No to audio panel and yes to a separate intercom
MarkC said:
Thanks folks, this is all good information.
So let me ask another question: I see panels out there, some with audio panels built in (again like the Garmin 340) and some that just use an Intercom like the Flightcom. If I don't need the "monitor 2 radios at once" feature (if I buy the SL40 and use that feature there) and I don't need the marker beacon (just VFR for now) then what benefit would I get from the 340?
As you can see I'm kind of new to the avionics stuff so if this is a dumb questions please forgive me. Mark (234C res)
Mark it's a good question.
The benifit of an audio panel for you seems about ZERO, regardless of the com radio you end up choosing. In the old days we had a "THE STACK": Two Coms (transmitters), Two VOR's, DME and ADF, each with an audio output for each radio, that we needed to control or select. The audio panel was also a place to put a marker beacon receiver (for IFR approaches).
A typical VFR panel consists of one COM (transmitter) and a GPS. A audio panel for selecting multi audio source or between two transmitters is not needed. If you have two transmitters you have to select which radio to connect the PTT switch and MIC to, which is a little more switching. Since you have one transmitter this is not an issue.
Let's say you want to mix in other audio, say a warning tone or handheld radio, both the ICOM and SL40 have a few aux audio inputs. It mixes what ever audio signals you input with the radio audio. You have no individual select switch like a audio panel but than again you don't need it. You control the AUX input at its source. If you don't want to listen to it, you turn the volumn down at the source. If you want to listen to music I suggest not going thru the low powered AUX radios in the back of the radio and use an intercom AUX input.
The new audio panels are nice, have built in intercoms but cost a boat load. All you need is an intercom and it cost a fraction of a new audio panel, so I suggest you buy a stand alone intercom. Disregard the "built in" intercom that comes with most COM radios.
I can speak to the ICOM A200 built-in intercom; it does have a so called intercom, but it's a NON voice activated/controlled (VOX) intercom, it's an open mic. Also you either use the radio to talk or the intercom but not at the same time. You have to wire in a switch to throw between radio or open mic intercom but not both.
A good stand alone VOX intercom has separate pilot and crew volumn / squelch controls, plus crew isolate features. Set it and forget it. You push the PTT it locks the passenger out. Plus they have better amplifiers (more audio power for clearer sound) and other features like an additional AUX stereo input if desired. Even if you go with a mono intercom music will sound better than going thru the weak low fidelity AUX input on the back of the COM radio. They are just low gain amplifiers.
The SL40 reports to have a voice activated intercom. I don't know how good it is, but it looks stripped down compared to dedicated high end stand alone intercoms, which give more features and better performance (better sound quality, VOX, stereo, an additional high fidelity aux input). A low end intercom opens both mics when one person talks. A high end intercom has separate channels for each mic. This cuts noise down and allows individual control. Only the mic that's spoken into is open. I suggest a DRE or PS engineering intercom. A good intercom is well worth it. I have had both and they are good stuff. They do cost more but that goes with my philosophy to spend money on things that I am going to use every flight and give the greatest benifit.
SL40 or ICOM
To your original question the ICOM A200 is a bargain and a good radio. The SL40 is a better radio in that you can listen to two Freqs and has a slightly higher powered transmitter (1 watt). It also has some other very cool and more expensive features.
We are all on a budget to some degree; we can't gold plate everything, but if you are going to go deluxe and spend more money on something a COM radio is a good place because you use it every flight. People put junk in there plane that adds weight, cost but they don't use it. If you are on a budget the ICOM A200 is a deal and solid radio. It does what it is suppose to and is the "Best Buy". If you have the bucks and fly in high density traffic airspace (B, C and D) where you need to stay on ATC or TOWER and listen to ATIS all at once the Garmin SL40 is way cool. If you fly out of non-towered fields in E & G airspace, than one freq at a time is cool. I carry a handheld that I can that I can pipe into the headset (thru the AUX input) if I want to. I also got my ICOM A200 on sale new for $600. Hard to beat that.
