Handheld backup

[BulletsRockts&MissilesOhMy]

This might have already been covered somewhere(sorry!)...Anyone have recommendations for a handheld as a solid comm/nav backup that can be used fairly easily during flight. Alkaline or rechargeable doesn't really matter. I'm finishing up my PPL in the next couple weeks and getting ready to start instrument training. I would much rather be safe than stuck squawking 7600 and looking for light gun signals from the tower. Thanks in advance! 

[gsengle]

I’m very happy with my ICOM. Make sure it comes with or you get a headset adapter. Useless in flight otherwise imho.


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[johncuyle]

The new ICOM looks pretty great.  Older models are pretty clunky to use in the air, particularly nav (I have one) but the new one appears to be pretty straightforward and intuitive to use.

[aviatoreb]

I like my sporty sp400.  Actually I have two.  One I keep at home and sometimes I isten to my friends coming and going as my house is just 2 miles away and 800 yards of the departing runway.

[BulletsRockts&MissilesOhMy]

Thanks! You guys are awesome!  User friendliness and reliability are key! There's no point in having the equipment if you can't make it do what you need in an emergency/comm out kind of situation. I'll keep checking back here and let you know what I end up with! 

[DonMuncy]

You might consider having your avionics guy put an adaptor plug in the panel tying into an antenna for your handheld. Probably overkill, but that extra range might look good some day off in the future.

[EricJ]

I have this one.   It seems nice, I've only used a few times, but it stays handy in my flight bag.

http://www.sportys.com/pilotshop/yaesu-fta-550aa-airband-transceiver.html

 

[McMooney]

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/avpages/yaesuVertexFTA750L.php?clickkey=39377

[RLCarter]

@BulletsRockts&MissilesOhMy, @Jeff_S Is selling this Icon portable

[aviatoreb]

I prefer a radio that uses akaline batteries since they have excellent and reliable shelf life so they more likely have a working hand held radio that might work if I need it after sitting for 2 or 3 years in used in my back seat.  I just don’t trust rechargeable nicad or even lithium packs for that purpose.  I have the sportys sp400 with a standard double-a pack which I change out every two years or so. (And those batteries go to some less critical use in the household) (also same with my o2d2).  

[mwilton1]

Icom sells a battery pack that you place AA batteries in and looks like their rechargeable. I bought one as I lost my charger and it works brilliantly!

[BulletsRockts&MissilesOhMy]

Ended up finding an SP-400 locally for over 200$ off of Sportys price! ...Pretty happy with it so far. Will end up having to purchase a charger, headset adapter,  another battery but still did better than trying to get one new. Thanks for the info guys! 

[carusoam]

Report back on your success... PPL that is!  

Good luck and welcome aboard,

-a-

[BulletsRockts&MissilesOhMy]

Thanks! I will continue to update the thread. I really should've finished it long, long ago (was over 1/2 complete back in 2002 ) Anxious to start working towards an instrument rating. Makes it hard to go flying without one most of the year in Washington state. 

Edited August 1, 2018 by BulletsRockts&MissilesOhMy

[tony]

On 7/27/2018 at 9:59 PM, DonMuncy said:

You might consider having your avionics guy put an adaptor plug in the panel tying into an antenna for your handheld. Probably overkill, but that extra range might look good some day off in the future.

I did that along with getting an extra battery pack

Edited August 1, 2018 by tony

[Ned Gravel]

On 7/27/2018 at 9:59 PM, DonMuncy said:

You might consider having your avionics guy put an adaptor plug in the panel tying into an antenna for your handheld. Probably overkill, but that extra range might look good some day off in the future.

That is what I did too.

[BulletsRockts&MissilesOhMy]

Definitely sounds like a great idea. I'm sure the range is much improved over the stock antenna

[chrixxer]

On 7/27/2018 at 6:59 PM, DonMuncy said:

You might consider having your avionics guy put an adaptor plug in the panel tying into an antenna for your handheld. Probably overkill, but that extra range might look good some day off in the future.

Came here to say this. In my experience with a Yaesu 550, the tower could only hear me from the runway (though I could hear tower / TRACON / etc way out). Hooking up to an external antenna increased the transmission range dramatically.

I like the Yaesu, it comes with a headset adapter. I also had a RAM mount to suction cup it to the window (could fly a VOR or localizer with it, in a pinch), and a PTT switch I could velcro to the yoke.

https://flying-geek.blogspot.com/2017/07/mooney.html

[chrixxer]

On 7/29/2018 at 7:18 AM, aviatoreb said:

I prefer a radio that uses akaline batteries since they have excellent and reliable shelf life so they more likely have a working hand held radio that might work if I need it after sitting for 2 or 3 years in used in my back seat. 

Ditto. I might add, also, a "trick" I picked up from a friend: Get ATIS before every flight using the handheld. Saves the ship's battery or some engine run-time, and it's an easy way to be sure the batteries in the handheld are good for when you really need them.