PilotEdge controllers know their planes

[dc8flightdeck]

Yesterday I was testing our new intercom system that is now interfaced to real 737-200 hand mikes and overhead speakers and the PE controller proved he knows his aircraft.

At the end of our test transmissions he summed up the quality of the system by saying "When talking to flying airliners, United aircraft have a unique background hum when they transmit that no other airliner makes. Your transmission sounds exactly like that." Now keep in mind, I logged in as Janet 224 and he no clue that the sim is actually themed United complete with all United equipment in the cockpit, most of which came from 9006U.

So the PE controller correctly recognized United radio equipment based on the sound of its transmission... over an internet connect. I'm impressed!

Ill attach some pics of the hardware installation project.

The intercom system works as follows;
•4 headset positions are installed inside the cockpit.
•1 Headset position is installed at the radome for use during system maintenence.
•The 6th headset position is used for an interface to the two overhead speakers and the three hand mics.
•When the mics are depressed, 28v DC ground goes through the headset mics to the overhead speakers to mute the speakers which prevents audio feedback. It also closes a relay that sends a keyboard command via the KE108 keyboard emulator for PilotEdge to send a live transmission over the internet.
•The audio going to and from the computer passes though the Music in/out jacks on the 6 port intercom

I did not incorporate the 737 audio panels because the panels that this cockpit is equipped with are designed to mix audio channels from multiple radios. Flight simulator doesnt support multiple audio channels for the com and nav sounds(radios).

If these 737 audio panels were the style that has on/off toggle switches then I could use those to toggle the FSX com and nav sounds that FSX mixes into its single com audio channel output. Of course that would another involved project.


Justin

[Mike Sweeney]

The tone from 400 Hz Electrical Systems is becoming a relic as avionics are better at filtering out the whine, better screening, and using modern switching technology converting the AC to required DC levels.

As the MD80, older B737s and B757s fade away, ... the old 400 Hz hum will be missed too.

[jorgea]

That is amazing how technology is advancing