Dual Deck Setup Options/Questions

[daugherh]

Motorola guy here thinking about switching over to KW. I've been eyeballing the NX5x00 line because of the ability to do dual deck single head install. The way it is now in my truck I have to remote mount units (one UHF and one VHF) so that I can utilize both bands at the same time monitoring. When I want to use one to speak, I just usually turn the other head down. My current setup is attached.

What I'm wondering is if I setup a NX5700/5800 dual deck single head setup, am I able to hear both decks at the same time via the head or do I need separate speakers? One of the reasons I have my current setup is that each head has a speaker. I like the idea of a single head (I think it's the KCH-20) that would let me see both decks in one and switch between them. Just curious on how it works with audio.

I also like the idea that the 5x00 series will do P25, DMR and/or NXDN but I'm really only needing analog and DMR. Just like the idea of having the other features down the road. Should I just go single deck single head with two units like I am now, or is the 5x00 even my best choice or should I go with another KW model?

Open to everyone's opinions and thoughts.

 

[WB5UOM]

2 speakers, each connected to each deck.

 

[kd4efm]

Speakers is a user option thing
You can listen to both decks with a speaker on each
nxdn comes standard
kch-20 you get sd card and bluetooth wireless programming
I can go on and on, but i will let others who use this set-up chime in also
Volume is controlling the selected deck while the other deck(s) are lower in volume.
Scan is per deck and not lumped into 1 list

I have 3 decks, 3 speakers, and scan all over the place

 

[WB5UOM]

and you might want to program a button for 'unselect mute' in case one side gets too busy, you can mute the unselected deck

 

[kd4efm]

If your looking for a dealer near you, Rock Communications, or Gumby Communications.
They are FleetTalk Partners that I work with on the area wide NXDN systems

 

[tweiss3]

I have a 5700/5800 single KCH-19 head setup in my truck. I use a KAP2 on each deck and have the external speakers on the drive shaft tunnel pointed at the dash. The way it works, I use the emergency button to toggle between decks, and the selected deck uses the KCH-19 speaker while the unselected deck uses the floor speaker. I also have in my keys a speaker mute, so I can mute the unselected deck if I was in the middle of a conversation on the selected deck.

From what I understand, the KCH-20 has an output for an external speaker, since it has no room for an internal speaker. You can hear both decks on that external speaker if you wish, or do a KAP2 like I have above.

The nice thing about how I have this setup is there is that it's easy to tell which deck I hear without looking at the radio.

 

[daugherh]

Very much appreciate the answers so far. Here's another question for the group: On DMR, does either of the heads show the zone and channel? Reason for that is this: on my XPR I monitor several DMR repeaters each in a zone with multiple talk groups. It's a statewide linked DMR network that shares the same groups with each repeater on its own frequency. The way I have it set up is channel 1 for each zone (zone being each repeater) is a group receive of all talk groups for that repeater. The next channels are each talkgroup for that repeater. When someone keys up, the Motorola shows the "Channel" name and the radio ID. I have no way of knowing when scanning which repeater (zone) its on. I've heard that the KW series shows the zone and channel both on screen which would be amazing.

 

[tweiss3]

Ok, so DMR on Kenwood is slightly different from Moto, I think in ways it is easier. I don't have any roaming operational on my setups, so I can't speak to that, but I now it works well on the Motorola radios.

Receive lists: Moto makes you create a receive list, and set it for each channel. On the Kenwood, you can either have it receive only the talkgroup selected, or with Group ID Scan it will receive ANY talkgroup in your ID list.


Recieved Calls: The nice think about how Kenwood handles it, if you get a call from any talkgroup, it holds on that talkgroup for a selected time, and you can respond on that talkgroup without changing channels. It shows up like this with OTA alias and TG name, but not zone (assuming you know which zone you are already in)



When not in use, it is showing Channel Number, then zone name, then channel name.

Did that answer your questions?

 

[KK6ZTE]

From what I understand, the KCH-20 has an output for an external speaker, since it has no room for an internal speaker. You can hear both decks on that external speaker if you wish, or do a KAP2 like I have above.

If you run "Single Audio Output" you can potentially hear audio from both decks, as long as only one has audio at a time. If Deck 1 (selected or unselected) has valid RX, it will preempt the audio from decks 2 or 3, even if they are selected. DON'T RUN LIKE THIS

Run a speaker to each deck, and if so inclined (if you have a loud vehicle) use the speaker output on the KCH-20R as a selected audio speaker for extra oomph.