I intend to buy a handheld.

almostthere wrote:
Just got my ticket and I plan to purchase a handheld Nav-Comm for back-up
but it is said that they're useless at altitude without an external antenna
connection. What connector do I use (BNC?) and how do I go about doing this
on rented C172s? Any alternatives/suggestions? Thanks in advance.

I'm thinking of doing the same(getting a handheld). Anyone have
experiences w/ the Yaesu's? Their prices seam to be a little better.

Monk

My handheld has been used from 6 miles out with no external antenna and
worked just fine.

"Robert M. Gary" wrote:
That doesn't sound very useful. 6 miles is a pretty short distance to
try to raise Center.

I didn't say that was the maximum distance it works w/o an antenna ...
it may well have a much further range. That's just the furthest I know
for a fact that it worked fine w/no antenna.

Almostthere,

Just got my ticket and I plan to purchase a handheld Nav-Comm for back-up

Why nav? For that, you would probably be better served with a handheld GPS.

but it is said that they're useless at altitude without an external antenna
connection.

Useless is too strongly put. But don't expect much more than 5 or 10 miles
range.

What connector do I use (BNC?)

The one that the handheld uses. Some have BNC, some smaller connectors. Or you
use an adaptor to BNC. If you want to use the antennas for the built-in comms,
you will need a special splitter box so that the handheld will not transmit
into the panel comm.

and how do I go about doing this
on rented C172s?

You don't, I'm afraid. That's to say, you don't have control over what's
installed in a rental.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Robert,

Use the suction cup antenna that came with your radio.


Can you point to a handheld radio that comes with a suction cup antenna
for external mounting? Or even for internal mounting?

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Flyingmonk,

Anyone have
experiences w/ the Yaesu's?


My wife sells them in her pilot shop. Great units, people love them.
Very compact and light weight, water resistant. The 710 is more compact
than the cheaper 300 and runs on LiIon batteries. If you use it as an
emergency back-up, get the battery box for non-rechargables, since they
will hold charge much longer.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

I currently have a Vertex Standard VXA Pro V 150 which if I'm not mistaken is the same as Yaesu. I had an Icom
before it was stolen. My personal preference is the Icom.

Joe Schneider
N8437R

"Flyingmonk" wrote in message ups.com...

almostthere wrote:
Just got my ticket and I plan to purchase a handheld Nav-Comm for back-up
but it is said that they're useless at altitude without an external antenna
connection. What connector do I use (BNC?) and how do I go about doing this
on rented C172s? Any alternatives/suggestions? Thanks in advance.

I'm thinking of doing the same(getting a handheld). Anyone have
experiences w/ the Yaesu's? Their prices seam to be a little better.

Monk





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A friend had a Sproty's and the only downside was the viewing angle of
the display. Could not view it straight on. Saw others that did the same
thing. I have a ICOM transciever only. When you get one GET the headset
adaptor. I tried to use mine in a J-3 since it didn't have radios and we
were going into a towered field. Almost impossible to use. Glad the
owner was flying and I was talking and yelling at him instructions.

Ross
KSWI

Greg Copeland wrote:

On Thu, 20 Jul 2006 19:17:30 +0000, almostthere wrote:


Just got my ticket and I plan to purchase a handheld Nav-Comm for back-up
but it is said that they're useless at altitude without an external antenna
connection. What connector do I use (BNC?) and how do I go about doing this
on rented C172s? Any alternatives/suggestions? Thanks in advance.


My old CFI had a Sporties unit. He loved it. Even the nav function was
usable, but I don't recall the range the said. I bought one for my father
for Christmas; shortly after he got his IFR ticket. He also says it works
very well. Again, I don't remember the range but I do remember him
talking about it working fairly well in the plane; again, including the
nav feature.

Right now, it seems like the Sporties handheld is the best bang for the
buck in handheld nav/coms. And reports from two people I know, plus
others I've read here, all have good stuff to say about it.


Greg

I can just see it now...

4000 ft, pilot contacts tower...

ATC: Pilot, what are your intentions?
Pilot: I intend to buy a handheld.

--
Jeff Shirton (PP-ASEL) jshirton at cogeco dot ca

He didn't sound like a baseball player... He said things like,
"Nevertheless", and "if, in fact." - Dan Quisenberry on Ted Simmons
Challenge me (Theophilus) for a game of chess at Chessworld.net!

"Flyingmonk" wrote in message ups.com...
:
: almostthere wrote:
: Just got my ticket and I plan to purchase a handheld Nav-Comm for back-up
: but it is said that they're useless at altitude without an external antenna
: connection. What connector do I use (BNC?) and how do I go about doing this
: on rented C172s? Any alternatives/suggestions? Thanks in advance.
:
: I'm thinking of doing the same(getting a handheld). Anyone have
: experiences w/ the Yaesu's? Their prices seam to be a little better.
:
: Monk
:

Yes, I have the "Pilot" (don't remember the number, vxa-210?) that I picked up a number of years ago with the accessory
AA pack, external antenna adapter, charger, and headphone adapter, all for a very good price from Avionics West
(http://avionicswest.net/). Works very well, is solid and compact. I like it...

On Sat, 22 Jul 2006 11:55:03 GMT, ".Blueskies."
wrote:

: I'm thinking of doing the same(getting a handheld). Anyone have
: experiences w/ the Yaesu's? Their prices seam to be a little better.

Isn't Yaseu now called Vertex? I've owned both, but comm only; I had
the nav feature in a Sporty's when I first started flying and found it
useless for my purposes. I tried it once to prove it really worked,
but I use a GPS with eyeball backup for nav purposes.


-- all the best, Dan Ford

email: usenet AT danford DOT net

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