Which handheld transceiver?

[Michael Henry[_2_]]

Hi all,

My local radio shop only sells Icom for about AU$550.

So, a few questions:

What of the other brands? Vertex Standard? Sportys SP-200?
I imagine they're all pretty decent brands for them to have been around
as long as they have. Is any one brand easier to use? Better made?

Does anyone actually use the vor/cdi function or is this just a gimmick?
The price doesn't seem to be too much different so I might go for a nav
model anyway, but just wondering...

That price doesn't seem to be very competitive given that these sell for
around half that amount in the US and, since the AU$ and US$ are almost
at parity, I would only expect them to be marginally more expensive due
to shipping costs.

Thanks,

Michael

[G Paleologopoulos]

"Michael Henry" > wrote
node...
>
> Hi all,> My local radio shop only sells Icom for about AU$550.> So, a few
> questions:> What of the other brands? Vertex Standard? Sportys SP-200?
> I imagine they're all pretty decent brands for them to have been around as
> long as they have. Is any one brand easier to use? Better made?> Does
> anyone actually use the vor/cdi function or is this just a gimmick? The
> price doesn't seem to be too much different so I might go for a nav model
> anyway, but just wondering...> That price doesn't seem to be very
> competitive given that these sell for around half that amount in the US
> and, since the AU$ and US$ are almost at parity, I would only expect them
> to be marginally more expensive due to shipping costs.> Thanks,> Michael
>


I've got the SP-200. Good for the price, not as rugged as the others. Would
I buy it again?? Probably.

[Mike[_22_]]

They all put out about the same power and they all do the same thing, so you
might as well chose based on price. I have the Vertex, which works fine.
The Icom uses Lithium-Ion batteries instead of Nihm if that makes a
difference to you.

The nav function is not worth paying extra for. If you want a backup nav,
buy a portable GPS if you don't already have one.

"Michael Henry" > wrote in message
node...
> Hi all,
>
> My local radio shop only sells Icom for about AU$550.
>
> So, a few questions:
>
> What of the other brands? Vertex Standard? Sportys SP-200?
> I imagine they're all pretty decent brands for them to have been around as
> long as they have. Is any one brand easier to use? Better made?
>
> Does anyone actually use the vor/cdi function or is this just a gimmick?
> The price doesn't seem to be too much different so I might go for a nav
> model anyway, but just wondering...
>
> That price doesn't seem to be very competitive given that these sell for
> around half that amount in the US and, since the AU$ and US$ are almost at
> parity, I would only expect them to be marginally more expensive due to
> shipping costs.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Michael
>

[Robert M. Gary]

I've used my JRC for over a decade now and have been very happy with
it. When I flew the Aeronca it was my primary radio, now it sits under
the seat in my Mooney for emergencies. You should be able to get the
JRC 500 for a lot less than the pricey Icom

[Airbus[_4_]]

They using 8.33 spacing in your neck of the woods?
Its use is currently "cosmetic" in many regions, but is moving toward full
on implementation. This narrows the field of handhelds considerably, and
may be a useful"future-proof" consideration.



In article >,
says...
>
>
>Hi all,
>
>My local radio shop only sells Icom for about AU$550.
>
>So, a few questions:
>
>What of the other brands? Vertex Standard? Sportys SP-200?
>I imagine they're all pretty decent brands for them to have been around
>as long as they have. Is any one brand easier to use? Better made?
>
>Does anyone actually use the vor/cdi function or is this just a gimmick?
>The price doesn't seem to be too much different so I might go for a nav
>model anyway, but just wondering...
>
>That price doesn't seem to be very competitive given that these sell for
>around half that amount in the US and, since the AU$ and US$ are almost
>at parity, I would only expect them to be marginally more expensive due
>to shipping costs.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Michael
>

[BernieFlyer[_2_]]

Michael Henry wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> My local radio shop only sells Icom for about AU$550.
>
> So, a few questions:
>
> What of the other brands? Vertex Standard? Sportys SP-200?
> I imagine they're all pretty decent brands for them to have been around
> as long as they have. Is any one brand easier to use? Better made?
>
> Does anyone actually use the vor/cdi function or is this just a gimmick?
> The price doesn't seem to be too much different so I might go for a nav
> model anyway, but just wondering...
>
> That price doesn't seem to be very competitive given that these sell for
> around half that amount in the US and, since the AU$ and US$ are almost
> at parity, I would only expect them to be marginally more expensive due
> to shipping costs.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Michael
>
I have a Vertex Standard and its given immaculate service over many
years. Only niggle is it would be good to have a battery indicator like
most mobile phones. it does tell you that the battery is low but you may
not be near 240v at the time. Either you charge it before its low and
reduce battery life or you need to buy a 2nd battery.

[B A R R Y[_2_]]

Michael Henry wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> My local radio shop only sells Icom for about AU$550.
>
> So, a few questions:
>
> What of the other brands? Vertex Standard? Sportys SP-200?
> I imagine they're all pretty decent brands for them to have been around
> as long as they have. Is any one brand easier to use? Better made?
>
> Does anyone actually use the vor/cdi function or is this just a gimmick?
> The price doesn't seem to be too much different so I might go for a nav
> model anyway, but just wondering...

I have an ICOM A24.

I've never used the NAV functions, but have been happy with the radio
overall. I don't have extensive experience with lots of different
radios. I find the ICOM easy to use and dependable and would buy it again.

If I ever have a total electrical failure, I would imagine my battery
powered Garmin 196 GPS would get preference over the A24 CDI, but I
guess it's there if I need it.

[Bravo Two Zero]

I have the JRC JHP-500 for over 8 years now and it is an excellent radio for
the price, it is in my flight bag on every flight. With JRC you are not
paying a premium for an established name like ICON.

Picked up nickel metal hydride battery for it from Batteries America for
about $30


"Robert M. Gary" > wrote in message
...
> I've used my JRC for over a decade now and have been very happy with
> it. When I flew the Aeronca it was my primary radio, now it sits under
> the seat in my Mooney for emergencies. You should be able to get the
> JRC 500 for a lot less than the pricey Icom

[Airbus[_4_]]

Do take a look at the warranty conditions, and how they apply to where
you live.

Someone here was just complaining about not being able to get his
handheld repaired. My 5-year old ICOM has just come back from the shop
looking like new, after I dropped it on a tarmac and broke the LCD
display and a few other things. It was fixed in four days at a
very reasonable cost, even though the model is now discontinued. In the
meantime, I have bought a Vertex, which seems just as good in all
respects, including warranty and return for repair.

[Vaughn Simon]

"Michael Henry" > wrote in message
node...
>
> What of the other brands? Vertex Standard?

Vertex and Icom are the "Honda & Toyota" of the aviation portable radio
world. For your own reasons you may prefer one brand or the other, but you
won't go wrong with either.

For the record, I have a Vertex and love it.

Vaughn

[Jay Maynard]

On 2008-07-14, Vaughn Simon > wrote:
> Vertex and Icom are the "Honda & Toyota" of the aviation portable radio
> world. For your own reasons you may prefer one brand or the other, but
you
> won't go wrong with either.
> For the record, I have a Vertex and love it.

Vaughn's got it exactly right. I'm sitting next to a big stack of Icom ham
gear, and have an A-24 in my flight bag. Even so, if it weren't for reasons
not having anything to do with aviation, I'd have looked long and hard at
the Vertex radio that does both the air band and the 2-meter ham band.
Either way, you'll get a good, solid radio.
--
Jay Maynard, K5ZC http://www.conmicro.com
http://jmaynard.livejournal.com http://www.tronguy.net
Fairmont, MN (FRM) (Yes, that's me!)
AMD Zodiac CH601XLi N55ZC (got it!)

[Thomas Borchert]

Jay,

> I'd have looked long and hard at
> the Vertex radio that does both the air band and the 2-meter ham band
>

That radio doesn't exist anymore. The FCC...

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

[Robert M. Gary]

On Jul 13, 4:41*pm, B A R R Y > wrote:

> I've never used the NAV functions, but have been happy with the radio
> overall. *I don't have extensive experience with lots of different
> radios. *I find the ICOM easy to use and dependable and would buy it again.

Yea, I wouldn't recommend anyone pay for the nav functions. I've never
found them to have much of any range and nowadays we all have battery
backup GPSs on the yoke which are a million times better than the 2
mile range VOR receivers that came with the transceivers.

-Robert

[Jon Woellhaf[_2_]]

Yeah. The story I got from HRO in Denver about a year ago was that pilots
were using the 2m band -- or was it the amateurs were using the aviation
band. Either way, how is that the radio's fault? Anyone can buy a 2m HT and
anyone can buy an aviation band HT. I wonder what the real story is.

"Thomas Borchert" > wrote in message
...
> Jay,
>
>> I'd have looked long and hard at
>> the Vertex radio that does both the air band and the 2-meter ham band
>>
>
> That radio doesn't exist anymore. The FCC...
>
> --
> Thomas Borchert (EDDH)
>

[Jon Woellhaf[_2_]]

Yeah. The story I got from HRO in Denver about a year ago was that pilots
were using the 2m band -- or was it the amateurs were using the aviation
band. Either way, how is that the radio's fault? Anyone can buy a 2m HT and
anyone can buy an aviation band HT. I wonder what the real story is.

"Thomas Borchert" > wrote in message
...
> Jay,
>
>> I'd have looked long and hard at
>> the Vertex radio that does both the air band and the 2-meter ham band
>>
>
> That radio doesn't exist anymore. The FCC...
>
> --
> Thomas Borchert (EDDH)
>

[RST Engineering]

The story I got was that to do both the aircraft AM modulation and the 2m FM
modulation, they were using some cockamamie modulation circuit that wasn't
quite up to specification. That was just a story I heard; I've never put my
Vertex on the spectrum analyzer to see if they are inside the envelope or
not.

Jim

--
"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought
without accepting it."
--Aristotle


"Jon Woellhaf" > wrote in message
...
> Yeah. The story I got from HRO in Denver about a year ago was that pilots
> were using the 2m band -- or was it the amateurs were using the aviation
> band. Either way, how is that the radio's fault? Anyone can buy a 2m HT
> and anyone can buy an aviation band HT. I wonder what the real story is.

[Dave Rochin]

Hi Michael,
Both Icom and Vertex Standard are excellent radios. Save your money
and get the Comm only version. You will probably never use the Nav
feature.

The VXA-220 is the Comm version from Vertex. I sell it for $199. The
220V charger sells for $29.
http://www.airportpilotshop.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=410
The Icom A6 is selling for $248. The 220V charger is $40.
http://www.airportpilotshop.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=21
Both are in stock.
Shipping to Australia will cost $45 via US Postal Express Mail Intl.
Let me know if you are interested in placing an order.
Thanks
David Rochin
Airport Pilot Shop
239-263-9121
www.airportpilotshop.com

[Jon Woellhaf[_2_]]

At least that makes sense.

"RST Engineering" > wrote in message
...
> The story I got was that to do both the aircraft AM modulation and the 2m
> FM modulation, they were using some cockamamie modulation circuit that
> wasn't quite up to specification. That was just a story I heard; I've
> never put my Vertex on the spectrum analyzer to see if they are inside the
> envelope or not.
>
> Jim

[Michael Henry[_2_]]

Airbus wrote:
> They using 8.33 spacing in your neck of the woods?

No, Australia has 25kHz spacing.

> Its use is currently "cosmetic" in many regions, but is moving toward full
> on implementation. This narrows the field of handhelds considerably, and
> may be a useful"future-proof" consideration.

All the models I've seen support 8.33 kHz spacing. (Icom, Vertex
Standard, Sportys).

Thanks to everyone for your responses!

[Mike[_22_]]

"Michael Henry" > wrote in message
...
> Airbus wrote:
>> They using 8.33 spacing in your neck of the woods?
>
> No, Australia has 25kHz spacing.
>
>> Its use is currently "cosmetic" in many regions, but is moving toward
>> full on implementation. This narrows the field of handhelds considerably,
>> and may be a useful"future-proof" consideration.
>
> All the models I've seen support 8.33 kHz spacing. (Icom, Vertex Standard,
> Sportys).
>
> Thanks to everyone for your responses!

The Sporty's model is the only one I know of that supports 8.33. As far as
Icom and Vertex go, perhaps some of their models support 8.33, but I'm
pretty sure at least their basic models don't unless something has changed
recently.

[Michael Henry[_2_]]

> The Sporty's model is the only one I know of that supports 8.33. As far
> as Icom and Vertex go, perhaps some of their models support 8.33, but
> I'm pretty sure at least their basic models don't unless something has
> changed recently.

You're right! The Icom IC-A24/IC-A6 only has 25kHz spacing. The Vertex
Standard VXA-220 and VXA-300 seem to be able to transmit only on 25kHz
steps but recieve on 8.33kHz steps.

I've been leaning toward the Vertex Standard VXA-220 and I'm not sure if
the channel spacing is a big enough issue to affect my decision.

Thanks for the correction!

Michael