MP3 Capability Added To Entegra Release 9-Compatible Audio
Panel
Avidyne Corporation announced Monday that they have once again
partnered with PS Engineering of Lenoir City, TN to provide an
Entegra Release 9-compatible version of PS Engineering's new
PMA8000B-MP3 Audio Control Panel.
The PMA8000B-MP3 incorporates all of the capability of the
enormously popular PMA8000B Audio Control Panel/Intercom/Marker
Beacon Receiver, but adds an internal MP3 player that stores up to
one gigabyte (1GB) of music, eliminating the need for a remote
player and avoiding the clutter of cables in the cockpit. MP3 audio
files are easily uploaded from a portable USB thumb drive or
PC.
"With the popularity of the intuitive Entegra Release 9 system,
it made sense to add easy-to-use MP3 capability to the Avidyne
version of our PMA8000B," said PS Engineering President, Mark
Scheuer. "Our proven user interface provides easy-to-use MP3
controls through secondary functions on the standard audio panel
keys without making the everyday controls more complicated."
"PS Engineering continues to innovate and we are pleased that
they have made this option available for our Entegra Release 9
customers as well," and said Patrick Herguth, Avidyne's Chief
Operating Office. "They have done a great job integrating MP3
capability into their system, and our mutual customers will
appreciate the added cabin entertainment capability."
The PMA8000B-MP3 is a slide in replacement for existing PMA8000,
PMA8000B, and the GARMIN GMA340 audio control panels, making this a
very simple upgrade installation. Music can be distributed to the
crew and passengers according the pilot controlled
configurations.
In addition to MP3 capability, the Avidyne versions of the
PMA8000B allow Entegra Release 9 Integrated Flight Displays (IFD)
to know what combination of VHF communications transceivers are
selected by the crew, allowing the IFDs to display plain-English
station identifier information about the radio frequency selected,
so at a glance, pilots know exactly with whom they will be talking
when they key their mic. In addition, these Release
9-specific units leverage the full capability of Entegra Release
9's DVX740 VHF multi-channel communications radio modules by adding
the ability to simultaneously monitor its standby
frequencies-providing two transmit and four receive channels
of VHF COM audio. All of the popular
functions of the standard PMA8000B are also supported, including
front panel music and cellular telephone input, intercom recording
and playback, user selectable music and intercom configurations,
and PS Engineering's proprietary IntelliVox intercom squelch
protocol.
The list price of the new MP3-capable PMA8000B-MP3 (P/N
050-890-0403) for Avidyne Entegra Release 9 is $2,095.00, and the
list price of the standard PMA8000B (P/N 050-890-0402) for Avidyne
Entegra Release 9 is $1,895.00. Both versions are available
now through all approved PS Engineering and Avidyne Release 9
dealers.