Inconsistent TX5 and TX6 availability

[sthompson]

I've written about this before but I do not think I ever got a good answer and so I'm trying again. The VAICOM PRO manual description of TX5 (Intercom) and TX6 (Aux) seems to indicate they should always be available. But I've been doing some testing and finding they are not available in PTT NORMAL mode in many modules and not available at all in others. I don't understand why this is the case. I'm wondering if this is specific to my setup, indicating some kind of problem, or is generally true for others. Am I misinterpreting the manual? Perhaps Hollywood could weigh in. Not really a show stopper, but the inconsistency has caused some confusion for me in the past.

 

Here are results of some testing I did tonight:

 

TX5 and TX6 are available in INV and MULTI but not in SNGL or NORM in these modules: KA-50, Mi-8, BF-109, C-101, F-5E, F-86, FW-190 Dora, L-39, MiG-15, P-51, Spitfire, TF-51, MiG-21, and SA342 Gazelle.

 

TX5 and TX6 are not available in any PTT mode for these: CE-2, FW-190 A8 (which VP seems to identify as the Dora), and MiG-19.

 

Related notes from my testing: (1) The CE-2 does not seem to have any radios available in PTT NORMAL mode. (2) The Yak-52 does not seem to be detected by VP at all right now.

 

It's possible I'm misreading the manual. If so I would appreciate a more complete description of the various PTT modes, perhaps with some examples. The description of INV mode is especially confusing.