Is ICOM the only Mobile Aviation VHF radio available?

[davidmc36]

I was trying to not be dumb or lazy.....but we got quoted $1600CAD each to install IC-A120.

I have searched around but do not see any real options in a 500 dollar range other than hand held.

Anybody have a good idea for Mobile Aircraft VHF in the 5 to 6 hundred range?

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[alcahuete]

Pretty sure none exist in that price range. They are all around $1000. I did see a A120 for $895 a couple days ago at pilotshop.com. That's still $1200 CAD. $500 is not going to happen unless maybe you can find something used.

 

[jeepsandradios]

ICOM is pretty much the only one making mobile air radios. installed ton of them for ARFF units and maintenance in the past.

 

[Mr_Boh]

In fairness, I have seen an aviation radio installed in a vehicle. If I had a significant amount of disposable income, you'd probably catch me doing that. Even ICOM themselves make a version of the A220, which is typically designed to be mounted in an aircraft panel, with a kit that could make it easily dash mounted with external speaker and handheld mic.

This is just my perspective - but the market is very limited for such a product - basically just public safety that interacts with an airport regularly (and most of those are finding other ways to talk to ATC) and potentially some ground support. If you are looking to listen, any old scanner seems to pick up aircraft AM as well as anything else out there - most of your performance for AM is gained through good RF noise control and good antenna placement.

 

[iMONITOR]

FlightLine FL-M1000AB VHF 118.0 - 136.975 MHz Air Band 760 Channel Land Mobile Radio

FlightLine FL-M1000AB VHF 118.0 - 136.975 MHz Air Band 760 Channel Land Mobile Radio at SkyGeek.com

FlightLine FL-M1000AB VHF 118.0 - 136.975 MHz Air Band 760 Channel Land Mobile Radio - Visit and view our entire SkyGeek, FBO & Ground Support, VHF Base Station Air Band Radios, section at SkyGeek!

www.skygeek.com

$753.63

 

[iMONITOR]

Flight Line 760

 

[flametamer]

Mentor makes a mobile for about $900 US.

Dt

 

[JimD56]

I just sold my ICOM IC-A6 Handheld Aviation Transcicever BUT the way I ran it as mobile was the "drop-in" charger plugged into the lighter. The drop-in charger was held on my console by velcro neat, and unseen. Ran an external antenna into the BNC antenna connector. Did all this for less than $350 NEW a few years ago.

 

[WB9YBM]

I was trying to not be dumb or lazy.....but we got quoted $1600CAD each to install IC-A120.

I have searched around but do not see any real options in a 500 dollar range other than hand held.

Anybody have a good idea for Mobile Aircraft VHF in the 5 to 6 hundred range?

Thanks for any suggestions.

It would be unusual if there were only one manufacturer making such a radio. References like "Sporty's Pilot Shop" (and I'm sure there are other stores out there) or an aviation magazine might provide additional details.

 

[krokus]

I was trying to not be dumb or lazy.....but we got quoted $1600CAD each to install IC-A120.

I have searched around but do not see any real options in a 500 dollar range other than hand held.

Anybody have a good idea for Mobile Aircraft VHF in the 5 to 6 hundred range?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Is this for an aircraft? If not, there are non-TSO version of the A-220 available. If it is for an aircraft, then you must use a TSO model. (FWIW, the 120 less money than the 220.)

 

[majoco]

Is this for an aircraft? If not, there are non-TSO version of the A-220 available. If it is for an aircraft, then you must use a TSO model. (FWIW, the 120 less money than the 220.)

What krokus said. If you want to install anything in an aircraft, it has to be 'type certified' and installed by a licensed aircraft engineer to a set of drawings by the manufacturer of the radio and pertinent to the aircraft that it's being fitted to. It's not the radio you're paying for, it's the expertise and all the traceability that goes with it. Even when we drove around the airport with an aircraft band transceiver fitted into the vehicle, it had to be TSO'd - because we were talking to aircraft and to the tower and had to meet the same specs as the guys we were talking to - that means no spurious emissions, no image reception, no strong signal problems and get tested every six months or so to make sure that the specs are still met - including the antenna VSWR and the microphone/headset that goes with it.

 

[chief21]

Is Genave still around? They used to offer mobile-style airband radios.