autocom super pro AVI and kenwood TK3201

[graham]

Hi I have the above system connected via a autocom 1402 bike powered dummy battery.
The problem I have got is, the kenwood won't go to vox mode when i try to follow the programming instructions, instead of saying VOX it says something cell or self. Has anyone encountered this
Thanks

 

[graham]

sorted

now sorted. it seems you have to have headset disconnected while you set the VOX up

 

[Bumpkin]

I question why you would want to set-up VOX on the radio itself.

The Super Pro AVI will do a far better job of handling the VOX than the radio.

Even better get a PTT switch, not everyone in the group will be interested in hearing your burps, singing or blasphemous remarks about other road users. Especially when they won't hear the first second or two...

 

[graham]

Yes PTT is the way forward.
But the kenwood radio needs to be put into VOX mode as it does not do it when you plug in the head set.I was setting up for this weekend and did not have time or money to get 2 of everything for my sons bike as well as mine.
Cheers

Graham

 

[Bumpkin]

But the kenwood radio needs to be put into VOX mode as it does not do it when you plug in the head set.I was setting up for this weekend and did not have time or money to get 2 of everything for my sons bike as well as mine.

OK, I'll confess to being a little confused here...

You have a Super Pro AVI connected to a TK3102 using the Autocom dummy battery. Transmission should be initiated by the Autocom detecting you speaking which will key the radio to Tx. The VOX on the radio should be deactivated.

There have been issues previously with radios, or more specifically the antenna, being right next to the Autocom unit causing problems with the VOX due to RF interference.

Or is it that your son has only the radio and a headset and thus needs VOX working at his end. I think that's going to be hard to achieve as the VOX on the radio will trigger with increase in speed and wind noise, you'll end up turning the radio off and reverting to hand signals. The alternative is something like a McKay headset complete with PTT (use the open face kit in full face lids). I have one of these for riding buddies to borrow, works very well considering the cost. The headsets you get in the likes of Maplins, without a noise cancelling mic, aren't worth having IMHO.

 

[graham]

Hi, no we both have the same autocom I was just trying to get the vox working on the radio as you need vox on the radio so when you speak into the autocom it knows to transmit through the TK1302.
Both of my TK 1302 units enter vox mode only with the headset lead disconnected, but this is opposite to the online instructions from kenwood.The vox needs to be on but the gain may be better turned off
Another problem I encountered was my autocom was on permanent vox operation caused by some wiring from the satnav.
Hopefully now all sorted

graham

 

[Bumpkin]

Hi, no we both have the same autocom I was just trying to get the vox working on the radio as you need vox on the radio so when you speak into the autocom it knows to transmit through the TK1302.

That's not the case. You should turn off the VOX on the radio, the Autocom detects when you speak and activates the radio to transmit. The two pin socket that plugs into the side of your Kenwood carries audio in and out as well as allowing the Autocom to activate Tx.

If your Super Pro Avi has been tinkered with internally then there might be some consequences though.

Another problem I encountered was my autocom was on permanent vox operation caused by some wiring from the satnav.

How is the sat nav connected? VOX shouldn't come into it. For Zumos use either an isolated stereo lead in aux#2 or aux#3. If wanting to use the phone via the sat nav it gets a little more complex. If you're using aux#4 for sat nav this could possibly cause problems with VOX. You would obviously need to get this sorted before the Autocom can handle the VOX for you.

You need to experiment with the VOX level, purple knob on your Autocom, so as to get the actuation point correct. i.e. not too hard or too easy to trip the speech detection. Additionally you will need to get used to using a precursor word to get the VOX channel to open otherwise the other party won't hear the start of what you're trying to say.

IMHO, set up properly, the Autocom will do a far better job of VOX than the radio. However, if you want the best results PTT is the way to go.

Hopefully now all sorted

Would be interested to hear what you did and the results.

 

[graham]

Hi thanks for the input I dont have a lot of time at the moment but while we are away this weekend we will be playing around with various setting. Since I had the autocom quite a while and only used it for rider to pillion- Ipod- satnav streetpilot 2610-phone via bluetooth-radar detector, all this has worked very well together with problem.May be I need to revisit some of this wiring and how it interfaces with the autocom. I wiil try with the vox off and see what happens and report back later.
Cheers
Graham

 

[Bumpkin]

If the sat nav wiring is causing VOX issues that it shouldn't then I suggest temporarily unplugging it from the Autocom end whilst you try and set the radios up. Doing this in shade you should see the green Tx light on the Kenwood light up when you speak, adjust the purple knob to optimise this and then test on the road before adjusting further.

Good luck, it takes quite some mucking around to set-up decent bike-to-bike comms. Putting some time aside, with some help, to concentrate on doing this should pay dividends.

My Super Pro Avi based system, dare I say it, works really well. Getting a good 1-3 mile range on recent trips abroad, audible up to Autoroute speeds (80-90mph). On our recent trip to the Cévennes I did manage to melt my external antenna though it still seems to work OK. Will have to look into repositioning it away from the exhaust.

 

[graham]

Thanks for that what with the heat and grandson being around sndmy son not having much time it was a last minute decision to buy the leads and give it a go. But going away tomorrow just my son and me so will have plenty of time to play with it sll.
Yes the sat nav is disconnected for this trip .
You mention a external antenna would like to know more on how to and best place to mount it although I believe it should not be done due to the licence issue.

 

[Bumpkin]

You mention a external antenna would like to know more on how to and best place to mount it although I believe it should not be done due to the licence issue.

There are issues adding an external antenna to a TK3102 as the rubber ducky one is not detachable. You need to buy the parts for another model and do some surgery with a soldering iron. A friend of mine documented his conversion.

Using an external antenna doesn't in itself go outside of the OFCOM regs. This is a fallacy. Download this OFCOM factsheet and look at the section on page 6 entitled 'Converted radio equipment'. The issue comes where the gain of the antenna means that the ERP exceeds the permissible maximum of 0.5W. Whilst the gain of the antenna we use (long thread) increases the ERP beyond this figure and is technically illegal the actual effect on range over the standard radio isn't that great. I imagine that using an import Chinese radio on a high 4W power setting combined with the antenna would theoretically make quite a bit of difference though. The real reason for the external antenna is to prevent having the radio lain down under a seat. Doing that will knock Rx and especially Tx for six, limiting range to a real world few hundred yards at best.

 

[graham]

Thank fot that had a quick look vut will study in depth when we get back. Mine will be in the tank bag rear pocket my sons will be in the rear tail section of his ZX7 we only need a few hundred yards on this trip so may be ok.