Use cases for dual-COMM ?
 

I am looking for first hand use cases where having two COMM radios is better than having one COMM with "monitor" capability.

I have an SL-30 and an SL-40. I seldom fly into towered airports. I set local and destination CTAFs in the first, and ASOS/AWOS in the second. Just makes it easy for me. I do not use the monitor functions in either.

Flying IFR or out of our Charlie airspace airport it is nice but is something I could do without if necessary. Less workload if you can keep Approach Control and tower in the primary with ground and ATIS in the secondary.

ATIS/Tower/Ground freqs in the secondary with ATC in the primary. I fly a lot of cross country in the system so this works for me. Plus, on the odd occasion I want to talk to Flight Watch, it helps to have the secondary com

Once you have dual comms, you can never go back. I always have the #2 radio on the next expected contact frequency. With flip-flops on 2 radios you always have 4 frequencies at the ready.

I also monitor 121.5 on #2 while enroute.

Back when I flew a Mooney IFR everywhere with two comms it was great for the convenience but, frankly, the biggest nicety was being able to monitor one freq while talking to ATC on the other. Having four at the ready like Mel said was nice but with the integrated EFIS capabilities of "point and click" tuning I'm not sure that is as needed as before.

So, if I was outfitting a panel for IFR I"d probably really want two comms BUT if it was a choice of spending that dough for a second com versus better EFIS/moving map capability I"d go that route as long as the comm could monitor a second freq.

Make sense?

Dual comms
 

I can't imagine flying IFR without dual comms. It can be done but it wouldn't be fun. You need the second comm to check ATIS, weather, etc. without having to ask for permission to leave the frequency.

Interesting. I always asked to leave even if I could monitor since I was worried about missing a call while I was talking. Found it to be a non-event.

Agreed, once you have it you'll never go back. It's just too darn useful to not install.

The downside of relying on the "monitor" function of the Garmin SL30/40 is that in busy airspace (where I often fly) you may have to "monitor" the ATIS/ASOS for a very long time to get all the info since it cuts out with every radio call on the primary freq.