Lightspeed Sierra User manual

Sierra®User Guide

Welcome
Congratulations on purchasing a Lightspeed Aviation Sierra®headset. Your headset is a premium
product that will provide many years of comfortable high performance for your ying endeavors.
If this is your rst Lightspeed Aviation headset—welcome to the Lightspeed family! We look forward
to building a lasting community with our customers founded on products and service that are best in
class. To support your passion for ying we invite you to visit LightspeedAviation.com where you’ll nd
useful insights about our other products and aviation.
Thank you for choosing a Lightspeed Aviation headset.

Contents
Introduction .....................................................................2
Getting started
Fitting your headset...................................................4
Battery installation .....................................................5
Battery types.................................................................6
Battery life .....................................................................6
Controller.......................................................................6
Using your Sierra headset
Turning ON and OFF ..................................................8
Matching stereo/mono setting to an
audio panel ..................................................................8
Setting the DIP switch...............................................8
ComPriority™................................................................9
Wired auxiliary devices ............................................9
Bluetooth Wireless Technology Enabled Devices
Connecting Bluetooth wireless technology
enabled devices for the rst time....................10
Bluetooth mode—ON and OFF ......................... 11
Bluetooth wireless technology features.......... 12
FlightLink ....................................................................... 13
FAQs................................................................................... 14
Peak performance tips ............................................. 16
Specications................................................................ 17
Warranty information............................................... 18

Introduction
Your Sierra headset package includes (clockwise,
from top left on the following page):
• Carrying case
• User and Quick Start guide with warranty
information
• Sierra ANR headset with Sierra controller
• Two AA batteries
• Cord clip
• Audio device cable with 3.5mm connector
2

3
Introduction

Getting Started
Fitting your headset
Fitting your headset properly is the key to
comfortable use and superior Active Noise
Reduction (ANR) capabilities. To gain peak
performance from the ANR feature it’s necessary
to have a solid seal around your entire ear
combined with a symmetrical t on your head.
The following tips will assist in achieving the
proper t.
A. Fit your ears entirely within the ear cups
providing a solid seal.
B. Rest the headband lightly on top of your
head with the right and left sliders extended
to equal lengths.
C. Position the microphone  inch from your
mouth, with the gain adjustment cap facing
away from you (visible when you remove the
mic mu).
Note: The microphone will not transmit unless
plugged into an intercom.
4
This side of the microphone
should face away from you.

Battery installation
The Sierra headset requires two AA batteries
(included). Use alkaline or lithium batteries for
best performance.
A. Open the controller battery/DIP switch door
by either pressing down on the circle icon or
by pulling open the door along the notched
edges. Insert two AA batteries with the
correct polarity positioning.
B. The LED ashes GREEN when charged
batteries are in use and the power is on.
Battery/DIP switch door
Stereo/mono switch
5
Getting Started
C. When batteries begin to run
low the power LED ashes
red. If the LED ashes red
during ight the headset will
continue to operate. Install
new batteries as soon as
possible at any indication of
low batteries.

Battery types
Use two “AA” alkaline or lithium batteries. Lithium
batteries may provide improved battery life in
colder temperatures. We do not recommend
using rechargeable batteries or mixing battery
types and brands.
Battery life
A set of batteries can provide up to 40 hours
of power. However, heavy usage of Bluetooth®
wireless technology can signicantly reduce
battery life. Under quiet conditions Sierra will
auto shut o approximately ve minutes after the
headset is removed from your head.
The controller
A. Power indicator LED: Flashes green when
power is supplied to Sierra and batteries are
strong. Flashes red when batteries are low.
B. Power button: Powers on headset, turning
on Active Noise Reduction (ANR). Press
button once to turn Sierra on; press and
hold to turn Sierra o. To toggle the LED
brightness from bright to dim quickly press
the power button twice.
C. Volume control: Controls audio panel volume
with individual sliders for each ear. Does not
aect the volume of auxiliary devices.
D. Bluetooth indicator LED: Flashes blue when
Bluetooth mode is on and red when Bluetooth
6
Getting Started

wireless technology is being turned o. In
pairing mode, ashes alternating red and blue.
E. Bluetooth button: Turns on and o the
Bluetooth wireless technolgy signal and
controls devices connected via Bluetooth
wireless technology, including cell phones
and music players.
F. Auxiliary input jack: Provides a wired input
for cell phones and audio devices.
G. Bluetooth volume buttons: Controls the
volume of devices connected via Bluetooth
wireless technology.
H. ComPriority button: Quiets music and
audio from auxiliary devices during radio
communications.
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
The Sierra controller
7
Getting Started

Using Your Sierra Headset
Turning ON and OFF
ON: Press the power button once to turn on the
headset. The green power LED ashes when
power is supplied. Active Noise Reduction (ANR)
is engaged when you turn on the headset.
OFF: Press and hold the power button until the
green power LED turns o.
Sierra will auto shut o approximately ve
minutes after removing the headset and under
quiet conditions.
The power LED ashes red when batteries are
low; see Battery Installation, on page 5.
Matching stereo/mono setting to an audio panel
The stereo/mono DIP switch setting should
match the signal from your audio panel. For a
stereo panel, best performance is gained by
setting the headset for stereo. The same is also
relevant to a mono panel. Incorrect settings result
in communications being heard in only one ear.
The Stereo/Mono DIP switch does not aect
auxiliary devices, so you can enjoy auxiliary audio
in stereo regardless of how the Stereo/Mono DIP
switch is set.
Setting the DIP switch
The DIP switch is factory set to match most
aircraft audio panels. To change a DIP switch
setting open the controller battery compartment
door. Use a small pointed object like a wood
8

toothpick to slide the DIP switch to ON or OFF
depending on your preference.
ComPriority™
ComPriority is turned on or o by the bottom-most
controller button. With ComPriority on and when
radio communications are detected, the volume of
auxiliary devices will be signicantly reduced.
To enable ComPriority, turn on the feature, plug
into your intercom and talk into the headset
microphone while playing music over a wired
device; see Wired Auxiliary Devices in the next
section. If enabled, your auxiliary music volume
will decrease when you start to talk. During cell
phone calls, the other party will be muted, so
disable ComPriority before making calls.
9
Wired auxiliary devices
To connect a music player or cell phone to Sierra’s
auxiliary input jack, use the cord provided.
IMPORTANT: To use a cell phone via the auxiliary
input jack, the headset must be connected to
the intercom.
To adjust the volume on a device connected to
Sierra’s auxiliary input jack, use the controls on
the device itself.
Using Your Sierra Headset

10
Connecting Devices with Bluetooth Wireless Technology
Bluetooth LED continually ashes red and
blue. This indicates the Sierra pairing mode
setting and lasts about two minutes. If this
step takes longer and the Bluetooth LED is no
longer alternating red and blue, start over
from step one.
3. With Sierra in pairing mode, follow the
menu prompts on your Bluetooth wireless
technology enabled device directing it to look
for Bluetooth wireless technology devices.
4. Select Lightspeed-V### (numbers may vary)
on your Bluetooth wireless technology
enabled device from the list of found devices.
5. If asked to enter a password or PIN, enter 0000.
Connecting devices with Bluetooth wireless
technology for the rst time
Before using a cell phone or other Bluetooth
wireless technology enabled device for the
rst time with Sierra, it must be “paired”or
electronically connected.
To pair a Bluetooth wireless technology enabled
cell phone with Sierra:
1. Turn on the headset and verify the green
LED is ashing. Make sure Sierra’s Bluetooth
mode is turned o.Blue or red ashes from
the Bluetooth LED should not be present (see
“Bluetooth Mode—ON and OFF”, page 11).
2. Press and hold the Sierra Bluetooth button
for about ve to ten seconds or until the

11
Your Bluetooth wireless technology enabled
device should now be paired and ready for
continued use with Sierra.
Bluetooth mode—ON and OFF
ON: With Sierra turned ON, press and hold the
Bluetooth button (see page 7) until you hear
a high tone and the Bluetooth indicator LED
ashes three blue pulses. For rst time pairing
see instructions on page 10.
OFF: Press and hold Sierra’s Bluetooth button for
about three seconds until a high tone is emitted
and the Bluetooth indicator LED ashes three
red pulses.
Note: The Bluetooth wireless technology feature
must be turned ON for devices with Bluetooth
wireless technology to correctly function.
When you turn on the Sierra Bluetooth mode it
will connect to the most recently paired device.
Most Bluetooth wireless technology devices
connect to Sierra automatically. If that doesn’t
happen it may be necessary to use the device’s
menu of found devices to manually connect to
Lightspeed-V### (numbers may vary).
Note: The headset mic will not work with phone
calls unless plugged into the intercom.
Bluetooth Wireless Technology Enabled Devices

12
Bluetooth wireless technology phone features
Depending on the Bluetooth wireless technology
prole of the phone, you can use Sierra’s
Bluetooth buttons to perform several functions.
Some typical functions are:
• Press the Bluetooth button once for voice
dialing (if supported by your phone).
• Press the Bluetooth button once to answer
the phone when it rings.
Bluetooth Wireless Technology Devices
• Press the Bluetooth button once to
disconnect from a call.
• Press and hold the Bluetooth button for two
seconds to redial the last number called.
• Use the Bluetooth volume buttons (Sierra’s +
and – buttons) to adjust the volume.

13
FlightLink is the rst in-ight cockpit
recording application for the iPad®
and iPhone.® The free app works
seamlessly with all new Lightspeed
headsets to capture and retrieve all incoming and
outgoing communications.
Features
• Record all activity over the intercom
• Immediate replay of ATC calls
• Store high resolution or compressed les in
your library
• Draw notes, codes, or diagrams on the
convenient iPad scratchpad for reference
How to Activate
• Download the FlightLink app from the
App Store
• Tap the icon on your iPad or iPhone to begin
using the app
Toggling Between Apps
Press your device’s Home button and select
another app. Your recording will continue
uninterrupted as you switch between dierent
applications. A red bar at the top of the screen
indicates FlightLink is recording.
FlightLink

FAQs
14
Why do I hear radio communications in only
one ear?
Sierra’s Stereo/Mono DIP switch is probably set
to Stereo while your audio panel is transmitting
a mono signal. To x this, change Sierra’s Stereo/
Mono DIP switch to Mono. This setting does not
aect music or audio from auxiliary devices; you
can hear stereo sound on auxiliary devices even
when the Stereo/Mono DIP switch is set to Mono.
When pairing Sierra with my Bluetooth wireless
technology device, why does my device
indicate it cannot connect?
The headset may not be in pairing mode.
To enter pairing mode, you must start with
Bluetooth mode turned fully OFF; (see
“Connecting devices with Bluetooth wireless
technology for the rst time,” on page 10).
Why doesn’t my Bluetooth device accept
Sierra’s 0000 passcode?
Your headset may not be in pairing mode. Some
devices prompt for a pass code without checking
for pairing mode. When the device cannot pair
with the headset, it rejects the passcode. To enter
pairing mode, you must start with Bluetooth mode
turned fully OFF (see “Connecting devices with
Bluetooth wireless technology for the rst time,”
on page 10).
Why can’t the other party hear me when I
make a call?
When you speak into the microphone during
a call, Sierra’s ComPriority feature decreases

the volume by 80%. To prevent this, disable
ComPriority before placing calls (See page 9).
How can I reduce static noise during cell
phone calls?
To reduce RF interference during phone calls,
keep cell phones at least 12 inches from the
Sierra controller and headset when making calls.
When ying what causes a warbling noise in
the ear cup?
If your ear is not entirely inside the cup, with a
tight seal, air can seep in and cause the ANR to
compensate for uneven internal cup pressure.
15
Where is my product serial number?
The serial number (a
small, white, bar-code
sticker with numbers)
can be found on the
headset underneath the
head pad. The head pad,
located on the inner
radius of the headband,
must be removed to
reveal the serial number.
Simply pinch the
cushioned part of the
head pad, pull down and it will snap out.
FAQs

16
Peak Performance Tips
• Start with an excellent t—see “Fitting your
headset,” on page 4.
• Set Sierra’s Stereo/Mono DIP switch to
match the signal from your audio panel; see
“Matching Sierra’s Stereo/Mono setting to
your audio panel signal,” on page 8.
• Keep cell phones at least 12 inches from the
Sierra controller and headset when making
call to reduce static noise during phone calls.
• To conserve battery life, turn OFF Bluetooth
mode when not in use.
• Lightspeed recommends replacement of
the soft goods on your headset (ear seals,
head pads and mic mus) every 18 months
to ensure peak ANR performance and
comfort. These are wear items and are not
covered by the Lightspeed warranty and
are available for purchase on our website at
LightspeedAviation.com/Accessories.
• When packing your headset into its case,
place the mic just over the headband to
avoid chang the boom.

17
Connector
Dual general aviation connectors with .250-inch
commercial stereo headphone plug and .206-
inch MIL-SPEC microphone plug
General
Battery power supply: 3V, two AA batteries
Weight: 16 oz.
Headphone
Transducer: 40mm moving coil
Frequency response: 20 Hz-20 kHz
Nominal impedance @ 1 kHz:
O—Mono: 180 ohms, On—Mono: 300 ohms
O—Stereo: 250 ohms, On—Stereo: 600 ohms
Microphone
Transducer principle: Noise-canceling electret
Frequency response: 200 Hz-6000 Hz
Maximum SPL: 114 dB
Terminating impedance: 220–2200 ohms
Operating voltage: 8V-16V DC
ANR
Maximum SPL: Greater than 120 dB at 100 Hz
Specifications

18
Warranty Information
We encourage you to register your headset at
our website LightspeedAviation.com. That way,
if your headset ever needs servicing, registration
helps assure quick and ecient processing.
5-Year Limited Warranty for New Aviation Headsets Sold by
Lightspeed Aviation, Inc.
Lightspeed Aviation, Inc. (“LSA”) warrants that the new aviation
headset sold by LSA (“New Headset”) is free from all material
defects in workmanship and materials. For the New Headset, all
warranties provided by LSA and all implied warranties imposed
by law are limited to a 5-year period, beginning on the purchase
date shown on the New Headset’s sales receipt (“Warranty Period”).
This 5-year Limited Warranty (“Limited Warranty”) is provided
solely for the benet of the initial purchaser of the New Headset
(“Purchaser”), and it excludes all 3rd parties, including distributors,
dealers, retailers, subsequent owners, and other users of the New
Headset. This Limited Warranty is not assignable and remains in full
force and eect during the Warranty Period, but only if the New
Headset: (a) has been properly maintained; (b) has not been abused
or misused; and (c) has not been repaired, altered, or modied
without LSA’s approval. This Limited Warranty specically excludes
all taxes, shipping costs, and problems relating to any: (1) repair,
alteration, or modication not approved by LSA; (2) abuse or failure
to properly maintain the New Headset; (3) faulty workmanship
by any person, except LSA or its approved agent; (4) operation of
the New Headset, except as specied in its operating manual; (5)
ordinary wear and tear; or (6) nish and appearance item. For each
claim made under this Limited Warranty (“Claim”), Purchaser must,
within 10 days of discovering a New Headset problem indicating
a breach of this Limited Warranty, deliver to LSA a written notice
that explains in detail the New Headset’s specic defect, that
shows proof of Purchaser’s purchase of the New Headset before
the end of the Warranty Period, and that shows proof that this
Limited Warranty applies to the New Headset. LSA or its agent
may investigate any Claim. For each Claim, LSA may, in its sole
discretion, choose any of the following exclusive remedies: (I) repair
or replace the New Headset or any part thereof, without charge
to Purchaser, but rst Purchaser must return the New Headset to
LSA’s authorized repair facility, pre-paying all shipping charges,
and Purchaser must accept the same as repaired or replaced at the