ELT Placement

[Andy]

How can I tell what GPS data format is programmed into the ELT?

I see no method defined in the installation manual. It appears to be programmed at the factory with no way for the end user to inspect what was programmed.

Who provided the ELT? If provided by CubCrafters I suggest you ask kit support what configuration they order.

"G. ELT Programming NOTE: Programming is performed by customer if so equipped or through a programming sheet supplied to ACR Electronics, Inc. with an ELT order. For information on ELT programmers and training, please contact ACR Electronics, Inc."

H. RS-232 Acceptable Nav Data
1) NMEA 0183 baud rate is 4800.
2) Aviation protocol baud rate is 9600.
3) Programing of the ELT 345 will determine the input of 4800 baud NMEA navigation data or 9600 baud Aviation protocol navigation data.
4) The ELT 345 will parse GGA, GLL and RMC simultaneously. Output configurations that write GGA, GLL or RMC sentences at 4800 baud as specified in NMEA 0183 will be suitable.
5) GPGGA is recommended if available.

What GDU 465 output data formats have you attempted?

[David H]

Steve,
If you contact Artex with your model and serial number they should be able to tell you how it was initially programmed from the factory.
David

[Andy]

Have you configured the GDU RS-232 port to give an appropriate serial data output?

See G3X installation manual - 35.4.21 RS-232 Configuration Page.

[stautz]

I called ARTEX and they told me that the 345's are programmed RS232 to 9600 baud by default. To get anything else, you need to request it from the distributer.

[mwolf]

I might not understand you situation, but Artex 345 ELT does not have integrated GPS data. You have to get it from somewhere. I have been surprised to learn the ELT I bought needs to be reprogrammed to NMEA 0183 baud rate 4800. I've even talked to one of the avionics shops that Artex points to and they couldn't talk specifics of my ARTEX saying they didn't really know. They just simply said 'We could do that" for $200. I'm frustrated that I was ignorant and wasn't informed about my purchase and installation before I bought it.

I’m no wiring expert, but do you have a wire from D-Sub connector pin 9 at the Artex 345 wired to the G3X connector? That’s a place GPS data is available. I understand you would assign that in preliminary setup of the G3X. I have not got that far yet so it is a mystery to me...that’s just what I’ve been told.

An EAA friend who did all his own wiring of 3 G3Xs in his RV10 helped me wire for GPS data. This is what he said would work. I have not tested it yet however. This photo is from my CubCrafters Garmin G3X manual page 4 of 5. It shows penciled in the GDU 465 P4602 connector where I used the free RS-232 tx 5 or pin 41 for that data.

Attachment 11322

Did you ever get this to work? I'm stuck with the exact same issues.

[mwolf]

I called ARTEX and they told me that the 345's are programmed RS232 to 9600 baud by default. To get anything else, you need to request it from the distributer.

Did you ever get this to work? I'm stuck with the exact same issues.

[jmorrical]

Artex 345: Unknown to me was the fact that my Artex 345 came from Aircraft Spruce programed with a default 9600 baud. I recently had Dallas Avionics reconfigure the ELT to 4800 baud for $225. Everything I had read or heard in conversation said this would be required. I understand you can request 4800 or 9600 baud these days.

When I got my ELT back the self tests showed two faults that I haven't addressed until today. Some of this may have been mentioned here

Self test instructions are found on page 31-33 in the Artex 345 ELT manual. I previously wired pin #9 of the ELT to the free RS-232 TX 5 pin #41 of the GDU 645-G3X (P4602 connector) for the required GPS nav data. I solder sleeved the shield and attached it to the backshell of connector P4602 and to ground at the ELT. I’m not sure that grounding both ends of a shield is correct practice??

Anyway today’s test showed two faults identified by 5 and 7 flashes & beeps.

1. The first fault with 5 flashes says the ELT baud rate didn’t match NAV baud rate. To fix this I entered Configuration on the G3X to the R-323 tab then to Port (pin)#5 and selected MNEA Out(4800 baud). That cleared the #5 fault indicating the ELT has good GPS data.
2. The second fault with 7 flashes indicated my battery may need to be replaced. The battery wasn't that old so I was stumped. I had a thought. I opened the ELT, disconnecting the battery for a minute then reconnected it. There were two beeps when I connected the battery. I reassembled it, remounted and tested it. The battery fault had cleared. I guess it was like a reboot of the ELT that might have cleared an erroneous fault??? Or as Artex tech suggested perhaps the Dallas Avionics tech disconnected the battery and simply hadn't seated the connection well???

There you go. I thought it was good to share my experience. One more thing off my list.

[jmorrical]

During my first Condition Inspection Artex 345 ELT gave consistent five flash failures. I was surprised. Unfortunately, I had not been doing a monthly functional check recommended in the Artex Manual. Artex calls this the ELT Reset Check. I don’t know how long this was going on, but I had been potentially flying with a degraded ELT.

I have linked the ELT Reset Check - 5 light failure video I made on YouTube here below.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/sKNla_Lfptg

The manual says a five flash failure could be because the navigation system is off, there is a mismatch baud rates between the nav system and the ELT or there is a wiring or connector problem. My first thoughts was wiring or connectors. Ugh! The last place I checked was the Configuration pages. I thought the config settings would remain as set until I changed them. WRONG! I set this up when I first installed the ELT months ago. Today in Configuration - RS-232 - Port 5 the entry was ‘None’. I entered Fast Output Rate & MNEA Out(4800 baud). The ELT Reset Check passed.

IMG_9278.jpg


I did talk to Garmin Experimental after my experience. They said it is possible that Configuration settings, especially those set for third party devices, might not stay set if new software in installed. The tech rep said I might consider backing up my configurations.

[Andy]

"I did talk to Garmin Experimental after my experience. They said it is possible that Configuration settings, especially those set for third party devices, might not stay set if new software in installed. "

That sounds like BS to me. The G3X Touch System does not know what you connected to that port. If the G3X system did not retain the port settings through a software update it's a defect.

Saving config files is certainly a good idea though. I have multiple different config files and a separate text file that documents the changes made in each.

I did discover, and report, an issue with loading previously saved config files. I found that the airframe time, engine time, and the engine cycles were re-set to the values that existed when the file was saved. I don't know if they ever fixed that so be sure to check and to restore the current values if they were changed.

There is a reason Garmin experimental equipment is a lot cheaper than certified. We are all beta testers.

[Andy]

My FX-3 has had several avionics modifications since it left Yakima. One of those avionics updates required changing the definitions of GDU 465 RS-232 port 1 and port 5. Port 1 was GMC 305 and was changed to GPS 175. Port 5 was originally unused, then assigned to the added G5, and was changed to GPS 175.

Since that update I have made several G3X software updates and, to the best of my knowledge, port 1 and port 5 specifications did not change. A change in either port 1 or port 5 config would have disabled communication with my GPS 175.

Whatever caused your problem it does not seem to be a generic inability to retain a revised port 5 configuration.

Before and after -