PMA450

[Mscheuer]

I have been lurking here for some time but never had the opportunity to post in response to a technical question pertaining to intercoms or audio panels.

My name is Mark Scheuer and I founded PS Engineering in 1985. What has prompted this post is we just announced the certification and shipments of the PMA450 audio panel.

Two of the most significant functions of the panel is that is has IntelliAudio and a 3 Softkey Interface with graphics display.

It is also plug and play with the Garmin GMA340.

If anyone has any questions about this new product, I'd be delighted to answer them. I don't want this to come across as too much of a brash advertisement, but I think the enhancements that this audio panel beings to the GA cockpits warrants at least a mention.

Sincerely,

Make Scheuer

PS Engineering, Inc.

www.ps-engineering.com

[fantom]

Welcome to Mooneyspace....

 

So what do I do with my PMA8000B? An even swap would be nice. Then I could offer a pirep here.   

 

Nice 981 Cayman, BTW.

[mooneyman]

Hi Mark,

 

I just had a PMA 8000-BT installed in my M20R. I did not find out about the new PMA 450 until after the installation was completed. I picked up the plane from the avionics shop last week. The 8000-BT is an awesome panel but I would be interested in trading up for the new PMA 450. Are you able to give any trade in deal for those of us that just had an 8000 series installed? 

 

Thanks and Welcome to Mooneyspace,

 

Patrick

[FBCK]

Hi Mark, I may finally be getting my avidyne IFD540 GPS in the next month and was considering updating the transponder and may as well do the audio panel as well. Would your new 450 indigrate well with the special radio functions on the 540.

[Mscheuer]

Hi Mark,

 

I just had a PMA 8000-BT installed in my M20R. I did not find out about the new PMA 450 until after the installation was completed. I picked up the plane from the avionics shop last week. The 8000-BT is an awesome panel but I would be interested in trading up for the new PMA 450. Are you able to give any trade in deal for those of us that just had an 8000 series installed? 

 

Thanks and Welcome to Mooneyspace,

 

Patrick

Dear Patrick:

What we are going to do for customers who have purchased the PMA8000 series on or after June 15, 2014 is to give the dealer full credit upon the return of the PMA8000 that must be in like new condition, and then sell them the PMA450 without the install kit by way of the dealer.

If the unit is not like new, there will be a restocking fee that would not exceed 20% of the dealer's net price. We also would need to get a copy if the original invoice of the purchased PMA8000.

Hope this helps!

Mark Scheuer

PS Engineering

[scottfromiowa]

987

[Mscheuer]

Hi Mark, I may finally be getting my avidyne IFD540 GPS in the next month and was considering updating the transponder and may as well do the audio panel as well. Would your new 450 indigrate well with the special radio functions on the 540.

There aren't any special integration to the IFD series that I'm aware of. There is with Release 9 however.

The big difference is the look and feel. I can tell you that Avidyne did an amazing job in the design of the bezel. You can't go wrong with either system, it really will be a personal choice of functionality, cosmetics, and user interface.

[Mscheuer]

Welcome to Mooneyspace....

 

So what do I do with my PMA8000B? An even swap would be nice. Then I could offer a pirep here.   

 

Nice 981 Cayman, BTW.

We don't take in trade-ins but I can assure you that your PS Engineering dealer would be more than happy to trade-in your 8000. Right now, you just can't find any used 8000's on eBay, so the law of supply and demand plays well here

Mark

[mooneyman]

Dear Patrick:

What we are going to do for customers who have purchased the PMA8000 series on or after June 15, 2014 is to give the dealer full credit upon the return of the PMA8000 that must be in like new condition, and then sell them the PMA450 without the install kit by way of the dealer.

If the unit is not like new, there will be a restocking fee that would not exceed 20% of the dealer's net price. We also would need to get a copy if the original invoice of the purchased PMA8000.

Hope this helps!

Mark Scheuer

PS Engineering

 

Thanks Mark!

[carusoam]

Mark,

My IP is full up with BK stuff that is 15 years old.

The new BK audio panel looks familiar? to the PMA systems...

Should I not go with the BK device or is it already a 450 in disguise?

The everything matching IP has some value to non-aviation experienced passengers...

BT with stereo would also help with their Josh Grobin sleep aids.

Thanks for stopping in. Come back often.

Your thoughts?

Best regards,

-a-

[Marauder]

Mark,

My IP is full up with BK stuff that is 15 years old.

The new BK audio panel looks familiar? to the PMA systems...

Should I not go with the BK device or is it already a 450 in disguise?

The everything matching IP has some value to non-aviation experienced passengers...

BT with stereo would also help with their Josh Grobin sleep aids.

Thanks for stopping in. Come back often.

Your thoughts?

Best regards,

-a-

Interesting thoughts Anthony. I never really cared what the avionics labels said, as long as it did what I needed it to do.

I guess it comes from years of sitting in front of an HP computer, running Microsoft Windows with a Cisco VoIP phone sitting next to my Black & Decker "Cup-at-a-Time" coffee maker while typing this reply on an Apple iPad.

[carusoam]

Function vs beauty...

Integration of all parts...

Support...

There are a couple of things that stand out on my IP as if they were added somewhere along the way...

In reality they were there from the beginning...

-Intercom separate from the audio panel

-vac gauge that is mounted below the IP like an fm converter or 8 track player

-ff not connected to GPS

Then there are these...

GPS box separate from Navcoms, no WAAS...

ADF that goes unused accept for the flight timer it has...

Full solutions are EXPENSIVE...

Half solutions are homely... (Portable ADSB and iPad)

Doing nothing loses functionality over time... no WAAS, MFD, BT or GPSS...

I could add a new box every other year and not catch up...

Adding a box requires the ability to integrate or slide in easily...

Biggest fear...spending a ton-o-dough and have a problem like the antennae don't work...

Updates within the BK branded products leaves some hope of maintaining my IP...

How's my thought process today?

-a-

[PTK]

Anthony your thought process is right on and your points couldn't be any more valid!

 

The danger, as I see it, is spending a ton of dough on avionics from manufacturers playing catch-up. NOT getting what you want but getting stuck with uncertainty! Not happy with your decision and always playing catch-up yourself!

 

Your concerns scream Garmin!!!

 

Alternatively, save the dough and accept present functionality.

 

Moral of the story is spend the dough wisely! Be very careful as to which manufacturer you spend the dough if decide to spend it.

[flyboy0681]

You would have to pry my 8000bt from my cold dead hands before I'd give it up.

[rbridges]

I've got a KMA24.  Besides features like bluetooth and a more modern appearance, what advantages do the newer audio panels bring to the table?  I'm looking at replacing my transponder in the near future.  I'd also like to replace the kx155 and kma24 but I can't bring myself to do it when they work so well.

[N601RX]

The stereo audio and clarity are a huge improvement. 

[rbridges]

You would have to pry my 8000bt from my cold dead hands before I'd give it up.

 

or I could just wait until you're out of town and your plane is unattended 

[Marauder]

I've got a KMA24. Besides features like bluetooth and a more modern appearance, what advantages do the newer audio panels bring to the table? I'm looking at replacing my transponder in the near future. I'd also like to replace the kx155 and kma24 but I can't bring myself to do it when they work so well.

My 8000BT replaced a KMA20. The 8000 has the ability to monitor 2 frequencies and will mute the secondary if something comes in, has the ability for two music sources with multiple muting options, can isolate pilot, crew and passengers, records the last communication, Bluetooth allows up to two devices to be connected simultaneously and a bunch of little "nice to have" features.

Plus a 3 year warranty.

[flyboy0681]

 muting options, can isolate pilot and crew 

 

 

This is the best feature when my wife is riding shotgun  

[Marauder]

This is the best feature when my wife is riding shotgun

One of my favorites as well!

[carusoam]

Do you guys see the 450???

http://www.ps-engineering.com

It has an LCD display and some other things...

You can answer the question of what does it have compared to others....

http://www.ps-engineering.com/compare.shtml

Best regards,

-a-

[Marauder]

Do you guys see the 450???

http://www.ps-engineering.com

It has an LCD display and some other things...

You can answer the question of what does it have compared to others....

http://www.ps-engineering.com/compare.shtml

Best regards,

-a-

The link you provided only shows the difference between the 8000 and the Garmin GMA340. Is there one for the 8000 and the new unit?

[Mscheuer]

The link you provided only shows the difference between the 8000 and the Garmin GMA340. Is there one for the 8000 and the new unit?

Here is what is in addition to the This list when comparing to the PMA450

IntelliAudio® True Dimensional Sound provides listening to com radios at the same time

3-Softkey User Interface integrated with Graphis Display allows intuitive operation of all of the advanced functions

Volume control for Intercom, Speaker, Marker Beacon Audio, 3 Switched Inputs, Telephone, and all Music Inputs

Cellular telephone input with "DuTel™" telephone distribution, caller ID and battery indicator

Front panel control of telephone side tone and volume

USB Charging port provides up to 10 Watts of power for iPads, iPhones, and other Personal Digital Accessories

Complete selection for music distribution for pilot, copilot and passengers

3-switched inputs that can be labeled using up to 9 alphanumerical digits

[carusoam]

Hey Chris, how's that?

Thanks Mark!

Consider updating your personal info to include your email address.

I was looking to send this request to you, but was unable.

Now, does,the BK / PS device have all the 450 attributes? If no, how does the future look?

Best regards,

-a-

[Mscheuer]

Hey Chris, how's that?

Thanks Mark!

Consider updating your personal info to include your email address.

I was looking to send this request to you, but was unable.

Now, does,the BK / PS device have all the 450 attributes? If no, how does the future look?

Best regards,

-a-

Hi there "a"

The PMA450 is the only panel with these attributes. No plans are in place to provide to our other partners at this time. We have almost 2 years of development along with all of the costs to certify, it's time to start to whittle down our debt!