Does anyone here have much familiarity with radios?
I'm intermittently losing "sidetone" on my radio. It usually works just fine, but every once in a while, I'll lose sidetone and can't hear myself transmitting. I know I'm transmitting, because I get a response, I just can't hear it.
Bad ground somewhere?
SIdetone
Moderator: drseti
Re: SIdetone
What kind of radio and intercom do you have?BrianL99 wrote:Does anyone here have much familiarity with radios?
I'm intermittently losing "sidetone" on my radio. It usually works just fine, but every once in a while, I'll lose sidetone and can't hear myself transmitting. I know I'm transmitting, because I get a response, I just can't hear it.
Bad ground somewhere?
Did you contact the manufacturer yet and explain the symptoms?
Bill Ince
LSRI
Retired Heavy Equipment Operator
LSRI
Retired Heavy Equipment Operator
Re: SIdetone
Also try a different headset. I just had a Zulu go bad...eventually it stopped passing any audio at all, but the first symptom was an intermittent loss of sidetone.
Andy Walker
Athens, GA
Sport Pilot ASEL, LSRI
2007 Flight Design CTSW E-LSA
Athens, GA
Sport Pilot ASEL, LSRI
2007 Flight Design CTSW E-LSA
Re: SIdetone
If it's a Garmin SL30, you might try setting the sidetone to 0 which slaves sidetone to the volume level.
dave
Re: SIdetone
Thanks for the suggestions, guys! I'm going to take some time to figure it out, this weekend.
Re: SIdetone
1. First, rule out a headset problem; see if it does the same with another headset. Does the headset have ear-volume controls? Try other volume levels.
2. If that fails, then next rule out an intercom adjustment (squelch/volume) problem. The PS Engineering (PM501) intercoms in our Sting Sport airplanes are very finicky and there is a "sweet spot" where they work best. Especially work with the squelch, which may have gotten bumped and moved.
Did this problem just arise? If so, I'd bet on #1 or #2. If it has been with you since getting the airplane, then it is more likely it could be the mic/sidetone adjustment of the radio.
3. The Icom ICA200 radios in our airplanes are removed on a slide-out tray. First, you insert a 3/32 allen wrench into the right front of the radio and release it for slide-out. Then, you can access a small piece of foil tape, top left, covering the potentiometers adjustment for side tone, mic gain, and squelch. Small counterclockwise movement to reduce; clockwise to increase. Could be you need a small tweak upwards! However, my A200 radio actually had to have a tweak down, because I had constant "white noise" during radio transmissions (PTT).
You will find more about this adjustment issue for the ICA200 on the Van's Airforce forum, pilotsofamerica forum, and ICA200 Service Manual (available online). But I'd bet on #1 or #2 being the issue, first.
Rich
2. If that fails, then next rule out an intercom adjustment (squelch/volume) problem. The PS Engineering (PM501) intercoms in our Sting Sport airplanes are very finicky and there is a "sweet spot" where they work best. Especially work with the squelch, which may have gotten bumped and moved.
Did this problem just arise? If so, I'd bet on #1 or #2. If it has been with you since getting the airplane, then it is more likely it could be the mic/sidetone adjustment of the radio.
3. The Icom ICA200 radios in our airplanes are removed on a slide-out tray. First, you insert a 3/32 allen wrench into the right front of the radio and release it for slide-out. Then, you can access a small piece of foil tape, top left, covering the potentiometers adjustment for side tone, mic gain, and squelch. Small counterclockwise movement to reduce; clockwise to increase. Could be you need a small tweak upwards! However, my A200 radio actually had to have a tweak down, because I had constant "white noise" during radio transmissions (PTT).
You will find more about this adjustment issue for the ICA200 on the Van's Airforce forum, pilotsofamerica forum, and ICA200 Service Manual (available online). But I'd bet on #1 or #2 being the issue, first.
Rich