BluLink PIREP

[flyboy0681]

I had the opportunity to try out the BluLink unit today from the air.

 

Two words come to mind: very impressive. Once setup, I placed a call and the audio came in loud and clear. The sidetone through the headset of when I talked through the mic was excellent as well. It was extremely easy to carry on a conversation - maybe too easy.

 

The only negative, if it can be considered that, is the physical size of the unit. It's not compact and it sat against the side panel and my left leg. In an area already devoid of even an extra millimeter of space, it added to the tightness. But that's a small price to pay for staying in-touch.

 

Pairing the unit with my iPhone took less than a second and was confirmed with a beep through the headset.

 

I did not have any issues with the unit turning off prematurely or not turning off when I attempted to.

[kmyfm20s]

Thanks! I just bought one but the plane has been grounded for a NAV repair. I have been looking forward to trying it in the air. It worked great on the ground. I bought it because I was not super happy with the phone/stereo on my GMA 350.

[Riq]

Here is my pirep on the blulink.

 

I bought one from a friend who upgraded, and I saw it in his hanger, remembered seeing it in a sporty catalog or such,  and got a deal on it.

 

My planes intercom leaves a lot to be desired so we've tried everything under the sun to watch movies, listen to music etc, and were always ending up putting ear buds under our headsets, and trying to make a call involved putting the phone under the headset as well. It was less then desirable to say the least.  I was happy and eager to try a cost effective solution.

 

After playing with the blulink at home and linking it to my iphone and ipad I was impressed, it was easy to hook up and quick. But, the test was to come in the air.

 

Before I maidened the unit, I wondered if I could listen to movies on the ipad and still make phone calls. I called the tech support and was told how to(simply put, turn off bt on the phone and let the blulink find the ipad 1st) by an extremely helpful gentleman. I always appreciate good tech support, and they have it.

 

First time using it was absolutely fantastic. I could hear a conversation, and people couldnt tell I was in a plane. I could actually listen to a movie, and when atc, or something came over the radio, it took precedence over the input and ramped it back up smoothly. I have not bought something that added so much joy to flying in awhile.  Anr headets, ipads, and this make flying xc soooo easy and relaxing.

[bumper]

Not the blulink, but the Sennheiser S1 has blue tooth for both cell and music built in. I compared S1 to my old Bose-X, the A20, and Zulu-2. Bose-X wasn't close, the S1 bested the A20 in music and voice fidelity, the noise cancelling was excellent on both. Very happy with the S1.

[Riq]

I think thats what my buddy moved up to.

 

The blulink has the capability to do bluetooth for both cell and music, and my headset inc dc's are strong and paid for.

 

When I win the lottery Ill get a screamin eagle and new headsets.

[aviatoreb]

I think thats what my buddy moved up to.

 

The blulink has the capability to do bluetooth for both cell and music, and my headset inc dc's are strong and paid for.

 

When I win the lottery Ill get a screamin eagle and new headsets.

 

I have two cheapo radio-shack purchased noise cancelling headsets I use on long transatlantic airlines flights.  One older, one a bit newer and better and smaller. The older one I found is great for picking up clearances on the ground at my home airport which is rural/untowered KPTD.  It plugs directly into my iPhone as does any standard music style plug and it plays the iphone audio, including phone calls beautifully into my ears to hear clearly even with the engine running before taxi.  And I just hold the iphone up to my mouth and speak into the mic part of the iphone.  It works well.  I did it just this morning to pick my IFR on the ground for a flight to DC.

[Marauder]

Thanks for the PIREP. For those of you considering an audio panel upgrade, I highly recommend the PS Engineering 8000BT. It has Bluetooth capabilities built into the panel allowing both phone and music functions from your Bluetooth devices.

[carusoam]

Marauder,

How much effort was required to upgrade from what you had to the PS unit?

Did you add stereo headset plugs at all four seats/stations as well?

I heard something a while back regarding stereo imaging from certain inputs, either for traffic alerts or ATC...?

Of course, the kids in the back seat will really appreciate the WHO blaring in full stereophonic bliss as it gets delivered from their iPod via BT!

Best regards,

-a-

[Marauder]

Marauder,

How much effort was required to upgrade from what you had to the PS unit?

Did you add stereo headset plugs at all four seats/stations as well?

I heard something a while back regarding stereo imaging from certain inputs, either for traffic alerts or ATC...?

Of course, the kids in the back seat will really appreciate the WHO blaring in full stereophonic bliss as it gets delivered from their iPod via BT!

Best regards,

-a-

My upgrade was done as part of the whole panel upgrade and I know that all of my existing intercom and audio panel wiring was removed and replaced with new stereo jacks. My old intercom was separate from the audio panel (sigtronics & KMA20) so everything was pulled. If you have a Garmin GMA 340 it is a slide in replacement.

You can have 5 alert inputs installed (radar altimeter, traffic, etc) pumped into the headsets.

As for music, there are a number of different configurations you can set up. All to keep everyone happy.

[Bennett]

Carusoam, the new Garmin audio units, including the remote units for the GTN series, are what they call 3 D. You can listen to two radios at the same time, with one channeled to each ear. Surprisingly it is very easy to separate and understand both at the same time. Great for listening to ATIS and tower at the same time. Zulu (and I seem to recall, Bose) have DIP switches that can be set to stereo input to work with this feature.

[jlunseth]

My Bose A20's do the same thing, makes it seamless and stressless to pick up a clearance on the ground at a non-towered airport.  Just get your run-up done and when ready to go, call the clearance delivery number (888-766-8267) to get your clearance.  When they ask how long, just say "ready for immediate departure."