At 12:22 AM 4/3/2006, you wrote: >3. Anyone have a survey of how many KRs fly with transponders? Popular >or unpopular piece of equipment? > >4. Anyone extremely opinionated about their choice of ELT? Looks like >either AmeriKing AK-450, or ACK Model E-01. > >5. How many of you fly with just a handheld radio (and intercom, >headset adapter, PTT switch, etc.) and are happy with that choice? Sure >looks cheaper than installing real radios . . . >Rich Meyer +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
See: http://www.krnet.org/mvn2004/040929271.jpg I've been flying my KR for two years now and have not gotten around to wiring up the transponder. It depends on where your home base is and where you intend to fly. Personal choice. I purchased the Ameriking based on price and it seems to be a quality unit. Change the batteries every year regardless of what the date is on the battery or what the reg's say. I had a battery go bad during the second year and nearly ruined the unit. Radio performance has more to do with the antenna installation than almost anything else. I use a JRC handheld with an external antenna and I often communicate with other aircraft 50+ miles out. I think the JRC is the "sleeper" in the handheld class of radios. $250 from Aircraft Spruce for the nav / com unit with rechargable battery pack and non-rechargable pack. It has all the bells and whistles you get on the ICOM for less money. You can even select the power output you want, low or high, to save battery. Hook it to aircraft power and 5 watts is all you'll ever need. I have a two place intercom that plugs directly in to the top of the radio and a push to talk switch on the stick. My only probem in that area is the high cockpit noise level keeps breaking the squelch on the intercom. If I squelch out the cockpit noise I have a hard time breaking the squelch with my voice. ANC headset is the only way to go and I have someone working on a ANC unit for my mic circuit to eliminate my squelch problem. That reminds me, I need to give him a call and check on his progress. The "Sporty's" handheld is about the same price but has some things that I was not impressed with. For example, the plugs for headset adapter on top of the radio were not standard width so it would not accept the one piece plug on my intercom that plugs directly in to the radio. Done right, a handheld setup performs just as well as a panel mount and you can put the $500 you save in your fuel tanks. Finally, remember that OPINIONS are worth what you pay for them. Larry Flesner
