Backup Handheld COM Recommendation?
 

I'm hoping to be flying a Cub type airplane with no electrical system in the near future. I'm also long overdue a backup handheld for my current airplanes, so I thought I'd ask The Collective if there is a consensus on a low frills, but high performance Comm on the market. I dont need GPS, CDI, ect. I just want to be able to dial up a freq and actually reach out and touch the outside world. Good battery life is also high on the list.

Anyone have a product recommendation?

Thanks for your time.

Find an old Sporty 200.

I really like my ICOM IC-A14. It's got a lithium-ion battery that's good for 18 hours of use. With the antenna in place, it won't fit in my map box, so I remove it for storage...to attach, it's got the typical 1/4 turn fitting like you'd see on coax cable for a transponder, etc.

Sporty 400
 

I like the glideslope feature on my Sporty 400. It's very usable as an emergency backup, or, for making straight in VFR landings on ILS equipped runways if you put it on a RAM mount. And, it's got a 5 year warrantee. And, they dropped the price to $315. John

Good timing!

Over the weekend my wife plugged the charger into one of the headset ports and fried my handheld.

This is what I did. Found one on ebay for under $100 and it takes AA batteries of which I can keep in my bag and not worry about charging. It also tunes VOR/LOCs

Yaesu FTA 230
 

I bought a Yaesu FTA 230 last year. It was less than 200 bucks new, with rechargable battery, and came with backup AA battery clip and headset adapter. This little radio is also waterproof and can be submerged. I have used it a bunch, and really like its performance and clarity. I also have an old school garmin 190 handheld with a GPS that is huge in comparison to the Yaesu.

Sporty 400
 

I received the Sporty 400 handheld as a gift. Its a backup to my Garmin 430 W which I've had go down twice due to loose wire connections.

I like that it has large font and a big sunlight readable screen. I haven't used the navigation part yet.

The little plastic tab on the battery latch for mine broke and Sporty's sent me a new one at no charge even though that is not covered on the warranty.

Bluetooth connectivity would be a cool option.

Good timing for this. My very old Terra I was using in the Bucker gave up the ghost. The problem with the new handhelds is I can not find one with a top display. The Terra had thumb wheels for channel changes on the top. There is little room to mount a radio, and I can not read the display on the front where I need to mount the radio.
Anybody know of a radio with the display top side?

Keeping with the original thread, I have an older Icom in the RV. I have the rechargeable battery pack and a AA pack for back up. It has worked well for over 15 years. I am on my second rechargeable pack.

I like my Sproty's SP-400. My plane has an external antenna with a jack on the panel for the SP-400 so I get pretty good range even when flying. The rubber duck antenna is not very good for much more than the airport area. I think this is the case with most handhelds.