portable transceiver question
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portable transceiver question
just like to know your experience, people
there is some transceivers on market like from ICOM. How many of you use them as backup in your flightbag? I just starting my experience as fresh PPL-pilot and don't know if i have to buy it or not...How many of you had already radio failure during flying and how many of you own such transceiver?
there is some transceivers on market like from ICOM. How many of you use them as backup in your flightbag? I just starting my experience as fresh PPL-pilot and don't know if i have to buy it or not...How many of you had already radio failure during flying and how many of you own such transceiver?
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In 15 yrs of flying I only had once a COM failure. It was in a rental a/c in sh*t condition with one vhf only.
I had it and I used it. We managed to communicate with the tower some 5 miles out and all went ok (no extra antena just its own rubber duck type).
Nowdays, flying own aircraft with com1 & com2, I usually use it to take ATIS or request start up so I won't consume aircraft battery. This also serves as a self test before flight.
Its good to have one, just make sure the batteries stay healthy and charged all the time otherwise it'll be useless.
If you're a fresh or trainee PPL it will help you a lot in your R/T knowledge just by monitoring airport frequency. It helped me a lot back then.
I had it and I used it. We managed to communicate with the tower some 5 miles out and all went ok (no extra antena just its own rubber duck type).
Nowdays, flying own aircraft with com1 & com2, I usually use it to take ATIS or request start up so I won't consume aircraft battery. This also serves as a self test before flight.
Its good to have one, just make sure the batteries stay healthy and charged all the time otherwise it'll be useless.
If you're a fresh or trainee PPL it will help you a lot in your R/T knowledge just by monitoring airport frequency. It helped me a lot back then.
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I had a failure in a rental a/c in sh*t condition with one vhf only 
So the next day I bought an Icom A22 (the one with the VOR receiver feature; works very well).
One also needs a headset adaptor, plus the velcro-attached PTT switch.
The whole lot now lives in an "emergency bag", together with a 2nd GPS and an EPIRB.
So the next day I bought an Icom A22 (the one with the VOR receiver feature; works very well).
One also needs a headset adaptor, plus the velcro-attached PTT switch.
The whole lot now lives in an "emergency bag", together with a 2nd GPS and an EPIRB.
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My present aircraft does not have a radio!
It does however have an aerial and my handheld (old ICOM) using the aerial is at least as good as the main box in my last aircraft (King KY97). Using the rubber duck gives poor performance - particularly in the aircraft - but with the installated aerial, its as good as a panel mount. Really!
It does however have an aerial and my handheld (old ICOM) using the aerial is at least as good as the main box in my last aircraft (King KY97). Using the rubber duck gives poor performance - particularly in the aircraft - but with the installated aerial, its as good as a panel mount. Really!
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I don't know if the figure of 5 times is right or wrong but I am sure that electrical failures are more common than engine failures. The nice thing about electrical failure (versus engine failure) is that a 200 quid transceiver and a 200 quid handheld GPS mitigates the problems in 99% of cases. And of course, the aircraft keeps flying even when the electrics fail.
My opinion on a handheld transceiver and a handheld GPS is, "why not?"
My opinion on a handheld transceiver and a handheld GPS is, "why not?"
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Originally Posted by Longbow55
Got a Sporty's SP200 great assest, and actually had to use it for a radio failure in April.
I see only ICOM in all catalogues and there is also VERTEX in USA on market, but maybe somebody sells it in Europe too?
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Originally Posted by acuba 290
ok, ordered VERTEX VXA-300
It has Com and NAV frequencies, plus a load of preprogrammed frequencies like major ATC and ATIS units in UK and Europe.
Also it comes complete with the all important headset adaptor.
However, I did have to purchase the PTT button separately - I ordered this from the USA for less than £20.00
Works fine, and has a good range even using the rubber duck antenna.
Also has a beefy 1700mah battery which I think exceeds the spec of most of the Icom range.
All in all, very impressive!
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Originally Posted by oscarmike
However, I did have to purchase the PTT button separately - I ordered this from the USA for less than £20.00
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Originally Posted by Kyprianos Biris
If you're a fresh or trainee PPL it will help you a lot in your R/T knowledge just by monitoring airport frequency. It helped me a lot back then.
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I've had 4 comms failures now - including one on my PPL skills test.
After the first 3 I invested in a handheld (ICOM)... And the 4th time was a bit of a non-event. I didn't bother trying to plug my headset into it though when it happened - there were enough wires in the cockpit without wanting to search through my flight bag for that adaptor too. I just cranked up the volume volume and threw it on my lap - telling ATC what had happened and apologising in advance if I was a bit slow to reply.
After the first 3 I invested in a handheld (ICOM)... And the 4th time was a bit of a non-event. I didn't bother trying to plug my headset into it though when it happened - there were enough wires in the cockpit without wanting to search through my flight bag for that adaptor too. I just cranked up the volume volume and threw it on my lap - telling ATC what had happened and apologising in advance if I was a bit slow to reply.
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Beware..The latest ICOMS do not work with headsets and/or the headset adapter supplied with them.
If you buy one, ICOM will not reply to your complaint and there are many of us our here with radios that only work as handhelds on the ground and not as a backup in the air.
Please be warned
If you buy one, ICOM will not reply to your complaint and there are many of us our here with radios that only work as handhelds on the ground and not as a backup in the air.
Please be warned
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For what it's worth, the problem with the latest ICOMs does seem to be a little hit & miss. For example, mine when I've tried it with a headset, a DC 10-13.4 and the headset adaptor supplied it's been fine. The problem doesn't seem to effect every unit and/or headset combination.
Also, even if it didn't work perfectly with the headset, I'd still carry it as back-up and not class it as useless. As mentioned above, when I had a genuine failure I wasn't bothered about getting it all working nicely with my headset and a/c intercom system - it was intended for use as a backup when the chips were down and thats exactly what it did. I could talk with ATC as I approached and within the circuit - a handful of calls.
I'd rather have a hand-held radio than nothing at all when the main comms fail.
Also, even if it didn't work perfectly with the headset, I'd still carry it as back-up and not class it as useless. As mentioned above, when I had a genuine failure I wasn't bothered about getting it all working nicely with my headset and a/c intercom system - it was intended for use as a backup when the chips were down and thats exactly what it did. I could talk with ATC as I approached and within the circuit - a handful of calls.
I'd rather have a hand-held radio than nothing at all when the main comms fail.
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Originally Posted by acuba 290
but where is possible to get it in Europe?
I see only ICOM in all catalogues and there is also VERTEX in USA on market, but maybe somebody sells it in Europe too?
I see only ICOM in all catalogues and there is also VERTEX in USA on market, but maybe somebody sells it in Europe too?
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Originally Posted by acuba 290
but where is possible to get it in Europe?
I see only ICOM in all catalogues and there is also VERTEX in USA on market, but maybe somebody sells it in Europe too?
I see only ICOM in all catalogues and there is also VERTEX in USA on market, but maybe somebody sells it in Europe too?
http://www.transair.co.uk/
http://www.gps.co.uk/
and I am sure there are more.
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Originally Posted by acuba 290
as far as i know even RT-License don't give a right to use transceiver or scanner just to hear air frequency, it is only pemitted to use it during flight operations, or am i not right?
All I know is that half of my R/T confidence was gained via monitoring frequencies with my scanner.
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Originally Posted by acuba 290
why? there is no PTT button there?
I thought this was a little odd as they supplied an aviation headset adaptor with the radio.
I shopped around and the external PTT button appeared to be quite expensive.
However I tracked one down at aircraftspruce.com which cost a total of US$30.55 including shipping (a little under GB£17.00)
It comes with the adaptor lead and a neat little PTT button on a velcro strap that will fix the button to a stick or yoke.
We had a COM failure in our Jodel recently, and this radio worked fine even on the rubber duck antenna. I reckon I was getting a good 10 miles range.
Hope this helps.
regards
OM