The power supply in your single duel channel monitoring radio has just expired............now what.:confused:

Squawk 7600 and keep calm.

Should I install a Transponder then?

That happened to me at 6,000 ft right on top and I mean exactly overheard Tulla just after receiving a new lower altitude and awaiting my next waypoint and right before I got out my read-back. I must say Arnold, it does happen!

I did what I thought I was supposed to, continued on the last instruction, squarked 7600 and pulled out the handheld. Small problem, I hadn't written down the frequency (always write them down!), looked up the ERSA, found the right frequency and pulled out the handheld. Established comms with the headset off and was subsequently told to quickly change back to my allocated code.

When you squark 7600 alarms go off all over the country, Tulla, East Sale and anywhere within 250 miles at least, or so they tell me.

Fathom, pissed myself laughing at that one, good one. :ok: but also true. If they can't afford a second radio and intercom what chance they're putting a transponder in?

X, you got a radio fail, squawk 7600, they'll tell you to go back to assigned code when they get you back but still squawk it.

Also read the radio fail procedure for clearances also in ERSA, that's what they want & expect you to do :ok:

I get along well with one Icom IC A210 in my P2002JF. The dual-watch capability works fine and the radio itself is cheap enough ($1200 or so). And yes, I do also have a transponder :) With a larger aircraft I'd be happy enough to spend the extra cash on another transceiver and basic audio panel, especially if I planned more ambitious operations. As someone else mentioned, do yourself a favour and buy a decent intercom. Seems no-one has much good to say about the integrated intercomms in any of the new generation comm sets.

In terms of redundancy the best solution is probably the hand-held, bypassing as it does a few single failure points in the aircraft.

Just doing an "around the bay" scenic will have you monitoring Melb Radar, then the chopper CTAF, then YPCK, YMAV, back to Melb Radar, then YMMB ATIS, then YMMB.

Two radios and Audio panel.

The handheld is in my flight bag anyway. Its doubtful that you could use it considering engine noise.

Mode S ES transponder (probably Trig)

And maybe, just maybe, if the stockmarket is good to me, one of those radios will be a Garmin GTN 625(?) which gives me a backup moving map as well as a TSO'd GPS input for the Trig, which would make me ADS-B out compliant.

Then maybe ADS B In when Dynon writes the interface for a cheap product.

Then the Dynon Skyview with a couple of servos added and I can sit on the ground, wondering how it all works, then there is the iPad, and paper maps.... and the Go Pro camera........no need to go flying.:E

Easy enough to buy or make a GA headset plug adapter for most handhelds. It's an installation beloved of the trike guys.

Help me! I'm suffering from gadgetitis. I will come home from Avalon with 30kg of brochures on new products from LED interior lights to constant speed props.

Don't go to Oshkosh

Ignore the 'trash' Sunny....GO TO OSH!!!

Take ya wallet, credit card, debit card etc etc and have a ball.....
Things is cheap over there....
:}

If they don't waste money on a second radio and audio panel, they might have cash left over for a transponder! :ok:

You'd be surprised how many experimental and recreational day-VFR aircraft fly around with that combo... It's only 40 year old Cessnas with original radios that fail every other week that need two. :p

A second radio & audio panel won't ever be a waste of money :ok: neither is a transponder. They don't have to be TSO'd so are a reasonable price. Save your pennys for just a little longer. Do yourself and the aviation community a favour :ok:

Radio, Intercom, and Audio Panel
 

This panel does it all. PAR100EX. It comes with a 5 watt remote mounted VHF transceiver, 4 place intercom, stereo music and Bluetooth(R)
Made by PS Engineering, Inc.

Only because they are guarding 121.5! Seems reasonable! But I digress.

Dynon is apparently releasing a software driven radio as part of its skyview system.

A Garmin 300 mfd would do the job nicely but doesn't have a radio. GNS430 would be nice but expensive and VFR only so an overkill. The non tso'ed VFR gear will give the best bang for buck.

I'm tipping Sunny will end up with a Dynon unit (Skyview at a stretch) plus an Icom 210.

On a somewhat unrelated topic ill get one of these for my project assuming their Bluetooth is reliable. An iPad on one side for aircraft and engine and an iPad on the other for OZRunways.

I tried!

Straight through to the keeper! :E

One of these to run your radios...


http://www.rockwellcollins.com/Produ...s_483x202.ashx