Garmin? Team X introduces new, full featured GMA 245/245R Bluetooth? audio panels

[NovaBandit]

Another question...

On my current non-Garmin audio panel, the Bluetooth and one of the music inputs are "shared" on one input. So you can only have 2 audio sources at once. Is the Bluetooth input a dedicated source on this audio panel, meaning you could distribute 3 separate audio sources to 3 different areas?

And before the two place guys chime in, I'm thinking SXM for me, iPhone Bluetooth audio for the wife, and an iPad with a movie for the kid(s) in back.

[g3xpert]

Originally Posted by NovaBandit

Another question...

On my current non-Garmin audio panel, the Bluetooth and one of the music inputs are "shared" on one input. So you can only have 2 audio sources at once. Is the Bluetooth input a dedicated source on this audio panel, meaning you could distribute 3 separate audio sources to 3 different areas?

And before the two place guys chime in, I'm thinking SXM for me, iPhone Bluetooth audio for the wife, and an iPad with a movie for the kid(s) in back.

Hi Ed,

Good question.

The GMA 245/245R support two wired and one Bluetooth music input, so you have 3 stereo audio inputs that are independent - even with volume.

GMA 245 Panel Mount User Interface


GMA 245R Remote Mount User Interface


You can definitely assign SXM music for the pilot, Bluetooth music for the copilot, and one jack for movie audio for the passenger positions. You are just the customer we had in mind.

If you and the copilot want to switch to listening to the same music source (or join the movie crowd), you can even each listen to the same music/audio source at different volumes to suit your tastes.

As shown above, in the G3X Touch audio panel configuration, you even get to assign the names on the two wired music inputs, so you can name one SXM and one MOVIE (or PASS for that rear jack) so you never forget what they are wired to.

You will also notice from the above two pictures that whether you choose a GMA 245 panel mount (like we did in our RV-7A) because you like having dedicated pilot/copilot music and intercom volumes knobs, or choose the remote mount GMA 245R to save panel space, you have the same great G3X touch integration and flexible music distribution.

Thanks,
Steve

[jdeas]

Originally Posted by Brantel

"Contributing to an easy and convenient upgrade path, the GMA 245/245R is rack and pin-compatible* with the GMA 240, GMA 340 and third-party audio panels for experimental aircraft.

I originally install the GMA347 for the digital playback and phone interface but Garmin never released the phone interface for sale
Considering this is a '300' series as well, would the 245 be a drop in?

[clutch22]

Love the new products (especially the G5), but I do have one issue.

You call the 245R a remote panel, but it sure looks like it is still a panel mounted box with a usb port on the face. This takes up a lot of panel space all for a USB port. Why not have the remote version be designed as truly remote, buried in the sub-panel somewhere and drop the USB option?

Am I alone with this thought?

[SteinAir]

Originally Posted by clutch22

Love the new products (especially the G5), but I do have one issue.

You call the 245R a remote panel, but it sure looks like it is still a panel mounted box with a usb port on the face. This takes up a lot of panel space all for a USB port. Why not have the remote version be designed as truly remote, buried in the sub-panel somewhere and drop the USB option?

Am I alone with this thought?

That's exactly the point...bury it behind the panel and if you need to get to the USB either mount a remote cable like you do with all the other brands of equipment that utilize remote USB's or make it handy to get to if need be...you wouldn't panel mount the remote version of this box...

Cheers,
Stein

[clutch22]

Originally Posted by SteinAir

That's exactly the point...bury it behind the panel and if you need to get to the USB either mount a remote cable like you do with all the other brands of equipment that utilize remote USB's or make it handy to get to if need be...you wouldn't panel mount the remote version of this box...

Cheers,
Stein

Okay, gotcha. It's faceplate just looked to fancy to be designed as a remote. Made me a little confused.
Thanks Stein

...And now I see the mounting plate underneath it.

[PixelWorker]

Where is the squelch adjustment?

[BobTurner]

Originally Posted by PixelWorker

Where is the squelch adjustment?

I don't know if they were the first, but I think PS Engineering introduced automatically adjusted squelch 15 or 20 years ago.

[g3xpert]

Originally Posted by PixelWorker

Where is the squelch adjustment?

Hello PixelWorker,

The GMA 245/245R are full digital audio panels with advanced autosquelch which use the latest high speed digital signal processing (DSP) technology to automatically adapt to the cockpit noise environment.

With some audio panels the autosquelch only works well when the engine is running because it is optimized for high noise environments.

The GMA 245/245R allows you to speak normally into the microphone without clipping whether you are pre-briefing your passengers in a quiet aircraft with the engine off, or operating with high engine power.

If you have ever used an intercom where you had to keep moving the mic or force your speech to get the intercom squelch to break, you will find the GMA 245/245R a very pleasant relief from that experience.

Thanks,
Steve

[togaflyer]

Well, I guess now I need to call Stein to create my 20th panel revision. But who's counting.