Recommended Handheld Transceiver?

[chasers03]

Does anyone have a strong recommendation for a good handheld radio/
transceiver for me to use as a backup? I don't need ILS/Nav aides.

I am confused after looking at Sporty's, ICom, & Vertex.

My children are trying to get a recommendation from me for a Christmas
gift

Steve Chase Lambada Motorglider N24PV

[Paul Remde]

Hi Steve,

I'm biased because I sell them, but I'm a big fan of the ICOM radios. They
have a great reputation for quality and reliability. You can see details
here:
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/icom.htm

You may want to consider the optional AA battery pack. It is a great,
long-shelf-life backup to the rechargeable battery.
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/icom.htm#BP-261

I own an ICOM IC-A14 and I'm very happy with it. It works very nicely. I
used it quite a lot at the Sport Class Nationals soaring contest in Parowan
last summer.

Best Regards,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.

"chasers03" > wrote in message
...
> Does anyone have a strong recommendation for a good handheld radio/
> transceiver for me to use as a backup? I don't need ILS/Nav aides.
>
> I am confused after looking at Sporty's, ICom, & Vertex.
>
> My children are trying to get a recommendation from me for a Christmas
> gift
>
> Steve Chase Lambada Motorglider N24PV

[[email protected]]

On Dec 16, 9:29*pm, "Paul Remde" > wrote:
> Hi Steve,
>
> I'm biased because I sell them, but I'm a big fan of the ICOM radios. *They
> have a great reputation for quality and reliability. *You can see details
> here:http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/icom.htm
>
> You may want to consider the optional AA battery pack. *It is a great,
> long-shelf-life backup to the rechargeable battery.http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/icom.htm#BP-261
>
> I own an ICOM IC-A14 and I'm very happy with it. *It works very nicely. *I
> used it quite a lot at the Sport Class Nationals soaring contest in Parowan
> last summer.
>
> Best Regards,
>
> Paul Remde
> Cumulus Soaring, Inc.
>
> "chasers03" > wrote in message
>
> ...
>
>
>
> > Does anyone have a strong recommendation for a good handheld radio/
> > transceiver for me to use as a backup? I don't need ILS/Nav aides.
>
> > I am confused after looking at Sporty's, ICom, & Vertex.
>
> > My children are trying to get a recommendation from me for a Christmas
> > gift
>
> > Steve Chase Lambada Motorglider N24PV- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I like ICOM as well, use a newer one in the towplane and an older one
in my glider.

The old ones (A-21) are better than the newer in several respects,
mainly 30hrs on one set of 10 AA batteries, vs 4hrs for the A-6

aerodyne

[Tim Mara]

for low cost reliability buy Icom
ICA-14 is the most popular but there are also holiday rebates on the more
robust IC-A6 and IC-A24's on right now too
see my website for more http://www.wingsandwheels.com/Specials.htm
Merry Christmas!!
tim
Please visit the Wings & Wheels website at www.wingsandwheels.com

"chasers03" > wrote in message
...
> Does anyone have a strong recommendation for a good handheld radio/
> transceiver for me to use as a backup? I don't need ILS/Nav aides.
>
> I am confused after looking at Sporty's, ICom, & Vertex.
>
> My children are trying to get a recommendation from me for a Christmas
> gift
>
> Steve Chase Lambada Motorglider N24PV
>
> __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus
> signature database 5711 (20101217) __________
>
> The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.
>
> http://www.eset.com
>
>
>



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The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.

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[Free Flight 107]

I agree with all the above, Icom is the best. I've owned or used
several other brands, Icom head & shoulders above them all.
I was in a group of pilots using different handhelds one time and the
Icom regularly picked up transmissions that the others couldn't hear!
I have the A6 and like it very well, but wish I had the AA version so
that I don't need to re-charge every night.

Wayne

[[email protected]]

On Dec 17, 12:10*pm, Free Flight 107 > wrote:
> I agree with all the above, Icom is the best. I've owned or used
> several other brands, Icom head & shoulders above them all.
> I was in a group of pilots using different handhelds one time and the
> Icom regularly picked up transmissions that the others couldn't hear!
> I have the A6 and like it very well, but wish I had the AA version so
> that I don't need to re-charge every night.
>
> Wayne

Wayne,

You can buy the AA battery pack for the A4/A6 for not much $.

Sadly, it does not last nearly as long as the battery packs on the
older models, but with 36 AA batteries for $11 at Costco, maybe it
does not matter!

aerodyne

[lanebush]

On Dec 17, 3:36*pm, wrote:
> On Dec 17, 12:10*pm, Free Flight 107 > wrote:
>
> > I agree with all the above, Icom is the best. I've owned or used
> > several other brands, Icom head & shoulders above them all.
> > I was in a group of pilots using different handhelds one time and the
> > Icom regularly picked up transmissions that the others couldn't hear!
> > I have the A6 and like it very well, but wish I had the AA version so
> > that I don't need to re-charge every night.
>
> > Wayne
>
> Wayne,
>
> You can buy the AA battery pack for the A4/A6 for not much $.
>
> Sadly, it does not last nearly as long as the battery packs on the
> older models, but with 36 AA batteries for $11 at Costco, maybe it
> does not matter!
>
> aerodyne

I have the Vertex VXA 300 and like it. I especially like the external
microphone attachment. It was not cheap but increases the usability
tremendously. I can lay the radio beside me and attach the microphone/
speaker to my shoulder harness just like the cops do. No more
fumbling for the transceiver.

Lane
XF

[Tony V]

Free Flight 107 wrote:
> I agree with all the above, Icom is the best. I've owned or used
> several other brands, Icom head & shoulders above them all.


I bought the early Icom A-20 in 1985 because of the rock solid
reputation the brand had with the ham radio crowd. The only real
competition at the time was the (long gone) King handheld and the (also
long gone) Narco. I was not disappointed - the radio still works well
today and all I had to do was replace the NiCad pack every decade or so.
I finally replaced it with the Icom A-6 *only* because the A-20 was
comparatively large and that sometimes made it a bit when I was climbing
in the back seat of gliders all day long.

Tony V.

[Canav8]

On Dec 17, 4:28*pm, Tony V > wrote:
> Free Flight 107 wrote:
> > I agree with all the above, Icom is the best. I've owned or used
> > several other brands, Icom head & shoulders above them all.
>
> I bought the early Icom A-20 in 1985 because of the rock solid
> reputation the brand had with the ham radio crowd. The only real
> competition at the time was the (long gone) King handheld and the (also
> long gone) Narco. I was not disappointed - the radio still works well
> today and all I had to do was replace the NiCad pack every decade or so.
> I finally replaced it with the Icom A-6 *only* because the A-20 was
> comparatively large and that sometimes made it a bit when I was climbing
> in the back seat of gliders all day long.
>
> Tony V.

After the radio review, the clear winner is the inexpensive Sporty's
200 model. with alkaline batt and a core basic 5w TX it is a clear
choice. The Icom came in a close second but Vertex was dead last.
Having had all three radios at one time or another I have to concur
with the Sportys radio. It is undoubtedly the best bang for the buck.
IMO. Vertex which is manufactured by Yasu is the broadest spectrum of
transmitting on several different bands but very poor in all bands.
Have a look at the recent edition of Kitplanes magaizine for
conformation. YMMV Doug

[Westbender]

I second the Vertex. Excellent radio.

[Don Johnstone[_4_]]

At 00:28 18 December 2010, Tony V wrote:
>Free Flight 107 wrote:
>> I agree with all the above, Icom is the best. I've owned or used
>> several other brands, Icom head & shoulders above them all.
>
>
>I bought the early Icom A-20 in 1985 because of the rock solid
>reputation the brand had with the ham radio crowd. The only real
>competition at the time was the (long gone) King handheld and the (also
>long gone) Narco. I was not disappointed - the radio still works well
>today and all I had to do was replace the NiCad pack every decade or so.

>I finally replaced it with the Icom A-6 *only* because the A-20 was
>comparatively large and that sometimes made it a bit when I was climbing

>in the back seat of gliders all day long.
>
>Tony V.

I still have my Icom 1C A-20 mainly because it is more robust and to my
mind the best that Icom produced. I remains the only approved airband
handheld radio that ICOM produce.

[Andy[_1_]]

On Dec 19, 12:05*pm, Don Johnstone > wrote:
> I remains the only approved airband
> handheld radio that ICOM produce.

Ok, I'll bite. Uniquely approved for what, and by whom?

Andy

[ContestID67[_2_]]

The intended use is important to this discussion. I assume that this
is for air-to-air and air-to-ground use, not simply for ground-to-air.

We exclusively use ICOMs in our club and I am sold on them. We
standardized on the late/great IC-A4 (ni-cd) which, short of being
left out in the rain, is a great simple bulletproof radio. A bit
underpowered so was best used for local flights. One disadvantage was
the lack of a keypad, which makes freq changes harder. Again, club
use so was locked to 123.3.

So how about non-club and cross country use? My non-portable radio in
my glider was on the fritz back in 2009 so I began using a handheld
(ICOM IC-A5) in the air. The problem was the range and being heard by
other pilots, even through the A5 is more powerful than the A4, and
the same as the non-portable. The difference? I was using the
"rubber duckie" antenna. So I hooked the radio's BNC connector to my
tail fin antenna. The same BNC connector is on nearly every non-
handheld and handheld radio so it was a simple set up (on the ground
that is). And it worked MUCH better!

But as a pure *BACKUP* air-to-air and air-to-ground use, portable ICOM
with a full keypad (for quick freq changes) with a rubber antenna is
the way to go.

Good luck.

-John DeRosa

[chasers03]

I am reporting that I purchased a ICOM IC-A6 Transceiver ($229 after
rebate from Marv Golden Pilot Supplies) for my backup radio. I really
appreciated all the input you nice folks have given me and it made me
feel assured that this was a good buy. Thank you all very much.