jl@unc.UUCP (James Lipscomb) (02/07/86)
I got Narco HT-800 (720 comm) from from Marv Golden Discount. See ads in Flying and AOPA Pilot. 800-348-0014, in CA 213-475-5095. No complaints. Earlier this week he had HT-830's (gives VOR radial) in stock. "The UPS truck just unloaded a few. They usually sell out in about a day." Marv's price: $495 for HT-830, $369 for HT-800. Includes charger and "rubber duck" antenna. Pay $20-$50 extra for adapter for headset plugs, telescoping antenna, spare alkaline battery, or second year of warranty. Complaint: HT-800 battery has died in my flight bag a few hours after power on-off knob or lamp on-off switch was bumped by other things in the bag. I made a custom cardboard box to stop this. Alternative: spare alkaline battery. Optional factory carrying case may prevent this too -- please mail me if you know. Narco says they will announce in April or May a conversion plan to turn old HT-800's into 830's. No price set yet. Phone 800-223-3636, in PA 215-643-2900. Why would you want VOR radials on you handheld radio? The former chief flying instructor in the local club fried every radio in a Mooney when he saw the red light and hit the alternator switch. Oops -- should have turned those radios off first. This was a rare failure mode, VFR fortunately.