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#11
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Becker vs Microair
Buy an ATR500 from Funkwerk(ex-Filser) in Germany.
Reasonable price,excellent quality and IT WORKS FAULTLESSLY! I too had an early Microair and have been scarred for life. Pete |
#12
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Becker vs Microair
Buy an ATR500 form Funkwerk(ex-Filser) in Germany.
Reasonable price,good quality and IT WORKS FAULTLESSLY! http://www.shop.funkwerk-avionics.com/english/ I too had an early Microair and have been scarred for life. Pete |
#13
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Becker vs Microair
Second that.
Went through all this tossing up - considered what was installed in other aircraft, and how they were standing up after a couple of years. Considered the service available. Choice was Becker or Funkwerk. Consequently: Remove one by prehistoric power gobbling, huge, heavy,dual 360 channel King. Lose 2.4kg in cockpit after installing one tiny light ATR500. Pleasant Surprises The fittings and wiring that come with the beast are first rate. The instructions are clear - and correct. The thing works as advertised - first time. Reception is crystal clear. Transmission is perfect - it has a function to tune the transmitter to the microphone. So my ultra low power LX electret mike can now work from 10cm from my face. It works down to pretty low voltages. I have not had it below 11.2 volts, but everything was still working at that point. The dual channel function works well. The squelch is automatic - and it works. Power consumption is very low. Limited experience is that hot (30+ centigrade at launch) and high (13,000 feet) are not problems. Negatives. The user interface is very logical, but some of the buttons are hard to reach accurately in my Std Cirrus, bigger might have been better. The display is quite readable, but a little cryptic. You have to turn a knob and push a button for some of the functions. Beats the switch off+on alternative, but again in the Cirrus the panel is an inconvenient stretch away... Good part is that in general you only ever have to use the stored frequency knob to select one of the 9 saved channels, and it is a good size. Everything else is pretty much automatic, or set and forget. All things considered, I am happy enough with the Funkwerk (ex Filser) product to have ordered it's replacement ATR833 for the new toy. For reference - fly with a Dittel in the Kestrel and don't like it as much. It is a slightly older radio (FSG2T), but the ATR500 is far nicer to use == better. Biggest advantage - I can now get two days power out of one battery , compared to three hours with the monster... My 2c. worth - come over to the dark side - No amount of cheap is going to compensate for recreation spoiled by stuff malfunctioning - rather skip a couple of luxuries or make some other plan and buy quality. Bruce Pete Startup wrote: Buy an ATR500 form Funkwerk(ex-Filser) in Germany. Reasonable price,good quality and IT WORKS FAULTLESSLY! http://www.shop.funkwerk-avionics.com/english/ I too had an early Microair and have been scarred for life. Pete |
#14
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Becker vs Microair
On Sat, 16 Aug 2008 08:39:59 +0000, Pete Startup wrote:
Buy an ATR500 from Funkwerk(ex-Filser) in Germany. Reasonable price,excellent quality and IT WORKS FAULTLESSLY! I fitted an ATR500 last winter and am happy with it, though I admit that I usually soar with it off. I've had no problems with it. Its main limitation is only 9 presets and the need to remember which preset has what frequency. If you want to label the frequencies and have 99 of them, consider the ATR600. -- martin@ | Martin Gregorie gregorie. | Essex, UK org | |
#15
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Becker vs Microair
Does anyone have any experience with the newer XCOM radio? I had a demo
at Oshkosh and it looked logical with reasonable performance and power draw. It also has a repeater head, which would be nice for my two-seater. Given all of the comments in this thread, its obvious that reliablity is a key concern. - from someone with an unnamed brand radio in for repair for that last 11 months, but that's another story - ...... Neal Dixie Sierra wrote: I've decided to give up on my Avionic Dittel and buy new. It's been a good radio and has given many years of service, but I'd like some new functionality. Functionality is really at the heart of my dilemna. I've kind of narrowed things down to Becker vs Microair (I've ruled out Walter Dittel on price... everyone has a limit independent of reason). There seems to be a broad consensus that the Becker is a more reliable choice. However, the Microair seems to offer a number of superior features. 1) Remote operation from a stick mounted toggle. 2) Dual scan beteween the active and standby freqs with the ability to transmit on the active. (Becker also offers a scan option but it seems to be cover far more freqs and the freqs covered can only be changed by turning the radio off and on at least twice. Dual scan seems very nice when flying XC in the vicinity of an active airport.) 3 Alpha descriptions of saved freqs. 4) Variable squelch (Becker has this, but not without turning the radio off and on at least twice to make changes.) So here I am... The Microair costs less and has "better" features. But who cares if it doesn't work? What to do? What to do?.. I think I'll fly with the handheld! What am I missing? I'm sure there are many cosniderations that escape me. Doug |
#16
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Becker vs Microair
ATR600 and ATR833 have a remote head capability.
I understand that if cheap is the requirement then the Microair or XCom may be worth looking at. Based on what I saw - the eagerness of nearly every microair owner I met to move their radio on at an attractive price, caveat emptor... Personally I find it impossible to remember what all the frequencies are - given there are 9 of them I program in what I need if I move to a different location. We have relatively uncomplicated airspace so I have never felt a need for even the full 9. Neal Pfeiffer wrote: Does anyone have any experience with the newer XCOM radio? I had a demo at Oshkosh and it looked logical with reasonable performance and power draw. It also has a repeater head, which would be nice for my two-seater. Given all of the comments in this thread, its obvious that reliablity is a key concern. - from someone with an unnamed brand radio in for repair for that last 11 months, but that's another story - ..... Neal Dixie Sierra wrote: I've decided to give up on my Avionic Dittel and buy new. It's been a good radio and has given many years of service, but I'd like some new functionality. Functionality is really at the heart of my dilemna. I've kind of narrowed things down to Becker vs Microair (I've ruled out Walter Dittel on price... everyone has a limit independent of reason). There seems to be a broad consensus that the Becker is a more reliable choice. However, the Microair seems to offer a number of superior features. 1) Remote operation from a stick mounted toggle. 2) Dual scan beteween the active and standby freqs with the ability to transmit on the active. (Becker also offers a scan option but it seems to be cover far more freqs and the freqs covered can only be changed by turning the radio off and on at least twice. Dual scan seems very nice when flying XC in the vicinity of an active airport.) 3 Alpha descriptions of saved freqs. 4) Variable squelch (Becker has this, but not without turning the radio off and on at least twice to make changes.) So here I am... The Microair costs less and has "better" features. But who cares if it doesn't work? What to do? What to do?.. I think I'll fly with the handheld! What am I missing? I'm sure there are many cosniderations that escape me. Doug |
#17
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Becker vs Microair
Jim White wrote:
My first Becker went back. The second is fine if the volts are high. 12.5 I guess, but I cannot tell because the voltmeter on it always reads 15.1 (on 12V batteries). I would prefer not to buy another Becker. Surely there MUST be a better alternative? Sounds like your second Becker should go back, too; however, I suggest you first swap it with a another glider with a same model Becker that is working properly. That could tell you if the problem is the Becker or the stuff in the glider that is causing the problem. -- Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA * Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly * Updated! "Transponders in Sailplanes" http://tinyurl.com/y739x4 * New Jan '08 - sections on Mode S, TPAS, ADS-B, Flarm, more * "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation" at www.motorglider.org |
#18
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Becker vs Microair
On Aug 15, 8:18*pm, Dixie Sierra wrote:
I've decided to give up on my Avionic Dittel and buy new. It's been a good radio and has given many years of service, but I'd like some new functionality. Functionality is really at the heart of my dilemna. I've kind of narrowed things down to Becker vs Microair (I've ruled out Walter Dittel on price... everyone has a limit independent of reason). There seems to be a broad consensus that the Becker is a more reliable choice. However, the Microair seems to offer a number of superior features. 1) Remote operation from a stick mounted toggle. 2) Dual scan beteween the active and standby freqs with the ability to transmit on the active. (Becker also offers a scan option but it seems to be cover far more freqs and the freqs covered can only be changed by turning the radio off and on at least twice. Dual scan seems very nice when flying XC in the vicinity of an active airport.) 3 Alpha descriptions of saved freqs. 4) Variable squelch (Becker has this, but not without turning the radio off and on at least twice to make changes.) So here I am... The Microair costs less and has "better" features. But who cares if it doesn't work? What to do? What to do?.. I think I'll fly with the handheld! What am I missing? I'm sure there are many cosniderations that escape me. Doug Doug, I bought a used Becker AR3201 from Wings & Wheels more than 15 years ago and it has been working flawlessly ever since. If I had to replace it, I would consider a Becker again. You want to pick a manufacturer that has been around for a while and will be around for a while, too. Service/Repair facility network is an important point, too. Uli |
#19
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Becker vs Microair
Both my Becker radio (AR4201 installed July 2000) and Becker
transponder (ATC4401 installed April 2008) have worked and performed to my entire satisfaction. I would definitely buy Becker again! I know there are folks who have had problems, but I think you'll always hear about problems and seldom hear about good experiences. One should also keep in mind that electronics problems in gliders may be magnified since a lot of instrument wiring seems to be done by non- professionals. -John |
#20
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Becker vs Microair
"jcarlyle" wrote in message ... Both my Becker radio (AR4201 installed July 2000) and Becker transponder (ATC4401 installed April 2008) have worked and performed to my entire satisfaction. I would definitely buy Becker again! I know there are folks who have had problems, but I think you'll always hear about problems and seldom hear about good experiences. One should also keep in mind that electronics problems in gliders may be magnified since a lot of instrument wiring seems to be done by non- professionals. -John John is right. Reliability is more often the result of a good installation rather than the basic radio. I have a Microair and, as long as you feed it 11.5V, it works fine. Up and down the flightline it seems that every radio brand has it's share of problems. Gliders are a harsh environment for complex electronics. Be thankful radios work at all. Most often I note the problem is low battery voltage or bad power wires, bad antenna connection, bad mike or mike wiring. Classic symptom: "Works on the bench but not in the glider." I do recall one problem with my Microair 760. At first there were complaints of low modulation (strong carrier - weak voice). I increased mike gain with a screw in the side of the unit and now have good modulation. I think radios are set for use in airplanes where pilots are likely to shout over engine noise. In gliders, we tend to speak softer so we need to set higher mike gain. |
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