TK-890 Dualhead question

[Riktar1]

I picked up a KRK-6DH to go dualhead on my TK-890H radio that had a KRK-5 singlehead setup. After hooking up the KRK-6DH and power on the system, I get a "partial" startup (The display on head 1 loads up but never goes to any channel) and head 2 makes a VERY loud buzzing sound. I have verified that both heads and cables work fine when I go back to the KRK-5.

I also tried unplugging the 2nd head and just starting up with the HEAD1 connected and while there is no buzzing the 1st head stays in the "partial" startup screen.

Any thoughts?

 

[ramal121]

You don't mention that you reprogrammed the radio for dual head ops. Did you?

 

[Riktar1]

Uh, nope. I did not. So I have to go into the software (KPG-44) and set it for dual head?

I will now (sheepishly) slink back to my computer and fire up the program...

 

[Riktar1]

I now see (as I shake my head) the dual head option in the software. I selected that but when I go to write to the radio I am see 256 blocks to write to as opposed to the 192 blocks it read from.

And when I try writing the dualhead parameters the software mentions incorrect model data do I want to overwrite? So I select yes but then the write stops when it gets to the 192nd block and a communication error message pops up.

That being said, when I go back in and "read" the radio I can see all my changes (including dualhead) I made in the software.

Will my 192 blocks (for read) turn into 256 blocks after I shut down the radio and physically install the KRK-6DH and hook up the 2nd head?

Thanks for reading and putting up with my questions...

 

[Riktar1]

It also appears I need an additional cable (E37-0786-05) that was not included with KRK-6DH.

 

[ramal121]

Model mismatch is normal, yes to overwrite updates to the new model.
Adding extra hardware (2nd head) bumps up the write blocks so you need to have the 6DH and both heads to program correctly.
And yes there is a second cable from the 6DH to the radio that the 5 does not have. You really need this to complete.

 

[Riktar1]

I will be reaching to the source I obtained this from and see what comes up.

Thanks for the replies and the information! Much appreciated!

 

[Riktar1]

While I am waiting for the missing cable to show up I am noticing another issue with this radio. No matter what privacy tone I set for any simplex channel the radio will pick up any transmission that is being broadcast. IE: Channel 17 (462.600) is picking up my local repeater traffic which transmits on the same frequency. No matter what tone I set, the radio will pick up a broadcast on that frequency. Is there a setting that tells the radio to ignore the incoming tone that is set so that it hears all broadcasts?

 

[mmckenna]

Check your "Off Hook Decode" check box.

If the box is unchecked (default) and the microphone is not in a hanger, it'll go into carrier squelch mode even with a tone set on the RX side.

If you check that box, the receiver will be muted no matter if the mic is hung up or not if the correct tone is not heard.

Generally, and especially with a shared radio service like GMRS, using the off hook decode function to force it into carrier squelch when you take the mic off the hook ensures that you'll hear other users on the channel before you transmit.

 

[Riktar1]

That was the issue. I

Thank you for info!

 

[Riktar1]

The cable arrived, put it all together and updated the radio to dualhead without any issue!

Thank you ramal121 and mmckenna for for your answers to my questions!

If I may ask, I know Kenwood made a KCT-22 cable (M3 I think) that was 25 feet long compared to my (M2) cable that is 17 feet. While I will find a way to make this work, it would be helpful to have the longer M3 cable.

Since I have several of the M2 cables I am wondering if I could just "splice" 2 of them together which would REALLY make for a neater installation.

Or is 25 feet the maximum length a head cab be extended?

Thanks again!

 

[mmckenna]

The cable arrived, put it all together and updated the radio to dualhead without any issue!

Thank you ramal121 and mmckenna for for your answers to my questions!

If I may ask, I know Kenwood made a KCT-22 cable (M3 I think) that was 25 feet long compared to my (M2) cable that is 17 feet. While I will find a way to make this work, it would be helpful to have the longer M3 cable.

Since I have several of the M2 cables I am wondering if I could just "splice" 2 of them together which would REALLY make for a neater installation.

Or is 25 feet the maximum length a head cab be extended?

Thanks again!

Kenwood had an option where buyers could order custom cable lengths up to 100 feet. Only disclaimer was that at longer lengths, it reduced speaker output.

Splicing your two cables together would be fine if done carefully.

 

[Riktar1]

Thanks!

 

[AM909]

I'm told there have been issues with even the M3 cables on the current NX-5K series, though it probably is about specifics of the installation and how much RF gets back into the cable.

 

[mmckenna]

I'm told there have been issues with even the M3 cables on the current NX-5K series, though it probably is about specifics of the installation and how much RF gets back into the cable.

From the price guide:

Caution: Extended control head cables exhibit a loss in speaker audio power to the control heads.

Probably a small diameter conductor for audio exhibiting enough resistance to impact volume.