Midian VAE-1-VX1 User Manual

VAE-1-VX1

Voice Alarm Encoder

with Lone Worker and Man-Down

Manual Revision: 2013-04-03

Covers Software Revisions:
VAE-1: 01.53.00 & Higher

Covers Hardware Revisions:
VS-VX1: D & Higher

This manual & product supports the following Vertex radios:

Portables: VX-350, VX-410, VX-420, VX-450, VX-460, VX-600, VX-800, VX-820, VX-900, VX-920
Mobiles: VX-2100, VX-2200, VX-4000, VX-4100, VX-4200, VX-4500, VX-4600, VX-5500, VX-6000

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HARDWARE SPECIFICATIONS

Operating Voltage 4.75-9.5 VDC
Operating Current
Power Save Mode (COR Operation) 2.5 mA typical
Power Save Mode (VOX Operation) 10 mA typical
Repeat Operation 17.5 mA typical
Average w/COR Power Save (80-10-10 cycle) <5 mA
Average w/COR Power Save (90-5-5 cycle) <4 mA
Operating Temperature -30 - +60 C
Frequency Response 300-3000 Hz
Input Impedance >45 k
Input Level (TX) 0.05-2.5 VPP
Input Level (RX) 0.05-2.5 VPP
Audio Output Impedance < 1200 Ohm

INSTALLATION OVERVIEW

1. Test the radio for functionality.

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

3. Install the unit into the radio per the Hardware Installation 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.

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GENERAL INFORMATION

Midian’s VAE-1 is a voice alarm encoder that can have a voice message stored in it and when the emergency
input is grounded the VAE-1 will transmit an emergency ANI and/or the prerecorded voice message. The
following are some common applications:

Emergency Location and Lone Worker: The VAE-1 is ideal for providing voice location messages for Public
Safety (firefighters and police) or for lone workers in areas where GPS location is not available. For example,
firefighters can store a custom voice message into the VAE-1 as their location changes while fighting a fire in a
building. If there is a fire in a ten story apartment building and the firefighter is working on the second floor in
apartment 215, the firefighter can record “Second floor apartment 215”. If the firefighter moves to the third floor in
apartment 306 the firefighter can rerecord the message to say “Third floor apartment 306”. If the emergency input
is activated (by a button press or the lone-worker feature) then the VAE-1 will send an emergency ANI to identify
to the dispatcher who is in trouble and then the voice message will follow to inform the dispatcher the distressed
firefighter last recorded location. This enables the rescuers to concentrate their search efforts in one area of the
apartment building rather than splitting their search efforts between ten stories. Locator tones can also be
generated to provide an audible alert to the searchers.

Equipment Failure Notification: The emergency input of the VAE-1 can be connected to equipment such as
tower lights or a backup generator, so that when the tower light goes out it can send a voice message stating that
the “Mount Lemmon tower 3 light is off”. This warning can be sent periodically multiple times or continuously until
reset. For backup power, when the backup is activated a message such a s “Ba ckup po wer is on”.

Emergency Alert: Public safety dispatchers do not want field radio users to talk on the channel without need
when an emergency is occurring. The dispatcher can have the VAE-1 send a voice message such as “Emergency
alert keep channel clear”. This message can be sent periodically u ntil reset.

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PRODUCT PROGRAMMING

Midian’s VAE-1-VX1 is programmed using the KL-4 programmer. Please reference the KL-4 manual for setup
instructions of the programming software and hardware. From the product selection screen on the MPS software,
select the VAE-1-VX1 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.

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.

Programming: Plug the board onto the KL-4, connect the green clip lead to the Program In hole and connect the
yellow clip lead to the Program Out hole. Push the power button on the KL-4 and click “Program Unit” in the MPS
software. The LED on the KL-4 will faintly flash if programmed successfully.

Reading: Plug the board onto the KL-4, connect the green clip lead to the Program In hole and connect the
yellow clip lead to the Program Out hole. Push the power button on the KL-4 and click “Read Unit” in the MPS
software.

Program Out Program In

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Wake on COR/Wake on VOX: Select the appropriate method that the unit should use to come out of power save.
COR Hold-Up Time This is the amount of time after loss of COR/VOX that the unit considers COR/VOX dropped.
VOX Settings > Sensitivity: This is a threshold detection based on the energy level in the audio.
VOX Settings > Attack Time: This sets the minimum time before the unit will detect VOX based on the sensitivity

setting.
VOX Settings > Decay Time: This sets the time before the unit will drop the VOX detection. Be certain to set this

long enough so that you do not have drop outs between words or on brief pauses.

Beep Options > Power Up: Enables a short beep sequence that takes place immediately after po wer-up.
Beep Options > Error: This beep may be triggered by any input event if programmed to do so. For example, if a

long press on the Mode Input is not assigned to a function, it may be configured to generate the error beep.

Beep Options > Mode: This is used to indicate to the user when the mode has been enabled/disabled (i.e..
Beep Options > Go Ahead: This is a local beep out the speaker to indicate to the user that ANI has been sent

and it is okay to talk.
Beep Options > Wake Up Beep: Enables a short beep to be sent over the air immediately after PTT is pressed.

Enabling this beep is recommended when the 'Wake on VOX' feature is used.
Beep Options > Courtesy Beep: If selected, once the unit is done retran smitting the recorded audio it will

generate a courtesy tone to let others know it is done retransmitting.

Beep Options > Enable Side Tone Pin: Future Use.
Voice Compression: If left unchecked the VAE-1 can store up to a 3-minute voice message. If check the VAE-1

can store up to a 2.25 minute voice message, but with a higher level of audio quality.

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Common PTT: Check this box.
Trunking Delay Enable: Check this box if using a trunking system. This will cause the unit to hold off transmitting

the ANI until it has received a channel acquisition acknowledgement from the radio.
Key-Up Delay: This sets the amount of time the unit waits after keying the radio before it transmitting the ANI.

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Protocol Format: Select the desired signaling format in which the ANI and ENI will be transmitted.
ANI Position: This can be set for the beginning of transmission (leading), end of transmission (trailing) or both.
Tone Duration: This field only applies to DTMF and 5-Tone formats and sets the length of each tone.
Tone Gap Duration: This field only applies to DTMF and sets the length of the gap between tones.
Fleet ID: This field only applies to FleetSync and sets the Fleet ID of the unit.
Unit ID: This sets the ANI of the unit.
Message: This field only applies to G-Star.
Status: This field only applies to G-Star.
Repeat Delay: This sets the time after sending an ANI that the unit will wait before sending another ANI.

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Protocol Format: This displays the format selected on the ANI tab.
Fleet ID: This field only applies to FleetSync and sets the Fleet ID for the ENI.
Unit ID: This sets the Emergency ANI of the unit.
Message: This field only applies to G-Star.
Status: This field only applies to G-Star.
Transmit Forever: If selected the ENI will transmit continuously at the repeat interval until canceled.
Transmit Count: This sets the number of times the ENI will be sent.
Repeat Interval: This sets the time between ENI transmissions.
PTT Resets/Cancels ENI: If selected, pressing the PTT button will either reset the Lone Worker’s Transmit Delay

time or cancel the transmission of the ENI.

Live Mic Enable: If selected the unit will enable the mic of the radio to transmit mic audio to the dispatcher.
Revert to Clear: Currently not used.
Locator Tone Enable: If selected the unit will emit tones out the radio’s speaker after an Emergency ANI is sent.

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Transmit Delay: In Lone Worker mode, if the user does not interact with the radio before this amount of time
passes, the ENI sequence will be transmitted. This time is in seconds.

Warning Tone Enable: This will generate a tone sequence to alert the user the ENI is about to be transmitted.
Warning Tone Delay: In Lone Worker mode, if the user does not interact with the radio before this amount of

time passes, the emergency warning tone will be sounded. This amount of time must be less than that of the
Transmit Delay for the warning tone to be sounded. Also, the Warning Tone Enable box must be checked for the
tone to be sounded. For example, based on the screen shown above after 105 seconds of no activity the unit will
generate warning tones. The user then has 15 seconds to interact with the radio to keep the Transmit Delay time
of 120 seconds expiring and the ENI being transmitted.

Continuous Warning Enable: This will generate a constant tone to alert the user the ENI is about to be
transmitted.

Power-up with Lone Worker on: If checked the unit will be in Lone Worker mode when the radio is turned on.
This eliminates the need for the user to use the mode input to turn the Lone Worker mode on.

Motion Resets Delay Timers: The unit can then use the accelerometer to detect motion based on the Motion
Sensitivity setting to determine if the user is in distress in addition to requiring interaction with the radio.

Motion Sensitivity: This sets a level of motion required to reset the Transmit Delay timer. Some work
environments may have an inherent level of motion that would be detected by lower settings of the accelerometer,
so a higher level of sensitivity might be needed. Midian recommends experimenting to determine the best
sensitivity setting for the work environment.

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