Hand Held Radios (Com + Nav)and GPS...Help?

I'm going through the same process of elimination. I had my ICOM A22
and Lowrance Airmap 100 stolen from my airplane two weeks ago. I am
looking at the same replacements as you are considering for your
airplane. Here's some random thoughts I've had... I liked the Airmap
100 because I'm a vfr pilot and it had the obstruction database. It
was a good unit that I used for 6 years without trouble. I'll
probably purchase the Airmap 500 or 1000 unless someone that owns one
of these units and doesn't like it changes my mind . It seems they
are the best bang for the buck for the vfr pilot.

I liked the IC-A22 as well, but I also had the alkaline battery pack
for it. I didn't like the hassle of keeping the NiCad charged. Do I
need an alkaline pack if I get the A23? Are they even available? I
believe the A23 has a nickel metal hydride battery pack while the
Vertex has the NiCad. Is NiMH a hassle to keep charged? I have
little experience with it? I may go with the Icom A5 and save a $100,
as in my experience, the nav feature on the IC-A22 has limited range
and usefulness, (at least with the supplied antenna).

wrote in message
...
Hi All!

OK.. we are tricking out our new (to us) 172...

Looking at/comparing the ICOM IC-A23, and the Vertex Standard
VXA-210.

ICOM is more $, but a known quantity/quality.

Completely unfamiliar with Vertex quality/service..

Any experiences you would share with us?

And....

GPS....

The GARMIN 196 seems to be a fav, but we are attracted to the
features/screen size of the Lowrance Airmap 1000.

Short of "holding out" for a Colour 196 we are asking for
advice here as well..

Any owner/user comparisons/recommendations?

Thanks in advance....

Dave