Backup Handheld COM Recommendation?

[rolivi]

I have the ICOM A24 and a couple extra battery packs. It works well on the golf cart.

I have external antenna connectors in the panel of all of the planes I fly. I didn't like the reception with the whip antenna. YMMV.

[JonJay]

The rubber ducky antenna (love that) got excellent reception and transmission in my old Aeronca. I think it is a high wing/low wing, or perhaps fabric/metal thing. They don't seem to work well in the RV's but I carry mine for back up. Better than nothing for sure.

[DonFromTX]

ICOM makes a little gadget that taps into your panel com antenna, so in the event of a failure you just plug in your handheld and keep on flyin! I have one installed on my plane, it disconnects the panel com in the process to protect things. Thos little handhelds can really reach out when you do that..

[Saville]

I need to install an external antenna. Right now I have an ICOM A-23, a rechargeable battery pack and one AA battery pack.

One thing I also recommend is getting an adapter for your headset and a PTT switch so that the comms come through your headset.

[CATPart]

I have read that the Icom A24 has impedance mismatch issues with headsets, and it is really a "ground only" radio. I have been carrying one for 5 years as my backup for inflight but never had to use it, and never tried it with a headset. edit: here is a link to the discussion I was thinking about http://www.pprune.org/archive/index.php/t-434376.html

I will say what I don't like about it is that I never really know the state of its rechargeable battery. I recharge it every now and then, but just to maintain it. Still I don't have a clue how long it will actually last, etc. I am sure it drains the battery even turned off because I have found it dead after no use. I now store it with the battery detached.

[pazmanyflyer]

Originally Posted by DonFromTX

ICOM makes a little gadget that taps into your panel com antenna, so in the event of a failure you just plug in your handheld and keep on flyin! I have one installed on my plane, it disconnects the panel com in the process to protect things. Thos little handhelds can really reach out when you do that..

If this a no electrical system plane with no external antenna the Icom (A23 and A6) works pretty good for around the patch kind of flying. The little rubber duckie antenna it comes with can reach 5 miles out okay but not much more.

Now if you have an external antenna then as mentioned by Don above this little guy is great for the handheld to reach out (extends range) with your plane mounted antenna. I've picked up ATIS 20 miles out with this and my A6 on the Pazmany.


More info I posted about it is here
http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...71&postcount=6

Aircraft Spruce (among others) has it here
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalo...mswitchbox.php

[k5wiv]

When I wanted a handheld I found direct comparisons between the available radios to be difficult due to the differences in included options/accessories, etc. So I put together a spreadsheet with all of the features that I wanted then inserted the prices for the various base units and for each of the options/accessories (A/C charger, cigarette lighter plug, extra battery pack, rechargeable pack, etc.) that made it easy to run totals and pick the least expensive package that had what I wanted. (It turned out to be the ICOM, which had the highest base price at that time.) From my observation, they all work well, so most advice iw worth what you pay for it!

[Saville]

Originally Posted by CATPart

I have read that the Icom A24 has impedance mismatch issues with headsets, and it is really a "ground only" radio. I have been carrying one for 5 years as my backup for inflight but never had to use it, and never tried it with a headset.

I wouldn't know about the A24 (I have the A23). I tested mine plane to plane with the headset and it worked fine.

[moosepileit]

No current handheld has topread ease of delcomm's 960 or the terra with built in headset jacks. Many will squeal at transmit if the headset cord is not routed away enough unless you use an external antennae.

I have an antenna BNC I can reach in flight. Unplug panel bnc, twist on handheld bnc, just loses the intercom.

[Toobuilder]

I appreciate all the discussion. Some things I have not yet considered have come up. Good stuff.

For my own circumstance it is a tube and rag Taylorcraft that has an Archer antenna buried in the fuselage, so yes, the external antenna will be used.

The Sporty 400 has a bunch more "stuff" than I need, and I cant help but draw a correlation to cost and battery consumption. I have heard a bunch of good things about the Yaesu FTA 230, so that is the leading contender at the moment.