"Plumed L. Basilisk" wrote in
message ...
Here's my research, prices in Canadian dollars (www.radioworld.ca and VIP)

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I've completed the research, and have found that Ottawa stores are
exhorbitantly expensive when compared with internet stores, though they
did give me the opportunity to play with the radios.

Here is the mathematical comparaison of the three finalists:

| Battery life, transmitting
---Radio-------| | Battery life, Receiving
| | | Battery life, Squelching
| | | | Tx Power
| | | | | Weight
| | | | | | Price
Vertex VXA-150 | 0.73hrs | 4.00hrs | 15.5hrs | 5.00W | 12oz | $300
ICom A4 | 1.00hrs | 2.80hrs | 12.7hrs | 3.70W | 15oz | $350
ICom A5 | 0.07hrs | 1.52hrs | 10.8hrs | 5.00W | 12oz | $400

(Note that these numbers are derived from specs and likely useful only for
comparaison, and indicate better battery life than we will actually
experience)

Good research. Scott left it unclear, but I suppose he is looking for
a portable. Vertex has actually been around for a long time (formerly known
as Yaesu). Vertex and Icom are the Honda and Toyota of the consumer 2-way
radio world. You will not go far wrong with either make. I have the
VXA-150 and am very happy with it.

Vaughn