What is the best small hand radio

[Dirtydog]

What is the best hand held radio to use on the gyro if you are going to put one on. :noidea:

[Harry_S.]

I've used the iCom-22A with different antennae but have used the AAE dipole antenna for maybe the last 6 yrs.

My xmt and rec is crystal clear out to 45 miles that I've experienced. I believe the 22A has been replaced by later models.


Cheers :)

[Jim Edwards]

I've been using the cheap Icom A4 for several years with good results. It's been replaced with the A14/A14S. I used the A14 (has a number keypad for quick entries) at BD and loved it. It has a strong NMH battery, and a (ignition) noise eliminator circuit that works well. Mine cost $200 wholesale, and is worth every penny.

[GyroRon]

Icom A-14 is the best for the money.

[Dirtydog]

I was looking at the A6 and the A14 I am reading up one the difference between the 2 of them, I am looking at the A14 real close...

I had a offer to buy a A21 but can't find it in the catalogs any longer so it must be replaced with the A24...

Thanks

[getut]

I just put my A6 up for sale on Ebay. I plan on getting a vertex standard vxa-220 pro VI as its replacement.

I had known ever since training with Steve down in Macon that the A6 has a quirk about it where if you use the built in push to talk switch, both the headset and the built in Mic work. You have to use an external PTT switch to disable the built in microphone. After this weekend of flying and having yet still more PTT switch and pigtails going bad, I decided to investigate.

I verified that the A6 has no built in option to disable the built-in mic so decided to sell it and get a vertex standard that will only have a single pigtail and function properly with the built in PTT switch to simplify my setup.

At $50 a pop for the headset adapter pigtail and $25 for the PTT switch, I can't help but think Icom is working some monkey business to get the high prices for those accessories. I'm not too happy with Icom for not giving that option about the Mic.

[Resasi]

At Sun and Fun pondered long and hard A6 or Vertex. Finally decided to go with the A6 due button size, and with the Vertex some functions such as squelch were not as simple as with the A6 but required a couple of steps first.

A6 been around longer and at the various stands, which I visited a number of time talking to various people each time the majority seemed to think the A6 was better even if it was a bit more expensive.

Didn't know about the PTT quirk but did get an external PTT anyway.

[disco1]

I love my vertex 700
You can get em at aircraft spruce. They also let you listen to fm radio and have vor nav radio.

[getut]

I love my vertex 700
You can get em at aircraft spruce. They also let you listen to fm radio and have vor nav radio.

I think you have just talked me into upgrading. Once my A6 sells at the end of this month, I was going to get a VX-220, but the 710 with FM radio sounds great. I'm guessing it auto mutes the radio when it receives transmissions?