Com radio.

[Dennis D]

I would like to get some help with finding a good comm. radio setup.

I fly an open frame gyro so I'll probably want something water
resistant and something that I can plug a comm. helmet into.

Several years ago I tried to use an Icom hand held radio that
plugged into my helmet but had marginal success.

I'm hoping someone has sorted out all the usual problems and
can recommend a setup that's working well.

As usual I'm trying not to spend too much!

Thank you for any help! Dennis

[giro5]

http://www.fennkayaks.co.nz/MZ202.doc Dennis check out this link to so you what you are up against.

[Dennis D]

Thanks John.
I remember those fixes from my earlier attempts. I had a 582 on a SnoBird and never could send a clear enough transmission to be understood as long as the engine was running.

Thanks for the link.

[helipaddy]

Ive an Icom A4 plugged into a headset adaptor like this one:

http://www.mypilotstore.com/MyPilotStore/sep/1157
(didnt pay 60 bucks for it, its pretty easy to make)

I placed the icom A4 antenna on an aluminium bracket bolted to the step on the dominator, heres the bulkhead connector on the bracket

http://parts.digikey.com/1/parts/360318-adapter-bnc-bulkhead-f-f-50-ohm-cp-ad-556m.html

with the dave clark M7 mic and the CEP kit in the helmet, I have crystal clear reception and transmission 10 miles plus. ( Ive tweaked the power output of the A4 a bit, easy to do)
Paddy

[Dennis D]

Hi Paddy.
It's just a guess, are you running a 582 on the dominator?
If so did you need to do anything to eliminate ignition interference?

Thank you. Dennis

[helipaddy]

Ive no shielding on the plugs or wires and have no interferance. I run the A4 with a normal rechargable battery pack, no connection to the engine electrical system, works fine
Paddy

[PW_Plack]

Dennis,

I don't know how good the new MGL com radio (http://www.mglavionics.com/html/radios.html) is, but it may be a good solution for an exposed panel. Like the MGL instruments, it has a membrane face, which a competing manufacturer told me offers pretty good protection from stray water.

[helipaddy]

Just a note on how to bump up the power on an ICOM A4. Most people wont have acess to the equipment to check the Output power once the mod is done, so I ve just done this on the bench to see how much adjustment on the pot is required.

Needs a bit of disassembly, then carefully turn the power adjustment R150 Clockwise between than 1/8th and 1/4 of a turn (dont overdo this) . the adjusting pot is is real small and fiddly be real careful.

Put the handheld back together and you shall have a bit more transmit range. the A4 has a Cacrrier output of around 1 watt ( more often its around 800-900mw from the factory). mine puts out about 1.8W carrier now, more than enough for 10+ miles range.

[Dennis D]

Thanks Paddy and Paul.
The MGL radio looks like what I had in mind but the A4 would fit into the budget a little better. Gona have a talk with Santa!

Thanks again. Dennis

[j bird]

here's a much cheaper one.
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/avpages/flightlineFL760.php

[Dennis D]

Thanks Jay.
That also looks like a good unit.
I wish I wasn't such a hamburger when it comes to electronics.

Dennis

[Kevin_Richey]

Paddy: I bought the CEP headset on your recommendation about a year ago. When I was ready to use it, I plugged it into an Icom A-24 and had terrible feedback when trying to transmit. Receiving was fine.

The place where I bought the patch cord and PTT switch suggested trying a 6' long co-axial cable between the rubber ducky and the radio to distance the mic from the antennae.

I had to wrap the 6' cable around my keel forward, as the front of the gyro was too short to run it straight out. This solved the feedback, but now transmit is still garbled and receiving is poor.

Help.

Ive an Icom A4 plugged into a headset adaptor like this one:

http://www.mypilotstore.com/MyPilotStore/sep/1157
(didnt pay 60 bucks for it, its pretty easy to make)

I placed the icom A4 antenna on an aluminium bracket bolted to the step on the dominator, heres the bulkhead connector on the bracket

http://parts.digikey.com/1/parts/360318-adapter-bnc-bulkhead-f-f-50-ohm-cp-ad-556m.html

with the dave clark M7 mic and the CEP kit in the helmet, I have crystal clear reception and transmission 10 miles plus. ( Ive tweaked the power output of the A4 a bit, easy to do)
Paddy

[Oskar]

The ICOM A4 isn't bad, it's the A6/A24 that's the problem. The A14 is slightly better than the A6 but still needs an antenna with a low SWR to prevent feedback on TX.

Oskar

[helipaddy]

Hi Kevin
The CEP kit is not the fault as reception is good.
Try to keep the power and audio wiring away from the Antenna lead. I would try to remote mount the antenna too. I did remote mount my antenna but this was for increased range, not because of any feedback issues. I would get a BNC bulkhead connector and make sure the antenna lead is grounded to the airframe at the antenna end.

There are better RF cables that you could use, I use RG142 B/U which is low loss. Some of the later Icoms arent that great.

[Dirtydog]

I am very happy with my ICOM A-14 I can pick up airports 22 miles away and I thought I might have a lot of noise coming from my engine but it Did not effect it unless I am Running up my Blades with the pre-rotator but once it is off clear....:rolleyes:


I got the ICOM A-14 from Aircraft spruce for $180.00 everyone else wanted 230.00 I believe.
I bought my helmet for http://www.comtronics-aero.com/helmets.php I have the
PRO-COM AIRCRAFT HELMET with the headset separated She setup my wires for the radio also great place....

[Mike G]

I have an A6 and it's really not that great, from what I can understand reading different forums Icom sacrificed the battery to keep size and weight down. The solution seems to be to really keep the battery charged all the time. I notice that after an hours flight the reception gets worse and so does the transmission.
Has any body tried that FlightLine FL760? I'm not sure I have the space and it doesn't have an intercom pity.
Mike G

[Russ Hobbs]

I like the digital design feature of the MGL radio and that it interfaces with the MGL odyssey (I bought one on ebay) has anyone tried out this radio yet.
Russ

[WHY]

Anyone looking for some good buys on used Vertex handheld aircraft band equipment should sure check out the stuff on e-bay. Lots and lots of accessories (if you know your model numbers and even some aircraft frequiency portables also lots of "commercial " stuff that you wont want, look under "Vertex " there are also some Vertex magnetos but mostly for V8's