********************
The Good:
********************
Yesterday we had our 496 "panel docked" with the installation of an
"AirGizmo". (See them he http://www.airgizmos.com/) It's just
about he slickest installation you can imagine, and really cleans up
the cockpit. All the wiring is neatly behind the panel, everything is
professionally wired (no more cigar lighter splitters zip tied under
the panel) -- and it looks great.

I bought the new "angle piece" that cocks the unit a bit toward the
pilot's position, which is wonderful. The view from either position is
clear, and everything is easily within reach. I can't say enough good
things about this unit, and -- best of all -- your shop can do the
install with nothing more than a logbook entry.

********************
The Bad:
********************
At the same time, we had the avionics shop connect the 496's XM radio
output to our PS Engineering CD/Intercom, with the obvious goal of
being able to play the radio through our headsets. This seemingly
simple task has turned out to be quite a difficult thing to accomplish,
strangely enough, and will require another visit to the shop next week.
Here's why:

The pin inputs on the intercom are "Music 2" and "Auxilliary". "Music
2" feeds ONLY the back two seats, which allows my kids to listen to
music different from what Mary and are hearing. "Auxiliary" (the
avionics boys discovered only after completing the installation) only
feeds the PILOT position. Only the pilot can hear anything.

The unit was designed before the proliferation of Ipods and MP3
players, so apparently PS Engineering made no accommodation for an
auxillary music input that feeds all four positions! Additionally, the
auxiliary input does not "auto-squelch" when ATC starts talking, which
required the shop to install a "kill switch" in the panel so that I can
cut the music quickly if needed.

The avionics boys wanted to experiment with a few things, to see how
they could effectively feed all four positions without interfering with
the unit's "Intellivox" auto-squelch -- but we ran out of time. It was
getting late, and we had to be home to meet family coming in for the
holiday, so we had to depart. Just as well, as Tony (the head of the
shop) wants time to diagram and study the circuitry in more detail
before they started running experimental patch cords all over the
place...

Anyone got any theories? How can we feed all four intercom positions
using the PS Engineering PCD7100? See the wiring diagram he
http://www.ps-engineering.com/docs/PCD7100I_Wire.pdf

********************
The Ugly
********************
Anyone used XM's automated "customer service" phone system? What a
joke!

If you don't know the phone number you gave them when you signed up
(I've got four possibilities, and chose the wrong one), the next thing
the system will ask for is the special "XM" number on your unit. (Which
was in the panel of the plane, which was being worked on at that moment
and inaccessible to me.) There is no way to go BACK to give the
automated "Bitchin' Betty" a different phone number.

Eventually, after yelling at the automated hag for ten minutes, I was
connected to someone in India who had NO idea how to do anything with
an aviation customer. After being put on hold for five minutes I was
at last connected with a very sweet (and competent) girl in Texas who
was able to activate my music option and downgrade my aviation service
from "Premium" to "Regular" for the winter. When I finally got her,
the whole process took maybe 90 seconds.

What a PIA to deal with! My advice to XM -- hire some more customer
service reps, and Deep Six the automated system.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"