Icom 200 vhf radio/ XCOM 760

Anyone using any of these things out there? Looking for user feedback.

--
Stuart Fields

Stuart & Kathryn Fields wrote:
Anyone using any of these things out there? Looking for user feedback.

--
Stuart Fields



I had one (ICOM 200) for almost 700 hours in my RAF/Sparrowhawk gyro.
It worked absolutely great. I had the ribbon antenna (I forget the
name) and the combo was fantastic. Tower could here me way out behind
mountains at low altitudes.

I also have one in my McCulloch J-2, but I have a hash noise from an
unshielded ignition. It transmits and receives O.K. though.

Stuart & Kathryn Fields wrote:
Anyone using any of these things out there? Looking for user feedback.

--
Stuart Fields



I had one (ICOM 200) for almost 700 hours in my RAF/Sparrowhawk gyro.
It worked absolutely great. I had the ribbon antenna (I forget the
name) and the combo was fantastic. Tower could here me way out behind
mountains at low altitudes.

I also have one in my McCulloch J-2, but I have a hash noise from an
unshielded ignition. It transmits and receives O.K. though.

Ken: Are you still manufacturing HS equipment for gyros? How do you like
the J-2? We've heard stories about lack of sufficient power. One of our
friends worked on the things with Frank Robinson at McCulloch. I can
remember seeing a test version at Lancaster CA airport with strain gages all
over it.
Can you toggle thru more than just one frequency in the ICOM? I'm flying a
Baby Belle and don't take my hand off the cyclic unless it is on the ground
and the blade speed is down. I find that flying around a restricted area I
can use about 5 frequencies. My Microair is capable of up to 25 frequencies
toggled from the cyclic joystick, but I've had a lot of reliability issues
and may have to change.

--
Stuart Fields
Experimental Helo magazine
P. O. Box 1585
Inyokern, CA 93527
(760) 377-4478 ph
(760) 408-9747 publication cell
"Kensandyeggo" wrote in message
oups.com...

Stuart & Kathryn Fields wrote:
Anyone using any of these things out there? Looking for user feedback.

--
Stuart Fields



I had one (ICOM 200) for almost 700 hours in my RAF/Sparrowhawk gyro.
It worked absolutely great. I had the ribbon antenna (I forget the
name) and the combo was fantastic. Tower could here me way out behind
mountains at low altitudes.

I also have one in my McCulloch J-2, but I have a hash noise from an
unshielded ignition. It transmits and receives O.K. though.

Stu:
The ICOM has a 9 frequency memory with optional remote switches for both
channel select and flip-flop functions ... essentially the same remote
features as used on the King KY 97A/197A and optionally implemented on
Robbie cyclics. Let me know if you want the manuals and I'll try to dig out
the links.

The one quirk of the XCOM unit in the install manual that I read was that
in order to use the remote channel select / flip-flop features, you lose the
co-pilot PTT button. Not normally a big deal, but could be troublesome if
you're in new airspace with a passenger who is familiar with the area and
willing to do the radio work for you. Also not very convenient for training
purposes.

"Stuart & Kathryn Fields" wrote in message
.. .
Can you toggle thru more than just one frequency in the ICOM? I'm flying
a
Baby Belle and don't take my hand off the cyclic unless it is on the
ground
and the blade speed is down. I find that flying around a restricted area
I
can use about 5 frequencies. My Microair is capable of up to 25
frequencies
toggled from the cyclic joystick, but I've had a lot of reliability issues
and may have to change.

Bill: Thanks for the reply. It seems like it might be possible to do a
wire OR between the pilot and co-pilot PTT switches.
Microaire has provided me with a replacement unit so I will be trying that.
However, my patience with this unit is getting very thin. I will have to
modify my instrument panel if I go to the ICOM.
BTW are you still producing governors? We get calls from various people
regarding governors and tend to send them your way.
Spurlings was great.

--
Stu Fields
Experimental Helo magazine
P. O. Box 1585
Inyokern, CA 93527
(760) 377-4478 ph
(760) 408-9747 publication cell
"Bill McMullen" wrote in message
news:YlsXg.12588$P7.7114@edtnps89...
Stu:
The ICOM has a 9 frequency memory with optional remote switches for both
channel select and flip-flop functions ... essentially the same remote
features as used on the King KY 97A/197A and optionally implemented on
Robbie cyclics. Let me know if you want the manuals and I'll try to dig
out
the links.

The one quirk of the XCOM unit in the install manual that I read was
that
in order to use the remote channel select / flip-flop features, you lose
the
co-pilot PTT button. Not normally a big deal, but could be troublesome if
you're in new airspace with a passenger who is familiar with the area and
willing to do the radio work for you. Also not very convenient for
training
purposes.

"Stuart & Kathryn Fields" wrote in message
.. .
Can you toggle thru more than just one frequency in the ICOM? I'm flying
a
Baby Belle and don't take my hand off the cyclic unless it is on the
ground
and the blade speed is down. I find that flying around a restricted area
I
can use about 5 frequencies. My Microair is capable of up to 25
frequencies
toggled from the cyclic joystick, but I've had a lot of reliability
issues
and may have to change.

Stu: I think the problem with a PTT "OR" function is that the XCOM has a
built-in VOX intercom and I'd imagine that you'd have the wrong MIC input
for a co-pilot TX. You could turn the intercom feature OFF and use a
separate external intercom for the dual pilot / co-pilot feature. The other
issue with the remote button is that a single button does both the memory
select and the flip-flop function depending upon which mode the display is
in ... you'd still have to change hands on the cyclic to press the MODE
button on the radio ... not very user friendly for our application. Perhaps
you could talk to XCOM and get them to finally recognize the usefullness of
separate select and flip-flop buttons for a helicopter cyclic and other
applications. I know they are pin limited, but this would be more useful
than an external switch for intercom on/off or pilot isolate (pins 5 & 11).

I still do the occasional governor but the difficulty is the parts source
.... I'll send more details via direct email.

"Stuart & Kathryn Fields" wrote in message
.. .
Bill: Thanks for the reply. It seems like it might be possible to do a
wire OR between the pilot and co-pilot PTT switches.
Microaire has provided me with a replacement unit so I will be trying
that.
However, my patience with this unit is getting very thin. I will have to
modify my instrument panel if I go to the ICOM.
BTW are you still producing governors? We get calls from various people
regarding governors and tend to send them your way.
Spurlings was great.

The XCOM now has a seperate remote module giving up to 20 remote
operations from the joystick if needed and still retains the Co-Pilot PTT

Bill McMullen wrote:
Stu:
The ICOM has a 9 frequency memory with optional remote switches for both
channel select and flip-flop functions ... essentially the same remote
features as used on the King KY 97A/197A and optionally implemented on
Robbie cyclics. Let me know if you want the manuals and I'll try to dig out
the links.

The one quirk of the XCOM unit in the install manual that I read was that
in order to use the remote channel select / flip-flop features, you lose the
co-pilot PTT button. Not normally a big deal, but could be troublesome if
you're in new airspace with a passenger who is familiar with the area and
willing to do the radio work for you. Also not very convenient for training
purposes.

"Stuart & Kathryn Fields" wrote in message
.. .

Can you toggle thru more than just one frequency in the ICOM? I'm flying

a

Baby Belle and don't take my hand off the cyclic unless it is on the

ground

and the blade speed is down. I find that flying around a restricted area

I

can use about 5 frequencies. My Microair is capable of up to 25

frequencies

toggled from the cyclic joystick, but I've had a lot of reliability issues
and may have to change.

Thanks for the update ... I stand corrected and educated. This is a great
addition for installation flexibility but unfortunately it wasn't announced
when I made my purchasing decision for a helicopter radio.

"User" wrote in message

..au...
The XCOM now has a seperate remote module giving up to 20 remote
operations from the joystick if needed and still retains the Co-Pilot PTT

Bill McMullen wrote:
Stu:
The ICOM has a 9 frequency memory with optional remote switches for
both
channel select and flip-flop functions ... essentially the same remote
features as used on the King KY 97A/197A and optionally implemented on
Robbie cyclics. Let me know if you want the manuals and I'll try to dig
out
the links.

The one quirk of the XCOM unit in the install manual that I read was
that
in order to use the remote channel select / flip-flop features, you lose
the
co-pilot PTT button. Not normally a big deal, but could be troublesome
if
you're in new airspace with a passenger who is familiar with the area
and
willing to do the radio work for you. Also not very convenient for
training
purposes.

Stuart & Kathryn Fields wrote:
Ken: Are you still manufacturing HS equipment for gyros?

NO, STU. I SOLD OVER 30 OF THEM AND THEN THE CHEAP COPYCATS CAME OUT
AND IT WASN'T WORTH IT ANYMORE.

How do you like
the J-2? We've heard stories about lack of sufficient power.

I HAD THE "SUPER J-2," WHICH HAD A 3-BLADED McCAULEY CONSTANT-SPEED
PROP. IT HAD A LITTLE MORE OOMPH. UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE OF A
BUSINESS PARTNER BACKING OUT AFTER I SIGNED A LEASE FOR A LOCATION, I
HAD TO OFFER HER FOR SALE. I SOLD HER ON FRIDAY THE 13TH. BUYER SAID
HE WAS GYRO-RATED (WINDS UP HE WASN'T. HE LIED) AND PROCEEDED TO
DEMOLISH HER ON HIS TAKE-OFF FOR HOME. THERE WAS A X-WIND AND AS SOON
AS HE LIFTED OFF, HE MADE A SHARP TURN DOWNWIND, GOT BEHIND THE POWER
CURVE AND CRASHED. HE WALKED AWAY UNHURT, BUT THE J-2 WAS TOTALLY
DESTROYED. MADE ME SICK. IT WAS A GORGEOUS CRAFT. IF ANYONE WANTS TO
SEE PHOTOS OF WHAT SHE LOOKED LIKE BEFORE SHE WAS DEMOLISHED, GO TO
BARNSTORMERS.COM AND ENTER "McCULLOCH J-2" IN THE SEARCH BOX. THE PICS
WILL BE UP FOR A FEW MORE DAYS.

KEN


One of our
friends worked on the things with Frank Robinson at McCulloch. I can
remember seeing a test version at Lancaster CA airport with strain gages all
over it.
Can you toggle thru more than just one frequency in the ICOM? I'm flying a
Baby Belle and don't take my hand off the cyclic unless it is on the ground
and the blade speed is down. I find that flying around a restricted area I
can use about 5 frequencies. My Microair is capable of up to 25 frequencies
toggled from the cyclic joystick, but I've had a lot of reliability issues
and may have to change.

--
Stuart Fields
Experimental Helo magazine
P. O. Box 1585
Inyokern, CA 93527
(760) 377-4478 ph
(760) 408-9747 publication cell
"Kensandyeggo" wrote in message
oups.com...

Stuart & Kathryn Fields wrote:
Anyone using any of these things out there? Looking for user feedback.

--
Stuart Fields



I had one (ICOM 200) for almost 700 hours in my RAF/Sparrowhawk gyro.
It worked absolutely great. I had the ribbon antenna (I forget the
name) and the combo was fantastic. Tower could here me way out behind
mountains at low altitudes.

I also have one in my McCulloch J-2, but I have a hash noise from an
unshielded ignition. It transmits and receives O.K. though.