GTX 345 Connected to Aera 660/795/796

We receive quite a few questions for these portables connected to a GTX 345 regarding the attitude data which is provided by the GTX 345. In some cases installers forget to perform the pitch/roll offset calibration on the GTX 345. When this happens, no attitude data is shown. Below explains how to check the installation to make sure the GTX 345 is all setup and providing this data.

The 3D Vision pages appear like this when attitude data is being received from the GTX 345.



Just for reference, when you install a hardwire RS-232 connection from the GTX 345 to the Aera 660/795/796, the Aera RS-232 port format is "Connext 57600 baud" and the GTX 345 RS-232 port connected to the Aera is set for "CONNEXT FMT 1".



Start out by looking at the Tools, Datalink Info page and verify that the Aera 660/795/796 is communicating with the GTX 345. It is normal for this page to show "No Signal" for TIS-B Traffic data when on the ground. This is also a handy way to see what software is in your GTX 345.



The images at the top of this posting show the 3D Vision pages when attitude is being provided by the GTX 345. If you see this airplane and the "No Attitude Information" annunciation, this means the Aera is not receiving attitude data from the GTX 345 and the attitude sensor inside the GTX 345 is probably not properly setup.

Great info, thanks! Adjustment for angled installation?

Garmin team, thanks for these updates, they're very helpful.

I'm installing my GTX 345 this week. In my panel, I'll be mounting it with it slightly angled toward the left seat for better visibility. In regards to the calibration you mentioned is there a need/ a place to tell it that it is mounted at that angle?

Also, is there any difference in functionality between using the RS 232 hardwire connection and the Bluetooth connection to my Aera 660?

Many Thanks!!!

Chris

RVONE said:

Garmin team, thanks for these updates, they're very helpful.

I'm installing my GTX 345 this week. In my panel, I'll be mounting it with it slightly angled toward the left seat for better visibility. In regards to the calibration you mentioned is there a need/ a place to tell it that it is mounted at that angle?

Also, is there any difference in functionality between using the RS 232 hardwire connection and the Bluetooth connection to my Aera 660?

Many Thanks!!!

Chris

Click to expand...

Hello Chris,

With regard to the angled installation, there is a Yaw angle setup on the GTX 345 Internal AHRS Orientation page.

Personally, I try to always be free of wireless interfaces in my aircraft whenever possible so I don't have to mess with things like Bluetooth pairing, but both the RS-232 interface and the Bluetooth interface to the GTX 345 will provide the same data.

As shown in the wiring diagram above, the GTX 345 has 4 serial ports, and I want to use as many of them as possible!

Thanks,
Steve

How do you rectify this problem if you are not receiving the attitude info? What are the steps on the 345?

Foreflight?

Will the GTX 345 communicate with Foreflight running on an iPad?

Jetguy said:

How do you rectify this problem if you are not receiving the attitude info? What are the steps on the 345?

Click to expand...

Hello John,

There are attitude sensor setup/calibration pages in configuration mode in the SNSR page group.

The first step is to specify the installation orientation such as connectors forward (most common), vent port toward left wing (most common) and yaw in degrees if the unit is not mounted parallel to the center line of the aircraft (uncommon).

Next, level the aircraft in roll and set the aircraft pitch attitude relative to cruise. For example, if your aircraft is typically 2 degs nose up in cruise, raise or lower the nose or tail as necessary to set the aircraft pitch at 2 degs up during this step.

Finally, activate the pitch/roll offset calibration. This will take about 30 seconds to complete if the aircraft is stationary.

Please contact us by email or phone shown below if you need more assistance.

Thanks,
Steve

snopercod said:

Will the GTX 345 communicate with Foreflight running on an iPad?

Click to expand...

Yes.

https://support.foreflight.com/hc/e...8-Can-I-use-ForeFlight-with-a-Garmin-GTX-345-

Thanks,
Steve

Thanks for the link but it doesn't say how the GTX 345 links to the iPad. Bluetooth? Wi-Fi? It makes a difference to me because I'm using Bluetooth to send audio alerts from Foreflight to my headset. So if I link the GTX 345 to my iPad via Bluetooth, it appears I will lose the audio alert feature.

snopercod said:

Thanks for the link but it doesn't say how the GTX 345 links to the iPad. Bluetooth? Wi-Fi? It makes a difference to me because I'm using Bluetooth to send audio alerts from Foreflight to my headset. So if I link the GTX 345 to my iPad via Bluetooth, it appears I will lose the audio alert feature.

Click to expand...

Hello Snopercod,

Yes, the wireless interface to a GTX 345 is Bluetooth.

Thanks,
Steve

Hey Steve,
Any chance we'll be able to set up the 45R AHRS from the G3X screen instead of a PC?????

Steve, just a quick question.. I have an Aera 660 and a GTX 345 (w/GPS) hardwired together. (It is 99.9% awesome.) The Aera 660 is mounted in the center avionics stack with an Air Gizmos dock. The 660 periodically loses its GPS fix in flight. (Not often, but often enough that it is a real problem.) Of course it would since it is mounted in the panel with no external antenna (although my old Aera 560 never needed one..), so I've read that I need to add the external antenna to the Aera (25MCX or similar). Sure, that'd solve the problem and I'm going to do that, but it seems a shame that the GTX 345 is hooked to a top quality exterior antenna and hard-wired to the Area 660, and its GPS data will transmit to a tablet or phone, but not to the Aera. So the question is: Is this correct or is there a work-around?... And the second question is: Is there any hope that this could change in the near future?

Obviously the exterior GPS antenna mounted on the top of the plane will outperform a 25MCX thrown up on the glare shield, but it's also an extra wire to deal with and extra work.


Thanks,

Jeffrey Booker

N1805J (PA-28-140), RV-8 (Wings and Tail), Builder #83573

ichiphead said:

Steve, just a quick question.. I have an Aera 660 and a GTX 345 (w/GPS) hardwired together. (It is 99.9% awesome.) The Aera 660 is mounted in the center avionics stack with an Air Gizmos dock. The 660 periodically loses its GPS fix in flight. (Not often, but often enough that it is a real problem.) Of course it would since it is mounted in the panel with no external antenna (although my old Aera 560 never needed one..), so I've read that I need to add the external antenna to the Aera (25MCX or similar). Sure, that'd solve the problem and I'm going to do that, but it seems a shame that the GTX 345 is hooked to a top quality exterior antenna and hard-wired to the Area 660, and its GPS data will transmit to a tablet or phone, but not to the Aera. So the question is: Is this correct or is there a work-around?... And the second question is: Is there any hope that this could change in the near future?

Obviously the exterior GPS antenna mounted on the top of the plane will outperform a 25MCX thrown up on the glare shield, but it's also an extra wire to deal with and extra work.


Thanks,

Jeffrey Booker

N1805J (PA-28-140), RV-8 (Wings and Tail), Builder #83573

Click to expand...

Hello Jeffrey,

The Aera 660 is a GPS navigator, and like all GPS navigators, it needs to be installed so that its GPS receiver can perform as designed. In other words, it will probably never use GPS data provided by a transponder.

The Aera 660 has a very high performing GPS/GLONASS receiver. I have it surface panel mounted (with no external antenna) in my aircraft, and it even receives a usable signal when it is powered up inside the hangar with the hangar door open.

I also operate an Aera 660 inside my house connected to a GDL 52 SXM weather receiver, and it receives a 3D Differential fix 24/7 with no external antenna.

Admittedly, mounting the unit in a Gizmo mount in a radio stack is a pretty sure way to make sure it doesn't have a good view of the sky, but perhaps there is something else going on.

I would recommend you power up the Aera 660 by itself with the plane outside while viewing the GPS status page. Make sure it receives a 3D Differential fix.

Next, start powering up other devices in the panel, one at a time, while watching the signal bars to see if something is acting to jam or degrade its signal.

Finally, transmit on the COM radio and see if that affects the signal bars.

You might also try temporarily surface mounting the Aera 660 to the panel as a test to see if replacing the Gizmo mount with a proper surface mount (in the same area) might prevent having to use an external antenna.

Thanks,
Steve

345 to 660 connection

I have hardwired 345 to 660. I have entered the tools function of the 660 and got to the point where I am ready to connect with the 345 but for the life of me I cannot find any info on the button pushing sequence on the 345 to make them talk to each other.

Berchmans said:

I have hardwired 345 to 660. I have entered the tools function of the 660 and got to the point where I am ready to connect with the 345 but for the life of me I cannot find any info on the button pushing sequence on the 345 to make them talk to each other.

Click to expand...

Hello Burke,

Sounds like you are almost ready to start enjoying this nice setup.

As shown in this drawing, the RS-232 port on the Aera 660 should be set to "CONNEXT 57600 BAUD" and the RS-232 port on the GTX 345 should be set to "CONNEXT FMT 1".

Hold "ON" and "ENT" buttons to enter configuration mode on the GTX 345.

• PRESS FUNC BUTTON TO REACH RS-232 SETUP PAGE
• SELECT RS-232 CH CONNECTED TO AERA 660
• SET INPUT AND OUTPUT FORMAT TO "CONNEXT FMT 1"

g3xpert said:

The 3D Vision pages appear like this when attitude data is being received from the GTX 345.

Click to expand...

Steve, do you have a screenshot of what the 660 should look like in landscape mode ie when installed in a panel dock when receiving attitude information from the GTX345?

Or does it only display attitude info in portrait mode? I have mine wired up but it won't fly until this summer...

Is there any reason the 660 would not function well with a GNX 375 as the first step in a eventual full panel upgrade? Would a 796 be a better choice?
G

Flybipe said:

Steve, do you have a screenshot of what the 660 should look like in landscape mode ie when installed in a panel dock when receiving attitude information from the GTX345?

Or does it only display attitude info in portrait mode? I have mine wired up but it won't fly until this summer...

Click to expand...

Hello Flybipe,

Yes, the Aera 660 works fine to display attitude information in landscape mode. Here is an example without attitude data. When attitude data is available it removes the airplane and shows the pitch ladder and roll arc shown on the portrait version below. It also shows round gauges in either portrait or landscape mode if you are into that.




Thanks,
Steve

g3xpert said:

Hello Flybipe,

Yes, the Aera 660 works fine to display attitude information in landscape mode. Here is an example without attitude data. When attitude data is available it removes the airplane and shows the pitch ladder and roll arc shown on the portrait version below. It also shows round gauges in either portrait or landscape mode if you are into that.

Thanks,
Steve

Click to expand...

Steve,

I have mine installed in the landscape orientation and it doesn?t show the roll-arc. Is there a setting that I need to change or is the roll-arc only only displayed in the portrait orientation?

Thanks,
Mark

Mark33 said:

Steve,

I have mine installed in the landscape orientation and it doesn?t show the roll-arc. Is there a setting that I need to change or is the roll-arc only only displayed in the portrait orientation?

Thanks,
Mark

Click to expand...

Hello Mark,

As long as you have a GDL, GNX, or GTX connected that is providing attitude, the roll arc is shown in both landscape and portrait modes.

Send us an email and I will send you an example and we can discuss in more detail.

Thanks,
Steve

sailvi767 said:

Is there any reason the 660 would not function well with a GNX 375 as the first step in a eventual full panel upgrade? Would a 796 be a better choice?
G

Click to expand...

Hello G,

The Aera 660 makes a really nice display for the GNX 375. You can connect both RS-232 lines from the Aera 660 to the GNX 375 with MapMX on one and ADS-B traffic/weather and attitude on the other.

The portrait oriented Aera 660 makes a great map to see traffic, weather, and approach data.



If you want to install a 7 inch display, I would consider the GDU 470 which can do everything the Aera 660 can do (and more) and be a part of a G3X Touch system if you want to expand it in the future.



Thanks,
Steve

Thanks Steve and Carl. I?ll go back and double check mine, but I just don?t recall seeing the arc. I have both the GDL 51 (bluetooth?t) and GTN 345 (hard wired).

Mark