Music over intercomm (no manual)

[Jamie]

So I'm told I can play music over my intercomm. It's supposed to be smart enough to mute the music when I receive something. I have the RCA jacks under the panel. I have the necessary adapter (RCA->3.5mm) and the appropriate cord to connect to my tablet. When I play music and turn it up full volume, I can hear it (barely) when the radio is silent.

 

But I can't figure out how to get it to play normally. Nothing I've tried so far will let me hear the external audio (music). What does this sort of thing normally look like?

 

I'm attaching a pic from last weekend's trip home (I was happy with my ground speed ), but it shows the intercomm and some audio panel.

 

Any ideas? None of the manuals I received with the airplane mention it.

 

 

[KSMooniac]

I don't recognize that intercom, so you might try searching the web for an installation manual for it.  It might be old enough that adding music inputs was not common at the time...  Is there any chance the music goes through an unused input on the audio panel?

[jlunseth]

What headsets do you have? Some headsets (mine are Bose) have an internal dip switch to select between mono and stereo, and if you have stereo from the audio panel and the headset set for mono the audio will be barely audible.

[larryb]

I had a similar intervox intercom before my panel upgrade. It did play music. There was a pin for music input on the connector. Nothing else was required. Perhaps your RCA jacks aren't really connected to the intercom?

[Jamie]

Maybe that's it.... my headset is mono (it's a 15 year old peltor). Could be that I need a stereo headset to make this all work.  I'll also crawl under the panel and see if those jacks are connected, and if so, to what.

 

 

Thanks. I'll check tonight.

[Jamie]

I don't recognize that intercom, so you might try searching the web for an installation manual for it.  It might be old enough that adding music inputs was not common at the time...  Is there any chance the music goes through an unused input on the audio panel?

 

Maybe, but I tried 'em all. I took it off "auto" and manually selected each input one at a time. Nothing. Now I'm wondering if it's even possible with a mono head set.

[DanM20C]

Most intercom music inputs do not have an amplifier, they rely on the amp in the music device (mp3 player, phone, tablet, etc.).  Most of these devices don’t have much power.  They were designed to drive one set of ear bud type headphones.  Add in the larger drivers in your old headsets and all the airplane noise, there isn’t much left for volume.   The bigger problem here is your 15 year old peltors.  Buy yourself a nice set of ANR’s.  You will love your Mooney even more when you realize how quiet it can be.  And the higher end ANR’s have Bluetooth built in for your music.  A win win..

Good luck!

[kmyfm20s]

They can put an inline booster but I think you would be happier just buying a BlueLink. I have one even though my audio panel is set up for music/telephone input and works. I find the Blue link is less hassle with the adjustments and better sound quality. The any problem is not being able to share the music with the passengers.

[Hank]

They can put an inline booster but I think you would be happier just buying a BlueLink. I have one even though my audio panel is set up for music/telephone input and works. I find the Blue link is less hassle with the adjustments and better sound quality. The any problem is not being able to share the music with the passengers.

 

You'll just have to sing along for them . . . 

[kmyfm20s]

You'll just have to sing along for them . . . 

On second thought you better get the booster:)

[MARZ]

Looks to be a volume adjustment on the side of the case.... I googled intervox intercom pinout and found the install PDF

http://www.aem-corp.com/manuals/install_ops_AEM/AA80-IO08-5.00.pdf

[Jamie]

ok. Reviewing the manual, it looks like the music should "just work". There is no separate source control for the aux in. Which means you guys are correct in that my tablet probably isn't powerful enough to drive this directly.

 

So... I find myself presented with a perfect rationalization for the purchase of a new headset....

 

[MARZ]

Did you se the level adjustment notes?

Notes:

S/T adjusts level of INTERNALLY GENERATED SIDETONE (if not produced by existing radios).

RX adjusts level of RECEIVE AUDIO from existing radio equipment. Should be balanced for adequate level in both InterVOX and Pilot Isolation (emergency) modes.

MUSIC adjusts level of EXTERNAL MUSIC SOURCE (tape player or other).

ATC adjusts the trigger point for the music muting from an incoming radio source (ATC transmissions).

Use a small straight blade screwdriver, or potentiometer tool to make these adjustments, and do not exert excessive force.

Only the ICS level is adjustable from the front. All other levels are preset via these pots.

But I still vote for the headphone purchase

[Jamie]

I'll give it a shot... it's free. Be cool if it works.

 

I didn't realize how nice trips could be if you weren't flying them. I let Otto do the last one, and it was just like riding in first class. All I'm doing at that point is monitoring systems (engine, mostly) and looking for traffic. Away from airports, there isn't much one has to listen to, so music would be great.

[KSMooniac]

And it is made even nicer with a quality ANR headset or an in-ear version like the Halo to block the noise.  You won't believe the difference until you try it!

[bumper]

There are several good options. I am using a Sennheiser S1 ANR headset w/ bluetooth for both cell phone and music. Besides being an excellent noise cancelling headset, and the only one I tested that works well in a very noisy Pawnee tow plane, it provides very good fidelity for music. I have not upgraded the panel on my Mooney yet, so the headset is switched to mono. This doesn't affect the bluetooth input, which is still stereo. An inexpensive bluetooth dongle (available on-line for less than $20 w/ a 3.5mm plug) will allow any music source (cell phone, MP3 player etc), even if it does not have it's own bluetooth transmitter, to send music to the S1.

 

bumper