Flightcom 403 intercom question

Pmerems · #1 07-11-2009, 09:43 PM

RV's flying with the Flightcom 403 intercom can you help me?

I am installing my 403 intercom and running some tests. I have an external audio input (MP3 player) and it works fine on both the pilots side and the co-pilots side when the toggle switch is set to ICS. When the toggle switch is set to isolate, no music can be heard from either the pilots side or the co-pilots side. The instructions are a little unclear but I believe in the isolate mode the aux input is shut off on the pilots side but stays on for the co-pilot.

Is this the case?

Secondly I am wiring the Dynon Alerts into the intercom as well. Since the alerts are mono and the intercom is stereo, how can I simply split the mono input so that the alerts will be heard out of both ear cups and not mess up the true stereo of the aux input. I understand I can tap into the radio audio at the intercom (which is mono input) but I would prefer to have the options of auto muting if a radio transmission came in.

Thanks,

Paul

lostpilot28 · #2 07-11-2009, 10:50 PM

Hey Paul,
I don't have an answer for the first part of your question because I'm using the Sigtronics 200S Stereo intercom with an A200 iCom radio. My EFIS outputs "B!+chin' Betty" and I wanted the same setup as you. I originally had it going into the Aux input on the intercom, but that caused noise in the headset while listening to music and only gave me EFIS warnings in one earcup.

I asked the Sigtronics tech support guy about how to wire it up and he informed me that most radios have Aux inputs and try wiring it up to that instead of the intercom. I followed his advice and it works perfectly!

Both the iCom A200 and A210 have 3 additional Aux inputs.

Guy Prevost · #3 07-12-2009, 08:08 AM

I'm pretty sure that isolate isolates both the pilot and co-pilot. If you want the co-pilot to hear music when the Isolate feature is engaged, you need to wire the co-pilot to one of the passenger locations. Unfortunately, I can't recall if passenger locations can transmit.

Guy

Pmerems · #4 07-12-2009, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guy Prevost

I'm pretty sure that isolate isolates both the pilot and co-pilot. If you want the co-pilot to hear music when the Isolate feature is engaged, you need to wire the co-pilot to one of the passenger locations. Unfortunately, I can't recall if passenger locations can transmit.

Guy

I too thought that maybe the co-pilot can't be isolated like the passengers, however the Flightcom pinouts for headsets for the co-pilot and passenger are the same.

Paul

Craig23 · #5 07-12-2009, 02:31 PM

How did you have the EFIS wired into the Flightcom? Stein wired the EFIS into an unused passenger jack for me on the 403 since the I/C didn't have the input I needed. That seemed noisy and scratchy, so I wired the AFS audio into an unswitched input on my ICOM A200. It has three unswitched audio inputs. I used the other two for my GPS 496 audio. My intercom is stereo, but my GPS output will be mono, split between the two audio inputs on the Comm. My Aux audio on the intercom (stereo) is wired to a jack for my Ipod. The sound quality on all is good now, although I haven't flown yet so I'll have to wait for the final verdict.

647jc · #6 07-12-2009, 05:01 PM

On my 403 intercom the Isolate switch cuts out the aux input for the Pilot only, the copilot still can hear the aux input. For mono inputs (EFIS, EMS, NAV) to the intercom I built an active audio mixer that has 3 mono inputs it mixes with a single stereo input (from music source). Each channel has a seperate volume control and the output of the mixer is stereo and that is fed into the intercom. You can buy a similar mixer device at http://www.vx-aviation.com/page_2.html

Pmerems · #7 07-12-2009, 07:20 PM

Today I tested the Flightcom 403 and the isolation function worked fine. Don't know why I thought it didn't. I could have sworn it didn't work yesterday. Maybe I was having a senior moment.

I picked up the 403 off Ebay a couple years ago for $60. Modified the unit to the latest rev for impedance changes to work with a MP3 player and additional filtering. Checked the intercom with some headsets today and everything sounds great.

As far as Dynon alert inputs go I still haven't decided the best path forward. I want to keep it simple (ie resistors) but I would like to hear from those who have successfully used a resistors instead of an isolation amplifier/mixer.

I don't have the Dynon installed (just the cables) and I am using a SL40 (which doesn't have any addition aux inputs)

Thanks for the help.

Paul

lostpilot28 · #8 07-12-2009, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pmerems

As far as Dynon alert inputs go I still haven't decided the best path forward. I want to keep it simple (ie resistors) but I would like to hear from those who have successfully used a resistors instead of an isolation amplifier/mixer.

I don't have the Dynon installed (just the cables) and I am using a SL40 (which doesn't have any addition aux inputs)

If you want to keep it simple, why don't you wire it directly into the Aux inputs on your radio (although you haven't mentioned what kind of Comm you're using). Most have them and they don't require adding a resistor or anything.