DA40 Diamond Star
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 21; Flight Crew Total 1964; Flight Crew Type 470
Human-Machine Interface; Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Human Factors; Aircraft
Enroute from to ZZZ; I was out of communication with Center for an extended period of time; in essence crossing two sectors according to the controller I finally contacted.I had just picked up our club plane following software update work on the G1000 and had checked out all core functions. Departing the airport; I picked up clearance and passed uneventfully through two approach controllers before a handoff to Center. The frequency was not overly busy but with enough activity to confirm I was in contact with ATC. Over time; however; the frequency became quieter and I noticed some occasional dropout during center transmission to other aircraft.Some 15-20 minutes later; it occurred to me; it had been quite a while since hearing from ATC. I turned off the squelch at this point suspecting either a common issue or squelch set too high. At this point I began working to re-establish communication. With squelch off; I tried my previously assigned frequencies using both radios along with Flight Watch with no success. Certainly; ATC had concluded I was NORDO at this point. I was; in fact; still trouble shooting the issue and called my current sector published frequencies - surprisingly hearing no response. By listening to some common Unicom frequencies; though; I was pretty sure my radios where good. Finally; I checked the approach frequency for a nearby airport who responded with the correct frequency for my current location. Back in common and back in the system (and with a request to call Center after landing); I determined the issue was; indeed; the transmissions from ATC dropping below my squelch setting. It is important to note that the squelch setting in the G1000 is set in the factory configuration and not pilot controllable.[Potentially] Closer attention to reception quality might have been an early warning to the problem. I could have checked early with ATC for a better frequency for my area prior to a complete loss of contact with Center. This is especially important when flying AWAY from the sector controller.I could have more quickly found a good center frequency using the L-Chart in addition to the nearest frequency in the G1000 database.Most important; I could have let ATC known I was having radio issues by simply squawking 7600; while continuing to troubleshoot the issue. I did; in fact; consider squeaking lost communications but had become convinced I was just a few minutes from finding a good frequency. Despite any alarm bells this action may have set off; ATC would have had a good idea what was going on and what steps (VFR landing or route and altitude) I could be expected to take.Needless to say; I have recommended a recheck of squelch settings for the plane and heightened attention to ATC communication for me.
The pilot experienced a loss of enroute communications with ATC for some time following software update work to the integrated avionics system.