HIghpockets Posted September 28, 2019 Report Share Posted September 28, 2019 Does anyone on the forum have an opinion about a recommended handheld radio to use as a back up? If so, please offer that opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marauder Posted September 28, 2019 Report Share Posted September 28, 2019 Does anyone on the forum have an opinion about a recommended handheld radio to use as a back up? If so, please offer that opinion. I have owned a Vertex for about 5 years. Small compact unit with a lithium battery. I was always irritated by the fact that it would open squelch anytime it was in my car. Made it impossible to listen to it while driving. Otherwise it has been a solid unit. Good reception and transmitting power seems good. It’s now stationed in my hangar. Picked up an Icom recently hoping it would solve the open squelch in the car issue with the ANR feature it has. No luck. I bought this one with the standard battery pack. I used alkaline batteries initially. If you transmit a lot, it will go through alkalines pretty quickly. I have since switched to disposable lithium batteries. Much better. I wouldn’t waste the money on a GPS/VOR version. The Vertex has it and I have never used it in flight. If I ever needed to resort to a non-panel navigation aid, I would use the iPad over the handheld. Why? If you need to communicate and navigate, switching back and forth between frequencies are extra steps. With today’s iPad apps, you have a solid navigation source to get you to VMC. I’m not too warm and fuzzy on shooting a VOR or localizer approach with a handheld. I’d rather get out of Dodge...Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PTK Posted September 28, 2019 Report Share Posted September 28, 2019 1 hour ago, HIghpockets said: Does anyone on the forum have an opinion about a recommended handheld radio to use as a back up? If so, please offer that opinion. I have an icom that I bought new 30 years ago! I have it wired in for bu use and it happily lives in the airplane. It’s one solid radio! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJMac Posted September 28, 2019 Report Share Posted September 28, 2019 I have one from sporty's that displays the ILS on the LCD screen. idea was worst case scenario it can do both com and nav duties. Hopefully I never needed to use it that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KB4 Posted September 28, 2019 Report Share Posted September 28, 2019 I use this guy. Yaesu FTA-550AA NAV/COM Aviation Radio from sportys. Get ATIS while arriving at field/before startup and nice back up com. It comes with a headset adapter so can be used with headset no issues trying to hear or communicate. I charge it maybe once a month. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0TreeLemur Posted September 28, 2019 Report Share Posted September 28, 2019 I had a Yaesu that came with my aircraft. When I had radio problems in June, I needed to rely on a handheld, which I discovered is useless in a loud Mooney without the ability to plug in the headset. Shortly after that I upgraded to a newer Yaesu that has plug-in adapter for use with a headset. I sold the old handheld for a bit over half the cost of a new one. Highly recommend you get headset capability if your a/c is loud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilpilot Posted September 28, 2019 Report Share Posted September 28, 2019 In the 30 years I've carried a handheld in my Mooney I've had to use it 3 times, including once during an instrument approach. In addition to a headset adapter, I strongly recommend you consider an external antennae jack. It's a relatively cheap and easy installation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HIghpockets Posted September 29, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2019 I have a external antenna jack installed already. Looking for COM only. Sporty's advertises the PJ2 which looks like a good radio with jacks for my LIghtSpeed Headset. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RLCarter Posted September 29, 2019 Report Share Posted September 29, 2019 iCom IC-A22 with a headset adapter, same issue with the squelch in an auto but no issues in a plane. Never really use the Nav side of it but I guess if everything else failed it would be better than nothing. I've loaned it out several times over the years and it just keeps going. External antenna would help on range but never have installed one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigers2007 Posted September 30, 2019 Report Share Posted September 30, 2019 +1 for the new Sporty’s handheld. It has built in female jacks that you directly plug your headset into. No need to fumble fart with adapter dongles etc. It’s $200. Otherwise you can scout eBay. I bought the older Sporty’s radio off eBay for like $12. This guy had a ton of Icom A3’s for $89! (Sold out now)https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F303219881790Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricJ Posted September 30, 2019 Report Share Posted September 30, 2019 On 9/28/2019 at 12:06 PM, KB4 said: I use this guy. Yaesu FTA-550AA NAV/COM Aviation Radio from sportys. Get ATIS while arriving at field/before startup and nice back up com. It comes with a headset adapter so can be used with headset no issues trying to hear or communicate. I charge it maybe once a month. This is what I have as well and I'm very happy with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerry Posted September 30, 2019 Report Share Posted September 30, 2019 I have an old Sporty's 200. Its never failed me. I use it as my main com in my experimental. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBDiagMan Posted September 30, 2019 Report Share Posted September 30, 2019 I bought a yuasa with lithium battery about two years ago and have been very pleased. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkyTrekker Posted September 30, 2019 Report Share Posted September 30, 2019 6 hours ago, MBDiagMan said: I bought a yuasa with lithium battery about two years ago and have been very pleased. Ditto. Yaesu a couple of years ago and has held up very well. Solid, functional. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thinwing Posted October 1, 2019 Report Share Posted October 1, 2019 Yaesu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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