Overview
The Kairos 4 is our next-generation controller, and is the successor to our Pro2 and MiniTrack. The Kairos 4 system is modular, allowing you to build out your timing location as needed. The Kairos has an outer hard-plastic shell to protect the internals and features a digital display with buttons to navigate the menus.
The Kairos has built-in GPS time syncing, a monochromatic OLED display, and Power over Ethernet (POE). It also has a two-port ethernet switch, a built in Wi-Fi modem, a USB-A port, and 4 LED indicator lights.
The Kairos has 4 BNC reader ports to support a 14 foot or 4 meter line with 4 gators. It is lightweight at 5 lbs, 14 oz (2.4 kg). The dimensions of the controller are 12” x 10” x 4”.
This guide will give a general overview of the features, abilities, and functions of the Kairos 4 controller's hardware and software components.
Basic Functionality
The Kairos 4 controller is operated via the Menu and Select buttons with a OLED display. The home screen of the display shows the Event & Point, unique count (U), total count (T), transferred count (X), recent tag number (R), as well as the system time.
Physical Overview
Front
A. Menu Button - Used to navigate to the Menu initially, and scroll through Menu options
B. Select Button - Used to choose the highlighted option from the Menu list
C. Screen - An OLED screen that displays menus and basic information
D. Power LED (Green) - Indicates the controller is powered on
E. Time Sync Status (Green) - Remains Lit after time sync. For ChronoSync and Internet syncs, light will remain lit for 72 hours (through power cycles). For other time syncs, light will reset on boot
F. Server Connection (Orange) - Indicates controller is currently connected to a server connection
G. Tag-in-Field (Blue) - Indicates the Kairos is currently observing a tag
H. Kairos Connector (Twist-on style connector) - there are 3 of these on the bottom of the controller and 3 on top. Can be used to mount the Kairos to compatible hardware
Back Connections
A. BNC UHF Antenna Ports. One Reader can support up to 14 feet of timing line (4/8 meters for non-US gators). Ports color-coded for Short/Long Ground Cable Sets
B. USB-A Port - Used for pulling files off of controller or for upgrading Reader Firmware. Note - We do not recommend charging other devices off of this port - it provides limited power
C. Ethernet Ports - As with prior controller models, Kairos allows for network traffic to pass through. Note - the Kairos 4 controller does not aggregate tag reads from other controllers
D. POE Port - Power over ethernet (PoE) supplies power to the controller
- Requires a PoE+ injector, 30W
- If using a PoE+ switch, the switch will have a maximum power budget rating. It may be possible to exceed the maximum power budget connecting multiple Kairos controllers, causing power failure
- PoE allows power and network connection through the same cable. Any ethernet cable can be used
- To power the Kairos controller, plug an Ethernet cable into the PoE port. Note - Because power is now also being provided through ethernet cables, ethernet cable care, inspection, and maintenance is of increased importance. We recommend using cables that properly click and lock into place to ensure proper connections.