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

[gFlyer]

Hi Steve,

Have you ever though to output the audio signal via Bluetooth? This would be a very helpfull feature to use the area 660 with a modern audio panel or simple Bluetooth to audio interfaces.

Best regards
gFlyer

[g3xpert]

Originally Posted by gFlyer

Hi Steve,

Have you ever though to output the audio signal via Bluetooth? This would be a very helpfull feature to use the area 660 with a modern audio panel or simple Bluetooth to audio interfaces.

Best regards
gFlyer

Hello gFlyer,

Yes, we did consider this. You probably aren't going to find too many audio panels supporting a wireless unswitched alert audio input for alerts like terrain, obstacle, and traffic because these are really important aural alerts.

Sorry to beat the drum once again in favor of using the bare wire mount, but when you can board your plane, snap the aera 660 into the mount and immediately provide high reliability hardwired connection to power, alert audio, traffic/weather, and data out to devices like COM/NAV radios and autopilots, there is no better way to integrate the aera 660 with other systems (including the audio panel) in your aircraft.

Thanks,
Steve

[olyolson]

Phillip,

Reference your earlier post. I have an Aera 660 and a GDL 39 3D. I was going to hardwire the GDL to the 660 but thought I'd try the Bluetooth function first to see how it works. It works perfectly so I am holding off hardwiring it for now. You are right that the Aera 660 will only do ONE Bluetooth at a time but the GDL 39 3D will support multiple Bluetooth connections. I also use an IPhone 6 with Garmin Pilot as a backup and am able to connect the IPhone via Bluetooth to the GDL 39 3D at the same time as the 660.

According to the GDL 39 3D manual on page 4-1,
"Multiple Bluetooth devices may be connected with the GDL 39."

[gFlyer]

Originally Posted by g3xpert

Hello gFlyer,

Sorry to beat the drum once again in favor of using the bare wire mount, but when you can board your plane, snap the aera 660 into the mount and immediately provide high reliability hardwired connection to power, alert audio, traffic/weather, and data out to devices like COM/NAV radios and autopilots, there is no better way to integrate the aera 660 with other systems (including the audio panel) in your aircraft.

Thanks,
Steve

Hi Steve, and all others reading here,

Steve, understud your drum beat. Often to less input channels are the problem at the audio panel. This was my thought.
But your beat brings me to the autopilot. Do you have any idea how I can access my Centuri I autopilot with the area 660?
This help would be very much appreciated!

Best regards
GFlyer

[Rigganp]

Originally Posted by olyolson

Phillip,

Reference your earlier post. I have an Aera 660 and a GDL 39 3D. I was going to hardwire the GDL to the 660 but thought I'd try the Bluetooth function first to see how it works. It works perfectly so I am holding off hardwiring it for now. You are right that the Aera 660 will only do ONE Bluetooth at a time but the GDL 39 3D will support multiple Bluetooth connections. I also use an IPhone 6 with Garmin Pilot as a backup and am able to connect the IPhone via Bluetooth to the GDL 39 3D at the same time as the 660.

According to the GDL 39 3D manual on page 4-1,
"Multiple Bluetooth devices may be connected with the GDL 39."

I agree. It works flawlessly so far using Bluetooth. The reason I'm wanting to have the iPhone connected to the Aera 660 is so that I can leave the Aera in the plane but use my phone at home for trip planning, allowing me to push the flight plan to the Aera once at the airport.

I plan to hardwire once the Airgizmo mount is available.

And, yes, the GDL 39 supports multiple Bluetooth connections (I believe 3). I've used it with an iPhone and iPad simultaneously while it was hardwired to an Aera 500.

[Mark33]

Steve,

I understand that the 660 can push selected radio frequencies to an SL 30/40, but can it work with both or do have to choose which radio I want the 660 to be connected to? I have both an SL 30 and SL 40 and I would like have the ability to push the selected radio frequency to whichever radio I choose at anytime. Is this possible?

Thanks,
Mark

[Low Pass]

Steve,

Really enjoying the 660 driving my autopilot and connectivity with the GDL-39 and Garmin Pilot. Question - in 3D View, can I either get rid of or minimize that airplane? I find it a huge distraction. A simple "+" symbol would be much better! I would suggest considering getting rid of it. That 3D screen is great for SA on final. But that #### plane obscures the view. Thx!

[g3xpert]

Originally Posted by Mark33

Steve,

I understand that the 660 can push selected radio frequencies to an SL 30/40, but can it work with both or do have to choose which radio I want the 660 to be connected to? I have both an SL 30 and SL 40 and I would like have the ability to push the selected radio frequency to whichever radio I choose at anytime. Is this possible?

Thanks,
Mark

Hello Mark,

If a COM frequency is selected from the airport frequency page, the aera 660 will send it to the standby position of all connected COM radios.

If a NAV frequency is selected, it will send it to the standby position of all connected NAV radios.

While you can't choose to which of multiple connected radios the frequency will be sent, you control the use of the swap button to activate the pushed frequency from the standby position.

Thanks,
Steve

[g3xpert]

Originally Posted by Chkaharyer99

Garmin Experts,

After following this thread for a while, I bought and received the Garmin Aera 660 along with the Garmin Bare Wire Cable for my Vans RV-8. The aircraft is equipped with the following:

1. Garmin GNS 430 W
2. Garmin GTX 345
3 Advanced Flight Systems 4500 EFIS
4. Trutrak Digitrak II Auto Pilot
5. PS Engineering PM1000II

I would like to hard wire the 660 using the Bare Wire Cable to my Garmin GTX 345, Garmin GNS 430W and PS Engineering PM1000II.

Issue: I have no vacant or unused RS-232 ports on my GNS 430 to receive and synchronize the flight plan in the Area 660 with the GNS 430W.

Question: What do I need to do to make the RS-232 connection between the 430 and 660?

Any advise or direction you can provide on the connections from the 660 to the GNS 430 and PS Engineering PM1000II is appreciated.

As I understand it, the PM1000II is "mono".

There are three audio wire (Bare Wire) from the 660. Should I use the common and one side left/right? I saw that posted somewhere but can't find it now.

I'm pretty sure one of the RS-232 ports goes out from my 430 to my AFS 4500. When I enter a flight plan into my GNS 430 W, it populates on the AFS 4500. Should I use that port with jumpers?
Thank you!

Hello Charlie,

Good job reviewing the previous posts. It looks like the only question remaining is how to connect to the 430W with no free serial ports.

If one of the existing 430W serial outputs is configured for "Aviation", you should be able to share that data with the aera 660 to transfer the flight plan to the aera 660.

Thanks,
Steve

[g3xpert]

Originally Posted by Low Pass

Steve,

Really enjoying the 660 driving my autopilot and connectivity with the GDL-39 and Garmin Pilot. Question - in 3D View, can I either get rid of or minimize that airplane? I find it a huge distraction. A simple "+" symbol would be much better! I would suggest considering getting rid of it. That 3D screen is great for SA on final. But that #### plane obscures the view. Thx!

Hello Bryan,

Glad to hear you are enjoying your aera 660.

Currently the only way to display the 3D Vision page with real attitude and no aircraft overlay is to connect an ADS-B receiver that provides attitude information such as the GDL 39 3D and the GTX 345/345R.

Thanks,
Steve