Looking for Transciever suggestions

Lockrdg,

Yaesu/Vertex and Icom are the main contenders, I would say. Rather than
getting a VOR-NAV function built-in, I'd og for a separate handheld GPS

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Thomas Borchert wrote:
Lockrdg,

Yaesu/Vertex and Icom are the main contenders, I would say. Rather than
getting a VOR-NAV function built-in, I'd og for a separate handheld GPS

Except that here in the USA, it is sometimes necessary to talk to FSS on
a comm frequency and listen on the VOR frequency. This is referred to
as working splits. The ICOM has this capability included using the
function button to select it. The receiver is tuned to the VOR frequency
to listen and when you depress the PTT, it switches to the COMM
frequency to transmit. Release the PTT and it switches back to the VOR
frequency.

When was the last time you did this for real?

Jim


Jay Smith
shared these priceless pearls of wisdom:


-Except that here in the USA, it is sometimes necessary to talk to FSS on
- a comm frequency and listen on the VOR frequency.



Jim Weir (A&P/IA, CFI, & other good alphabet soup)
VP Eng RST Pres. Cyberchapter EAA Tech. Counselor
http://www.rst-engr.com

Yaesu/Vertex and Icom

I agree with Jim re whether one can ever contact a ground station anymore using
the split frequency...nobody at home??

With respect to the handhelds, you have received some good information, the
external antenna being by far the best. When using an external antenna, it
seems the radio was never told that it should shun horizontally oriented
signals and works just fine on both com and nav. The distances it will receive
and send are amazing.

Jim just had a string about the little box or antenna bypass.

Ask again about the nav function on the Yaesu/Vertex. A friend purchased a
unit 3? months ago and all works well, great features, nice lighting, but the
nav has yet to work. The unit has been more in the shop at the main
Yaesu/Vertex plant in LA than in his hands.

A couple nights ago, after he got it back the third? time, we did a comparison
against an Icom 21 and a Narco 830 (no Narco is recommended for anything...I
have the 830) and both of them performed better than the Yaesu/Vertex.

He has had to chase the radio, with no feedback by Yaesu/Vertex and they must
be goaded for each transaction/followup. That was not always true,and one
wonders if it is because of the Vertex change.

External antenna, however it is done

Plug-in for 12 V power so as to not deplete the battery. (What Icom never
tells you...some of their portables WILL NOT work when plugged into 12V, just
the opposite of what one wants in time of need..ask the question and test each
one that way)

The headset adapter which includes provisons for a pust to talk switch or a
switch itself.

Good luck and come back and tell us what you decide. It helps others.

Neal

On 03 Jul 2004 20:37:33 GMT, (COUGARNFW) wrote:

The headset adapter which includes provisons for a pust to talk switch or a
switch itself.

I found the Yaseu essentially unusable until I got a PTT, from
Sporty's. It velcro's onto the top of the control stick, just like
Captain Midnight!

Might be a bear, though, setting this up while you have an electrical
emergency tothink about. Me, I do it on the ground before getting into
the plane, since the radio is my only comm.

I use the rubber ducky antenna. These are rental planes, and neither
has an outside antenna. I seldom use delta airspace, however. And I
always behave as if I were NORDO. I am reasonably sure however that I
am always heard in the pattern, not so sure that I am heard five or
even three miles out. As for hearing, I can hear Wiscasset in the
north and Marshfield on the south, a radius of 50 NM, from 2900 feet.

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

The Warbird's Forum www.warbirdforum.com
The Piper Cub Forum www.pipercubforum.com
Viva Bush! weblog www.vivabush.org

"Cub Driver" wrote in message
...

I use the rubber ducky antenna. These are rental planes, and neither
has an outside antenna. I seldom use delta airspace, however. And I
always behave as if I were NORDO. I am reasonably sure however that I
am always heard in the pattern, not so sure that I am heard five or
even three miles out.

In my experiment using the Icom with it's helical rubber "ducky" antenna I
contacted NY Approach 15 miles north of HPN (I was at 3000 and I believe
they are down in Long Island somewhere) then was handed off to HPN tower at
about 10 miles out and everything went smoothly. I used the Icom PTT button
and held the radio with the antenna vertical.

Jim Weir wrote:
When was the last time you did this for real?

Had to do it to pick up an IFR clearance while on the ground last year.

Last time I opened a VFR flight plan.

Jim Weir wrote in message . ..
When was the last time you did this for real?

-Except that here in the USA, it is sometimes necessary to talk to FSS on
- a comm frequency and listen on the VOR frequency.

Jay,

Except that here in the USA, it is sometimes necessary to talk to FSS on
a comm frequency and listen on the VOR frequency.


Well, yeah, I guess that stuff is still around in some places. Would you
use it in an emergency?

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)