AJA KONA IP review

AJA KONA IP is an earlier internal PCIe board for a broadcast network, not a conventional SDI or HDMI capture card. Its two 10-Gigabit Ethernet SFP+ cages carry IP video, and a separate PCIe Gen 2 x8 connection moves data to the workstation. AJA’s NTV2 device page marks the board end-of-life on November 17, 2021. The model has two distinct hardware/package revisions, KONA-IP-R0 and KONA-IP-R0-S02, that are important to a source choice: the S02 omits the BNC connector used for ST 2022-6 support, while both are described as suitable for ST 2110 workflows.

High-rate capture depends on the IP standard

AJA documents 4K/UltraHD through 60p using ST 2110-23 2-sample interleave over IP. The product page also describes lower-resolution 2022-6 paths. The two SFP+ cages are not standard RJ-45 Ethernet ports, and the modules are not included in the configuration described by the manufacturer; choose modules compatible with the network medium and receiver. The source, multicast/unicast routing, PTP timing, firmware and application all have to agree. A nominal 10GbE connection does not establish that an arbitrary IP stream can be captured without network planning.

The board’s HDMI 1.4 connector is an output, while the documented video input is network IP. AJA’s SDK identifies two 10GigE SFP cages and describes four firmware-mapped bidirectional SDI spigots, but those software mappings do not give the physical card four conventional SDI source connectors. The finder’s ST 2110 choice therefore reflects the IP input, not the board’s output connector or virtual channel model. No consumer passthrough, HDR gaming capture or HDCP bypass is inferred.

R0 and S02 are not interchangeable for every network

AJA’s dedicated FAQ says that KONA-IP-R0-S02 lacks the BNC used for ST 2022-6 support; if a project uses or might use ST 2022-6, the manufacturer directs the buyer to the R0 version. In an ST 2110-only facility, the S02 can use PTP timing without that connector. This is a real variant distinction, not a cosmetic suffix. If the seller’s listing omits the R0/R0-S02 identifier, request a clear board photo and a confirmation of the firmware before choosing. The correct revision depends on network standard and timing, not simply on the resolution target.

Host, software and use case

The PCIe x8 card requires an appropriate workstation slot or expansion chassis and an AJA driver/software version compatible with the host. AJA’s product FAQ names macOS, Linux and Windows hosts, but current compatibility still depends on driver, OS, firmware and third-party application. The maker’s current OBS Quick Start Guide explicitly excludes KONA IP from OBS support, even though OBS may recognize it. AJA’s own Control Room/desktop software and optional NMOS component are better starting points for a documented ST 2110 path; confirm the installation instructions for the exact release.

KONA IP is a reasonable candidate only when a facility already understands ST 2110/2022-6 routing, SFP+ optics or copper modules, PTP and PCIe expansion. It is not a route from a game console’s HDMI output to a streaming PC without additional broadcast conversion. Before considering a used board, verify the exact R0 or S02 revision, SFP requirements and included modules, host lane allocation, driver/firmware version, and seller return terms. AJA’s pages establish model capabilities but not stock, price, card condition, warranty or a tested end-to-end network configuration. No hands-on test is claimed.

Primary references: AJA KONA IP specifications and R0/S02 FAQ, the AJA NTV2 device record, and AJA’s OBS Quick Start Guide v17.1.