[rebel-builders] Intercom question

[Ian Donaldson]

G'day Mike

I am really not a radio "expert" but just wired the Icom up the way that
most of the locals use. It is a simple push to talk arrangement with open
mikes. I tried VOX intercom but the way that it clipped off the first part
of the transmission really annoyed me!

It would be a simple matter to use one switch in the stick that would either
leave the mikes open, close the mikes, or transmit.

I preferred the simplicity and the reliability of the Icom system, (After
all there is one less bunch of electrical trickery to go wrong!) and
combined with a noise cancelling headset it works for me.

I would have a wiring diagram here somewhere if you decide to go the Icom
way.


regards

Ian





: Thanks Ian, can you verify whether this is a push to talk intercom? Their
: web site really doesn't say anything, but I found a review that talked
about
: an operate/intercom switch.
:
: Mike
:
: ----- Original Message -----
: From: "Ian Donaldson" <allsure@bigpond.net.au>
: To: <rebel-builders@dcsol.com>
: Sent: Friday, August 25, 2006 4:12 PM
: Subject: Re: [rebel-builders] Inetcom question
:
:
: > G'day Mike
: >
: > I have the Icom A200 in my Rebel and it works flawlessly, and I use the
: > inbuilt intercom system.
: > The intercom system is a great feature and it does away with unnecessary
: > external systems. (Listening to music while I fly is just a distraction
: > as
: > far as I am concerned!)
: >
: > There are more than 90 planes at our field, and the Icom is by far the
: > preferred choice. That must say something!
: >
: > I have combined my Icom with a set of Sennheiser noise reductions
headsets
: > and it is one of the best investments that I have made. All those
: > extraneous
: > noises just go away! With the Sennheisers the microphone outputs are
: > individually adjustable and of course the volume.
: >
: > regards
: >
: > Ian Donaldson
: >
: >
: >
: >
: > : Is anybody here using the built in intercom feature of an Icom A200?
: > :
: > : Mike
:
:
:
:
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[Ken]

Ian Donaldson wrote:

G'day Mike

I am really not a radio "expert" but just wired the Icom up the way that
most of the locals use. It is a simple push to talk arrangement with open
mikes. I tried VOX intercom but the way that it clipped off the first part
of the transmission really annoyed me!

Yes that is what annoyed me about VOX intercoms although I have no idea
if some are better than what I've used.

It would be a simple matter to use one switch in the stick that would either
leave the mikes open, close the mikes, or transmit.

I preferred the simplicity and the reliability of the Icom system, (After
all there is one less bunch of electrical trickery to go wrong!) and
combined with a noise cancelling headset it works for me.

I have flown machines wired like this with a rocker switch on the stick.
Left to transmit, right to talk on intercom.
That works fine but the annoyance is that the copilot has to touch the
stick to talk. If you give him a clip on
PTT switch then he can't talk while flying.

from Bill's post:

"It needs to be said that the wiring info on this aspect in the owner's

manual is not particulary useful and in the service manual it is no better.
It has led one common Australian aircraft, the Lightwing, to appear with a
separate toggle switches to control the radio/intercom operation, as well as
the PTT button. I dont know whether it was the factory approach or that of a
particular installer but I think it is a very clumsy approach. However, I
think they were led there by the diagram in the owner's manual.

I have a fair bit of time on an aircraft wired like that as well and
"clumsy" is indeed the right word. The same
PTT switch was used for intercom and radio. The selector toggle
determinined which is active. You will
frequently transmit what you intended to say on the intercom with that
setup. ;(

Ken





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[Mike Davis]

It's kind of funny, but if you read all the VOX intercom manufacturers'
literature, none of them have a problem with clipping... that's what makes
their product better than everybody else's. I believe that I will go with a
VOX type intercom however because I have such difficulty hearing in a noisy
environment... I think the constant background noise of a hot mic setup
would drive me crazy. I suppose it might be alright with active noise
cancelling headsets, but none of my headsets are that type. I am looking at
an intercom that has active noise filtering built in though...
http://tinyurl.com/zonhp. I have an opportunity to pick one of these up for
next to nothing.

Mike

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ken" <klehman@albedo.net>
To: <rebel-builders@dcsol.com>
Sent: Saturday, August 26, 2006 4:49 AM
Subject: Re: [rebel-builders] Intercom question

Ian Donaldson wrote:

G'day Mike

I am really not a radio "expert" but just wired the Icom up the way that
most of the locals use. It is a simple push to talk arrangement with open
mikes. I tried VOX intercom but the way that it clipped off the first part
of the transmission really annoyed me!

Yes that is what annoyed me about VOX intercoms although I have no idea
if some are better than what I've used.

It would be a simple matter to use one switch in the stick that would
either
leave the mikes open, close the mikes, or transmit.

I preferred the simplicity and the reliability of the Icom system, (After
all there is one less bunch of electrical trickery to go wrong!) and
combined with a noise cancelling headset it works for me.

I have flown machines wired like this with a rocker switch on the stick.
Left to transmit, right to talk on intercom.
That works fine but the annoyance is that the copilot has to touch the
stick to talk. If you give him a clip on
PTT switch then he can't talk while flying.

from Bill's post:

"It needs to be said that the wiring info on this aspect in the owner's

manual is not particulary useful and in the service manual it is no
better.
It has led one common Australian aircraft, the Lightwing, to appear with a
separate toggle switches to control the radio/intercom operation, as well
as
the PTT button. I dont know whether it was the factory approach or that of
a
particular installer but I think it is a very clumsy approach. However, I
think they were led there by the diagram in the owner's manual.

I have a fair bit of time on an aircraft wired like that as well and
"clumsy" is indeed the right word. The same
PTT switch was used for intercom and radio. The selector toggle
determinined which is active. You will
frequently transmit what you intended to say on the intercom with that
setup. ;(

Ken

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[N.Smith]

Hi All

Not an Icom comment, but I found a friends intercom was very noisy (Garmin)
and we traced it to an earth return at the headphone socket. We remounted
the headset jacks in insulated washers and the problem disappeared.
(steinair do them).

Nig
745E





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[Bill Maxwell]

Interesting claims in the specs there Mike. Any idea what the normal price
might be?

Bill
753R
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Davis" <mike.davis@dcsol.com>
To: <rebel-builders@dcsol.com>
Sent: Sunday, August 27, 2006 12:02 AM
Subject: Re: [rebel-builders] Intercom question

It's kind of funny, but if you read all the VOX intercom manufacturers'
literature, none of them have a problem with clipping... that's what makes
their product better than everybody else's. I believe that I will go with
a
VOX type intercom however because I have such difficulty hearing in a
noisy
environment... I think the constant background noise of a hot mic setup
would drive me crazy. I suppose it might be alright with active noise
cancelling headsets, but none of my headsets are that type. I am looking
at
an intercom that has active noise filtering built in though...
http://tinyurl.com/zonhp. I have an opportunity to pick one of these up
for
next to nothing.

Mike

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ken" <klehman@albedo.net>
To: <rebel-builders@dcsol.com>
Sent: Saturday, August 26, 2006 4:49 AM
Subject: Re: [rebel-builders] Intercom question

Ian Donaldson wrote:

G'day Mike

I am really not a radio "expert" but just wired the Icom up the way that
most of the locals use. It is a simple push to talk arrangement with open
mikes. I tried VOX intercom but the way that it clipped off the first
part
of the transmission really annoyed me!

Yes that is what annoyed me about VOX intercoms although I have no idea
if some are better than what I've used.

It would be a simple matter to use one switch in the stick that would
either
leave the mikes open, close the mikes, or transmit.

I preferred the simplicity and the reliability of the Icom system, (After
all there is one less bunch of electrical trickery to go wrong!) and
combined with a noise cancelling headset it works for me.

I have flown machines wired like this with a rocker switch on the stick.
Left to transmit, right to talk on intercom.
That works fine but the annoyance is that the copilot has to touch the
stick to talk. If you give him a clip on
PTT switch then he can't talk while flying.

from Bill's post:

"It needs to be said that the wiring info on this aspect in the owner's

manual is not particulary useful and in the service manual it is no
better.
It has led one common Australian aircraft, the Lightwing, to appear with
a
separate toggle switches to control the radio/intercom operation, as well
as
the PTT button. I dont know whether it was the factory approach or that
of
a
particular installer but I think it is a very clumsy approach. However,
I
think they were led there by the diagram in the owner's manual.

I have a fair bit of time on an aircraft wired like that as well and
"clumsy" is indeed the right word. The same
PTT switch was used for intercom and radio. The selector toggle
determinined which is active. You will
frequently transmit what you intended to say on the intercom with that
setup. ;(

Ken

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[mike.davis]

A quick web search came up with prices between $349 & $604. I paid $28
for the one I got... figure if I'm not happy with it at least I'm not out much!

Mike

On 8/26/2006 4:24 PM, rebel-builders@dcsol.com wrote to MIKE DAVIS:

-> Interesting claims in the specs there Mike. Any idea what the normal price
-> might be?
->
-> Bill
-> 753R
-> ----- Original Message -----
-> From: "Mike Davis" <mike.davis@dcsol.com>
-> To: <rebel-builders@dcsol.com>
-> Sent: Sunday, August 27, 2006 12:02 AM
-> Subject: Re: [rebel-builders] Intercom question
->
->
-> > It's kind of funny, but if you read all the VOX intercom manufacturers'
-> > literature, none of them have a problem with clipping... that's what
makes
-> > their product better than everybody else's. I believe that I will go with
-> > a
-> > VOX type intercom however because I have such difficulty hearing in a
-> > noisy
-> > environment... I think the constant background noise of a hot mic setup
-> > would drive me crazy. I suppose it might be alright with active noise
-> > cancelling headsets, but none of my headsets are that type. I am
looking
-> > at
-> > an intercom that has active noise filtering built in though...
-> > http://tinyurl.com/zonhp. I have an opportunity to pick one of these up
-> > for
-> > next to nothing.
-> >
-> > Mike




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[Bill Maxwell]

Hell Mike, at that sort of price differential I would make myself happy -
and keep reminding myself that I was happy?

Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: <mike.davis@dcsol.com>
To: <rebel-builders@dcsol.com>
Sent: Sunday, August 27, 2006 11:30 AM
Subject: Re: [rebel-builders] Intercom question

A quick web search came up with prices between $349 & $604. I paid $28
for the one I got... figure if I'm not happy with it at least I'm not out
much!

Mike

On 8/26/2006 4:24 PM, rebel-builders@dcsol.com wrote to MIKE DAVIS:

-> Interesting claims in the specs there Mike. Any idea what the normal
price
-> might be?
->
-> Bill
-> 753R
-> ----- Original Message -----
-> From: "Mike Davis" <mike.davis@dcsol.com>
-> To: <rebel-builders@dcsol.com>
-> Sent: Sunday, August 27, 2006 12:02 AM
-> Subject: Re: [rebel-builders] Intercom question
->
->
-> > It's kind of funny, but if you read all the VOX intercom
manufacturers'
-> > literature, none of them have a problem with clipping... that's what
makes
-> > their product better than everybody else's. I believe that I will go
with
-> > a
-> > VOX type intercom however because I have such difficulty hearing in a
-> > noisy
-> > environment... I think the constant background noise of a hot mic
setup
-> > would drive me crazy. I suppose it might be alright with active
noise
-> > cancelling headsets, but none of my headsets are that type. I am
looking
-> > at
-> > an intercom that has active noise filtering built in though...
-> > http://tinyurl.com/zonhp. I have an opportunity to pick one of these
up
-> > for
-> > next to nothing.
-> >
-> > Mike




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[Mike Kimball]

I can hardly wait to see if that is the source of noise in my Garmin
intercom. Great tip!

Mike
044SR

-----Original Message-----
From: mike.davis@dcsol.com [mailto:mike.davis@dcsol.com] On Behalf Of
N.Smith
Sent: Saturday, August 26, 2006 9:17 AM
To: rebel-builders@dcsol.com
Subject: RE: [rebel-builders] Intercom question

Hi All

Not an Icom comment, but I found a friends intercom was very noisy (Garmin)
and we traced it to an earth return at the headphone socket. We remounted
the headset jacks in insulated washers and the problem disappeared.
(steinair do them).

Nig
745E





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[N.Smith]

Item SA-9912W at the following link (one set needed for each jack plug on
the airframe)

http://www.steinair.com/accessories.htm

Nig
745E

-----Original Message-----
From: mike.davis@dcsol.com [mailto:mike.davis@dcsol.com]On Behalf Of
Mike Kimball
Sent: 27 August 2006 04:20
To: rebel-builders@dcsol.com
Subject: RE: [rebel-builders] Intercom question


I can hardly wait to see if that is the source of noise in my Garmin
intercom. Great tip!

Mike
044SR

-----Original Message-----
From: mike.davis@dcsol.com [mailto:mike.davis@dcsol.com] On Behalf Of
N.Smith
Sent: Saturday, August 26, 2006 9:17 AM
To: rebel-builders@dcsol.com
Subject: RE: [rebel-builders] Intercom question

Hi All

Not an Icom comment, but I found a friends intercom was very noisy (Garmin)
and we traced it to an earth return at the headphone socket. We remounted
the headset jacks in insulated washers and the problem disappeared.
(steinair do them).

Nig
745E





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[Ken]

This sounds like the same thing as my flightech intercom that was
substantially cheaper. It is a hot mic but the intercom filters all
cockpit (or open cockpit) noise such that I hear nothing unless someone
talks. There is no background noise. No delay like a VOX system. No
background noise while talking like a VOX or PTT system which I think is
why guys especially like it for really noisy cockpits. No squelch
adjustments to play with. It uses a chip designed for telephone
systems. I am pleased with it. There were some circuit board issues that
I had to work out but the manufacturer was easy to work with and I'm
sure he has incorporated the fixes into newer units manufactured this
year. Here's a link to a portable version. Mine is a panel mount version.
http://www.wicksaircraft.com/catalog/pr ... index.html

This has nothing to do with ANR headsets. ANR headsets only cancel low
frequency background noise picked up by a mic within the earcup. I would
say that ANR headsets do not cancel noise or static that is fed through
from an intercom or a radio, or intermittant noise pulses. They are
great for cancelling exhaust noise but I've never noticed them to help
with intercom noise.

Ken

Mike Davis wrote:

It's kind of funny, but if you read all the VOX intercom manufacturers'
literature, none of them have a problem with clipping... that's what makes
their product better than everybody else's. I believe that I will go with a
VOX type intercom however because I have such difficulty hearing in a noisy
environment... I think the constant background noise of a hot mic setup
would drive me crazy. I suppose it might be alright with active noise
cancelling headsets, but none of my headsets are that type. I am looking at
an intercom that has active noise filtering built in though...
http://tinyurl.com/zonhp. I have an opportunity to pick one of these up for
next to nothing.

Mike

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