Add Dynon Comm with existing GTN650?

[BalsaBat]

I have come to want to add a second comm radio. It would be easy if comm 1 was a Dynon unit, but that is not the case. I have an EAB installation with a GTN650 IFR navigator (that provides NAV/Comm), dual 10" HDX panels, and Dynon intercom panel (and the other supporting Dynon stuff, e.g. gps, EMS, etc). I have sufficient panel space to add a Dynon comm radio panel, but not enough for a full width radio.

Is it possible for the Dynon radio panel to coordinate both Comm radios, one from the Garmin 650 and the other a Dynon radio, or would both comm radios in this situation be totally independent of each other? Would the 2 radios even play properly with the intercom?

I suppose another option would be to sell the 650, and replace with 2 Dynon radios and a GPS175, but of course I would lose NAV and the installation would physically be a little more involved.

 

[PaulSS]

I would imagine your GTN650 is connected to the HDX via a serial input, whereas your Dynon radio would just connect via the Network (all very simple to do). The SV-Intercom can handle two radios, so just a matter of adding the Dynon radio as Radio 2.

What you can't do is have two radios displayed in the top line of your HDX, only the Primary radio that you select in the configuration. Because the Dynon radio is connected to the HDX via the Network, you can still pull radio frequencies to it from the HDX database but you can only see those frequencies on the radio's screens and not on the HDX.

I only have one radio but I am sure someone will correct me if my understanding of the system is incorrect.

 

[Rhino]

By "radio panel", do you mean the SV-COM-PANEL? No, it will not work with a GTN 650 to my knowledge. Both radios will work with the Skyview, and the Dynon radio will also work with the SV-COM-PANEL.

Radios don't really 'play' with the SV-INTERCOM-2S. All the intercom does is route audio and PTT, and control master volume. It doesn't really care what radios you have. It will work with any radio. You don't 'add' radios to the intercom via any menu. You add them to the Skyview.

 

[andresmith76]

In my 14A's panel, there are 2 ea. Dynon Skyview Touch screens, a GTN-650 & a GMA-240 audio panel - all wired by Stein Air - and this is how the system is connected.

The GTN-650 connects to the Dynon Skyview network through the Skyview ARINC-429 module. The GTN communicates/supplies data to the Dynon system but Dynon does not communicate/send data back to or control the GTN. The GTN & Dynon SV Com C-25 radio outs are connected to the GMA-240 (Com 1 & Com 2). The GMA's front panel switching allows for either the GTN or the Dynon to be heard separately or both radios can be heard at the same time.

The Skyview's audio out (non-radio) is connected to the 240's Music input, which can be always on/heard regardless of the com radio selection.

I hope this helps!

 

[PaulSS]

Looks like the Dynon radio frequencies are shown in the top line of your SkyView, so that must be the Primary radio (as far as the SkyView is concerned). Is that correct?

 

[andresmith76]

Looks like the Dynon radio frequencies are shown in the top line of your SkyView, so that must be the Primary radio (as far as the SkyView is concerned). Is that correct?

Yes. As far as Skyview is concerned, the Dynon radio is the only one it knows about, controls and displays. I need to select COM1 on the 240 to listen to the 650's radio. Regardless of how the 240 is configured, Skyview's top bar display only shows the frequencies entered on the Dynon radio control head, seen below/to the right of the 650 in my picture.

 

[Rhino]

Without an audio panel like the 240, you'll need a panel switch to select transmit between Com 1 and Com 2. The SV-INTERCOM-2S doesn't do that. It also does not individually select receive audio, like andresmith76 describes with his 240. You can install a panel switch to do that as well. The SV-INTERCOM-2S also has only one master volume control. It will not control each radio volume individually. Pretty sure the 650 has it's own volume control, but haven't seen one lately. The Dynon radio volume would have to be controlled by the master on the intercom, but that affects both radios. You can install individual knobs to do that too, but at this point you might as well get an audio panel and ditch the intercom, assuming you have panel space. It does all those things, and more.

 

[Rhino]

Oops. Forgot you have an SV-COM-PANEL. You can control the Dynon radio volume individually from that, and use the intercom for master volume.

 

[BalsaBat]

The GTN-650 connects to the Dynon Skyview network through the Skyview ARINC-429 module. The GTN communicates/supplies data to the Dynon system but Dynon does not communicate/send data back to or control the GTN. The GTN & Dynon SV Com C-25 radio outs are connected to the GMA-240 (Com 1 & Com 2). The GMA's front panel switching allows for either the GTN or the Dynon to be heard separately or both radios can be heard at the same time.

The Skyview's audio out (non-radio) is connected to the 240's Music input, which can be always on/heard regardless of the com radio selection.

I hope this helps!

That system sounds very useable. My GTN650 likewise communicates with the Skyview network via a ARINC-429. The problem I would face in adding a Dynon radio is that I have panel real estate for an SV-COM-PANEL, but don't have panel space for an SV-COM-PANEL and a GMA-240. But, with Bob's Comment to ditch the SV-INTERCOM-2S, that might actually free up enough space for an SV-COM-PANEL and a GMA-240. It would take some other relocations, but I think I could make that work. Thanks!

Edit: Bob- I just came across the PS Engineering PMA-4000 intercom panel mentioned in a string from a couple years ago that you participated in. It looks like that might be the ticket. Add the PMA-4000, the SV-COM-PANEL, the Dynon SV Com C-25 radio chassis, and delete the SV-INTERCOM-2S. That would all fit easily.

Ted

 

[chriscalandro]

You cannot control 2 radios through the display and you cannot control the Garmin through the com panel.

You can control the gps/nav through the display, but not through the com panel (the com panel gets wired directly to the radio via a serial

 

[BalsaBat]

Yes, the new Dynon Com Radio (Com 1) would be controlled by either the HDX panels (except volume) or the new SV-COM-Panel (incl volume), and the GTN650 Comm radio (Com 2) would be controlled by the GTN650 as it is now. The PMA-4000 would co-ordinate them so both don't transmit at once, and also select what is being listened to. The PMA-4000 would fit my panel (unlike the larger Garmin GMA-240), but unfortunately is just about the same price.

Overall, it would have made more sense to just skip the GTN-650's NAV/COMM (i.e. buy a GPS-175) for 5k less. Then instead buy 1 or 2 of the better integrated Dynon radio(s), which would each need their own SV-COM-PANEL units. As I understand it, the active Dynon radio is selected by the HDX system, obviating the need for the PMA-4000. Outside of a satellite war taking down the GPS system, I doubt I would have really missed the NAV capability - but I have what I have. Still a nice system.

 

[Rhino]

Technically, you don't really need an SV-COM-PANEL to control a Dynon radio. It just adds a bit of extra functionality.

 

[Carl_Froehlich]

I fly with the GTN-650 as Comm #1 and the Dynon radio (with panel) as Comm #2.
On the new build I thought long and hard on this alternative:
- GPS-175
-Trig NAV/Comm
- Dynon radio

The GPS-175 and Trig NAV/Comm combo would provide the same funtionality as the GTN-650. The added bonus is the Trig can talk to the SkyView just like the Dynon radio.

In the end I went with another GTN-650, mainly as the cost of the two options was about the same and the GTN-650 is “the devil I know”. So, many $K later the new dual SkyView panel componetns are on my dinning room table waiting for me to build them a new home.

If only Dynon would get off the dime and offer a TSO GPS Navigator……

Carl