Gift Aircraft band transciever

[okcetech]

My sisters boyfriend wants an aircraft band HT transciever. Could someone tell me what to look for in features and what would be a good brand. He is an amatuer pilot and he will occasionally rent small aircraft for short jaunts. I know they have built in navagational features but I don't know what they are. Whenever he is at my place he always turns my ham radios to the aircraft freqs to listen. Thanks

 

[Colin9690]

Myself being a pilot, I can tell you exactly what to look for.

GO WITH ICOM!!! Get their IC-A23 or the IC-A24. Important features in these are one touch emergency comms, which is hit one button, you are instantly tuned to the emergency freq. And, they have Navigation capability, which is if the nav indicator in the aircraft dies, you can use your handheld to navigate. They have flip flop channel recall, lets you quickly switch channels. And, Icoms are tough, like the Motorola public safety radios.

Hope this helps you out! BTW, these handhelds are at Icoms website:

http://www.icomamerica.com/products/avionics/a24_a6/

 

[okcetech]

I like ICOM on ham. They are the first brand I looked at. What is the difference between the sport models with the ICOM. They are considerably less expensive. Thanks for the info.

 

[Colin9690]

The difference is the sport model doesn't have the navigation capability. I would go with the one with navigation because if he is flying and his nav radios in the aircraft fail, he can whip out his handheld and navigate. It's a very helpful feature. That is the only difference.

 

[okcetech]

Thank you very much

 

[Colin9690]

No problem, it's a pleasure to help.

 

[AngelFire91]

Actually the Sport version uses Alkaline batteries and the non-sport version uses Ni-Cad rechargables, if he doesn't fly that often and is just looking for the radio as backup then I would recommend the Sport version since he wouldn't have to worry about the batteries being charged all the time and he could just carry extra batteries with him. Now my next questions would be why is he looking for this radio? Is he just looking for a backup that he can use if he has a radio failure? Is he instrument rated? I agree that the Nav portion is helpful but really it's not ment to be used for the sole purpose of navigation and can not be used in instrument coditions so I would say he could probably go without if you are looking to cut cost somewhere, I've used the Icom A23 and think it's a wounderful radio with good power and great quality but I personally think the Nav part of it is lacking due to the small display, but for overall Communications I would say go for it, I personally wouldn't mind getting one for christmas. If your looking at more the Nav side of things then check out Sporty's SP200, it has a much bigger Nav display. Check out: http://www.sportys.com/pilotshop/pages/transceiver.cfm?trackingId=731 For a good breakdown of the common radio's used. I really also like Vertex Nav/Coms but the choice really depends on what kind of flying he does (cross-country, local flights, over mountians??) and what he's looking for in features.

I'm willing to help you out more if you have other questions feel free to ask.

Thanks,
Kevin

 

[MWillyG]

RE: Aircraft band transceiver - JRC?

Please forgive me for hijacking the thread somewhat and re-directing it away from Icom units (nothing against Icom--I have several Icom ham radios and receivers and like them all).

Has anyone used the JRC 500 (non-Nav) or 520 (Nav-Com)?

Thanks!

 

[AngelFire91]

I personally have not used the JRC radios. I know a guy that has one and I should see him tomorrow so I'll ask and see what he has to say about them.

 

[CLB]

The difference is the sport model doesn't have the navigation capability. I would go with the one with navigation because if he is flying and his nav radios in the aircraft fail, he can whip out his handheld and navigate. It's a very helpful feature. That is the only difference.

That's why we have GPS mang haha!

 

[JLHDU]

Myself being a pilot, I can tell you exactly what to look for.

GO WITH ICOM!!! Get their IC-A23 or the IC-A24. Important features in these are one touch emergency comms, which is hit one button, you are instantly tuned to the emergency freq. And, they have Navigation capability, which is if the nav indicator in the aircraft dies, you can use your handheld to navigate. http://www.icomamerica.com/products/avionics/a24_a6/

Is the range ideal for picking up ground comms within 50 miles...I'm at ZDC and my sector is from Linden-west to Elkins-south to Roanoke-south to Raleigh. I highly doubt I'll get anything that far south but I was hoping to atleast pick-up some of the convention traffic in and out of Lewisburg, WV in the spring.

-J

 

[okcetech]

thank you all very much for your help. I decided on the Icom since that is what most of my ham equipment is.