Midian VAE-80, PARTI-1 User Manual

Manual Revision: 2014-11-13

VAE-80

8 Input Voice Alarm Encoder

Covers Firmware Revisions:
PARTI

Covers Hardware Revisions:
PARTI-1: Rev F

-1: V 1.00

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HARDWARE SPECIFICATIONS

Voltage/Current:

External Power 13-18 VDC
Standby Current 138 mA

Radio Inputs/Outputs:

Audio Input Impedance ~ 2.7k
Audio Input Level 500 mvpp – 5 vpp
AGC Dynamic Range 30 db
Audio Output Level Adjustable from 140 mvpp to 3 Vpp unloaded
Audio Output Impedance 1 K or 47 K Jumper Selectable
PTT Out: Open-Collector – Logic Low

Mechanical:

Dimensions: 1.45" H x 6.1” W x 7.0" L
Operating Temp: -30° to +60° C

INSTALLATION OVERVIEW

1. Test the radio and PA system for functionality.

2. Program the unit per the Product Programming Section of this manual.

3. Connect the unit into the radio and PA system per the Hardware Connection Section of this manual.

4. Program the radio per the Radio Programming Section of this manual.
*** Midian is not responsible for any damage/loss resulting from the use of Midian’s products.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The VAE-80 is a voice alarm encoder capable of playing back 8 different 20 second user pre-recorded messages
over a radio channel. Each of these 8 messages is controlled by 8 individual logic low inputs (relay contacts) from
an alarm panel. The 8 alarm messages can also be activated by DTMF sent from a radio equipped with a Touch
Tone keypad or optionally from a cellular or land line phone. Another optional feature allows the 8 messages to be
simultaneously played back over a PA system or a 600 ohm line.

The VAE-80 is two Midian products, the PARTI-1 and the AE-1 combined to make a single product. The PARTI-1
interface is used to program the functionality of the VAE-80. The AE-1 module inside the VAE-80 will never need
to be programmed.

PRODUCT PROGRAMMING

Midian’s VAE-80 is programmed via Midian’s KL-4F programmer, KL-4F-PC1 programming cable and our free
MPS software. Please reference the KL-4F manual for setup instructions of the programming software
and hardware. From the product selection screen in the software, select the PARTI-1 from the list and click
OK.

Set the parameters of the software to fit the application. If any clarifications on a feature are required, move the
mouse cursor over the feature name until the question mark appears and right click, a definition of the feature will
be shown.

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After entering the parameters, save the file by going to File - Save As. Enter the file name in the File Name block
and click Save. Saving the file will allow for quick and easy reprogramming of units.

Push the power button on the KL-4F and within 15 seconds select Program Unit or Read Unit in the
software.

After programming or reading the unit, turn off the unit for 3 seconds and then turn back on.

Regarding the headphone/programming jack on the front of the unit:

 The headphone jack on the front of the unit is used for programming.
 Programming must begin within 15 seconds of turning the unit on.
 Power must be cycled (power turned off and then on) after programming.
 If headphones are used, they will not be active for the first 15 seconds after turning the unit on.

General Info -> Unit Information

This information area is updated when a unit is read or programmed. It will also be updated when a data file is
loaded from a previous unit read and then saved. Below is a summary of the fields:

Product - Shows a more detailed description of the product model within the series.
uP #1 Firmware Version - Indicates the reported Firmware Version of the primary microprocessor of this product.
uP #1 Loader Version - Indicates the reported Loader Version of the primary microprocessor of this product.

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General Settings -> Radio

Keyup Delay - The system will wait this amount of time after asserting the PTT output before transmitting a voice

prompt or announcement over the radio. The amount of time needed will depend on the radio system. If CTCSS
or DCS is being used, this delay should account for the time needed to decode such signals.

Require Radio Passcode - If enabled, a passcode must be entered in order to log into the system via radio. It is
assumed that if the passcode requirement is disabled that some other method is in place to secure the system
such as a dedicated channel or CTCSS code. Note: If disabled, Radio Greeting Message and Radio Command
Prompt will also be disabled.

Radio Command Prompt Enable - If enabled, 'Enter Command' will be heard after entering the correct

passcode and releasing PTT. This may be preceded by the greeting message (if enabled). If the command
prompt and the greeting message are both disabled, PTT should not be released after entering the passcode.

Instead, proceed to enter a command.
Radio Greeting Enable - If enabled, the custom Greeting Message will be heard after entering the correct

passcode and releasing PTT. This will be followed by the command prompt (if enabled).
Trunking Delay - In trunked radio systems like LTR, it is necessary to wait for a channel to be acquired before

the system can transmit a voice prompt or announcement. Checking this box causes the system to wait for a
signal from the radio indicating that it has acquired a channel. This function requires that the LTR Delay input be
connected a point in the radio that changes state when a channel is acquired. If the signal does not indicate that
a channel has been acquired within 5 seconds of keyup, the transmission will be abandoned.

PTT Click Control - Enabling this feature allows limited access to the system using radios not equipped with
DTMF signaling. By clicking the PTT button on the radio 4 times in rapid succession, the system will enter either
Live Mode or Buffered Mode depending upon which PTT Click Action is selected. After the 4th PTT press-and­release, the 'Speak' prompt will be heard. The user must then re-key and speak the announcement.

PTT Click Action - If PTT Click Control is enabled, this specifies the action the system will take when the proper
number of PTT clicks is detected. Select either live mode or buffered mode as the PTT Click Action.

PTT Click Timer - This specifies the maximum amount of time allowed between each PTT press-and-release for
it to be counted as a click.

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General Settings -> Telephone

Number of Rings - Specifies the number of rings before the system answers a telephone call. If for example 2
rings are specified, the system will answer at the beginning of the 2nd ring.

Answer Delay Time - After answering a telephone call, the system will wait this amount of time before playing the

'Enter Command' prompt (or Greeting Message).
Require Telephone Passcode - If enabled, a passcode must be entered in order to log into the system via

telephone. It is assumed that if the passcode requirement is disabled that some other method is in place to
secure the system such as an unlisted telephone number.

Telephone Greeting Enable - If checked, a Greeting Message will be played when the system answers a
telephone call. This message is customizable via the Custom Audio screen under System Voice Prompts.

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General Settings -> Multicast

Impolite Multicast - Enabling impolite multicast tells the system it is allowed to keyup even if the radio channel is

busy. When it is time to broadcast an announcement and the radio channel is busy, the system will first wait for
the Multicast Busy Lockout Delay time to expire. This will happen even if impolite multicast is disabled.

If the radio channel is still busy after that time, the system will check to see if impolite multicast is enabled. If it is,
the transmission will take place. If it is not, the transmission will be abandoned and never take place. Note that
the announcement will be broadcast over the PA system in either case.

Multicast Busy Lockout Delay - When it is time to broadcast an announcement over the radio, the radio channel
may be busy. This parameter specifies how long the system will wait for the radio channel to become unbusy
before transmitting the announcement. If the channel becomes unbusy before this time expires, the
announcement is transmitted.

If the radio channel is still busy after this time, the system will check to see if Impolite Multicast is enabled. If it is,
the transmission will take place. If it is not, the transmission will be abandoned and never take place. Note that
the announcement will be broadcast over the PA system in either case. This parameter should never be set to 0
unless Impolite Multicast is enabled. In either case it is recommended this be no less than 2 seconds.

Mutlicast Sync Window Delay - The purpose of this setting is to ensure that the announcement broadcast over
the PA is synchronized with the announcement transmitted over the radio. Synchronization is desirable when
staff members with radios are within earshot of the PA system. If synchronization is not desired, this time may be
set to 0. If there is no synchronization, broadcast over the PA and transmission over radio will start at different
times. This could make the announcement difficult to understand for those staff members with radios.

This parameter specifies how long the system will wait for the transmission over radio to begin before
broadcasting the announcement over the PA. This amount of time needs to take into account channel acquisition
time if in a trunking system as well as the programmed Keyup Delay. Also, when it is time to broadcast an
announcement over the radio, the radio channel may be busy. If that is the case, a few seconds of busy time
should be accounted for as well.

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As soon as transmission over radio can begin, the announcement will be broadcast over the PA and transmitted
over the radio at exactly the same time. If the Multicast Sync Window Delay time expires, the announcement will
be broadcast over the PA even if transmission over the radio cannot begin. In that case, transmission over radio
may begin at a later time or not at all depending upon the Impolite Multicast and Multicast Busy Lockout Delay
settings.

General Settings -> Miscellaneous

Admin Inactivity Timeout - Administrator Mode will be terminated if there has been no administrator activity for

this amount of time. 'Goodbye' will be heard from the administrator microphone if this occurs.
DTMF Inactivity Timeout - This specifies how long the system will wait for a DTMF command to be entered. If

this time expires while the system is waiting for a command, 'Goodbye' will be heard and the user will be logged ­off the system. This applies to both radio and telephone operation.

Live Mode Timeout - This specifies how long the system will remain in Live Mode. If the user has not terminated
Live Mode by either releasing PTT or pressing '#' before this time expires, 'Goodbye' will be heard and the user

will be logged-off the system. This applies to both radio and telephone operation.
Passcode - This is the passcode that must be entered in order to log in to the system (if the passcode

requirement is enabled). It may consist of digits '0' - '9' and be 0 to 8 digits long. When a user enters a passcode
via either radio or telephone, it must be followed by '*'. When the passcode is 0 digits long, then '*' by itself is the
passcode.

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Outputs

PTT 1 Out - Specify the polarity which will cause the radio connected to the system to keyup. For most radios

this is Low.

Announcement Settings

Pre-recorded Message 1-8 - This is the message that will be broadcast for this announcement. To upload a pre-

recorded message to the system, click on Select Wavefile and select the WAV file containing the message. The
pre-recorded message may be up to 20 seconds in length.

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