Radio advice - newbie

Mark James Boyd wrote:

I suspect gliding is much
more popular because petrol is so expensive and in some
countries one must get a scheduled "slot" to fly a plane.

I am deeply shocked to read this statement on r.a.s.! Soaring is popular
here because it's a challenge and it's fun, while flying straight and
level with the help of a fuel to noise converter is just plain boring.

Don't the flight levels start at 6000 in some places too?
Do you need radios for this?

You're confusing flight levels with controlled airspace. Maybe it's the
same in USA, but not here.

Perhaps someone could tell us what radio requirements

All our glider have radio. Not because it's required, but because it's
a) convenient
b) safe (on tow as well as on approach)
c) allows team flying
d) is required for cloud flying

That it allows to enter controlled airspace is a nice side effect.

Stefan

Roger,
I did a ton of Research and went with the Icom A5 although not cheap it is a
great Handheld. I can't speak for the other models. The only caveat is that it
does Not give you a battery level. It flashes a battery sign about a few
minutes before it dies.

Douglas

Thanks to all the people who responded! ICOM seems to be the near-unanimous
favorite.

One other question: the models people mentioned seem to be COM only, no NAV.
Is there a need for NAV features in soaring? From what I've read so far, it
would seem that it's not used even in cross-country soaring, only in power
flight.

"Roger Worden" wrote in message . com...
Thanks to all the people who responded! ICOM seems to be the near-unanimous
favorite.

One other question: the models people mentioned seem to be COM only, no NAV.
Is there a need for NAV features in soaring? From what I've read so far, it
would seem that it's not used even in cross-country soaring, only in power
flight.

Especially since the introduction of GPS, the NAV function is
unnecessary, especially for gliding. Even if you do get it, trying to
use it while soaring would be difficult and dangerous at best! (think
looking at a sectional to find the nearest VOR, setting the freq,
finding the radial you are on, then trying to plot that on the
sectional - oh, and stay in that half knot thermal while you are doing
it. Lookout, what lookout?

Of course, you can also bury your head in the cockpit with a handheld
GPS, so it still takes discipline.

BTW, if you get an ICOM, and plan on using it a lot in a club
environment, I would suggest also getting the optional AA battery pack
(about $35, I think). That way when your NiCad runs out you have a
backup. I also use the handheld mike, clipped to my parachute harness
or shoulder strap - a lot easier to use than fumbling for the whole
radio, which then has to be re-stowed - not a good idea in the
pattern.

Good luck

Kirk
66

In article ,
Roger Worden wrote:
Thanks to all the people who responded! ICOM seems to be the near-unanimous
favorite.

One other question: the models people mentioned seem to be COM only, no NAV.
Is there a need for NAV features in soaring? From what I've read so far, it
would seem that it's not used even in cross-country soaring, only in power
flight.


For the price of the added VOR/NAV function, I'd prefer a handheld
GPS (even a very simple one). But if you have the money for
both...

By the way, I use rechargeable AA's in all my portable electronics.
Several times I've had to "steal" batteries from GPS for the
radio or vice versa and it was nice to have compatible batteries.
I also put a little piece of plastic between the ICOM contact and
battery in the back, with a little tab of it sticking out. Then
when I'm ready to turn it on, I pull out the tab. This avoids
it accidentally turning on (volume switch) in my flight bag.

By the way, I use rechargeable AA's in all my portable electronics.
Several times I've had to "steal" batteries from GPS for the
radio or vice versa and it was nice to have compatible batteries.
I also put a little piece of plastic between the ICOM contact and
battery in the back, with a little tab of it sticking out. Then
when I'm ready to turn it on, I pull out the tab. This avoids
it accidentally turning on (volume switch) in my flight bag.


Yeah, the rechargable AA NiMH are great. I use them in my digital camera all
the time.

Thanks.

"Roger Worden" wrote:

I'm a student pilot, and it's about time for me to get a radio. For general
soaring purposes, what's a decent handheld? I really know nothing about
them. Is the Sporty's SP-200 a good choice?

Thanks in advance.



Shortly after I got my license in 1992 I asked some ham radio
operators in my soaring club which brand of hand held radio to buy.
They all recommended the Icom brand and very reliable. I purchased an
Icom AC21 in 92. I run a commercial glider operation and was in need
of a second hand held and purchased an Icom AC-4, 4 years ago. Both
are still working flawlessly. If I lost one of them I would not
hesitate to purchase another Icom.

Shortly after I got my license in 1992 I asked some ham radio
operators in my soaring club which brand of hand held radio to buy.
They all recommended the Icom brand and very reliable. I purchased an
Icom AC21 in 92. I run a commercial glider operation and was in need
of a second hand held and purchased an Icom AC-4, 4 years ago. Both
are still working flawlessly. If I lost one of them I would not
hesitate to purchase another Icom.

I bought the original ICOM AC20 back in the late 80's. I instruct and it
gets a lot of use and abuse - it's been dropped, among other things.
Last year, I replaced the antenna connector (it broke off of the circuit
board) and a few years before that, the rechargable battery pack.

I'd like to replace it with the smaller AC22 or the smaller yet AC4 but
the damned thing just won't die.

Back when I bought the AC20, the only competing product was the King
KX-99. Like JC, I went with the ICOM because of its rock solid
reputation in the ham radio community.

You can't go wrong with ICOM.

Tony V.

Roger, I have a Like New Sportys handheld Com radio that i will make
you a really good deal on. It is a very nice and easy to use radio
that has only been used a couple of times.

Let me know if you are interested.

Joe Simmers
Ohio,usa

"Roger Worden" wrote in message . com...
I'm a student pilot, and it's about time for me to get a radio. For general
soaring purposes, what's a decent handheld? I really know nothing about
them. Is the Sporty's SP-200 a good choice?

Thanks in advance.

I have used a Sporty's handheld for several years, and it's always worked
fine.
I like it because it is simple to use, and it just works.

"Roger Worden" wrote in message
om...
I'm a student pilot, and it's about time for me to get a radio. For
general
soaring purposes, what's a decent handheld? I really know nothing about
them. Is the Sporty's SP-200 a good choice?

Thanks in advance.