Rainier Lamers
Well Known Member
I ask forgivness in advance, but I can't help cross-posting the text below that I found this morning on the Stratomaster list. Nothing like a good pirep !
Rainier
CEO MGL Avionics
-------------------
Re MGL's new radio:
I posted some initial comments months ago about MGL's new radio. Those comments
were very favorable. Now that I have had a bit more time to mess with it,
herewith a few more comments.
I have been an amateur radio operator (ham) for several decades. Learning how
to assimilate the intelligence provided via speech in noisy or crowded
conditions, comes with the territory. That said, I find it MUCH more difficult
to understand what a controller or a fellow pilot is trying to convey in a high
noise cockpit situation than when on a ham band.... and getting the former
messages right is much more important.
For this pilot, the ultimate test of a modern aircraft radio is to place it in a
"high noise environment cockpit". By that, I mean both high cockpit decibel
noise level as well as high electrical/electronic/RF/AF noise levels.
Many LSA and ultralight aircraft, as well as most (all?) very fast, high
performance aircraft provide extremely high cockpit ambient noise environments.
Some of them also provide high electronic noise levels as well. While the
latter can usually be subdued through proper installation procedures (shielded
cables, proper routing methodologies, properly filtered power supplies, common
ground point, etc.), the former is very difficult to reduce through external
means, hence the radio is largely left to fend for itself in a high cockpit
noise environment.
With respect to dealing with high ambient cockpit noise, Rainer's new box is
exemplary. In fact, I cannot recall ANY radio doing a better job in this
regard. As far as its outgoing signal is concerned, the switchable noise
limiting circuits (especially the narrow audio passband system) and its
digitally-based AM modulation circuitry allow one to knock out several types of
ambient noise that would otherwise overwhelm the mike and impinge on the
outgoing signal, rendering it "unreadable". As far as incoming signals are
concerned, the radio deals well with both distant weak signals as well as nearby
strong signals in a most equitable fashion and rejects nearby FM and AM
commercial signals with aplomb. It also does a surprisingly good job of
rejecting some electrically-derived noise.
The intercom provides superb communication and has all the requisite bells and
whistles. More importantly, it provides sharp, clear audio that, when adjusted
properly, does not clip initial words nor require a drill sargeant's vocal
cords.
In a nutshell, I consider it to be superior to its competitors.... in spite of
the fact that it is also one of the lowest priced units on the market. It is
also easy to install.
And did I mention that it is light, tiny, and fairly easy to use?
Finally, it includes a few features that one doesn't really NEED,...... but
which are oh-so-much-fun to spring on fellow pilots when they fly with you....
like selecting radio frequencies with simple buttom presses on the Enigma.......
Hee, hee hee.
Best,
Larry
Rainier
CEO MGL Avionics
-------------------
Re MGL's new radio:
I posted some initial comments months ago about MGL's new radio. Those comments
were very favorable. Now that I have had a bit more time to mess with it,
herewith a few more comments.
I have been an amateur radio operator (ham) for several decades. Learning how
to assimilate the intelligence provided via speech in noisy or crowded
conditions, comes with the territory. That said, I find it MUCH more difficult
to understand what a controller or a fellow pilot is trying to convey in a high
noise cockpit situation than when on a ham band.... and getting the former
messages right is much more important.
For this pilot, the ultimate test of a modern aircraft radio is to place it in a
"high noise environment cockpit". By that, I mean both high cockpit decibel
noise level as well as high electrical/electronic/RF/AF noise levels.
Many LSA and ultralight aircraft, as well as most (all?) very fast, high
performance aircraft provide extremely high cockpit ambient noise environments.
Some of them also provide high electronic noise levels as well. While the
latter can usually be subdued through proper installation procedures (shielded
cables, proper routing methodologies, properly filtered power supplies, common
ground point, etc.), the former is very difficult to reduce through external
means, hence the radio is largely left to fend for itself in a high cockpit
noise environment.
With respect to dealing with high ambient cockpit noise, Rainer's new box is
exemplary. In fact, I cannot recall ANY radio doing a better job in this
regard. As far as its outgoing signal is concerned, the switchable noise
limiting circuits (especially the narrow audio passband system) and its
digitally-based AM modulation circuitry allow one to knock out several types of
ambient noise that would otherwise overwhelm the mike and impinge on the
outgoing signal, rendering it "unreadable". As far as incoming signals are
concerned, the radio deals well with both distant weak signals as well as nearby
strong signals in a most equitable fashion and rejects nearby FM and AM
commercial signals with aplomb. It also does a surprisingly good job of
rejecting some electrically-derived noise.
The intercom provides superb communication and has all the requisite bells and
whistles. More importantly, it provides sharp, clear audio that, when adjusted
properly, does not clip initial words nor require a drill sargeant's vocal
cords.
In a nutshell, I consider it to be superior to its competitors.... in spite of
the fact that it is also one of the lowest priced units on the market. It is
also easy to install.
And did I mention that it is light, tiny, and fairly easy to use?
Finally, it includes a few features that one doesn't really NEED,...... but
which are oh-so-much-fun to spring on fellow pilots when they fly with you....
like selecting radio frequencies with simple buttom presses on the Enigma.......
Hee, hee hee.
Best,
Larry
