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01-07-2012, 03:35 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 358
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It can work, but it is a PITA.. I fly this way all the time. It is all I have in my L-2.
An external antenna is a must. (do not even consider a rubber duck antenna) Still transmit power is poor, Tuning is difficult, the frequencies are often difficult to see in the sun, and there are often jack issues.
But we get along just fine... It goes to OSH almost every year with a bag full of batteries. (we use Alkalines. Rechargable packs are always flat and with AA you can change them in flight. If you have 12 V power this is not an issue.
With that said, if the L-2 had an electrical system, it would have a "real" radio in a heartbeat!!! I would "moderate to strongly" recommend against it...
Doug Rozendaal
F-1 EVO
Taylorcraft L-2M
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01-07-2012, 04:19 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Chicago sw suburbs
Posts: 395
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I used a ICOM for years
as a primary radio in a cessna with a external antenna for 20 years including years of low level pipeline patrol involving calling approach from twenty miles out from down low and never had a single problem. I have equipped my RV6 with a Vertex handheld and external antenna. So far so good. I am not sure but I think the radio puts out 5w same as many panel mounts.
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Jim Woolard C56
N9855J RV-6 Donated 2020
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01-07-2012, 04:24 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 1,452
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Opinion
Personally I would not but...I did have a comm failure and pulled out my vertex pro 3 or whatever and hooked my headset in. When I contacted tower and advised I had comm issue and was on a handheld they said they could not believe the range and clarity as they are used to hearing pretty crappy handhelds. I believe todays handhelds are great and if thats what you want...likely will work just fine.
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Rick Woodall C-GSTT "ghost"
9a -TMX io-320, catto three blade, dual dynon hdx with a/p. 900+ hrs in 8 yrs flying.
Flew to Osh 11,12,15,17,19. SNF 2013. West to Cali /Washington/Vancouver/crossed the Rockies north to Red Deer east to Moosonee and over to maritimes. South to Jekyll Isl, cedar key, and Key West etc. 6 trips and 17 islands of the Bahamas. Flown turtles and dogs for Pilots n Paws too. Love our Rv's
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01-07-2012, 04:30 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Fort Myers
Posts: 370
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I've done it twice. In the Varieze I put together I had a Delcom mounted in the panel. Cool thing about the Delcom, Was that it uses mechanical controls and they are on the end of the unit, not the front so it only took up a few inches in the panel. I had it hard wired with external antenna and wired to headsets. It worked pretty well, long cross countries, etc.
Last year I had to send my only com into Garmin and I hooked my SP400 to the external ant and used a headset adapter. I tested it at various distances from local towered airport and the controllers gave me loud and clear responses on every test. I had only tested to about 35 miles out at 2.5K.
That said, another cheap option is an FL760 com. Installed it in my last plane, a Velocity, as a 2nd com. Worked better than the KX155.
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01-07-2012, 04:37 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 1,505
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I used my Icom A-24 in my Champ and an Ultralight with external entenna and it worked better than I thought it would. If money is tight then go for it.
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Jim Wright
RV-9A N9JW 90919 SoldArkansas
http://www.jimsairplanes.com
_______________________
"It's a brutal struggle for the biscuit."
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01-07-2012, 05:13 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Shreveport, LA
Posts: 1,002
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handheld radio
I sometimes fly an Aeronca with no electrical system and a handheld radio connected an external antenna. I love it and I have no transmission/reception problems when talking to local controllers. As soon as I am out of controlled airspace, I turn off the radio and enjoy the silence. Its very peaceful flying. (It has the bare minimum gauges too, so its nice to get back to flying by looking outside the airplane instead of falling into the trap of staring at all the neat whiz bang gauges.)
If I was flying a over a hundred miles or so in the Aeronca, I would prefer to have a panel mount radio onboard. Just makes me feel warm and fuzzy to be able to reach out and contact somebody if I need it. With a handheld, you could get into an area where you cant contact anyone for a few minutes.
Last edited by blueflyer : 01-07-2012 at 05:18 PM.
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01-08-2012, 05:40 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Winston-Salem, N.C.
Posts: 1,213
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Handheld in my -4
I have been using a Garmin hanheld com/gps in my -4 for a year now. I have a external antena on the belly and mounted the radio on the r/h armrest. Been working great for a year now, and I have been told I am as loud and clear as any panel mount. Not sure how far out it can be heard, but I have spoke to CLT class B with no problem. BYTW, I am from Pittsburgh and plan to start making flights to and from there soon...where are you planning to base your -4? I learned to fly at Washington Co. airport in the 70's. Im trying to find an airport where I can hangar my bird when I come to visit.
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Bill E.
RV-4/N76WE
8A7 / Advance NC
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01-08-2012, 06:20 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 375
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mikerkba
I found:
Garmin 430W - 10 watts
Garmin SL-40 - 8 watts
Icom A14 - 5 watts
Vertex 220 IV - 5 watts.
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I think you are comparing apples and oranges.
The Vertex VXA-220 is rated at 5W PEP (peak envelope power) and 1.5W of Carrier.
The SL-40 is rated at 8W of Carrier (which is probably between 25 and 32 watts PEP)
Operationally you may have no need for that much power, but there is a difference.
Paige
RV-8A
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01-08-2012, 11:53 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: 45G, Brighton, MI
Posts: 1,867
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My KX-99 with external antenna (stainless rod for comm, splitter off the whiskers for nav, BNC's on the panel connected to the radio with a short length of RG-58) is loud and clear out to at least 50 miles. Nav range and accuracy is comparable to KX-155 (the whole setup is 20+ years old). I have it mounted via the belt clip on a bracket on the side wall (mostly) out of the sun, and wired into COM2 on the audio panel. I keep it charged with ship's power. The original ni-cad battery lasted about 18 years that way, and the new li-ion replacement battery seems to do fine too.
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Miles (VAF# 1238, Paid up as of 2018)
RV-7 TU 904KM (reserved)
Wings Fitted and Finish Kit on site
Construction Log
Picasa: Empennage Album, Wings Album, Fuselage Album
1955 Cessna 170B flying since 1982
'To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.' -Unk.
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01-08-2012, 03:17 PM
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Pocahontas MS
Posts: 3,884
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Where are the HAMs?
I'm surprised that none of the HAMs on this forum haven't spoken up. If you think power is an issue, take a look at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverse-square_law
If you approach the same formulas from a power standpoint instead of distance, it basically means that it takes around 10 times the power to double the range.
On the *same antenna*, there will be very little difference in range between a panel mount comm & a quality handheld running on ship's power. Difference *might* be more noticeable if the handheld is operated on internal batteries; some handhelds do have reduced output on batteries.
Charlie
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