dst, pWireSrc, sizeof ( dst ) );
 }
 
-inline void WireSet ( const epicsFloat64 & src, epicsUInt8 * pWireDst )
+template <>
+inline void WireSet < epicsFloat64 > ( 
+    const epicsFloat64 & src, epicsUInt8 * pWireDst )
 {
     // copy through union here 
     // a) prevents over-aggresive optimization under strict aliasing rules
@@ -142,12 +147,15 @@ inline void WireSet ( const epicsFloat64 & src, epicsUInt8 * pWireDst )
 #   endif
 }
 
-inline void WireSet ( const epicsOldString & src, epicsUInt8 * pWireDst )
+inline void WireSet ( 
+    const epicsOldString & src, epicsUInt8 * pWireDst )
 {
     memcpy ( pWireDst, & src, sizeof ( src ) );
 }
 
-inline void AlignedWireGet ( const epicsUInt16 & src, epicsUInt16 & dst )
+template <>
+inline void AlignedWireGet < epicsUInt16 > ( 
+    const epicsUInt16 & src, epicsUInt16 & dst )
 {
 #   if defined ( EPICS_LITTLE_ENDIAN )
         dst = byteSwap ( src );
@@ -158,7 +166,9 @@ inline void AlignedWireGet ( const epicsUInt16 & src, epicsUInt16 & dst )
 #   endif
 }
 
-inline void AlignedWireGet ( const epicsUInt32 & src, epicsUInt32 & dst )
+template <>
+inline void AlignedWireGet < epicsUInt32 > ( 
+    const epicsUInt32 & src, epicsUInt32 & dst )
 {
 #   if defined ( EPICS_LITTLE_ENDIAN )
         dst = byteSwap ( src );
@@ -169,7 +179,9 @@ inline void AlignedWireGet ( const epicsUInt32 & src, epicsUInt32 & dst )
 #   endif
 }
 
-inline void AlignedWireGet ( const epicsFloat64 & src, epicsFloat64 & dst )
+template <>
+inline void AlignedWireGet < epicsFloat64 > ( 
+    const epicsFloat64 & src, epicsFloat64 & dst )
 {
    // copy through union here 
     // a) prevents over-aggresive optimization under strict aliasing rules
@@ -197,7 +209,9 @@ inline void AlignedWireGet ( const epicsFloat64 & src, epicsFloat64 & dst )
 #   endif
 }
 
-inline void AlignedWireSet ( const epicsUInt16 & src, epicsUInt16 & dst )
+template <>
+inline void AlignedWireSet < epicsUInt16 >
+    ( const epicsUInt16 & src, epicsUInt16 & dst )
 {
 #   if defined ( EPICS_LITTLE_ENDIAN )
         dst = byteSwap ( src );
@@ -208,7 +222,9 @@ inline void AlignedWireSet ( const epicsUInt16 & src, epicsUInt16 & dst )
 #   endif
 }
 
-inline void AlignedWireSet ( const epicsUInt32 & src, epicsUInt32 & dst )
+template <>
+inline void AlignedWireSet < epicsUInt32 > ( 
+    const epicsUInt32 & src, epicsUInt32 & dst )
 {
 #   if defined ( EPICS_LITTLE_ENDIAN )
         dst = byteSwap ( src );
@@ -219,7 +235,9 @@ inline void AlignedWireSet ( const epicsUInt32 & src, epicsUInt32 & dst )
 #   endif
 }
 
-inline void AlignedWireSet ( const epicsFloat64 & src, epicsFloat64 & dst )
+template <>
+inline void AlignedWireSet < epicsFloat64 > ( 
+    const epicsFloat64 & src, epicsFloat64 & dst )
 {
     // copy through union here 
     // a) prevents over-aggresive optimization under strict aliasing rules
diff --git a/src/libCom/osi/osiWireFormat.h b/src/libCom/osi/osiWireFormat.h
index 800e238ee..8fa1611e9 100644
--- a/src/libCom/osi/osiWireFormat.h
+++ b/src/libCom/osi/osiWireFormat.h
@@ -159,27 +159,6 @@ union WireAlias < epicsFloat32 > {
 // over-aggresive optimization under strict aliasing rules.
 //
 
-inline void WireGet ( const epicsUInt8 * pWireSrc, epicsUInt8 & dst )
-{
-    dst = pWireSrc[0];
-}
-
-inline void WireGet ( const epicsUInt8 * pWireSrc, epicsUInt16 & dst )
-{
-    dst = 
-        ( static_cast < epicsUInt16 > ( pWireSrc[0] ) << 8u ) |
-          static_cast < epicsUInt16 > ( pWireSrc[1] );
-}
-
-inline void WireGet ( const epicsUInt8 * pWireSrc, epicsUInt32 & dst )
-{
-    dst = 
-        ( static_cast < epicsUInt32 > ( pWireSrc[0] ) << 24u ) | 
-        ( static_cast < epicsUInt32 > ( pWireSrc[1] ) << 16u ) |
-        ( static_cast < epicsUInt32 > ( pWireSrc[2] ) <<  8u ) |
-          static_cast < epicsUInt32 > ( pWireSrc[3] );
-}
-
 template < class T >
 inline void WireGet ( const epicsUInt8 * pWireSrc, T & dst )
 {
@@ -191,23 +170,31 @@ inline void WireGet ( const epicsUInt8 * pWireSrc, T & dst )
     dst = tmp._o;
 }
 
-inline void WireSet ( const epicsUInt8 & src, epicsUInt8 * pWireDst )
+template <>
+inline void WireGet < epicsUInt8 > ( 
+    const epicsUInt8 * pWireSrc, epicsUInt8 & dst )
 {
-    pWireDst[0] = src;
+    dst = pWireSrc[0];
 }
 
-inline void WireSet ( const epicsUInt16 & src, epicsUInt8 * pWireDst )
+template <>
+inline void WireGet < epicsUInt16 > ( 
+    const epicsUInt8 * pWireSrc, epicsUInt16 & dst )
 {
-    pWireDst[0] = static_cast < epicsUInt8 > ( src >> 8u );
-    pWireDst[1] = static_cast < epicsUInt8 > ( src );
+    dst = 
+        ( static_cast < epicsUInt16 > ( pWireSrc[0] ) << 8u ) |
+          static_cast < epicsUInt16 > ( pWireSrc[1] );
 }
 
-inline void WireSet ( const epicsUInt32 & src, epicsUInt8 * pWireDst )
+template <>
+inline void WireGet < epicsUInt32 > ( 
+    const epicsUInt8 * pWireSrc, epicsUInt32 & dst )
 {
-    pWireDst[0] = static_cast < epicsUInt8 > ( src >> 24u );
-    pWireDst[1] = static_cast < epicsUInt8 > ( src >> 16u );
-    pWireDst[2] = static_cast < epicsUInt8 > ( src >>  8u );
-    pWireDst[3] = static_cast < epicsUInt8 > ( src );
+    dst = 
+        ( static_cast < epicsUInt32 > ( pWireSrc[0] ) << 24u ) | 
+        ( static_cast < epicsUInt32 > ( pWireSrc[1] ) << 16u ) |
+        ( static_cast < epicsUInt32 > ( pWireSrc[2] ) <<  8u ) |
+          static_cast < epicsUInt32 > ( pWireSrc[3] );
 }
 
 template < class T >
@@ -221,6 +208,31 @@ inline void WireSet ( const T & src, epicsUInt8 * pWireDst )
     WireSet ( tmp._u, pWireDst );
 }
 
+template <>
+inline void WireSet < epicsUInt8 > ( 
+    const epicsUInt8 & src, epicsUInt8 * pWireDst )
+{
+    pWireDst[0] = src;
+}
+
+template <>
+inline void WireSet < epicsUInt16 > ( 
+    const epicsUInt16 & src, epicsUInt8 * pWireDst )
+{
+    pWireDst[0] = static_cast < epicsUInt8 > ( src >> 8u );
+    pWireDst[1] = static_cast < epicsUInt8 > ( src );
+}
+
+template <>
+inline void WireSet < epicsUInt32 > ( 
+    const epicsUInt32 & src, epicsUInt8 * pWireDst )
+{
+    pWireDst[0] = static_cast < epicsUInt8 > ( src >> 24u );
+    pWireDst[1] = static_cast < epicsUInt8 > ( src >> 16u );
+    pWireDst[2] = static_cast < epicsUInt8 > ( src >>  8u );
+    pWireDst[3] = static_cast < epicsUInt8 > ( src );
+}
+
 template < class T >
 inline void AlignedWireGet ( const T & src, T & dst )
 {