carr@convex.UUCP (01/26/86)
I'm looking into purchasing a handheld transceiver to go along with my
soon-to-be-had instrument rating. The item in the November issue of Flying
was helpful, but I would like to get more opinions. I'm interested in the
Narco HT-830, though out of 14 or so FBO's/pilot shops/avionics dealers no
one seems to have one or know when they will be in. Cost is another item.
What are folks really paying for these things? Anyone have experience with
the discount houses on transceivers?
Rob Carruthers
Convex Corp.
{allegra,ihnp4,uiucdcs,sun}!convex!carrwkb@trsvax (01/31/86)
> I'm looking into purchasing a handheld transceiver to go along with my > soon-to-be-had instrument rating. The item in the November issue of Flying > was helpful, but I would like to get more opinions. I'm interested in the > Narco HT-830, though out of 14 or so FBO's/pilot shops/avionics dealers no > one seems to have one or know when they will be in. Cost is another item. > What are folks really paying for these things? Anyone have experience with > the discount houses on transceivers? I have also been looking at getting a handheld transceiver. In Christmas '85 catalog of Sporty's Pilot Shop, the HT-830 is listed at $585.00, which seems to be about mid-range for handhelds in this catalog. (Sporty's Pilot Shop, Clermont Airport, Batavia, OH, 45103-9747, (517) 732-2411 [10am-6pm]). You can order direct at (800) LIFTOFF [543-8633], but you must order by product number (3143A for the Narco). Does anyone have any experience with Sporty's, or with other mail order houses? - wkb +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ > "You can observe a lot just by watching." < +-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
marcum@sun.uucp (Alan Marcum) (01/31/86)
> I'm looking into purchasing a handheld transceiver to go along with my > soon-to-be-had instrument rating. The item in the November issue of Flying > was helpful, but I would like to get more opinions. > Rob Carruthers {allegra,ihnp4,uiucdcs,sun}!convex!carr I just bought an STS7600. I've yet to go flying with it, but have used at home, listening to transmissions and the local ATIS. Initial impressions are good -- well built, easy to use (usually), some nice bells and whistles. STRONG POINTS: price, 720 channels, built-in clock, DC jack and lighter plug (though who cares if you use it as an IFR lost electrical comm backup!), NiCad charger, clear instructions, remembers last frequency, light, compact, easy-to-use. WEAK POINTS: battery life seems a bit short, non-aviation-standard jacks for headphones and PTT (headphones do, though use what appears to be a standard earphone jack, and microphone/PTT connections are documented, so one could build an adapter I suppose), no nav reception (a cute, potentially useful feature of at least one hand-held). On my next let's-just-go-fly flight, I'll be using the 7600 exclusively, to see what it's like. I reckon I'll let the group know my impressions. During normal operations, I'll use it almost exclusively as an emergency backup, though I'll probably also use it for ATIS clearance delivery at busy fields, when I don't want to start the engine and the battery drain might be excessive. -- Alan M. Marcum Sun Microsystems, Technical Consulting ...!{dual,ihnp4}!sun!nescorna!marcum Mountain View, California
ladkin@kestrel.ARPA (02/07/86)
Aviation Consumer ran a comparison sometime in late 1985. I seem to remember that their main concern was battery life and reliability. Otherwise, they all turn out the same. Anyone interested can call them for the issue (Framingham, Mass., and they have a toll-free number) Peter Ladkin