PS Engineering PMA9000EX Pilot’s Guide

9800 Martel Road

Lenoir City, TN 37772

www.ps-engineering.com

PMA9000EX

PMA9000EX

Audio Selector Panel

Marker Beacon Receiver

High-fidelity Stereo Intercom System

with Bluetooth Phone interface & MP3 player

Pilot’s Guide

Pilot’s Guide

and

and

Operation Manual

Operation Manual

202-920-0100 Revision 5 October 2010

This product is intended for Experimental Aircraft only.

Covered under one or more of the following Patent No.

4,941,187, 5,903,227, 6,160,496, 6,493,450

202-920-0100 Page 1 OCT. 2010

This pilot guide provides detailed operating instructions for the PS
Engineering PMA9000EX, Audio Selector Panel/Intercom Systems.
Please read it carefully before using the equipment so that you can
take full advantage of its capabilities.

This publication covers the basic operating areas of the PMA9000EX
systems. They are: Com Transceiver Selection, Receive Audio Selec­tor, Intercom, Marker Beacon Receiver, Music, Front Panel Utility
Jack and Telephone.

PMA9000EX Controls

1.1 Power and Fail-Safe (1)

Unit power is turned on and off by pushing the volume knob. In the

OFF or "EMG" fail-safe position, the pilot headset is connected di-

rectly to Com 1 (will be heard in one ear, with stereo headset) as well
as unswitched input #1. This allows communication capability regard­less of unit condition. Any time power is removed or turned

OFF, the

audio selector will revert to fail-safe mode.
The power switch controls all audio selector panel functions, inter-

com and marker beacon receiver. All pushbutton selections and menu
modes will be remembered and return to the last state when turned on.

1.1 Communications Transmit (XMT) Selection (2)

The two buttons C1 and C2, (# 2) in the XMT section control which
communications radio is selected for transmitting. Push the lower but­ton to select the desired COM transmitter. A green LED above the

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button illuminates to indicate that the audio is
selected. The top row of RCV pushbuttons (#

3) allows selection of the receiver audio.
The PMA9000EX-Series has an automatic

com receiver selector system. Audio from the
selected transceiver is automatically heard in
the headsets and speaker (if selected). You can check this function by
switching from C
the C

OM 2 transmitter selector pushbutton. See that the associated

OM 1 transmitter to Com 2 transmitter by pressing

Com 2 receive pushbutton indicator light that is located immediately
above the Com 2 transmitter pushbutton turns green. This guarantees
that the pilot will always hear the audio from the transceiver selected
for transmit.

The PMA9000EX “remembers” the receiver selection, so that when
switching transmitters from C
previously selected, C

OM 1 audio will continue to be heard. This

OM 1 to COM 2, if COM 2 audio was

eliminates the pilot having to switch Com 1 audio back on, after
changing transmitters.

When switching from C
ously selected, C

OM 1 audio will be switched off. In essence, switch-

OM 1 to COM 2 while Com 2 was not previ-

ing the mic selector will not override prior selection of COM receiver
audio.

In normal (not split) modes, the PMA9000EX gives priority to the
pilot’s radio Push-To-Talk (PTT). If the copilot it transmitting, and
the pilot presses his PTT, the pilot’s microphone will be heard over
the selected com transmitter.

1.1.1.1 Split Mode

The split mode can be activated at any time by pressing the C1 and
C2 XMT

and the Copilot on C

buttons at the same time. This places the pilot on COM 1

OM 2. All four COM indicators will illuminate to

indicate that the panel is in split mode.
In split mode, the intercom will remain active in the selected mode,

however, and music will be muted in the crew positions.
Pilot on C

OM 2 and Copilot on COM 1 is not possible.

Split Mode does not turn off Nav, ADF, or Aux selected audio to
pilot. However, the copilot will only hear the copilot-selected com
receiver and unswitched inputs

202-920-0100 Page 3 OCT. 2010

NOTE

Due to the nature of VHF communications signals, and the size
constraints in general aviation aircraft, it is probable that there will be
some bleed-over in the Split mode, particularly on adjacent
frequencies. PS Engineering makes no warranty about the suitability
of Split Mode in all aircraft conditions.

1.1.1.2 Swap Mode (Switch from Com 1 to Com 2 remotely)

With a yoke mounted, normally open momentary switch, the pilot can
change from the current Com transceiver to the other by depressing
this switch. To cancel "Swap Mode," the pilot may either press the
yoke mounted switch again, or select a different Com with the XMT
buttons.

1.1.1.3 Internal Recorder

The PMA9000EX comes equipped with an in­ternal recorder. This digital system stores the last
incoming audio from the radio you have selected
for transmit. It can store up to 60 seconds of au­dio. The pilot and copilot hear the playback.
Because of the continuous nature of AWOS re­cordings, these will not trigger the recorder cir­cuits.

1.1.1.3.1 Playback

Recording is automatic. To play back the message, press and hold the
XMT button for the communications radio that is selected for trans­mit for about 1 second or until the message plays back.

To stop the playback, hold the same button until the playback stops,
about 2 seconds. Then the next 1-second press will play the next ear­lier message stored.

The playback will stop automatically when the selected com audio
becomes active again. Press the button again to start the message
again. The audio received during playback is NOT stored.

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1.2 COM Audio Receive Selector (3)

Communication audio from the other radio, not selected for transmit,
can be heard by pressing the associated
RCV button. You will always
audio from the selected transceiver.

hear the

1.3 NAV Audio selection (4)

VHF Navigation receiver audio is selected
through two momentary, push-button,
backlit switches. VHF Navigation aid au­dio push buttons are labeled N1, N2.

The users can identify which receivers are
selected by noting which green LEDs are lit above the button.

2.0 Marker Beacon Receiver (5)

2.1 Marker Beacon Operation (5)

The Marker Beacon Receiver uses visual and audio indicators to alert
you when the aircraft passes over a 75 MHz transmitter.

The Blue lamp, labeled “O”, is the Outer Marker lamp and has an
associated 400-Hertz 'dash'
tone. The lamp and tone will
be keyed at a rate of two
tones/flashes per second
when the aircraft is in the
range of the Outer Marker
Beacon.

The Amber lamp, labeled
“M”, is the Middle Marker lamp and is coupled with a 1300 Hertz
tone. It is keyed alternately with short 'dot' and long 'dash' bursts at 95
combinations per minute.

The White lamp, labeled “I”, is the Inner marker and has a 3000 Hertz
'dot' tone. The lamp and tone will be keyed at a rate of six times per
second.

The MKR button controls audio selection, marker sensitivity, and
audio muting, and lamp test.

• MKR button press of < 1 second: toggles between high
and low receiver sense

202-920-0100 Page 5 OCT. 2010

• MKR button press between 1 and 2 seconds: Activates
audio mute, and marker lamp test activated. The next bea­con received will re-activate the audio.

• MKR button press > 2 seconds: toggle marker audio on/
off. When the audio is selected, MKR will appear in the
display. Marker audio can also be controlled using the
same manner as Secondary Navaid Selection

Use "HI" sensitivity initially. This allows you to hear the outer
marker beacon about a mile out. Then touch the smaller MKR button
to switch into Low Sensitivity mode. “LO” sensitivity gives you a
more accurate location of the Outer Marker.

Holding the MKR button for two seconds activates marker test lamp,
which illuminates all three lamps simultaneously to assure the lamps
(internal and external) are in working order. Releasing the button re­turns to the last sensitivity. The marker audio level is preset at the
factory, and a service adjustment is available if necessary.

3.0 Intercom (6)

3.1 IntelliVox® VOX-Squelch

No adjustment of the IntelliVox® squelch control is necessary. There
is no field adjustment. Through three individual signal processors, the
ambient noise appearing in all six microphones is constantly being
sampled. Non-voice signals are blocked. When someone speaks, only
their microphone circuit opens, placing their voice on the intercom.

The system is designed to block continuous tones, therefore people
humming or whistling in monotone may be blocked after a few mo­ments.

For consistent performance, any headset microphone must be placed
within ¼-inch of your lips, preferably against them. (ref: RTCA/DO-
214, 1.3.1.1 (a)). It is important to have the microphone element par­allel to your mouth, and not twisted inside the cover.

It is also a good idea to keep the microphone out of a direct wind
path. Moving your head through a vent air stream may cause the In-
telliVox® to open momentarily. This is normal.

The IntelliVox® is designed to work with normal aircraft cabin noise
levels (70 dB and above). Therefore, it may not always recognize
speech and clip syllables in a quiet cabin, such as in the hangar, or
without the engine running. This is also normal.

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Oregon Aero MicMuff Part Numbers

Note: For optimum microphone performance, we recommend use of a
Microphone Muff Kit from Oregon Aero (1-800-888-6910). This will not only
optimize VOX performance, but will improve the overall clarity of all your
communications.

Headset

Manufacturer

Bose Dynamic

Electret
M87

David Clark H10-30

H10-20, H10-40
H10-13.4, 13X

H20-10X
Lightspeed All 90015
Peltor 7003

ANR Pro, 7000
Pilot 11-20, 11-90, 1776, DXL 90015
Sennheiser All 90015

Telex Airman 750, AIR4000

AIR3000, Echelon 100

Model Part Number

90010
90015
90020

90010
90015
90015
90015

90010
90015

90010
90015

3.2 Intercom Modes

The “ICS” pushbutton switch on the left side of
the PMA9000EX provides the selection of the
three intercom modes.

This button cycles through the intercom modes,
from left to right and then back, ISO, ALL, CRW
(Crew), ALL, and ISO. The illuminated text
shows the active mode .

I

SO: The pilot is isolated from the intercom and is

connected only to the aircraft radio system. He will hear the aircraft
radio reception (and sidetone during radio transmissions). The copilot
and passengers will hear the music sources as configured by the audio
panel.

A

LL: All parties will hear the aircraft radio and intercom. Crew will

hear Entertainment 1, passengers can hear Entertainment 1 or 2. Dur­ing any radio or intercom communications, the music volume auto­matically decreases. The music volume increases gradually back to

202-920-0100 Page 7 OCT. 2010

the original level after communications have been completed. An
Alternate Intercom Function is available that prevents the passengers
from hearing aircraft radios in ALL mode. See Section 4.2 for details.

C

REW: Pilot and copilot are connected on one intercom channel and

have exclusive access to the aircraft radios. Again, the music that the
crew and passengers will hear is controlled in the music distribution
setup.

3.3 Intercom Volume Control (7)

The small volume control knob adjusts the loudness of the intercom
for the pilot and copilot. It has no effect on
selected radio levels, music input levels or
passengers' volume level.

The larger, outer volume control knob con­trols intercom volume for the passengers. It
has no effect on radio or music levels.

Adjust the radios and intercom volume for a
comfortable listening level. Most general
aviation headsets today have built-in volume
controls; therefore, volume also can be fur­ther adjusted at the individual headset.

3.3.1 Mono Headsets in Stereo Installation

The pilot and copilot positions work with stereo or mono headsets.
All passenger headsets are connected in parallel. Therefore, if a mon­aural headset is plugged in to a PMA9000EX Stereo installation, one
channel will be shorted. Although no damage to the unit will occur,
all passengers will lose one channel, unless they switch to the
“MONO” mode on the headset.

4.0 EnCoder And Push Switch interface (ECAPS)
(8)

ECAPS is a system that consists of two encoding data knobs and a
push-push switched integral into the small data knob. These control
the menu, submenus, and selection of items for control.

The primary menu contains frequently accessed items: SPR (cockpit
Speaker), TEL (telephone) MKR (Marker audio), and MUTE (music
mute control).

Pressing the small knob for two (2) seconds will activate the sub
menus. Submenus contain: ADF, DME and AUX audio, MP3 and

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