Kenwood Kairos - Analog Simulcast

[allenmpack]

Looking for feedback regarding analog simulcast (VHF) … Anyone using them? … The wattage says 1-25 watts is it configurable in 1 watt increments? … are you using an external reference? … And the big question how does it sound in overlap areas? Hard to configure timing delays? Etc


Any advice is great ….

Thanks, Allen

 

[kd4efm]

Works pretty darn good, in the lab.
Had training in Atlanta recently, external or internal reference ability.

Question is, where are you located, I could get you in touch with a few shops who are using the KA150's.

 

[buddrousa]

Looking for feedback regarding analog simulcast (VHF) … Anyone using them? … The wattage says 1-25 watts is it configurable in 1 watt increments? … are you using an external reference? … And the big question how does it sound in overlap areas? Hard to configure timing delays? Etc


Any advice is great ….

Thanks, Allen

The best advice is this no do it yourself. Do not let a dealer that has not been to the classes or ever setup a system like this as their 1st system. Use a larger Kenwood Dealer for a system like this.

 

[allenmpack]

Thanks guys for the update … I shoulda have clarified a little better I have an extensive background with simulcast and equipment that was basically home brewed that works great … I work very closely with a kenwood dealer however I will be setting the system up myself … I’m also a Tait dealer and have experience with the Tait As-IP systems and no issues in setting them up. I guess what I’m mainly looking for is someone that has it up in analog vote receiver simulcast transmit real world environments… I’m trying to decide if it’s worth the coin for off the shelf gear or continue to expand upon my sites with homebrew equipment

Allen

 

[kd4efm]

Allen, going to talk to you over email.

 

[kf8yk]

I'm running 10 sites of Kairos in an analog/P25 mixed mode setup. Performance has been solid, only two issues during setup:

Initially configured for external reference to Trak 9100's we already had at each site and had some timing weirdness. To be fair Kairos wasn't sure it would work & shipped our units with internal GPS receivers. Switched to the internal GPS & timing has been perfect.

The CW IDer sucks. Kairos transmits PL/DPL with the Morse code ID so your analog users get to hear it every 30 minutes. I've never has a commercial repeater that didn't strip PL from the ID. If you use Kairos only for digital traffic you won't notice this bug, but for analog the IDer is worthless. I think we also noticed there's no activity timer with the IDer, so it sends ID every x minutes regardless if there was any repeater traffic since the last ID.

Power out can be adjusted from 1 to 10 watts in 1 watt increments, then 5 watt increments (15, 20 & 25 W). If you use an external PA you can enter the gain of the PA & Kairos will reflect all the power settings with your actual power out.

You can manually add delay in uS if you need to tweak the launch time.

 

[APX8000]

What's the cost on one of these bad boys ?

 

[Sprailer36]

The best advice is this no do it yourself. Do not let a dealer that has not been to the classes or ever setup a system like this as their 1st system. Use a larger Kenwood Dealer for a system like this.

So you are saying not to use a dealer, who has quite a few kairos simulcast systems out, because they are small?

 

[buddrousa]

No if they have been to the classes and have several systems in the field working then they would be good. There are small dealers that have not been trained and no systems in the field working these will cost you time and money by having to call in another shop to clean up the mess.

 

[kf8yk]

What's the cost on one of these bad boys ?

NASPO contract pricing, VHF or UHF same cost.

$ 7,597 - 25 W Analog repeater w/ simulcast software
$ 10,972 - 25 W Analog/P25 repeater w/ simulcast software
$ 338 - Internal GPSDO reference, if needed

Voting comparator is built in, 4W E/M wireline to analog is standard, 4W E/M wireline to P25/DMR is extra cost.