Senior Skipper

Hey guys,

I’ve decided to buy a handheld transceiver for 2 reasons:

1. Backup in case of electrical failure (C172)
2. so I can listen in on traffic when I go plane watching from the designated areas at larger airports.

Does anybody know the useful range of these things in case of an electrical failure? Are they good enough to actually be able to reach ATC, or are they only really useful for checking ATIS before departure? Also, I’m thinking of getting one that can pick up VOR frequencies. Does anybody know if it will perform reasonably well in case I need to use it to get home one day?

The second set of questions is about using it while I’m planespotting. I’ve owned a receiver before, but is it legal for me to own a transceiver? Do I need any sort of FCC permit to use it outside of an aircraft (obviously just to listen)? Does it make a difference that I’m a pilot?

Finally, I’m looking at the following models. Does anybody have any experience with them, or other models that can be recommended?

Icom IC-A24 NAV/COM Transceiver

Vertex Standard VXA-710 Spirit Transceiver

Vertex Standard VXA-300 Pilot III Transceiver

Thanks

Ottopilot

Save your money. You can land without a radio. Use a non-tower airport or use light signals. You can get atis on a phone or in the plane. Plane watching doesn't require a radio. If you do just want to listen buy a scanner for under $100. They even make portable hand held scanners. If you do get a transceiver, you can use it. If you are a pilot, you have a FCC restricted radiotelephone operator permit (FCC form 753).

My advice, buy something more useful.

Pilotpip

What otto said.

$300 can probably buy a few hours in that cessna you're flying. I've never had a radio fail on me and I've flow some beat up old aircraft.

normajean21

i have one with a vor in it its accurate enough for practical use. and a handheld is basically the same range as a radio except it doesnt have as many amps so i dont think its a significant difference. however between the radios u chose i suggest u do not go with icom if ur gonna listen on the frequency all day. i listened to dfw tower on one and it died within the week

TurboFan

I have to disagree with normajean21. I have experience with both Vertex Standard and iCom and I liked the iCom much more than the Vertex Standard. One of the reasons amongst others was the better battery life on the iCom.

Might be able to get a good deal on an older used radio on eBay.

Senior Skipper

Thanks for the advice guys. I still think I'll end up buying one though. My reasoning is "in for a penny, in for a pound". My previous scanner was the Sporty's SP100 which was great, but I wish the reception was a bit stronger. I need to replace it, and I figure, instead of spending $150 on another scanner, just add another $100 and get a transceiver.

I've had my radio fail once before (in the same sort of tattered planes that I fly nowadays) and it really wasn't fun.

Kilgore Trout

I've used an Icom AC-22 as my primary (only) radio in a 1949 PA-11 (no electrical) for a number of years. Works great for Alaska. Have also used it in conjunction with a Garmin GPS to get back and forth from Juneau to Florida, and Montana in the Cub. Hooked up to a small whip antenae at the Cub's upper left wing root it works great. Have received and transmitted to stations in flatland at distances of 20 miles at 1500 AGL. Using a headset adapter and a PTT switch velcroed to the stick in there too.
Not sure of the ranges it would provide using only the supplied antenae, but I'd definately recommend the headset adapter for it as it's pretty hard to hear over cabin noise and to make clear transmissions when just trying to use it by holding it in front of your face. Headset adapter also keeps your hands freer.
Flying the Cub with no transponder, so avoiding heavy duty airspace, but never had any complaints from towers anywhere in US or Canada about transmission quality. Pick up ATIS fine at the same ranges out you'd be listening in any GA aircraft.
Never messed with the Icom's VOR capabilities, prefering the GPS as it's much easier for putting around, but you knew that.

Using the plug in wall charger for the battery pack works great too. Overnight charge lasts all day for days with light to medium transmitting. Carry a spare battery pack that uses AA batteries too for my backup.

In my experience the Icom AC-22 is great. Also carried it in my personal kit when flying the Beaver or Cessnas for hire in case we ever ended up somewhere inconvenient and were not able to use the airplane's radios. Put it in two ziploc bags when carrying it like that as it's pretty wet around Juneau.

As far as legality for owning and using it on the ground- never really thought about it. Never used it to transmit outside a plane, but would often turn it on during crummy days to keep an ear on the ATIS while waiting for improvement. Also handy on Special VFR days when you're in a floatplane waiting to depart Juneau and want to listen to flow without running down the Beaver's battery at the dock.

Try e-bay for a used one, also an outfit I used called American Avionics out of Washington was helpful with external antenae recs. I think they sometimes have used ones around, and handheld Garmin GPS's for aviation use. You can find the Icom manuals online if you want to read more about their specs, or a used model does not include the manual.

As far as having a backup radio in your plane- in my opinion a good idea, sure A/C radios are pretty robust, but usually it's an alternator problem that will mess with you first. Also nice if you're going to be flying over a lot of sparse country and end up in an inconvenient spot on terra firma, want to make sure your ELT works, are outside of cell phone range, and want to be able to talk to other AC looking for you or talk to high altitude traffic you hear rumbling way overhead.

Have attached a photo so you can see how the Icom is mounted, and where the Garmin GPS goes on top of the panel (the empty bracket would hold the little Garmin).
Cheers and good flying,

Kilgore Trout

Cubdriver

I wonder how the battery life for a handheld scanner compares to a transceiver being used as a spotters radio. You tend to sit there quite a while with the handheld scanner so it is built for low battery drain. At any rate, if you get the transceiver get a couple extra NiCad battery modules and carry them in a sandwich bag.

Early Cubs and other pre-radio airplanes need a handheld, but otherwise I agree with Otto- just skip the backup transceiver because the likelihood of needing it plus having it ready to use, is seriously low. The only exception I can think of might be offshore flight in an ASEL, which is nuts if you ask me. In that case you might want a marine VHR radio to help ships find you and most handheld transceivers don't have marine band anyway. I think Japan Radio Corp (JRC) has one with it, but not Vertex or ICOM.

Kilgore Trout

Hey Senior Skipper,
Found some more info on Icom's and their use as a primary radio on a Cub forum I frequent. I did not write the linked article. Deals with a Cub pilot's use of a handheld with an external antenna, and technical aspects he dealt with ANR headset interference too. Mentions ranges for transmitting and reception with an external antenna too. Perhaps someone viewing this thread has experience on handheld range in flight with the stock antenna.
As far as all the above advice telling you to skip the expense-
Only you can decide what you need to do to be comfortable. Obviously. I'd encourage it if it makes you feel good, and keep it charged and within reach. You mention before your having experienced an electrical problem in your plane. Do what YOU feel necessary. Have replaced lots of alternators and belts on single engine Cessnas. I know, you'll have battery power for your radios for a while if you conserve energy, but why not have a backup too if you're doing lots of cross country and or night stuff? Remember electric flaps if your 172 has em and interior lights at night. As an aside there, back when I flew at night I kept a headlamp with a red filter handy too. Dorky yes, but I liked it. All those above recommending you skip it ain't gonna be there if and when that "unlikely" becomes likely.
Possibly somebody will chime in about how you should immediately land if you have an electrical problem. Ain't always that easy some places or situations. Do you know how long your battery will provide power without a charging system? I don't. Depends on the battery condition and your electrical needs. The engine will still run. Light signals- you remember them? Does the tower remember them? You want to circle outside the pattern at a busy spot watching for traffic if you have no other option for a landing location fumbling with a cell phone looking for an unfamiliar towers phone number and/or hoping the tower spots you? What if your electrical system is just fine but those old radios do croak? Also might make the difference between having to call the tower after landing and having the Feds ask you about your airplane and or decision making process.
I can think of lots of times it will be more than handy to have a backup radio in case something goes slightly or majorly TU. Especially single engine piston night stuff, VFR or IFR.
Have flown and camped under the Cub's wing across a big hunk of North America, and there's still lots of places even in the lower 48 a cell phone won't cut it if your in a bad situation. I can't afford a SAT phone.
In the Cub for exploring Southeast on my own dime I briefed my passenger on the use of the radio before flight. Also had the local advisory frequency for AC operating in the Juneau area and 121.5 magic markered on a piece of tape on the radio's back with the stock antenna easily reachable. Just in the event I was not around to use it after an unplanned event where my passenger ended up wet, cold, or possible crab or bear chow.
May sound like overkill to some, but I like overkill.
How about a Mossberg 500 loaded with slugs and 00 buck too? Very handy.

Using a handheld radio in a Piper Cub