Skyview with 2 COM Radios (only) - a SV and an SL40), a SV-2S Intercom, and NO audio panel

[Bill_H]

I have Skyview systems in both an RV12 and a Glasair 2 that I own, so I am familiar with the architecture and installation.

A friend just bought a GlaStar with an old panel. He then bought a bunch of Skyview equipment from an abandoned project, much of it new in the box. Good stuff! So I'm going to help him.

It includes 2 D-1000, one SV2S intercom, and one SVC25 radio. (And a lot more - Dual ADAHRS, transponder, adsb, AP servos... etc.) The plane has an existing Garmin SL 40 com he wants to keep. There will be NO (VOR) NAV radios with an audio OUT signal from them (e.g., morse identifier). There will be an IFR GPS-only navigator, again, no audio out from it except maybe alerts.

So here is the Audio Panel question (and I have read every audio panel thread!) The Installation manual does show a transmitter selector switch for using the intercom with two different radios, with the thought of also fooling with the volume controls at the same time. (I don't like that latter bit.) Bob Nuckolls shows a SPDT transmitter selector switch switch used for similarly switching the mic-and-ptt-to-radio signal.

Could a similar switch be placed on the AUDIO FROM both radios to feed INTO ONE input of the SV intercom? A RECEIVER Selector switch? That is, switching from COM 1 to COM2 would involve throwing TWO switches and not adjusting volumes? (And likely the switches could be tied together OR a different switch type could be used to combine these.)

Since no NAV radio audio sources will be needed (and no marker beacon), this seems like a significantly cheaper solution than wiring in an audio panel.

If this is feasible, is there a preference for the switches as make-before-break or make-after-break?

And why is this "not recommended" and would doing it in this manner eliminate the "transmitter interlock functionality" issue? Seems it would since the other com would not be heard when the switch is thrown.

 

[CanardMulti]

Several thoughts in favor of an audio panel: Skyview puts out a good number of audio alerts, including a "Minimums" call for IFR approaches. If using the SV EMS system a lot more audio alerts are available as well. You did not mention which IFR navigator is being used, but my Avidyne also puts out very useful - possibly life saving - audio alerts in the form of terrain warnings. It also puts out an audio "500" ft call on final. An audio panel will be a bit more $$ up front than the combined cost of an intercom plus other boxes and switches but it will integrate all the transmitter selection and audio, including alerts & warnings from multiple sources, seamlessly. Most mute music channels if a com signal comes in. Many have blue tooth so you can link your phone both for calls to FSS / clearance delivery (on the ground of course) and for music. Should your friend someday want to add VHF nav so he can shoot an ILS or VOR approach when the GPS satellites are jammed or off line for whatever reason in this increasing complex geopolitical world, it would be a no-brainer if the pins for nav audio inputs were included at the initial installation and the wires just coiled and stowed somewhere out of the way. Worth consideration. Have fun w/ the install.

Ken

 

[Rhino]

Yes, you can switch the phone audio the same way you switch the mic audio. You can also use a DPDT instead of an SPDT to switch them together if you want. Just remember you'll only hear audio from the selected radio, so you could miss a call if you have the wrong radio selected. That's another point in favor of an audio panel. If you're really ambitious you can get a mixer that allows you to listen to all audio, including alerts from other boxes. But that can get complicated, and all you're really doing is creating a severely watered down audio panel anyway. I'd go for the audio panel. By the way, you don't usually want to splice two audio sources together without going through something like a mixer or audio panel. Bad things can happen.

 

[Bill_H]

Thanks for the good advice. The IFR Nav will be Garmin 175. The SV Intercom has one non-muting audio input that I figured I would use for the alerts from the D1000. I was wondering about commoning it with the audio alerts output from the 175, wanted to avoid a mixer but I see this could be a problem. The intercom has a muting input that could possibly be used for alerts from the 175.
There won't be any VOR/LOC installed in the future.

For music and even on-ground phone calls, a passenger can bluetooth their phone directly into their headset so I don't need that functionality duplicated. Although it is unlikely a new audio panel wouldn't have it, it is a cheap chipset...

PS Engineering seems to have stopped selling the <$1000 audio panels that would be ideal. I don't find any other manufacturers with them either that don't also include intercoms and we already have the SV intercom. Have I missed something? Suggestions? Obviously watching the used market.

 

[Rhino]

You might want to look here too:

Audio Warnings for Single Seat Aircraft - No Audio Panel or Intercom

Under "Audio Alerts" in the Users Manual it states: When connected to an audio panel or intercom, SkyView can generate tones or voice alerts for various conditions. My question - I have a single seat aircraft (RV3), no audio panel, no intercom - can I still get audio alerts in my headset? I...

forum.flydynon.com

Do I need an audio panel?

I know the question is dumb (but I am really not sure). I'm getting a plane with a Dynon radio (and a PS-Engineering intercom) and I am planning to add a NAV (probably a VAL2000) radio. I am wondering if an audio panel is needed for this configuration - which I guess so but just want to confirm...

forum.flydynon.com

And I didn't mean to imply you can never splice audio inputs together. Sometimes it works, but very often it doesn't. It depends on what you're splicing.

 

[Bill_H]

Considering everything, I think we will get a PS PMA4000, or a PMA6000B without Marker Beacon, or a used audio panel like the discontinued PDA360EX, and sell the Dynon Intercom.

 

[Rhino]

You can actually get a new PS Engineering audio panel for under $1,000 but it's designed for certificated aircraft, so you rarely see it advertised in the experimental marketplace. Would work just fine in an experimental though.

PS Engineering PMA4000 Panel Mounted Audio Panel / Intercom - TSO For Certified Aircraft | Aircraft Spruce

PS Engineering PMA4000 Panel Mounted Audio Panel / Intercom - TSO For Certified Aircraft PMA4000 audio panel/ intercom offers the simplicity of IntelliVox (dot)- automatic intercom squelch. Designed with the kit and homebuilt in mind, the P

www.aircraftspruce.com

 

[Rhino]

And if you don't need bluetooth on the PMA6000.....

PS Engineering PMA6000 Audio Selector Panel Intercom for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for PS Engineering PMA6000 Audio Selector Panel Intercom at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

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