going to need a new handheld soon because it looks like my old kx99 is about to go south. looking at the Icom's and sporty's sp-200. would appreciate your input because i'm sure many of you have and use them.
thanks,
gary

I'm using the ICOM NaviCom IC-A22 and it works great. I don't use it much though. I keep it and the head phone accessory's with in an arms reach in case I do need it.

I think this is it's predecessor: http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/avpages/icom_a24.php

I purchased a Icom A24 Nav/Com and am really happy with it. I can't say I use it alot, but Icom builds a good product thats easy to use. The Icom A6 is the same model except without the Nav capabilities. I don't know if the VOR capabilites are worth the extra price with everyone having a GPS, but I got mine on sale for the same price as the A-6.

I purchased mine from Pacific Coast Avionics www.pca.aero

When I was shopping around Chief Aircraft www.chiefaircraft.com had good prices also.

Matt

I have been using the Sporty's SP 200 for years and it is reliable. There is a head phone connection available for purchase. The negative is the size & weight. if you wear a survival vest and you want to carry it in the vest it takes a big pocket. I found a vest I can use with it big size but the smaller ICOM's are small and light. I know some guys that have them and they seem to work just fine.

I've been flying with an Icom A-23 navcom for the last five years. It is mounted to the panel and has an external antenna. The nav feature is pretty much worthless with the com antenna. I don't know how it would work with a proper nav antenna, but it would be a pretty dark day that I would even bother to try to tune it to the local vor with the included rubber antenna.

The com works fine. I can talk to planes in the MMC pattern when I'm in the CVO pattern, 47 miles away. The only downside of the radio is that when flying next to strong commercial radio towers, the input is overloaded and the commercial broadcast will bleed through. I don't have a transponder, don't go to big cities, so this is pretty much a non issue. Icom has a newer tranceiver, the A14 that has the same specs as mine, less the vor portion, for about $225. Not a bad deal. Vertex Standard has a similar unit for about $190. I'd have to read more to pick one if I was in the market now.

On a related topic, how come the pilots flying big jets and corporate jets all sound as clear as radio announcers while the guys flying small planes mostly sound like crap. Back ground noise level?

tom

green hornet,
how well does the nav work and would you buy another sp200 or try another brand?
gary

GARYH wrote:green hornet,
how well does the nav work and would you buy another sp200 or try another brand?
gary

I only tried it once when I first got it and it worked fine. So I am not able to give a recommendation on the NAV from a constant use point of view.I am to spoiled by the Garmin 396 to use anything else
I use it for comm back up and emergency if needed. Size & weight is my only reason for looking at another device.

Gary,

How often did you actually use the NAV function on the KX-99? I have one in my flight bag that I've owned since about 1985. It's still going strong both NAV and COMM sides, and has saved my bacon more than once in the pre-GPS days. Key was wiring in a good external antenna, as with the rubber duck antenna the thing was nothing but a boat anchor with the transmit range measured in feet... Hardwired it'd blast out 40-50 miles.

Gump

...and speaking of hand held "things", I would like to have a hand held transponder so I could fly my cub in class C and B air space. Is there such a thing?

patrol guy wrote:...and speaking of hand held "things", I would like to have a hand held transponder so I could fly my cub in class C and B air space. Is there such a thing?

I doubt they make a hand held or portable transponder, as they put out 50 watts basically continuous unlike a radio which is only 5 watts intermittently.

A cub on approach in class B with heavy iron behind it, is 55mph considered a hurried approach.

patrol guy wrote:...and speaking of hand held "things", I would like to have a hand held transponder so I could fly my cub in class C and B air space. Is there such a thing?

With out me looking it up.......wasn't there a discussion on another thread about entering Class C and B with out a transponder?? I know there was, but not sure what the thread was about. I kind of thought you can enter at least Class C "Negative Transponder" (I think that's what they called it).

Just found the thread:
http://www.backcountrypilot.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=4334&start=0&hilit=matt

I have a Vertex 710. It's a sturdy unit, works well but is NOT user friendly. The connections are propietary, but I found adapters at Fry's Electronics at a reasonable cost. I created a checklist to use it, cause I would never remember what to do if I really needed it. my $.02

Savannah-Tom wrote:On a related topic, how come the pilots flying big jets and corporate jets all sound as clear as radio announcers while the guys flying small planes mostly sound like crap. Back ground noise level?

tom

Combination of transmission power and mic gain (from intercom vs built-in mic on handheld) I would guess. I think my King KY97A sounds like one of those radio announcer guys, while my Icom A-23 sounds like a soup can in a dishwasher.