Which handheld transceiver?

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

"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.

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

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!

"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.

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

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

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

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.

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