PS Engineering has once again listened to the market and delivered a way to simplify the many faceted aspects of installation and operational configuration. With the introduction of the fully digital HUB50 audio management system, configuration has moved away from the multiple switches and potentiometers and placed into an easy-to-use iPhone application. Using the proprietary application, more than 250 different parameters can be configured, including which stations hear which audio sources, switched and unswitched, input and output impedance, audio levels, music distribution, lighting levels, dimmer thresholds, CVR levels and outputs, sidetone levels, and the HRTF dimensional sound locations for all 8 com radios.

Custom profiles can be stored, modified, reused, and shared from the app. Configurations for any aircraft can be built away from the aircraft, and then quickly loaded to the HUB50 while in the hangar or on the ramp in a matter of seconds.

Unprecedented flexibility and allows the audio systems to be configured easily for different mission profiles and duplicated for fleet aircraft. This is very useful when an aircraft is leased for multiple uses such as forestry and medivac. Access to aircraft configuration via the App is limited to line installer/maintenance personnel, who must be in close proximity to the LRU, and only when the unit itself is in configuration mode.

The HUB50 is integrated into the existing PAC45A system, using the current versions of CTL45/A Control heads. It is backward compatible with HUB45AR. The system supports up to:

The HUB50 brings theses new features to the audio system:

• Status LED indicator.
• Assignable unswitched inputs. These can be enabled on a per user station basis.
• Assignable switched inputs. These can be enabled on a per user station basis.
• Non-aviation transceiver microphone voltage bias support.
• Artificial Transmit Sidetone configurable on any transceiver.
• Four built in headset low impedance adapters.
• Passenger audio separated from Observer 2 to become fully independent. Permits muting of radios to passengers, EMS patient ICS isolation, other applications.
• Expansion output is a fully configurable output.
• Selectable audio output of FM transceivers for flight data recorders
• PA speaker reconfigurable as copilot cabin speaker.
• PA TX support added to observer stations and with hand mics
• Audio Alerts can be configured to play once, 3 times, or continuous when triggered.
• Alerts can be played on activation and deactivation of an alert for all alert inputs (i.e. seat belt chimes).
• Programmable Bluetooth ID.

Shipments of the HUB50 should begin in May 2023, following FAA TSOA. List price for the HUB50 is $13,995, plus any associated Control Head hardware desired.