With most handhelds I have researched, they specifically remind us that the transmit power comes off the batteries, so they must be well-charged. Don't relly on the aux. input for transmit power. I just got a new Vertex VXA-710. It is rather complicated, but it does a lot--if I can remember how to use it. I don't want to drill any more antenna holes on my "new" top skin. Folks around here think I could put the antenna on the bottom, heck, even think it might work better than on the top.
John N2138 --- On Tue, 7/7/09, Ed Burkhead <[email protected]> wrote: From: Ed Burkhead <[email protected]> Subject: RE: [ercoupe-tech] Re: handheld To: "'mbpowell'" <[email protected]>, "ety" <[email protected]> Date: Tuesday, July 7, 2009, 12:14 PM I also used the Sporty's handheld as my only radio for several years. I still had the glove compartment lid on the right side and just put the belt clip over the top of the glove compartment lip. (I had to slightly open the glove compartment lid, clip it on then let it back in place.) It worked mostly pretty well. I had it attached to the aircraft's external antenna and used a boom-microphone headset and a push to talk switch (which I will ALWAYS use no matter what radio I use in the future). My only Sporty's handheld radio problems were with, 1. the push to talk switch actuation within the radio. It eventually stopped working, got repaired and stopped again. It'd stick in transmit mode - bad! 2. the little small connector to standard aviation headset adapter failed a couple times and I had to always have a spare in the plane. With the external antenna, headset, intercom and push to talk switch, the handheld was essentially the same as a panel installed radio for me. However, I've never seen a handheld that has the rated 7-8 watts that some panel mounts claim. Watch for the output power of the radio you choose. The extra output power makes sure you get out - for 50-100 miles. (Heck, I talked 110 miles air-to-air with a 1.5 watt output radio on several occasions.) The extra output power actually is useful if you have your external antenna is poorly placed (i.e. on top, behind the canopy) and you are talking to the airport as you are tracking inbound. Ed
