TK-7180 Public Address (PA) Function help!

[cpolcyn]

Hi there! Newbie question here...

I have a TK-7180 with the KAP-2 installed (and a remote control head). I also have an Abrams Explorer Series siren/PA installed in my rig.

I am looking for help connecting the PA function of the radio to the amplifier so that I can cut out the additional handset. The siren amplifier has TERRIBLE documentation, but I'm pretty sure I can figure out how to get the audio routed from its wire harness to the speaker. With that said, im looking for some help on the kenwood side to connect this....

1. On the 6 pin connector of the KAP-2, what pins do I need to hook up? what type of wire do I use...? (if its audio, should this be speaker wire for the audio part...?)
2. On the software side, what functions do I need to enable? what would the settings look like? (Just need to assign PA function to a button? or is there more to it?)
3. if possible... some help with the amplifier settings would be nice too! what wire/pin should i use on that? Can someone explain to me how the audio is being transmitted across what appears to be a power wire (doesnt look like speaker wire...) is the audio out from the KAP-2 and the audio in on the siren amp compatible?

Of note, I only want the audio to come out of that speaker when the PA function is enabled. NOT the audio from the radio being broadcasted.


Here are a few links that may help...
KAP-2 manual: Kap-2; Description; Features; Mechanical Specifications - Kenwood TK-2180 Modification Information [Page 26] | ManualsLib
Siren amplifier manual: https://www.abramsmfg.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Explorer-Siren-HH-CM-V1.3-User-Guide.pdf (see page 4, that is the most detailed info i can find about the wire harness...)



My initial thought is as follows... but some validation or guidance to this would be greatly appreciated!!!
1. assign a function button to the PA function on radio programming software
2. attach KAP-2 (6 pin connector) pin #2 to ground
3. attach KAP-2 (6 pin connector) pin #3 to pin 3 or 4 of the amplifier unit
4. to operate, place radio in PA mode. Place Amplifier in "Radio" mode. PTT mic of radio to speak.


EXTRA points to the person who figures out how to send the PA signal from the Kenwood to the amplifier AND have the amplifier recognize it as the regular microphone (meaning, dont have to put it in "radio" mode, PTT will interrupt siren tones, then resume when released)

 

[ramal121]

You would only program a button on the 7180 to PA and that's it. Once you press the button the radio does the rest. The PA function is for mic audio only. If you want radio audio you would program a button for External Speaker.

The connection would be from pins 2 & 3 of the KAP-2 to pins 3 & 4 of the siren unit (the radio input is balanced so you will need to use both). Regular speaker wire is fine.

While it may be possible to build some kind of interface to connect PTT of the 7180 to the PTT of the siren unit I really think that it will not work because the internal switching of the siren is looking for audio from its PA mic and not the radio rebroadcast input. I would not attempt to hook radio speaker audio to the siren PA mic input as a possible work around either.

 

[cpolcyn]

You would only program a button on the 7180 to PA and that's it. Once you press the button the radio does the rest. The PA function is for mic audio only. If you want radio audio you would program a button for External Speaker.

The connection would be from pins 2 & 3 of the KAP-2 to pins 3 & 4 of the siren unit (the radio input is balanced so you will need to use both). Regular speaker wire is fine.

While it may be possible to build some kind of interface to connect PTT of the 7180 to the PTT of the siren unit I really think that it will not work because the internal switching of the siren is looking for audio from its PA mic and not the radio rebroadcast input. I would not attempt to hook radio speaker audio to the siren PA mic input as a possible work around either.

Thank you so much for the help! so just to confirm, speaker wire from pin 2/3 of KAP-2, connected to pin 3/4 of the amplifier? on the manual, the KAP-2 pin 2 says ground, and the siren amp 3 and 4 seems like it may be two different connections, not ground/supply or left/right. just want to confirm!