GTX 345r pairing but not connecting via Bluetooth

[TGreen]

Recently had to replace my remote transponder, a Garmin GTX 345r. The new unit pairs with my phone and tablet but will not connect to either. Don't know if the old unit had the same issue as I never tried to connect anything to it via Bluetooth.

Any ideas?

[PeteMc]

If it is a GTX345*R* I'm going to assume it is connected to maybe a GTN7/650?  When the GTX is installed with a GTN, the Bluetooth is disabled in the GTX.  So you should still be connecting to the GTN, which should not have changed. 

Now if you're connecting, but not getting the ADS-B info (Wx, Traffic, etc.) you should be getting, then the shop didn't configure the new GTX correctly. 

 

[TGreen]

2 minutes ago, PeteMc said:

If it is a GTX345*R* I'm going to assume it is connected to maybe a GTN7/650?  When the GTX is installed with a GTN, the Bluetooth is disabled in the GTX.  So you should still be connecting to the GTN, which should not have changed. 

Now if you're connecting, but not getting the ADS-B info (Wx, Traffic, etc.) you should be getting, then the shop didn't configure the new GTX correctly. 

 

It is connected to my G1000. So I get traffic on my G1000 MFD. I get whether on the MFD via XM. Thought it would be nice to also get the ADS-B info on a tablet so that I would have two different sources of weather -- XM on the MFD and ADS-B on the tablet. 

[dkkim73]

I recall an issue with getting enough signal from the tail through the metal panel. Based on others' experience, I had a plastic panel installed. 

Maybe a red herring if you had an identical model in the same location before. But if you relocated it, maybe an explanation... 

[PeteMc]

1 hour ago, TGreen said:

It is connected to my G1000.

I don't have a G1000, but I believe it is similar to the GTN as far as Garmin's Connext goes.  So try to connect via the G1000 and see what happens.

[201Mooniac]

1 hour ago, PeteMc said:

If it is a GTX345*R* I'm going to assume it is connected to maybe a GTN7/650?  When the GTX is installed with a GTN, the Bluetooth is disabled in the GTX.  So you should still be connecting to the GTN, which should not have changed. 

Now if you're connecting, but not getting the ADS-B info (Wx, Traffic, etc.) you should be getting, then the shop didn't configure the new GTX correctly. 

 

That is only if the GTN has a FS 510, otherwise the GTN has no Bluetooth to connect to.

[Ragsf15e]

2 hours ago, TGreen said:

Recently had to replace my remote transponder, a Garmin GTX 345r. The new unit pairs with my phone and tablet but will not connect to either. Don't know if the old unit had the same issue as I never tried to connect anything to it via Bluetooth.

Any ideas?

I have a different kind of plane with a G 1000 and GTX 345R. After getting it I learned that they have to turn off the ahrs in the GTX 345r config.  I would guess there is also a config setting for sending out the traffic and weather. Mine does work, so yours should be able to as well.
As an aside, you probably have ADSB weather on your G 1000 as well now. You would have to select that over XM (menu button on weather datalink page).  I leave XM on my G 1000, and then I can compare it to ADSB weather on the iPad.

[PeteMc]

37 minutes ago, 201Mooniac said:

That is only if the GTN has a FS 510, otherwise the GTN has no Bluetooth to connect to.

Very true.  But in this case the issue is if you connect to the Remote GTX, which I do not believe you can in a lot of installations.  (Sure there are some where you do connect directly to the GTX.)

 

[Ragsf15e]

1 hour ago, PeteMc said:

I don't have a G1000, but I believe it is similar to the GTN as far as Garmin's Connext goes.  So try to connect via the G1000 and see what happens.

Unless there’s a newer model of the g1000, there’s no way to connect to it directly, at least bt or wifi that I know of?

The g1000 meridian i fly has the gtx-345r as well, and my ipad connects directly to the gtx-345r.  There’s no connection to the g1000.

Edited August 6 by Ragsf15e

[PT20J]

If the GTX is connected to the G1000 via HSDB, then the Bluetooth connection is controlled from the G1000. If it pairs and doesn't connect it could be a signal strength issue and I would try removing the tailcone access panel and holding the phone near the GTX and seeing if that works.

[PeteMc]

3 hours ago, Ragsf15e said:

Unless there’s a newer model of the g1000

I just took a look at the manual.  Just like the GTN, they talk about the optional Flight Stream. 

Do you still do all the connection to the GTX345R via the G1000?  

 

[Z W]

If you're trying to use Garmin Pilot, you must first pair the Bluetooth devices in the phone settings, then go into the Garmin Pilot app, go to Connext settings, and select the GTX345R to connect to.

If you don't do the second step in the app, the devices will show as paired but will never connect and show ADSB and traffic data.

Took me longer than I'd care to admit to figure that out when we got our GTX345.  Works the same way pairing with a GTN or other Garmin device, by the way.

Hope that helps.

[Pinecone]

12 hours ago, PeteMc said:

Very true.  But in this case the issue is if you connect to the Remote GTX, which I do not believe you can in a lot of installations.  (Sure there are some where you do connect directly to the GTX.)

 

The GTX-345 series has built-in BlueTooth and you can connect your iPad to it.

The GTN650 or -750, Xi or not, does NOT have any native BlueTooth capability.  You cannot connect directly to it.

You have add a Flight Stream device.  Either an FS-210 (mounted behind the panel) or an FS-510 (fits in GTN card slot).  If you install a Flight Stream, the installer is supposed to disable the BT connection in the the GTX-345.  But many seem to not do so.

FYI, the FS-510 adds the capability for Database Concierge where you can update your GTN, and GI-275 devices wirelessly from a tablet running Garmin Pilot.

 

[Ragsf15e]

8 hours ago, PeteMc said:

I just took a look at the manual.  Just like the GTN, they talk about the optional Flight Stream. 

Do you still do all the connection to the GTX345R via the G1000?  

 

Possibly there is a flight stream that can be added to a g1000, I haven’t seen that.  In my case, the config of the gtx345r is set up in the configuration pages of the g1000, but any connections to the gtx345r to external devices (ipad) go through the BT directly from the gtx345r.  In fact, I have had an intermittent issue with traffic not showing on the g1000, but it all shows perfectly on the ipad.  Garmin thought there was a “cache” issue with the g1000.

The BT signal is coming from the gtx345r.  In my application (pa-46) it’s behind the panel, so good signal.  You might want to try what @PT20J suggested to see if a stronger signal helps.

Finally, I didn’t have to use Garmin Pilot in order to set mine up, however, there are a few settings and status issues that you can see with Garmin Pilot connected to the grx that you can’t see with foreflight.  The free version is fine.  I would download that and check it out.

[TGreen]

5 hours ago, Z W said:

If you're trying to use Garmin Pilot, you must first pair the Bluetooth devices in the phone settings, then go into the Garmin Pilot app, go to Connext settings, and select the GTX345R to connect to.

If you don't do the second step in the app, the devices will show as paired but will never connect and show ADSB and traffic data.

Took me longer than I'd care to admit to figure that out when we got our GTX345.  Works the same way pairing with a GTN or other Garmin device, by the way.

Hope that helps.

So I don't use Foreflight or Garmin Pilot on my tablet and phone. Instead I use Avare, which is free. But I am beginning to think that Avare just cannot talk to Garmin's 345r, which is fine I guess.

[201Mooniac]

5 minutes ago, TGreen said:

So I don't use Foreflight or Garmin Pilot on my tablet and phone. Instead I use Avare, which is free. But I am beginning to think that Avare just cannot talk to Garmin's 345r, which is fine I guess.

That probably won't work as Garmin Connext is not listed on their compatibility: https://www.apps4av.com/compatibility.html

[EricJ]

6 minutes ago, TGreen said:

So I don't use Foreflight or Garmin Pilot on my tablet and phone. Instead I use Avare, which is free. But I am beginning to think that Avare just cannot talk to Garmin's 345r, which is fine I guess.

They're in the middle of the Avare to Avarex transition, and it turned into enough of a cluster that I switched to iFly.    FltPlanGo is still free, albeit a bit clunkier, but it is now owned by Garmin so I suspect may be more likely to support the 345r.   Avare is an excellent EFB, but the chart updates have gotten unreliable, support is much less than good, and it's being deprecated in favor of Avarex, which is a mess imho.    I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Avarex eventually turns into something nicer than Avare was, but it has a ways to go, imho.

[PT20J]

17 hours ago, TGreen said:

Recently had to replace my remote transponder, a Garmin GTX 345r. The new unit pairs with my phone and tablet but will not connect to either. Don't know if the old unit had the same issue as I never tried to connect anything to it via Bluetooth.

Any ideas?

If I understand correctly, you are trying to Bluetooth connect a phone and tablet to the GTX 345R using the built in Bluetooth in the GTX. Since the GTX is a remote unit the user interface for the GTX internal Bluetooth is remoted to the G1000. You must have found that, because you have been able to pair, but not connect to transfer ADS-B data to the iPad. 

What I think may be happening is that the pairing operation is not being fully completed at the tablet (and phone). When you select the GTX for pairing on the G1000, the GTX enters discovery mode. Then you have to select it on the tablet. Then you have to acknowledge it on the G1000. But, I believe that there is one more operation on the tablet to complete the pairing operation before it will show up as connected on the tablet and permit data transfer.

[Ragsf15e]

9 minutes ago, PT20J said:

If I understand correctly, you are trying to Bluetooth connect a phone and tablet to the GTX 345R using the built in Bluetooth in the GTX. Since the GTX is a remote unit the user interface for the GTX internal Bluetooth is remoted to the G1000. You must have found that, because you have been able to pair, but not connect to transfer ADS-B data to the iPad. 

What I think may be happening is that the pairing operation is not being fully completed at the tablet (and phone). When you select the GTX for pairing on the G1000, the GTX enters discovery mode. Then you have to select it on the tablet. Then you have to acknowledge it on the G1000. But, I believe that there is one more operation on the tablet to complete the pairing operation before it will show up as connected on the tablet and permit data transfer.

Skip, I don’t think this is true (although I believe you are correct about 105% of the time).  At least in the G1000 I fly with a gtx345r, the BT connection is directly to the gtx.  The g1000 doesn’t have bt.  In your g3x, its a different story.

[TGreen]

Thanks everyone. Found this from Garmin:

"From Garmin:

Thank you for contacting Garmin International.

The GTX 345 ADS-B weather and traffic data is only able to be displayed on the Garmin Pilot and Foreflight Mobile apps.  AVARE does not currently hold a licensing agreement nor the capability to display Garmin data within their app.  The only option you have for Android-based devices is the Garmin Pilot app (ForeFlight is not currently Android-capable).  We provide you with a 1 month free trial upon download, then our app starts at $79.99 USD/year.

Best Regards,

Garmin Aviation Support"

In this Google Group: https://groups.google.com/g/apps4av-forum/c/A6TlMrzjeRs

So that may be that. Gotta love Google . . . even if it is monopolistic.

 

[TGreen]

And this from the website of the developer of Avare:

"Compatibility
Below is an incomplete list of external GPS & ADSB devices known to be compatible with Avare. Most standardized devices work well with Avare, but this list of tested devices may be helpful to review for choosing a device. Many other devices beyond those listed below that are designed using industry standards might work perfectly with Avare but have not yet been reported or tested. Please contact us if you’d like us to add to the list a device you know is compatible. OEMs are also invited to contact us about adding their devices. Note that this list may be out of date, and vendors may change their hardware designs making them incompatible.

External GPS/ADSB known to Compatible with Avare
Stratux open source receiver (Port 4000)
Stratus (Recent) receivers may work
Dual XGPS-170 & XGPS-150
iLevil SW
Lynx NGT-9000
Freeflight Systems FDL-978-XVR (Panel installed)
Freeflight Systems Explorer-
Skyradar DX"

 

Guess I could have done a better job of researching before I started this thread. Thanks anyway for all of the useful suggestions. 

 

[Ragsf15e]

5 minutes ago, TGreen said:

Thanks everyone. Found this from Garmin:

"From Garmin:

Thank you for contacting Garmin International.

The GTX 345 ADS-B weather and traffic data is only able to be displayed on the Garmin Pilot and Foreflight Mobile apps.  AVARE does not currently hold a licensing agreement nor the capability to display Garmin data within their app.  The only option you have for Android-based devices is the Garmin Pilot app (ForeFlight is not currently Android-capable).  We provide you with a 1 month free trial upon download, then our app starts at $79.99 USD/year.

Best Regards,

Garmin Aviation Support"

In this Google Group: https://groups.google.com/g/apps4av-forum/c/A6TlMrzjeRs

So that may be that. Gotta love Google . . . even if it is monopolistic.

 

I really like FF and don’t mind paying for the basic version, however, I believe (but haven’t tried this), that if you load FF or GP without a subscription, you can still get weather and traffic on either an expired map or maybe just a basic aviation overlay if you want some access to the data.  The subscription just enables the chart updates.  Again, I haven’t tried that, I could easily be wrong…

Edited August 6 by Ragsf15e

[PT20J]

2 hours ago, Ragsf15e said:

Skip, I don’t think this is true (although I believe you are correct about 105% of the time).  At least in the G1000 I fly with a gtx345r, the BT connection is directly to the gtx.  The g1000 doesn’t have bt.  In your g3x, its a different story.

The BT is in the GTX, but the user interface to operate the BT has to be in either a G1000 or a GTN since the GTX 345R has no user interface. Garmin doesn’t explain this very well. (And, I'm right way less than 105%).

 

[PT20J]

42 minutes ago, TGreen said:

And this from the website of the developer of Avare:

"Compatibility
Below is an incomplete list of external GPS & ADSB devices known to be compatible with Avare. Most standardized devices work well with Avare, but this list of tested devices may be helpful to review for choosing a device. Many other devices beyond those listed below that are designed using industry standards might work perfectly with Avare but have not yet been reported or tested. Please contact us if you’d like us to add to the list a device you know is compatible. OEMs are also invited to contact us about adding their devices. Note that this list may be out of date, and vendors may change their hardware designs making them incompatible.

External GPS/ADSB known to Compatible with Avare
Stratux open source receiver (Port 4000)
Stratus (Recent) receivers may work
Dual XGPS-170 & XGPS-150
iLevil SW
Lynx NGT-9000
Freeflight Systems FDL-978-XVR (Panel installed)
Freeflight Systems Explorer-
Skyradar DX"

 

Guess I could have done a better job of researching before I started this thread. Thanks anyway for all of the useful suggestions. 

 

And, we should have asked which app you were using. 

[Ragsf15e]

1 hour ago, PT20J said:

The BT is in the GTX, but the user interface to operate the BT has to be in either a G1000 or a GTN since the GTX 345R has no user interface. Garmin doesn’t explain this very well. (And, I'm right way less than 105%).

 

Yes, I’d agree with that!  I sat there while they configured the gtx-345 in the g1000.  There’s no “page” for it on the normal g1000 pages unless you’re in the configuration/maint mode.  After you’ve connected, there are some things you can control through GP app (like setting connection priorities, deleting old connected devices, etc). It is weird when you can’t get to all the menus like on a regular gtx345 (which I have in my personal airplane), but it does work pretty well.

So I guess id say there really isn’t a user interface!?

Edited August 6 by Ragsf15e