GTX345 Bluetooth signal - SOLVED

[PaulM]

To update a dead thread.

I switched the antenna in front of the blue sticker to a much smaller stub antenna.

Now I get zero disconnects even with full people or bags. 

[Schllc]

On 10/6/2018 at 9:31 PM, aggiepilot04 said:

Sounds like somewhat of a hack, but a cheaper hack than buying a FlightStream 210. Thanks for sharing...I may wind up going this route as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I was told the flight stream 210 will not work with the g1000 so that’s not an option.

per my conversation with Garmin and don maxwell. 

[carusoam]

@PaulM

This little guy in the blue circle?

Great to hear the follow-up...

Thanks for sharing it...

Best regards,

-a-

 

[aggiepilot04]

8 hours ago, Schllc said:

I was told the flight stream 210 will not work with the g1000 so that’s not an option.

per my conversation with Garmin and don maxwell. 

This was a "solution" that I got directly from Garmin.  My understanding was that the flight steam 210 interfaces directly with the GTX345R, but you didn't otherwise get any flight stream 210 benefits on the G1000.  It would basically act as a $1,000 bluetooth repeater.  I was not interested (obviously), so I didn't investigate any further.  It's entirely possible that I was misinformed, but the source was Garmin.

[Schllc]

8 minutes ago, aggiepilot04 said:

This was a "solution" that I got directly from Garmin.  My understanding was that the flight steam 210 interfaces directly with the GTX345R, but you didn't otherwise get any flight stream 210 benefits on the G1000.  It would basically act as a $1,000 bluetooth repeater.  I was not interested (obviously), so I didn't investigate any further.  It's entirely possible that I was misinformed, but the source was Garmin.

My only interest in the 210 was for flight plan transfer. 
my last plane had the 510 and it’s incredibly useful.

I miss the nxi and the flight stream a lot more than I thought I would. 

[PaulM]

On 2/17/2021 at 11:46 PM, aggiepilot04 said:

This was a "solution" that I got directly from Garmin.  My understanding was that the flight steam 210 interfaces directly with the GTX345R, but you didn't otherwise get any flight stream 210 benefits on the G1000.  It would basically act as a $1,000 bluetooth repeater.  I was not interested (obviously), so I didn't investigate any further.  It's entirely possible that I was misinformed, but the source was Garmin.

Yes that was Garmin's solution to the problem Connect the FS210 to only the GTX345R.    We have found that this passive antenna combo does the job for <$100. 

We also know that Garmin did support the FS210 in the G1000 system (Software rev 15.x).. since both Cirrus and TBM had them.   Of course since Mooney didn't include it in the manifest they can't say it is supported for us.  

Anthony, yes the thing in the little blue circle. 

[carusoam]

Fantastic details Paul!

Thanks for sharing it all!

Best regards,

-a-

[LANCECASPER]

So far if I keep my iPhone or iPad out of its case it picks up the GTX345R with no problem without any modifications. My iPhone 12 Max was not picking it up in its heavy duty case.

[LANCECASPER]

On 9/18/2020 at 6:09 AM, irishpilot said:

man, I must be lucky. I never have issues connecting to my GTX345 and I've stuffed the Bravo full of bags and people and still connected.

 

However, after reading this thread, it sounds like signal blocking is a problem.

That's because your GTX345 is panel mounted in the cockpit.

The ones described in this thread are the GTX345r(emote) and they are back in the avionics bay on G1000 airplanes. 

[carusoam]

Good catch Lance! 

-a-

[Jeff_S]

On 2/22/2021 at 12:45 PM, PaulM said:

 

Anthony, yes the thing in the little blue circle. 

Paul, exactly what is that antenna (make/model, etc) and where does one procure such a thing?

[LANCECASPER]

Although I was getting a connection every time without a case on my iPhone or iPad I wanted to make sure that if there was baggage in the back that I still had a good signal. So I followed the advice in this thread.

When I was at the factory service center Mike Kneese suggested that I use royalite (a fancy name for abs) in place of the metal oxygen door in the baggage area. I found 12 x 16 pieces of ABS on amazon that fit perfectly with no trimming. (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B097QWF7GW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

I used the metal door as a template and drilled the holes in the same spots and then sealed the edges with metal duct tape. I also removed about a 12 x 12 section of the mylar from the back of the insulation behind the carpet.

 

 

I also followed the advice of putting a passive antenna between the bluetooth antenna and the cabin. I used these antennas connected by about six feet of coaxial TV cable. I zip-tied one antenna in the back within an inch of the Garmin sticker (bluetooth antenna) and the other is in the sidewall up near the pilot. (I wasn't sure about all of the connections and there are probably ways of doing it with less connectors that I used.)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ZWPS3O/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0118NTIDM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/GE-23203-Extension-Adaptor-Connects/dp/B00061UISM/ref=sr_1_3?crid=14QIA3A9AB6FU&keywords=Cable+Extension+Coupler&qid=1641134580&s=electronics&sprefix=cable+extension+coupler%2Celectronics%2C165&sr=1-3

 

I'm not sure what effect each of the changes have had but I'm guessing that the ABS instead of the metal oxygen door plus removing the mylar is probably the most effective. I measured the signal from the pilot's seat before and after with a BLE scanner app on my iPhone. It went from around -55 to around -45, so I'm pleased. 

[Danb]

Lance I did the same although I purchased the antennas I think Paul recommended when I removed the panel it solved the issue, so I have the antennas grabbing dust