Brantel
Well Known Member
Since I got the opportunity to fly behind my new 796 for ~ 7.5hrs last week, there is one issue that I would like to report....maybe two but I am not sure of the design intent on the second one.
The 796 when plugged into ships power produces some audio noise on the audio output leads. The sound it makes in the headsets sounds like the charging circuit for the battery. The noise is quite strong and you can hear it over the engine running. I use Lightspeed Zulu headsets.
I have my 796 wired to the music input of my PSE PM3000 intercom using the Garmin 796 flying lead cable. The cable bundles the audio leads in with the power leads and the audio leads are not separately shielded. This may be part of the problem since the audio lines are not shielded and run the full length of the cable laying right beside the power leads.
I have isolated the issue to the 796 since if I remove the GPS, the issue goes away. Also when the PM3000 mutes the music input, the noise is muted as well so I know it is coming in on the PM3000's music input.
I have ordered a ground loop isolator and will try that but I am not sure it will help this issue since the noise does not sound like ground loop noise.
The second possible issue is that the software selection for the audio output that selects either line out or headphone out does not appear to effect the flying lead audio outputs whatsoever. Not sure if it is suppose to or not. It may be that that switch only controls the cable with the built in 3.5mm stereo jack and not the flying lead cable? I will ask Garmin about that.
Neither of these issues are bad enough to change my opinion of the 796. It is one awesome piece of technology! I am amazed at how far technology for pilots has come in just a few years time!
The 796 when plugged into ships power produces some audio noise on the audio output leads. The sound it makes in the headsets sounds like the charging circuit for the battery. The noise is quite strong and you can hear it over the engine running. I use Lightspeed Zulu headsets.
I have my 796 wired to the music input of my PSE PM3000 intercom using the Garmin 796 flying lead cable. The cable bundles the audio leads in with the power leads and the audio leads are not separately shielded. This may be part of the problem since the audio lines are not shielded and run the full length of the cable laying right beside the power leads.
I have isolated the issue to the 796 since if I remove the GPS, the issue goes away. Also when the PM3000 mutes the music input, the noise is muted as well so I know it is coming in on the PM3000's music input.
I have ordered a ground loop isolator and will try that but I am not sure it will help this issue since the noise does not sound like ground loop noise.
The second possible issue is that the software selection for the audio output that selects either line out or headphone out does not appear to effect the flying lead audio outputs whatsoever. Not sure if it is suppose to or not. It may be that that switch only controls the cable with the built in 3.5mm stereo jack and not the flying lead cable? I will ask Garmin about that.
Neither of these issues are bad enough to change my opinion of the 796. It is one awesome piece of technology! I am amazed at how far technology for pilots has come in just a few years time!