Garmin GMA 245 Manual

GMA 245
pilot’s guide

Copyright © 2016-2019 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries. All rights reserved.
This manual reflects the operation of GMA 245 units with mod level 0 or later.
Some differences in operation may be observed when comparing the information
in this manual to earlier or later Mod status levels.
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May, 2019 190-01879-10 Rev. F Printed in the U.S.A.

CAUTION: Incorrect aircraft wiring could short the left channel or
both channels to ground if a monaural headset is plugged into
the stereo jacks. If wired incorrectly, fail-safe operation will not
work.
AVIATION LIMITED WARRANTY
For warranty information, visit http://www.garmin.com/en-US/legal/aviation-
limited-warranty.
FCC
Contains FCC ID: QOQWT32I
NOTE
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2)
this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
FCC RF Radiation Exposure Statement:
This equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled
environment. End users must follow the specific operating instructions for satisfying
RF exposure compliance. This transmitter meets both portable and mobile limits as
demonstrated in the RF Exposure Analysis. This transmitter must not be co-located or
operating in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter except in accordance
with FCC multi-transmitter product procedures.
IC
Contains IC: 5123A-BGTWT32I
NOTE
This device complies with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
license-exempt RSS standard(s). Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause interference, and (2) this device must accept any
interference, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.
Cet appareil est conforme aux normes RSS sans licence du ministére Innovation,
Sciences et Développement économique Canada. Son fonctionnement est soumis aux
deux conditions suivantes : (1) ce périphérique ne doit pas causer d’interférences et
(2) doit accepter toute interférence, y compris les interférences pouvant entraîner un
fonctionnement indésirable de l’appareil.

Anatel Warning
Este equipamento não tem direito ã proteção contra interferência prejudicial e não
pode causar interferência em sistemas devidamente autorizados.
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2014/53/EU. The full text of the EU declaration of conformity is available at the
following internet address: www.garmin.com/compliance.
Radio frequency/protocol: Bluetooth
®
wireless technology 2.4 GHz @ -0.49 dBm
nominal
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190-01879-10 Rev. F Garmin GMA 245 Pilot’s Guide 7
Table of Contents
Features and Operation..................................................................................... 9
Power-UP ..........................................................................................................10
Mono/Stereo Headsets......................................................................................10
Left/Right Knobs................................................................................................10
Transceivers..................................................................................................... 12
Split-COM Mode ...............................................................................................12
Transmit Indications ..........................................................................................12
Enabling/Disabling Monitored COM Muting .....................................................14
Receivers ......................................................................................................... 14
Intercom System (ICS) ..................................................................................... 14
PILOT ICS Isolation ............................................................................................15
CREW ICS Isolation ...........................................................................................15
Adjusting Intercom Volume ...............................................................................15
Adjusting Music Volume....................................................................................15
Radio Mute ICS .................................................................................................15
Speaker .............................................................................................................16
3D Audio.......................................................................................................... 16
Enabling 3D Audio.............................................................................................16
Clearance Recorder and Player ....................................................................... 19
Entertainment Inputs ...................................................................................... 20
Music Effects.....................................................................................................20
Bluetooth® ..................................................................................................... 22
Pairing a Bluetooth Device ................................................................................23
Pairing to a Garmin VIRB X or VIRB XE Action Camera......................................24
Pairing To A Third-Party Camera.........................................................................24
Disabling Bluetooth...........................................................................................25
Bluetooth Media Controls .................................................................................25
Bluetooth Telephone Volume Controls...............................................................25
Entertainment Muting..................................................................................... 26
Radio Mute .......................................................................................................26
ICS Mute ...........................................................................................................26
USB Power Jack ............................................................................................... 26
Fail-Safe Operation.......................................................................................... 27

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190-01879-10 Rev. F Garmin GMA 245 Pilot’s Guide 9
GMA 245 Audio Panel
FEATURES AND OPERATION
NOTE: The GMA 245 can be installed standalone, or connected into
the G3X system via CAN bus. When connected into the G3X system,
additional features are available that can be found in the G3X Touch
Pilot’s Guide. Refer to GPN 190-01754-00 for the G3X Touch Pilots
Guide.
The GMA 245 Audio Panel provides the traditional audio selector functions
of microphone, receiver audio selection, intercom system (ICS), and speaker
output. The GMA 245 also contains a COM clearance recorder, USB power
jack, and Bluetooth®audio. In addition, configuration settings are accessed
from the front panel in configuration mode. Refer to the Installation Manual
for more information.
Pushbutton keys control audio selection. When a key is selected, an in-key
annunciator is illuminated. Annunciator brightness is adjusted automatically
by ambient light level. Key brightness is adjusted by the radio dimming bus
control. Three AUX inputs are available for additional avionics or audio
devices. One AUX Key turns on all three AUX inputs.
Upon installation, the unit may be configured in various ways depending
on aircraft type and the needs of the pilot.
GMA 245
USB Power Jack
Ambient Light Sensor
Bluetooth Annunciator

190-01879-10 Rev. F Garmin GMA 245 Pilot’s Guide 10
GMA 245 Audio Panel
POWER-UP
The GMA 245 performs a self-test during power-up. During the self-test
all Audio Panel annunciator lights illuminate for approximately one second.
Once the self-test is completed, the state of the unit is restored to the state
before the unit was last turned off.
MONO/STEREO HEADSETS
Stereo headsets are recommended when using the GMA 245. Using a
monaural headset in a stereo jack shorts the right headset channel output to
ground. While this does not damage the Audio Panel, a person listening on
a monaural headset hears only the left channel in both ears. If a monaural
headset is used at one of the passenger positions, any other passenger using
a stereo headset hears audio in the left ear only.
LEFT/RIGHT KNOBS
The Left Inner Knob powers-off the unit, and is used to control pilot ICS
volume. The Left Outer Knob controls pilot music volume. The Right
Inner Knob controls copilot and passenger ICS volume. The Right Outer
Knob controls the copilot and passenger music volume.
Left Knobs
Left Outer Knob
Left Inner Knob
Right Knobs
Right Outer Knob
Right Inner Knob

190-01879-10 Rev. F Garmin GMA 245 Pilot’s Guide 11
GMA 245 Audio Panel
Function Action Visual/Tactile
Feedback Aural Feedback
Power OFF
Audio Panel
Turn Left Inner
Knob to full
counter-clockwise
position
All backlight and
annunciator LEDs
turn off
Left Inner Knob
clicks
Pilot ICS
Volume
Turn Left Inner
Knob right/left to
increase/decrease
volume
Minimum/
maximum volume
is reached at full
counter-clockwise/
clockwise position
Pilot ICS volume
increases/
decreases
Pilot Music
Volume
Turn Left Outer
Knob right/left to
increase/decrease
volume
Minimum/
maximum volume
is reached at full
counter-clockwise/
clockwise position
Pilot Music
volume increases/
decreases
Copilot/
Passenger ICS
Volume
Turn Right Inner
Knob right/left to
increase/decrease
volume
Minimum/
maximum volume
is reached at full
counter-clockwise/
clockwise position
Copilot and
Passenger ICS
volume increases/
decreases
Copilot/
Passenger
Music Volume
Turn Right Outer
Knob right/left to
increase/decrease
volume
Minimum/
maximum volume
is reached at full
counter-clockwise/
clockwise position
Copilot and
Passenger Music
Volume increases/
decreases
Left/Right Knob Functions

190-01879-10 Rev. F Garmin GMA 245 Pilot’s Guide 12
GMA 245 Audio Panel
TRANSCEIVERS
Audio from the #1 or #2 COM receiver can be selected independently by
pressing the respective Key(s) (COM1 or COM2).
Pressing COM1 MIC or COM2 MIC selects the #1 or #2 transmitter
and simultaneously selects the related COM receiver (COM1 or COM2)
allowing received audio to be heard. The other COM receiver can be added
by pressing the respective key. When transmitting on the MIC selected
COM, audio from the other COM radio is muted.
SPLIT-COM MODE
NOTE: Split COM performance is affected by the distance between
the COM antennas and the separation of the tuned frequencies. If the
selected COM frequencies are too close together, interference may be
heard during transmission on the other radio.
During Split-COM operation, both the pilot and the copilot can transmit
simultaneously over separate radios.
Pressing both MIC Keys simultaneously initiates Split-COM Mode.
The COM1/COM1 MIC and COM2/COM2 MIC in-key annunciators are
illuminated indicating Split-COM operation. Split-COM operation is
cancelled by pressing one of the selected MIC Keys again.
In Split-COM mode, the pilot uses COM1 and the copilot uses COM2
TRANSMIT INDICATIONS
During COM transmission, the active transceiver (COM1 MIC or
COM2 MIC) in-key Annunciator flashes approximately once per second.
During Split-COM transmission, the COM1 MIC annunciator flashes
when the pilot’s microphone PTT is pressed. The COM2 MIC annunciator
flashes when the copilot’s microphone PTT is pressed.

190-01879-10 Rev. F Garmin GMA 245 Pilot’s Guide 13
GMA 245 Audio Panel
Function Action Key Annunciations
COM Selection: Toggle between
COM enabled and COM disabled
(the audio from the current MIC
selected COM is always enabled
and cannot be disabled).
Press the
corresponding
COM Key. COM Enabled COM Disabled
MIC Selection: Selects the COM
used to transmit during Push-to-
Talk (PTT).
Press the
corresponding
MIC Key.
The last
MIC pressed
remains
selected and
deselects all
others. MIC Enabled MIC Disabled
Transmit Indication: Audio is
sent from the corresponding Crew
MIC to the selected COM. *
Push-to-Talk
(PTT) keyed.
MIC in-key
annunciator
flashes.
Split-COM Mode: The pilot
transmits on COM1 and the
copilot transmits on COM2
independently.
Simultaneously
press COM1
MIC and
COM2 MIC
keys.
* The pilot has priority when transmitting in the case that both crew members attempt to transmit
on the same COM.
Transceiver Key Functions

190-01879-10 Rev. F Garmin GMA 245 Pilot’s Guide 14
GMA 245 Audio Panel
ENABLING/DISABLING MONITORED COM MUTING
Press and hold COM1 or COM2 to enable/disable monitored COM
muting during reception of audio from the COM radio selected for
transmission.
RECEIVERS
Pressing the NAV1 and/or NAV2 Key(s) selects/deselects the receiver
audio for the corresponding navigation radio source. The selected audio
source can be heard over the headset and the speaker SPKR (if selected).
All radios can be selected individually or simultaneously.
Selecting a NAV Radio Receiver
NAV Radio
Selected
INTERCOM SYSTEM (ICS)
The GMA 245 intercom system (ICS) includes two MUSIC inputs,
Bluetooth source, and one wired telephone input for the pilot, copilot and
passengers. The intercom provides Pilot and Crew audio isolation.
Pilot/Crew ICS Isolation

190-01879-10 Rev. F Garmin GMA 245 Pilot’s Guide 15
GMA 245 Audio Panel
NOTE: The PILOT and CREW ICS ISOLATION states are exclusive. Both
cannot be active at the same time. When neither Pilot or Crew are
active, the unit is in All ICS mode. In this mode, the pilot, copilot, and
passengers communicate with each other.
PILOT ICS ISOLATION
Pressing the PILOT ‘ICS ISOLATION’ Key isolates the pilot from all
other ICS positions (copilot and passengers). The copilot and passengers
share communication between themselves but cannot communicate with
the pilot. A solid annunciation of the in-key annunciator indicates PILOT
ICS ISOLATION is active.
CREW ICS ISOLATION
Pressing the CREW ‘ICS ISOLATION’ Key places the pilot and copilot
on a common ICS communication channel. The passengers are on their
own intercom channel and can communicate with each other, but cannot
communicate with the pilot and copilot. A solid annunciation of the in-
key annunciator indicates CREW ICS ISOLATION is active.
ADJUSTING INTERCOM VOLUME
Turn the Left Inner Knob to adjust the Pilot ICS volume. Turn the
Right Inner Knob to adjust the Copilot/Passenger ICS volume.
ADJUSTING MUSIC VOLUME
Turn the Left Outer Knob to adjust the Pilot music volume. Turn the
Right Outer Knob to adjust the Copilot/Passenger music volume.
RADIO MUTE ICS
Press and hold the RADIO MUTE Key to enable or disable muting
of intercom audio when radio (i.e., COM, NAV, or AUX) audio is active.

190-01879-10 Rev. F Garmin GMA 245 Pilot’s Guide 16
GMA 245 Audio Panel
SPEAKER
NOTE: Speaker audio turns off in circumstances where aircraft power
falls below 11 volts.
All of the radios can be heard over the cabin speaker. Pressing the
SPKR Key selects and deselects the cabin speaker. Radios are muted to
the speaker when a COM microphone is keyed. Aural alerts and warnings
are always heard on the speaker, even when the speaker is not selected.
3D AUDIO
3D Audio is useful when multiple audio sources are present. By using
different responses in each ear, 3D audio processing creates the illusion that
each audio source is coming from a unique location or seat position.
Because this feature uses different signals for left and right channels, it
requires wiring for stereo intercom and stereo headsets. If 3D audio is
activated when mono headsets are in use, the listener will still hear all audio
sources; however, there is no benefit from location separation.
With a single COM selected and 3D Audio enabled, the listener hears
the audio source at the 12 o’clock position. If both COMs are selected,
the listener hears COM1 at 11 o’clock and COM2 at the 1 o’clock position.
All other intercom positions are processed to sound like their relative seat
location. By default, the GMA 245 assumes the pilot sits in the left seat.
Refer to the GMA 245 Installation Manual to make changes to the default
configuration.
ENABLING 3D AUDIO
Press and hold the PILOT Key to toggle 3D audio processing on and off
for all headset positions. When 3D Audio is enabled, the aural message
“3D audio left” is heard in the left ear followed by “3D audio right” in the
right ear. If the aural messages are not heard in only the left and then the
right ear respectively, the cause may be aircraft wiring or headset settings.

190-01879-10 Rev. F Garmin GMA 245 Pilot’s Guide 17
GMA 245 Audio Panel
Refer to the following table if a headset or aircraft wiring problem is
suspected.
3D Audio Troubleshooting
Symptom(s) Cause(s) Solution(s)
“3D audio
left” message
heard in both
ears.
“3D audio
right” message
not heard
1) Mono headset in use 1) Use a stereo headset
2) Stereo headset in use
with mono/stereo
switch set to ‘mono’
2) Set mono/stereo switch on
headset to ‘stereo’
3) Aircraft wiring has
left audio wired to
both left and right
channels of stereo
headset jack
3) If after checking solutions #1
and #2 see a service center as
soon as possible to inspect/
correct wiring. This wiring fault
can cause fail-safe audio not to
function.
“3D audio
left” message
heard in both
ears, followed
by “3D audio
right” message
heard in both
ears
1) Mono headset in use 1) Use a stereo headset
2) Stereo headset in use
with mono/stereo
switch set to mono
2) Set mono/stereo switch on
headset to ‘stereo’
3) Incorrect aircraft
wiring (left/right
shorted together)
3) If after checking solutions #1
and #2 see a service center as
soon as possible to inspect/
correct wiring. This wiring fault
can cause fail-safe audio not to
function.
Symptom(s) Cause(s) Solution(s)
“3D audio
right” message
heard in both
ears. “3D
audio left” not
heard
1) Incorrect aircraft
wiring (right channel
used for mono
instead of left or left/
right swapped)
1) See a service center as soon
as possible to inspect/correct
wiring. This wiring fault can
cause fail-safe audio not to
function.

190-01879-10 Rev. F Garmin GMA 245 Pilot’s Guide 18
GMA 245 Audio Panel
3D Audio Troubleshooting
“3D audio
left” message
heard in
right ear only
followed by
“3D audio
right” message
heard in left
ear only
1) Stereo headset is on
backwards
1) Verify correct orientation from
the left/right indication on
each side of the headset or
the position of the boom MIC
(usually attached on left side).
If the headset is backwards, the
left/right position information
will be swapped.
2) Incorrect aircraft
wiring (left/right
channels swapped)
2) See a service center as soon
as possible to inspect/correct
wiring. This wiring fault can
cause fail-safe audio not to
function.
“3D audio
left” message
heard in left
ear only, no
audio heard in
right ear.
1) Aircraft wired for
mono intercom
1) See a service center to wire the
installation for stereo headsets.
“3D audio
right” message
heard in right
ear only, no
audio heard in
left ear
1) Incorrect aircraft
wiring (right channel
used for mono
instead of left, or left/
right swapped)
1) See a service center as soon
as possible to inspect/correct
wiring. This wiring fault can
cause fail-safe audio not to
function.
3D Audio Troubleshooting

190-01879-10 Rev. F Garmin GMA 245 Pilot’s Guide 19
GMA 245 Audio Panel
CLEARANCE RECORDER AND PLAYER
The GMA 245 contains a digital clearance recorder that records up to 60
seconds of the selected COM radio signal. Recorded COM audio is stored
in separate memory blocks. Once 60 seconds of recording time have been
reached, the recorder begins recording over the stored memory blocks,
starting from the oldest block.
Pressing the PLAY Key once plays the latest recorded memory block.
If a COM signal is detected during play of a recorded memory block, play
is halted.
Pressing the PLAY Key while audio is playing begins playing the previously
recorded memory block. Each subsequent press of the PLAY Key selects
the previously recorded memory block.
Pressing the COM1 MIC or COM2 MIC buttons immedately stops
recorder playback.
Powering off the unit automatically clears all recorded blocks.
Clearance Recorder and Player
PLAY Key

190-01879-10 Rev. F Garmin GMA 245 Pilot’s Guide 20
GMA 245 Audio Panel
ENTERTAINMENT INPUTS
The GMA 245 provides four telephone/entertainment inputs:
• Press the TEL Key to enable Bluetooth telephone or rear connector wired
telephone connection to ICS. When a Bluetooth telephone connection is
active the rear telephone connection is disabled. Distribution is controlled
by ICS isolation state. When the TEL Key is selected, the pilot is always
connected to the telephone interface. Other ICS positions are connected
to the telephone interface if they hear the Pilot in that ICS state.
• Press the MUSIC Key to turn music on/off for all positions. The SEL
Key selects the music source (Music 1, Music 2, or Bluetooth Music) for
all positions. The pilot can choose not to hear music by either turning
down the Pilot music volume or enabling PILOT ‘ICS ISOLATION’. The
copilot and passengers can choose not to hear music by turning down the
Copilot/Passenger music volume. Refer to the following table on MUSIC
and SEL Key Functions for more information.
MUSIC EFFECTS
The following music effects are available:
• Music Equalizer: Press the SEL Key and the PILOT Key
simultaneously to change the selected Music Equalizer setting. Available
settings include: Disabled, Classical, Pop, or Rock.
• Music Bass Boost: Press the SEL Key and the CREW Key
simultaneously to change the selected Music Bass Boost setting.
Available settings include: Disabled, Medium, or High.