The International Cessna 170 Association

Hello all. So, I've finally brought '26C home to Alaska, and it's time to start making a few changes. To start, I would like to install a 4 place intercom. Having no ashtrays, I think the best option for me would be to install the rear jacks behind the door frames, as some on here have discussed. Secondly, I would like to maintain the current position of the forward Jacks, which are outboard of each yoke. Having said that, I would like to ask for any recommendations this forum may have to offer. Foremost considerations are cost, naturally, and pragmatic installation- i.e routing and position of the unit. Thanks.

I have a 4 place Sigtronics PANEL MOUNT INTERCOM that has been bombproof and has worked perfectly for years.

I do a fair amount of long distance xc (Ak to VA) and I really wish I could connect my iPad or iPhone to play music on those long trips. I would pay up for stereo input on the models now available. My Zulus will do it for me via Bluetooth when solo but the pax can't hear it.

Thanks Pete. That one looks promising.

-joshua

In 81D, I installed a Sigtronics SCI-4 with music and loved it so much that I bought another one for 95D.

They are pricey but they perform rock solid.
Don't underestimate the value of piping in some music either.

For the rear plugs, I put them in the ashtray in 81D. I thought about the rear door post but worried about cable clearance and the headache of removing the trim panel.
95D wont have a headliner so Im putting the plugs on the rear bulkhead above the rear seat adjustment blocks. Out of the way and easy to reach.

+3 on the Sigtronics. I put my rear jacks under the hat shelf off to the side, this keeps all the headphone cables behind and out of the way making egress uneventful.

I have enjoyed the PSEngineering 1000 for a dozen years, but there are some newer units that incorporate Bluetooth and other features you might wish to consider with cordless headsets etc.

I also put my rear headset jacks in the rear bulkhead near the rear seat adjustment bracket. They are out of the way and its easy to put headsets on the hat shelf when not in use.

170C wrote:I also put my rear headset jacks in the rear bulkhead near the rear seat adjustment bracket. They are out of the way and its easy to put headsets on the hat shelf when not in use.

Did you route the wires over head or under foot?

This is a timely thread for me. For whatever reason, my 25 year old QuietFlite intercom is ignoring input from my audio panel. Fortunately I had installed a headphone jack on the output of the audio panel, so I can hear the radio, but the passenger can't, and I can't hear the passenger. I'm thinking that after 25 years my intercom doesn't owe me anything and it might be time for an upgrade.

I'll also be looking for ideas on rear seat jack locations. I liked them on the hat shelf, but was disappointed to find out that the hat shelf couldn't be used after the baggage door was installed.

My rear headphone wiring goes down under the floor. It was easy to route the wiring that way.
Miles, were your headset jacks mounted vertically in your hat shelf? Would it be possible to mount them in the forward edge of the hat shelf? I never thought of that possibility. As I mentioned, mine are in the bulkhead itself just outside of the rear seat. They don't interfer with adjusting the rear seat or removing it. Wires go down on the back side of the bulkhead behind the baggage compartment side panels. If you used this method you would want to either run the wiring up over the headliner or on the left side you could still (I think ?) run the left hand side jack wiring on the back side of the bulkhead--depending on how the baggage door is installed.

I have a Sigtronics 400 unit (may have a letter before or after the 400). Unit works reasonably well, but if replacing it I would consider a different model or different mfg.

170C wrote:My rear headphone wiring goes down under the floor. It was easy to route the wiring that way.
Miles, were your headset jacks mounted vertically in your hat shelf? Would it be possible to mount them in the forward edge of the hat shelf? I never thought of that possibility. As I mentioned, mine are in the bulkhead itself just outside of the rear seat. They don't interfer with adjusting the rear seat or removing it. Wires go down on the back side of the bulkhead behind the baggage compartment side panels. If you used this method you would want to either run the wiring up over the headliner or on the left side you could still (I think ?) run the left hand side jack wiring on the back side of the bulkhead--depending on how the baggage door is installed.

I have a Sigtronics 400 unit (may have a letter before or after the 400). Unit works reasonably well, but if replacing it I would consider a different model or different mfg.

Thank you Frank, my jacks were vertical in the surface of the shelf, but since I have a baggage door I can't install the shelf at all. I'll check for a place on that bulkhead. I'm sure something will pop up; I know I cant be the first person with a 170 with a 4-place intercom and no hat shelf.

cessna170bdriver wrote:

170C wrote:My rear headphone wiring goes down under the floor. It was easy to route the wiring that way.
Miles, were your headset jacks mounted vertically in your hat shelf? Would it be possible to mount them in the forward edge of the hat shelf? I never thought of that possibility. As I mentioned, mine are in the bulkhead itself just outside of the rear seat. They don't interfer with adjusting the rear seat or removing it. Wires go down on the back side of the bulkhead behind the baggage compartment side panels. If you used this method you would want to either run the wiring up over the headliner or on the left side you could still (I think ?) run the left hand side jack wiring on the back side of the bulkhead--depending on how the baggage door is installed.

I have a Sigtronics 400 unit (may have a letter before or after the 400). Unit works reasonably well, but if replacing it I would consider a different model or different mfg.

Thank you Frank, my jacks were vertical in the surface of the shelf, but since I have a baggage door I can't install the shelf at all. I'll check for a place on that bulkhead. I'm sure something will pop up; I know I cant be the first person with a 170 with a 4-place intercom and no hat shelf.

http://s1208.photobucket.com/user/Showb ... 2.jpg.html
http://s1208.photobucket.com/user/Showb ... 3.jpg.html

Miles, my jacks are mounted in the same location as David's, but his are MUCH nicer than mine I wasn't aware that installing a baggage door required the removal of the hat shelf. Is this always the case or just in yours Miles?

170C wrote:Miles, my jacks are mounted in the same location as David's, but his are MUCH nicer than mine I wasn't aware that installing a baggage door required the removal of the hat shelf. Is this always the case or just in yours Miles?

I don't know for sure, but I suspect that is always the case. The top of the baggage door is higher than the hat shelf. If anyone with a baggage door had installed the hat shelf, I'd like to how it was done.

gahorn wrote:I have enjoyed the PSEngineering 1000 for a dozen years, but there are some newer units that incorporate Bluetooth and other features you might wish to consider with cordless headsets etc.

I looked at this unit online. It's twice as much new as the Sigtronics, although buying it used takes a chunk out of the cost. Also, the PSEngineering has an isolate feature- as I've twin 5-year olds that like the sound of their voice in the mic, this feature is often a necessity. Think: "wah wah woo ahh woo wah eeee boooo . . ." in your ears while you are dialing in ATIS. . I don't see the need for bluetooth, or wireless headsets for that matter- I like simplicity. However, the music function on the 1000 may be nice one day.