Navcom - handheld VS panel ?

[[email protected]]

Hello everyone - my first posting here.

I'm in the process of equipping my Earthstar thundergull with avionics.
This is a very light tandem 2 seater.
I was wondering what type of navcom to go with...handheld or panel
mounted.

Panel space is limited , so a panel radio choice would probably be the
Microair. But this is substantially more expensive than handhelds.

What are the disadvantages of a handheld ?
Would you recommend a specific handheld make & model ?

The aircraft does have an external antenna.
I do intend to fly into class C & D airspaces.
I do need intercom.
I do need squelch.


All input much appreciated.

thanks
Pavan Bhatnagar (PPASEL to be)

[Ron Wanttaja]

On 28 Oct 2005 16:13:51 -0700, wrote:

> Hello everyone - my first posting here.
>
> I'm in the process of equipping my Earthstar thundergull with avionics.
> This is a very light tandem 2 seater.
> I was wondering what type of navcom to go with...handheld or panel
> mounted.

Well...it's not exactly an "either/or" situation. Check out the panel mounting
of an ICOM IC-A5 in my Fly Baby:

http://www.wanttaja.com/hhrad2.JPG

The radio is wired to conventional panel jacks, and is powered by the aircraft
12V bus by a "Battery Eliminator" purchased from Batteries America. No
modifications to the radio were needed...I just built a cage from 1.25" aluminum
channel (actually square tubing with one side cut away) and purchased the
four-conductor plug that fits into the headset adaptor jack for about $7.

The radio assembly is essentially self-contained...the headset jacks mounted
onto the side rails of the aluminum channel. The only wiring on the airplane
was a 4-conductor plug for power and PTT switch (plus the antenna, of course).

http://www.wanttaja.com/hhrad.JPG

The potentiometer is used to adjust the volume without being able to access the
knob on top. Everyone seems to understand me (quite unlike RAH :-), I can
receive stations 75 miles away, and whole installation weighs less than a pound
and cost less than $300.

I made a couple of postings about it to the Fly Baby mailing list:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/flybabylist/message/5006

Ron Wanttaja

[tom pettit]

I'll second Ron's use of a portable. I've been doing the same in my
homebuilt Savannah, also with an external antenna. It works fine. Mine is
an Icom A23. The VOR function is pretty lame, so I would save my money and
get a com only radio next time. The range seems to be as good as the "real"
radios in rental planes.

Don't forget that you'll need a transponder to go into a class C airport.

tom


"Ron Wanttaja" > wrote in message
...
> On 28 Oct 2005 16:13:51 -0700, wrote:
>
>> Hello everyone - my first posting here.
>>
>> I'm in the process of equipping my Earthstar thundergull with avionics.
>> This is a very light tandem 2 seater.
>> I was wondering what type of navcom to go with...handheld or panel
>> mounted.
>
> Well...it's not exactly an "either/or" situation. Check out the panel
> mounting
> of an ICOM IC-A5 in my Fly Baby:
>
> http://www.wanttaja.com/hhrad2.JPG
>
> The radio is wired to conventional panel jacks, and is powered by the
> aircraft
> 12V bus by a "Battery Eliminator" purchased from Batteries America. No
> modifications to the radio were needed...I just built a cage from 1.25"
> aluminum
> channel (actually square tubing with one side cut away) and purchased the
> four-conductor plug that fits into the headset adaptor jack for about $7.
>
> The radio assembly is essentially self-contained...the headset jacks
> mounted
> onto the side rails of the aluminum channel. The only wiring on the
> airplane
> was a 4-conductor plug for power and PTT switch (plus the antenna, of
> course).
>
> http://www.wanttaja.com/hhrad.JPG
>
> The potentiometer is used to adjust the volume without being able to
> access the
> knob on top. Everyone seems to understand me (quite unlike RAH :-), I can
> receive stations 75 miles away, and whole installation weighs less than a
> pound
> and cost less than $300.
>
> I made a couple of postings about it to the Fly Baby mailing list:
>
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/flybabylist/message/5006
>
> Ron Wanttaja

[Jase Vanover]

Yeah whatever regarding the radio... I like the gauge on the right hand side
of your panel Ron. Nice to see that even sitting in the hangar it's pegged
at the redline ;-)


"Ron Wanttaja" > wrote in message
...
> On 28 Oct 2005 16:13:51 -0700, wrote:
>
>> Hello everyone - my first posting here.
>>
>> I'm in the process of equipping my Earthstar thundergull with avionics.
>> This is a very light tandem 2 seater.
>> I was wondering what type of navcom to go with...handheld or panel
>> mounted.
>
> Well...it's not exactly an "either/or" situation. Check out the panel
> mounting
> of an ICOM IC-A5 in my Fly Baby:
>
> http://www.wanttaja.com/hhrad2.JPG
>
> The radio is wired to conventional panel jacks, and is powered by the
> aircraft
> 12V bus by a "Battery Eliminator" purchased from Batteries America. No
> modifications to the radio were needed...I just built a cage from 1.25"
> aluminum
> channel (actually square tubing with one side cut away) and purchased the
> four-conductor plug that fits into the headset adaptor jack for about $7.
>
> The radio assembly is essentially self-contained...the headset jacks
> mounted
> onto the side rails of the aluminum channel. The only wiring on the
> airplane
> was a 4-conductor plug for power and PTT switch (plus the antenna, of
> course).
>
> http://www.wanttaja.com/hhrad.JPG
>
> The potentiometer is used to adjust the volume without being able to
> access the
> knob on top. Everyone seems to understand me (quite unlike RAH :-), I can
> receive stations 75 miles away, and whole installation weighs less than a
> pound
> and cost less than $300.
>
> I made a couple of postings about it to the Fly Baby mailing list:
>
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/flybabylist/message/5006
>
> Ron Wanttaja

[keepitrunning]

Ron, that is so cool, I want a fun gauge! Any suggestions as to where I
might find one?
Gary Melton
N320GG LNC2

"Jase Vanover" > wrote in message
...
> Yeah whatever regarding the radio... I like the gauge on the right hand
> side of your panel Ron. Nice to see that even sitting in the hangar it's
> pegged at the redline ;-)
>
>
> "Ron Wanttaja" > wrote in message
> ...
>> On 28 Oct 2005 16:13:51 -0700, wrote:
>> Well...it's not exactly an "either/or" situation. Check out the panel
>> mounting
>> of an ICOM IC-A5 in my Fly Baby:
>>
>> http://www.wanttaja.com/hhrad2.JPG

[Ron Wanttaja]

On Sun, 30 Oct 2005 02:19:30 GMT, "keepitrunning" >
wrote:
> > "Ron Wanttaja" > wrote:
> >> Well...it's not exactly an "either/or" situation. Check out the panel
> >> mounting of an ICOM IC-A5 in my Fly Baby:
> >>
> >> http://www.wanttaja.com/hhrad2.JPG
>
> Ron, that is so cool, I want a fun gauge! Any suggestions as to where I
> might find one?

Your junk box, if you're lucky. The Fun Meter started out as a small voltmeter
made out of plastic. Once disassembled, the meter face was found to be a small
plastic disk held in place with a couple of tiny screws. I noted the size, drew
up my own meter, printed it on photo paper, and glued it over the old face.
Reassemble the meter, and the rest is history:

http://www.bowersflybaby.com/stories/meter.JPG

Originally, I kept the original needle movement but the needle eventually broke
when I had to take the meter apart to replace the paper face. I now use just a
scrap of white-insulated wire.

I've got a large empty instrument hole where the old radio used to go, and I'm
considering some kind of similar goofy project. Currently, I've just got a Fly
Baby logo in the hole...

http://www.wanttaja.com/hhrad2.JPG (Towards the bottom)

.... but I'd like to put in either a dummy radar or possibly a "weapons status"
display.

Ron Wanttaja

[Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired]

Ron Wanttaja wrote:
> On Sun, 30 Oct 2005 02:19:30 GMT, "keepitrunning" >
> wrote:
>
>>>"Ron Wanttaja" > wrote:
>>>
>>>>Well...it's not exactly an "either/or" situation. Check out the panel
>>>>mounting of an ICOM IC-A5 in my Fly Baby:
>>>>
>>>>http://www.wanttaja.com/hhrad2.JPG
>>
>>Ron, that is so cool, I want a fun gauge! Any suggestions as to where I
>>might find one?
>
>
> Your junk box, if you're lucky. The Fun Meter started out as a small voltmeter
> made out of plastic. Once disassembled, the meter face was found to be a small
> plastic disk held in place with a couple of tiny screws. I noted the size, drew
> up my own meter, printed it on photo paper, and glued it over the old face.
> Reassemble the meter, and the rest is history:
>
> http://www.bowersflybaby.com/stories/meter.JPG
>
> Originally, I kept the original needle movement but the needle eventually broke
> when I had to take the meter apart to replace the paper face. I now use just a
> scrap of white-insulated wire.
>
> I've got a large empty instrument hole where the old radio used to go, and I'm
> considering some kind of similar goofy project. Currently, I've just got a Fly
> Baby logo in the hole...
>
> http://www.wanttaja.com/hhrad2.JPG (Towards the bottom)
>
> ... but I'd like to put in either a dummy radar or possibly a "weapons status"
> display.
>
> Ron Wanttaja
>
How about a retractible cup holder or phaser/warp drive panel? In
the Air Farce one of our mockups had an instrument hole covered by a
square of alumininum labelled "phaser/warp drive." It was even once
written up by QC as "phaser/warp drive panel missing screws" since it
was held in place by 2 screws instead of 4 with 2 screw holes open. You
tax dollars at w**k :)

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

[Frank Stutzman]

Ron Wanttaja > wrote:

> ... but I'd like to put in either a dummy radar or possibly a "weapons
> status" display.

No where as cute, but a one time I owned a 172 that landing gear switch
with indicator lights. I always wanted to figure out the circuit that
would make the lights "fail" randomly once every 20 hours or so.

--
Frank Stutzman
Bonanza N494B "Hula Girl"
Hood River, OR

[[email protected]]

I would recommend the Microair, it can be purchased with an intercom.
I beleive the handheld may be problematic with an intercom and much
more of a hassel using and you still have to mount it somewhere.


Richard
www.craggyaero.com

[Bart D. Hull]

If you hooked 12v to a CD drive mounted in your dash you
could have a retractable cup holder like in those expensive
Mercedes. (SMILE!!)


Bart D. Hull

Tempe, Arizona

Check http://www.inficad.com/~bdhull/engine.html
for my Subaru Engine Conversion
Check http://www.inficad.com/~bdhull/fuselage.html
for Tango II I'm building.

Remove -nospam to reply via email.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired wrote:
> Ron Wanttaja wrote:
>
>> On Sun, 30 Oct 2005 02:19:30 GMT, "keepitrunning"
>> >
>> wrote:
>>
>>>> "Ron Wanttaja" > wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Well...it's not exactly an "either/or" situation. Check out the
>>>>> panel mounting of an ICOM IC-A5 in my Fly Baby:
>>>>>
>>>>> http://www.wanttaja.com/hhrad2.JPG
>>>
>>>
>>> Ron, that is so cool, I want a fun gauge! Any suggestions as to
>>> where I might find one?
>>
>>
>>
>> Your junk box, if you're lucky. The Fun Meter started out as a small
>> voltmeter
>> made out of plastic. Once disassembled, the meter face was found to be
>> a small
>> plastic disk held in place with a couple of tiny screws. I noted the
>> size, drew
>> up my own meter, printed it on photo paper, and glued it over the old
>> face.
>> Reassemble the meter, and the rest is history:
>>
>> http://www.bowersflybaby.com/stories/meter.JPG
>>
>> Originally, I kept the original needle movement but the needle
>> eventually broke
>> when I had to take the meter apart to replace the paper face. I now
>> use just a
>> scrap of white-insulated wire.
>>
>> I've got a large empty instrument hole where the old radio used to go,
>> and I'm
>> considering some kind of similar goofy project. Currently, I've just
>> got a Fly
>> Baby logo in the hole...
>>
>> http://www.wanttaja.com/hhrad2.JPG (Towards the bottom)
>>
>> ... but I'd like to put in either a dummy radar or possibly a "weapons
>> status"
>> display.
>> Ron Wanttaja
>>
> How about a retractible cup holder or phaser/warp drive panel? In the
> Air Farce one of our mockups had an instrument hole covered by a square
> of alumininum labelled "phaser/warp drive." It was even once written up
> by QC as "phaser/warp drive panel missing screws" since it was held in
> place by 2 screws instead of 4 with 2 screw holes open. You tax dollars
> at w**k :)
>
> Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

[[email protected]]

Thanks for all the input , folks.

regards
Pavan.