PilotAware
British Forum => Technical Support => Topic started by: marioair on July 26, 2020, 09:40:03 am
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This might sound counter intuitive - but is there a way to pause traffic alerts (audio)
During high workload on final approach (IMC) it can sometimes saturate my brain power.
If there was a way to pause traffic audio or perhaps reduce it to just an beep/chime that would be tidy
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I just unplug the audio cable.... ;)
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Any suggestions for how to control this on/off ?
Thx
Lee
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Several users I know use an audio mixer, with rotary or slider volume controls successfully to reduce audio when things are busy.
I bought a ‘Maker Hart JUST MIXER 2 Audio Mixer’ (£49.99 from Amazon) a while back to fit in my plane but haven’t got round to fitting it yet. It will allow me to combine and individually control audio alert volume from both PilotAware and SkyDemon (or Easy VFR).
The downside of ‘pulling the plug’ is that you are very likely to forget to plug it back in again, whereas if you just turn the volume down low, it reminds you to turn it back up again when things get quieter.
Regards
Peter
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I don’t wana be messing around with pulling cables as the unit is tucked nearly away in a side pocket.
Seems like the significant hole in capability is an app to control settings (yes I know I could login to the admin page but that’s not the right answer.). Might also be handy having an app as it’ll keep logs etc on the client as well as the pi
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Any suggestions for how to control this on/off ?
Thx
Lee
Would be great if some of the settings could be set with a http request such as:
192.168.1.1/set/voicealerts/on
192.168.1.1/set/voicealerts/off
Then other devices/apps could easily implement control of PAW settings.
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A simple in-line switch on the audio cable would be better than fiddling about with programming your tablet/phone when you are already getting an overload of information!
I would cost max £1.50 - not £49.99!
If you can't remember to turn it back on again you certainly won't remember to turn any other system back on either.
Remember..... KISS.
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Hi Bob / James,
I agree that it needs to be simple. Changes that require typing on a screen - whether its the PilotAware screens or in an app are at best a nightmare in flight - especially if it’s bumpy and at worst, concentrate ‘eyes in’ at the very time they need to be outside, so a definite no-no for me.
I have a circuit somewhere for a simple mechanical mixer / volume control and actually got round to buying the parts when Maplin we’re still trading, but never got round to putting it together - hence the £49.99 ready made option - which I thought would be a quick-fix, but still haven’t got round to fitting. I still think a mechanical knob is the best option nonetheless - same as I do on the ‘Aircrew’ James!
Regards
Peter
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A simple in-line switch on the audio cable would be better than fiddling about with programming your tablet/phone when you are already getting an overload of information!
I would cost max £1.50 - not £49.99!
If you can't remember to turn it back on again you certainly won't remember to turn any other system back on either.
Remember..... KISS.
You'd KISS the http request by storing it as a short cut then it would be a one button press.
However, if you have Skydemon and other devices, the mini audio mixer is a better bet.
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The mixer could work, but needs yet another USB power source which I dont have
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I'm using this 12v device to mix & amplify audio
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Behringer-MX400-Micromix-Noise-Channel/dp/B000KGYAYQ/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=Behringer+Micromix+Mx400&qid=1595832862&sr=8-2
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Hi Roger,
That looks like a good solution - and runs off 12volts too, though it might need a regulated supply rather than straight off aircraft power. How do you power yours?
Regards
Peter
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Direct from the 12v bus via CB.
Opened the case & bypassed the jack sockets with a connector strip:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LUMBERG-KRE-10-TERMINAL-BLOCK-PCB-10WAY/181883191679?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
Very pleased with the result.
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I was mulling over this today during an idle moment.
If Lee was willing, how about a physical push "hush" button that goes into one of the PAW USB ports? So you push the button and the PAW either mutes, or swaps the verbal alert for a beep, for a settable period of time in the PAW software? It could appear to the PAW as a HID or serial input. It could be a panel mounted button, small button on a yoke, or perhaps any momentary button of your choosing (ideally momentary, doesn't matter is NO or NC). Could even light up when muted, and you could push it again to un-mute before the settable period times out.
Would be fairly trivial to sort something like that out pretty quickly, but only if Lee saw it as worth his time?
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Thanks Roger,
Any photos of the inside of your unit?
Hi Jeremy,
That sounds like a potentially workable solution, with lots of options for actuation/ control.
We certainly need to sort the issue of unwanted / repeating audio alerts properly, as they can be a real distraction (to put it mildly) and - as we see above - often lead straight to the plug being pulled and potentially never plugged back in again! Especially now SkyDemon and others have developed usable alternatives.
Best Regards
Peter
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I was mulling over this today during an idle moment.
If Lee was willing, how about a physical push "hush" button that goes into one of the PAW USB ports? So you push the button and the PAW either mutes, or swaps the verbal alert for a beep, for a settable period of time in the PAW software? It could appear to the PAW as a HID or serial input. It could be a panel mounted button, small button on a yoke, or perhaps any momentary button of your choosing (ideally momentary, doesn't matter is NO or NC). Could even light up when muted, and you could push it again to un-mute before the settable period times out.
Would be fairly trivial to sort something like that out pretty quickly, but only if Lee saw it as worth his time?
It would also be possible to have a mini mixer, that took PAW and a tablet (SkyDemon) audio input to a single output - again with the physical mute button. This could mute one, or both, for a pre-determined period or overruled by pressing it again. Or perhaps just duck the audio for the period, so it's there just quieter.
I guess it depends on how people mix their PAW and/or Tablet of choice (running their moving map system of choice) into their existing audio system?
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I literally have a passive 5- way 3.5mm mixer gaffa taped to my PaW classic. So
Something incorporated within the unit, and with the benefit of powered mixing would be quite neat.
I do plumb it into the Garmin Comms unit which has an automute function when the radios or intercom is active.
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A simple in-line switch on the audio cable would be better than fiddling about with programming your tablet/phone when you are already getting an overload of information!
I would cost max £1.50 - not £49.99!
If you can't remember to turn it back on again you certainly won't remember to turn any other system back on either.
Remember..... KISS.
Definitely agree this is a problem that needs a fix. I looked around for a simple inline audio switch, ideally a jack to jack cable with a Switch moulded into it, but couldn’t find one so have ended up just having to cope with the occasional excessive audio alerts.
Not sure I want to go to the trouble of a whole audio mixer that then requires yet another power connection. Kiss as above
Geoffrey
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Geoffrey,
See my post in your 'Enhancements' thread.
Best Regards
Peter