New (March 1, 2016) Garmin aera 660 Portable GPS

[nippaero]

Thanks. I would rather not use a cigarette lighter for a clean installation.

I guess my question can I select the bare wire option when I order the GDL? Would it come with that cable or do I need to purchase it separately? I do not see the 660 listed as an option on AS. I just want to power the GDL and still se Bluetooth for the 660/Ipad.




Also, I have an SL40 com and GTX 335. Is there any integration with either of these with the 660?

[Ironflight]

I've got a new Aera 660 here on my desk that I am testing, and so far I am quite impressed with the display and the fact that the user interface is essentially the same as what we use on the GTN navigators, Pilot, and the G3 Touch System. I fly so many different airplanes, EFIS's, and navigators that it is nice to see something familiar.

I have yet to fly this little critter a lot, but plan to carry it with me on most flights in the coming months. By comparison, I have been flying with a 696 in my RV-8 since before the units were released, and am very impressed that the 660 has more capability in such a tiny package. Not surprised, given the advances in avionics, but nice to see something that can get the job done that is compact.

Looking forward to using the wireless features in our Touch airplane, and with one of the coming ADS-B In/Out transponders. I'll let you know how I like it here and in Kitplanes.

Paul

[g3xpert]

Hello Nippaero,

Please see answers below.

Thanks. I would rather not use a cigarette lighter for a clean installation. I guess my question can I select the bare wire option when I order the GDL?

Yes, as shown in your picture, you can select to purchase a GDL 39 3D with bare wire cable and purchase them together.

Would it come with that cable or do I need to purchase it separately?

The GDL 39 3D can be ordered with the bare wire cable.

I do not see the 660 listed as an option on AS. I just want to power the GDL and still se Bluetooth for the 660/Ipad.

We understand that you wish to use a bare wire harness on both devices, so you will order the GDL 39 3D with the bare wire harness, order the basic aera 660, and order the aera 660 bare wire mount.

Also, I have an SL40 com and GTX 335. Is there any integration with either of these with the 660?

You may connect the aera 660 to the SL40 and push frequencies from the aera 660 airport frequency page to the SL40.

There is no reason to connect an aera 660 to a GTX 335. If you have a GTX 345, it performs all of the functions of a GDL 39 3D and will connect to the aera 660 to provide ADS-B traffic and weather and attitude, but the GTX 335 does not include this capability.

If you have more questions, it might be easier to email or call us at the contact information shown below.

Thanks,
Steve

[nippaero]

That is good to know about the GTX 345. Thanks for answering my questions!

[noelf]

To the g3expert:

I have the aera 660 and will be interfacing to the GTX 345 transponder using the aera's BARE WIRE MOUNT/ CABLE. The question is on the audio out from the aera. Does the audio need to go directly to the audio panel (GMA 340) or is the audio imbedded in the RS 232 data stream that runs between the aera and the GTX 345?

The GTX has its own dedicated audio out that needs to go to the audio panel.

Also, I could not find the specs for the output impedance of the area 660. Is it also 500ohms as is the '345?

[g3xpert]

Originally Posted by noelf

To the g3expert:

I have the aera 660 and will be interfacing to the GTX 345 transponder using the aera's BARE WIRE MOUNT/ CABLE. The question is on the audio out from the aera. Does the audio need to go directly to the audio panel (GMA 340) or is the audio imbedded in the RS 232 data stream that runs between the aera and the GTX 345?

The GTX has its own dedicated audio out that needs to go to the audio panel.

Also, I could not find the specs for the output impedance of the area 660. Is it also 500ohms as is the '345?

Hello Noel,

Thank you for choosing the aera 660.

Yes, you will probably want to connect the audio output from the aera 660 to an unswitched alert or other audio input on your GMA 340 audio panel. The RS-232 connection between the aera 660 and the GTX 345 does not provide audio.

The aera 660 audio output will drive your audio panel inputs just fine, and the volume is adjustable on the aera 660 Sound page.

There probably isn't a good reason to connect the GTX 345 audio output to your audio panel. The GTX 345 provides traffic warnings, but since your aera 660 provides traffic, terrain, and obstacle warnings, you wouldn't want to double up on the traffic warnings with the GTX 345.

Let us know if you have additional questions.

Thanks,
Steve

[Snowflake]

Originally Posted by g3xpert

There probably isn't a good reason to connect the GTX 345 audio output to your audio panel. The GTX 345 provides traffic warnings, but since your aera 660 provides traffic, terrain, and obstacle warnings, you wouldn't want to double up on the traffic warnings with the GTX 345.

I can think of one reason to connect it... Failure modes. If the 660 fails for some reason, or if you happen to forget it at home and still want to go flying, you may still want the ability to turn on the audible alerts from the GTX 345.

I guess you'd need either another switchable input on the audio panel, or maybe the GTX 345 has a way to turn audio on/off from it's panel?

[noelf]

Hopefully my last question to g3xpert:

I am attaching the aera 660 audio out to my GMA 340 Audio Panel using the "aera 660 aviation mount, bare wires" connector. This unit provides Right, Left, and Common interface wires. The audio panel is not stereo, only mono. I am assuming that it does not matter which channel I use...either right or left. All audio will be present on either (no fancy 3D audio function embedded).

[g3xpert]

Originally Posted by noelf

Hopefully my last question to g3xpert:

I am attaching the aera 660 audio out to my GMA 340 Audio Panel using the "aera 660 aviation mount, bare wires" connector. This unit provides Right, Left, and Common interface wires. The audio panel is not stereo, only mono. I am assuming that it does not matter which channel I use...either right or left. All audio will be present on either (no fancy 3D audio function embedded).

Hello Noel,

We recommend connecting the left audio output channel and audio common when connecting to a mono audio input like the alert input on the GMA 340.

Thanks,
Steve

[RVG8tor]

Originally Posted by g3xpert

Hello Nippaero,

Good plan. Some of us don't want anything in the plane powered on batteries unless we lose the alternator!

To connect your aera 660 to a GDL 39 or a GDL 39 3D and power them both from a cigarette lighter adapter, you would need this cable.



You could also use a bare wire mount/cable like described in the original posting. You would also need the bare wire cable for the GDL 39 if you go this route. This is how I have installed the aera 660 with GDL 39 installed in my plane. The second serial port brought out by this cable is connected to a G5 with autopilot.


I found all three of these cables for sale on the ACS website.

Let us know if you have additional questions.

Thanks,
Steve

I have the GDL 39 using the cigatette lighter for power hook up. I would like to hard wire the GDL 39 to my Aera 660. I will also hook the Aera 660 to my GNS 430W.

The smaller picture of the bare wire which I think you show as being for the GDL 39 does not seem to have the type of connection that goes into the GDL 39, I can't seem to find the bare wire for the GDL 39 for sale, I know it can be ordered that way.

Any suggestions on how to best integrate the Aera 660 with my set up, Aera 660 is replacing a 496 that is hard wired to ICOM 210 radio and GNS 430W? I will list my equipment:

GNS 430W
GDL 39
Flight Stream 210

Dynon first generation EFIS with Auto pilot (D180 and HS24)

Thank you.