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.

FMI: www.ps-engineering.com, www.avidyne.com