Intermittent Skyview Audio

[DCBrown198]

I have a 5 year old (approx) dual HDX system with Autopilot Control Panel operated in Expert mode.

Of late I believe the system has become intermittent in sending the audio alerts for "Auto Pilot Mode", "Approaching Altitude",
Switch Fuel Tanks", etc. It seems to be either an all or nothing case. Some flights yes, others no.

The "Dynon Skyview" announcement on boot is always there, as well as caution audio messages from EMS, but the Skyview HDX audio messages have become unreliable.

Anyone else experienced this?

 

[maartenversteeg]

A dual Dynon system will upon boot come to a conclusion as to what system is the master and generates the audio messages. Could it be that the audio wiring from one of the two system is not (no longer) connected properly to audio panel (?). This could be tested by just running a single Dynon display (just shut the other one down by pressing 1) and then verifying whether the remaining system can be heard. If that were a problem then it coudl explain why sometimes auto messages work and other times is fail completely. The 'Dynon Skyview' message is generated early in the startup process and 'might still make it through'.

 

[airguy]

Another thing to consider is if you have either screen in "setup" mode, it will inhibit all audio messages for both screens until the setup mode is exited. I discovered this while doing some troubleshooting and watching raw data coming into the EMS module and realized I was getting alerts on the "messages" but not hearing them. I'm not sure whether Dynon would consider that a "bug" or a "feature"...

 

[N941WR]

How do you have your audio out wired?

In my installation, the audio out goes to the optional audio in on my Icom radio. This works great but receiving on the radio will mute the aux audio message. The volume and mute can be configured in the radio.

 

[Rhino]

Do you have an AP74 or HS34 installed? Alert and EMS audio normally take different paths, but an AP74 or HS34 will take over at least some of that audio routing for both the EFIS and EMS when installed.

Is the alert audio out from both displays tied together? If not, this could be a master display configuration issue, as others have noted. If they're tied together, a master display configuration issue wouldn't cause this problem.

But it sounds like it's probably a wiring issue.

 

[DCBrown198]

Thanks for the replies. If I remember correctly, I tied both audio outputs together. They are fed into the ADF port on a Garmin 340 audio panel.

I just keep the ADF audio selected to receive the Dynon audio.

With respect to the "master" Skyview system, might that one automatically be the first one powered up (if powered up separately)?

 

[DCBrown198]

Do you have an AP74 or HS34 installed? Alert and EMS audio normally take different paths, but an AP74 or HS34 will take over at least some of that audio routing for both the EFIS and EMS when installed.

Is the alert audio out from both displays tied together? If not, this could be a master display configuration issue, as others have noted. If they're tied together, a master display configuration issue wouldn't cause this problem.

But it sounds like it's probably a wiring issue.

No AP74, using an SV-AP-Panel/H.
No HS34 either.

Perhaps I've got an audio wiring issue from the Dynon system when it's operating as the "master".

 

[N941WR]

Thanks for the replies. If I remember correctly, I tied both audio outputs together. They are fed into the ADF port on a Garmin 340 audio panel.

I just keep the ADF audio selected to receive the Dynon audio.

With respect to the "master" Skyview system, might that one automatically be the first one powered up (if powered up separately)?

In that case, I would start with the SV and make sure it is configured to for audio out and turn up the volume all the way. (You can turn it down later.)

Then check the G340 and make sure it is configured properly.

Good luck!

 

[Rhino]

Perhaps I've got an audio wiring issue from the Dynon system when it's operating as the "master".

There are several levels at play here. Alert audio from the displays is normally tied together physically, and yours should be, according to you. Display alert audio and EMS audio travel different paths initially, so the loss of only alert audio at least narrows things down a bit. If the alert audio and EMS audio are not both routed through the G340, that might also help narrow things down. More on that later.

The first display powered on should be the only one outputting alert audio. That's what the master configuration does. Normally, this would mean the master configuration can't affect anything if both display outputs are tied together. However, as N941WR noted, the volume might be turned down on one display. It's not likely, but it's possible.

By the way, this isn't a twin engine plane with two EMS's, is it? That also disables the master display settings.

You can check continuity manually on each display. Go to SETUP MENU > SYSTEM SETUP > AUDIO SETUP, and select VOLUME CONTROL / TEST on each display in turn. This test bypasses the master setting. Or, as maartenversteeg mentioned, you can just power on one display at a time, which also bypasses the master setting. I would do that anyway, just to be sure. If your audio settings are correct, and both displays test correctly, you probably don't have a wiring issue, unless it's intermittent. That also confirms the alert audio outputs are tied together.

If the test fails on either display, you probably have a wiring problem. Since you have no problems with EMS audio, the problem must be occurring prior to the point where those two audio signals get tied together (electronically, not physically). In your case, I assume that's the GMA340, so check the settings there too. But before getting into the physical wire checks, swap the displays and run the audio tests again. If the problem switches with one display, then that display is likely the culprit. Then it would be time to contact Dynon. If the problem doesn't swap with the display, it's probably time to break out the multimeter. And don't forget to check pins along with the wires.

The tough part is that it's intermittent. All these tests need to be done while the problem is actually occurring, and that may not be easy to accomplish.