AirTalk.org

JF · Guest

The Champ that I'm learning in has no radios. I have a borrowed handheld
that we may start using, but I was thinking of buying a handheld of my own.
I did a little searching of the group and found several good points about
several good models of handheld transceivers, but I need to know:

1-Do most handhelds come with the ability (or option) to have a PTT switch
hooked up to it?

2-Do most handhelds come with the ability (or option) to hook my intercom up
to it?

3-How many of you have used a handheld as your primary Comm.

4-If you have used it as your primary comm, how many actually used the Nav
functionality? Is it worth the extra for the NAV?

I've seen lots of ultralights setup with what appears to be a nice handheld
radio, but I've never paid attention to the wiring setup. Any help or
thoughts would be nice.

jf

tony roberts · Guest

I really like my Icom A23.
It does come with headset adapter.
It only comes with rechargeable battery - which I don't like.
I telephoned Icom, and asked what use a rechargeable battery was if I
was crashed on top of a mountain - they hadn't considered that!
I bought an AA battery pack from Aircraft Spruce for less than $20.00 -
Good buy! Now I can carry lotsw of spare batteries. I could have bought
the A5 without the VOR, but it was only C$50.00 less. So I thought, "If
it saves my life only once - it paid for itself Smile

"

So my thoughts - get yourself an Icom A23. They are bulletproof, they
are totally proven and they have have a no quibble warranty.

Tony

--
[email]Indiacharlieecho (AT) hotmail (DOT) com[/email]
Tony Roberts
PP-ASEL
VFR OTT
Night
Cessna 172H C-GICE

In article <10plnn62r1bvs23 (AT) corp (DOT) supernews.com>,
"JF" <lysnospmjones (AT) charter (DOT) net> wrote:

NW_PILOT · Guest

Icom good radios, they make exelent scanners also.

"tony roberts" <nospam (AT) nowhere (DOT) ca> wrote

John Galban · Guest

"JF" <lysnospmjones (AT) charter (DOT) net> wrote

Henry and Debbie McFarlan · Guest

JF,

The Old Man's 8A is non-electrical. Since 1993, he's been flying with an
Icom-A21, a FlightCom intercom and a sealed battery connected to a bank of
three plugs to power these two items and a GPS. The Icom is mounted to his
left and is connected to an external antenna. He has about a 100 mile range,
transmitting and receiving. The A-21 is the best radio Icom ever made! The
A-21 does take a special push-to-talk switch that can be ordered from
Aircraft Spruce. We purchase extra batteries for the radio itself and the
sealed battery in back from Batteries Plus (see
http://www.batteriesplus.com/ for store locations). There batteries last
much longer than some of the others that are advertised in aviation
publications.

I have an electrical 8E with a panel mounted radio, but I use an Icom-A22 as
a back up. This radio doesn't use a different a different PTT, but needs an
adaptor that cost me about $59.00 from Aircraft Spruce. Like my husband, I
use a portable FlightCom intercom. These radios have a little clip on the
back, and just like the 8A, we installed a little bracket to hang the clip
on to my left. I can unplug my headsets and plug in the handheld in about 10
seconds. I, too, have a bank of plugs installed for extras like the handheld
and my GPS. The newer models don't seem to have the range that Henry's A-21
has, but they are much smaller and lighter. All of them are tough radios!

Both of our radios have the NAV function. We've played with it. It works,
but we have never seriously used it. We do use the NOAA weather functions
frequently and would suggest that you purchase a model with this feature. It
really comes in handy when you're traveling. An external antenna will give
you great range, but if you don't own the airplane, the portable antenna
works fine locally.

Deb

--
1946 Luscombe 8A (His)
1948 Luscombe 8E (Hers)
1954 Cessna 195B, restoring (Ours)
Jasper, Ga. (JZP)

"JF" <lysnospmjones (AT) charter (DOT) net> wrote