Best Handheld Radio

[201Steve]

I just returned the Sportys SP400 handheld radio. It was a hunk of junk.

Is there a particular radio you've found best? I'll probably use it both for a "ground base" at my desk as well as in flight backup.

 

Seems like about my only requirements are

-dual plug aviation headset jack

-rechargeable pack AND a AA pack

 

 

[Marauder]

1 hour ago, 201Steve said:

I just returned the Sportys SP400 handheld radio. It was a hunk of junk.

Is there a particular radio you've found best? I'll probably use it both for a "ground base" at my desk as well as in flight backup.

 

Seems like about my only requirements are

-dual plug aviation headset jack

-rechargeable pack AND a AA pack

 

 

I have both a Vertex and Icom. I like the Icom better mainly because the key strokes are easier. The display on the Icom is a bit brighter as well. BTW - Vertex was recently acquired by Motorola and I am starting to see them carrying the Motorola brand.

[EricJ]

I like my Yaesu, and I've had to use it a couple times.   Mine just has the AA pack, but I think now they ship with both an AA and rechargable Li-Ion pack.

[DXB]

Agree with your assessment of the Sporty's.  It was fragile and glitchy.  I was not that sad when someone stole it out of my bag when I went to the bathroom at KLDJ.  I like my Yaesu much better - much more solid feeling.  Fortunately I've never really needed it.  Unless you want to keep track of charging a lithium ion battery, buy two AA holders for it, keep the spare in your bag in case the batteries are weak when you go to use it.  It takes some effort to put the batteries into the pack in an emergency.

[Marc_B]

I have a Yaesu FTA550 and it's worked well.  Haven't used it in the aircraft, but its nice for the hangar and always stays in my flight bag along with the 2 prong headset adapter that came with the radio.  I have another Yaesu dual band VHF/UHF radio for my truck and a dual band handheld that I used when I worked with SAR.  Haven't really had any issues with any of them and they've all be durable/solid radios.

Marc

KD0KPV

[201er]

3 hours ago, DXB said:

I was not that sad when someone stole it out of my bag when I went to the bathroom at KLDJ. 

Welcome to Jersey. 

[RobertGary1]

I got the icom and like it. I got the blue tooth for my ppc helmet. Usually use it in the glider or ppc haven’t tried it in the Mooney. 

[hammdo]

I have the Yaesu FTA 850L so I have comm, VOR/ILS, and GPS backup - just in case...

https://www.yaesu.com/airband/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&ProdCatID=204&encProdID=7A9759FF602139B92547B1F66070D4CA&DivisionID=2&isArchived=0

-Don

[McMooney]

I have the yaesu 750 YAESU VERTEX FTA 750L VHF HANDHELD RADIO - LI ION BATTERY | Aircraft Spruce, 

Not an expert on handhelds but this thing is really nice.  rechargeable battery, really really loud, tracks vor/loc

has gps,  also gets these nice weather channels.

 

[Oscar Avalle]

13 hours ago, McMooney said:

I have the yaesu 750 YAESU VERTEX FTA 750L VHF HANDHELD RADIO - LI ION BATTERY | Aircraft Spruce, 

Not an expert on handhelds but this thing is really nice.  rechargeable battery, really really loud, tracks vor/loc

has gps,  also gets these nice weather channels.

 

I have the same and it is really nice.

[Marc_B]

For those that have handhelds that have navigation capabilities @McMooney@Oscar Avalle@hammdo...have you ever tried it out and how easy does it work (or not)?  In reading about it when I got mine, I decided that it sounded interesting but not sure how useful it would be in a radio.  But I don't know anyone who has one that I could see for myself.

Marc.

[Oscar Avalle]

2 hours ago, Marc_B said:

For those that have handhelds that have navigation capabilities @McMooney@Oscar Avalle@hammdo...have you ever tried it out and how easy does it work (or not)?  In reading about it when I got mine, I decided that it sounded interesting but not sure how useful it would be in a radio.  But I don't know anyone who has one that I could see for myself.

Marc.

Marc

I see is as something nice to have. But I would not count on it. I see my iphone or my ipad as a more capable and userfriendly system.

[EricJ]

2 hours ago, Marc_B said:

For those that have handhelds that have navigation capabilities @McMooney@Oscar Avalle@hammdo...have you ever tried it out and how easy does it work (or not)?  In reading about it when I got mine, I decided that it sounded interesting but not sure how useful it would be in a radio.  But I don't know anyone who has one that I could see for myself.

Marc.

My Yaesu has it and I've never used it or remotely run across an opportunity where I thought it might be handy, with the exception that I've kept it in mind for bench testing ramp testers (the test equipment that generates signals for testing VOR/LOC/ILS on the ground), and so far I haven't even needed it for that.

 

[hammdo]

My old icom was vor/comm and I did try the ILS. It was ok in a pinch. The 850 has a nicer HSI/Compass and is in color, which is closer to the ipad/iPhone. I keep it for backup comm as I have VOR/ILS nav/comm and my IFR cert Gnc355 with dual. G5s. IPad and Stratus are my backups for nav and the Yaesu is the third in line for nav and comm

I have experience a lost comm and boy, it was nice to have that backup handheld even with the small antenna... I do have a cabled remote antenna if needed

-Don 

 

 

[McMooney]

seems to work as well as the nav radios for the localizer at KDWH but have to admit i haven't really played with it much.

I'd rather have it than not in a pinch but honestly, things have gotten really bad if i'm at that point.

[McMooney]

On 11/18/2021 at 9:49 PM, McMooney said:

I have the yaesu 750 YAESU VERTEX FTA 750L VHF HANDHELD RADIO - LI ION BATTERY | Aircraft Spruce, 

Not an expert on handhelds but this thing is really nice.  rechargeable battery, really really loud, tracks vor/loc

has gps,  also gets these nice weather channels.

 

just remembered.  it comes with a rechargeable battery,  a standard battery holder, a cigarette lighter adapter,  a home charger,  headset adapter and a few other doohickies.  pretty much everything you could possibly need is in the box.   Might want to buy a backup antennae,  i seem to break them once a year or so.

[Ragsf15e]

I too have a Yaesu and it’s solid as others said, however, I really don’t like the user interface.  It works great, but god forbid if you want to find squelch or a preprogrammed freq or really anything in the menus.  I’m not a total dufus, but I need the instructions in front of me to do anything more than turn it on and transmit.  Also the rechargeable batteries mine came with are terrible and die quickly if you transmit.  The AA battery pack is important to have ready.

[HIghpockets]

I have a PJ2 that connects to an outside antenna. Very happy with this radio.

[Hector]

PJ2 here as well and I like it. Dirt simple to use, as a backup radio should be, and you can plug the headset directly to the radio without need for any adapter.


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[201Steve]

Andddd I'm sold on the PJ2. Just ordered it.

-Can plug in to wall adapter for "desk use" (or cig lighter in airplane)

-Uses AA batteries, which is always on board for headsets

-no digging around for the headset adapter

-don't see the need for any navigation aides with 4 systems already available (2 panel GPS Nav comms, 1 ipad, 1 iphone (and Stratus).

 

 

[EricJ]

1 hour ago, 201Steve said:

Andddd I'm sold on the PJ2. Just ordered it.

-Can plug in to wall adapter for "desk use" (or cig lighter in airplane)

-Uses AA batteries, which is always on board for headsets

-no digging around for the headset adapter

-don't see the need for any navigation aides with 4 systems already available (2 panel GPS Nav comms, 1 ipad, 1 iphone (and Stratus).

 

 

That looks like a well-thought-out solution.   If I were getting another that's probably what I'd get.

 

[Jim Peace]

I have this Icom:  https://www.mypilotstore.com/mypilotstore/sep/13524

The display is painfully small and dim.

The volume control knob feels like it is going to break.  

Would not recommend.  

I do not know why some company cant design a simple to use radio with all the positives from the others...

[201Steve]

I just received the PJ2 and although it is everything I expected from a feature standpoint, I am not at all impressed by the feel of the quality. Similar to my gripe with the other Sportys radio, I am expecting quality issues with this one, unfortunately.

When you remove the battery tray and see the cheap attach mechanisms used, the overall feel of the material etc is lackluster.

 

Well, we'll see. The good news is, Sportys has been extremely helpful in their customer service so I'm going to play it by ear and see how it holds up.

[EricJ]

10 minutes ago, 201Steve said:

I just received the PJ2 and although it is everything I expected from a feature standpoint, I am not at all impressed by the feel of the quality. Similar to my gripe with the other Sportys radio, I am expecting quality issues with this one, unfortunately.

When you remove the battery tray and see the cheap attach mechanisms used, the overall feel of the material etc is lackluster.

 

Well, we'll see. The good news is, Sportys has been extremely helpful in their customer service so I'm going to play it by ear and see how it holds up.

If it doesn't hold up, the Yaesu units are on the other end of the quality "feel" spectrum.   Very solid.   

[wishboneash]

I have had the Icom A22 for over 25 years. I think I have rebuilt the battery three times. Still going strong.