Radio System that works

[Ou Man]

I used to have the dreaded Bacchus Buzz on my Trike intercom set. After listening to what other pilots did is this regard, I contacted Paul at Air Magic (acra ZULU 1 on this forum) .
After servicing my Icom handset, they made up a chatterbox linked to a superb set of matching pilot and pax headsets. He also supplied me with a new aerial with instructions on how to install etc.
The proof of any pudding is, as you know in the taste.
The system is, compared to my previous set, extremely quite while not transmitting. Not having a pax onboard when I did my test flight, I was not aware of my volume setting on the radio or intercom.
My first experience of the new system was when someone al of a sudden said
“ …Alfa Bravo Charlie left hand climb ..bla..bla…bla “.
The reception was crystal clear and at first I freaked out, thinking that I had a mid air collision on my hands. It turned out to be al Blik airy taking off at Stellenbosch…
80 kilo’s from my position. On my request the pilot of said plane reported that he was receiving me a BIG 5/5
What a pleasure to communicate with a system that is so efficient. Thanx again to the Air Magic people for the professional approach they have to their business and our satisfaction.
The accusations on ACVOM, that we Microlighters utilize poor radio procedures, can in many cases be attributed to poor equipment. Take it from me, if that is the case then we have no more excuses. This system works without paying an arm and a wing for it.

Way to go Paul!

[Aerosan]

Well Ou MAN all I can say is ZULU no1 I have only good things to say about Mr Zulu and his abilities. The clarity, quality, easy installation and ease of operation is fantastic I think Ill still be raving about this radio/intercom for the next ten years and more, trust me youll feel the same.

[Bacchus]

Ou man my ou mater!

At least you can not say you got k@k advice! Zulu is the man if you have problems with these things. PERIOD..... look no further. And he does not leave you alone untill the problem is fixed 100%!

:D :D :D

[Slow_Poke]

ditto, he does not accept 99.9%, it has to be 100%, superb setup!

[Perry]

Folks,

I have taken the plunge with Paul Lintott and he has come up trumps! I have just received his latest development with the new setup for the Vertex VXA710 and the new Seers Visors.

The system works better than anything I have tried anywhere in the world - this is my sixth intercom system.

I now have a DTA with a perfect comms system thanks to Paul at Airmagic. Well done Paul.

I cannot wait for the Rabbit Antenna to arrive here in Oz.

Regards

[Ranger]

I too have gone the AIR MAGIC route and i'm as happy as a pig in sh*t. The system is so nice and quiet when not in use that i sometimes have to chat just to make sure it is still on. The service i have recieved from Paul is superb not to mention all the funnies i recieve from him via e-mail. Well done.

[Wart]

ZULU1 is becoming a legend not only here in SA but also in Australia and UK. Well done mate, you are doing a stirling job.

By the way the helmet is awesome; what did I do without it?

[Tumbleweed]

Zulu, or others,

Any news / advice on wireless helmets with built- in speaker / mike?

and those strapless (bike) helmets with the hinged chin piece?

[ZULU1]

Thanks chaps for the comments, really, really appreciated especially after the original dark days of failures !!

Yes sir wireless..we are busy with them...as we plan to use in Cash in Transit applications as well as PPGs/Microlights.

However we have much larger problems to sort..At present Brian Eaton and I have been working with the GPS 296 problem (s) This repesents a far bigger problem to trikes and small aircraft and is not unique to this brand. Incidentally Garmin advised that they had "heard something" !

We have spent many hours with the "Buzz" that this unit gives out. Its not line created as it still happens with batteries, we have discovered its a Rf produced and is not sent to the intercom but the radio. We had placed rf beads on everything and eventiually discovered (today) that it enters via the trikes ground plane into the radio earth line via the coax.... now rf is a black art.

Both Brian and I consider that by using our King post Vee Rabbit dipole that we produce as a retro fit for the Airbornes antenna, accurately tuned VSWR to 124,8 mhz that it actually stops it.

As well as that we also eliminate power line induced noise collected by the radio (08 Ballito) when you fly over them which is a bonus. As its a dipole and mounted on the King Post its not grounded to the airframe.

Now we believe it may have fixed it, but problem number 2; Brian has a Solo Wings topless wing and no king post !! We will be mounting as the Beech Bonanza antenna on the keel.

I attach a picture of the Vee Rabbit, some have already been sold to Australia. They are working very well and they help reduce rf ingress derived from the 5 watts tx from the Microair/Xcom.

Will keep the forum posted with our result on the topless wing installation and some pics. BUT we will beat it as its not going away, Garmin have just introduced the 496 and Lowrance are catching up. It seems that the goalposts are continually moving !!

Cheers Paul

[DieselFan]

When I fly over the Shell Ultra City by Midrand I pick up LOADS of static from - I assume the power lines? There's a cellphone tower there too? Altho in contradiction when I fly over the huge electical powerstation before Pinedene I get NO interference?

Generally I can hear over 150km away with few hassles. Any idea what I can do? It's VERY annoying as at that EXACT moment I'm normally in contact with Grand Central ATC and it's embarassing.

[ZULU1]

Hiya Diesel Fan, I have no guarantee that this will fix it in your installation however we have found that it really helps. Maybe worth a try ?? I may add that Rf is a black art, what works for one may not work for another. It sems there are no hard and fast rules?

I designed these for the Airborne Installation and never really intended to "advertise" here but send me a PM for details etc.

Ciao Paul

[Ranger]

No, no, no Paul we don't see it as advertising but rather education and education is good. Wee waaant too len.

[Cali]

No, no, no Paul we don't see it as advertising but rather education and education is good. Wee waaant too len.

Tiech aaas!

[Tailspin]

Ag Samblief oom Paul

[Perry]

Folks,

Paul's service to us here in Oz has been exemplary. And the cost has been a fraction of what others charge as well and this is a bonus. We have finally found a competitor to the very expensice Lynx System.

Paul, those super Seer's visors are a treat! My wife has finally found a helmet that fits her and a visor that comes right up to her chin - well done!

Diesel Fan, the Powerlines you talk about at Midrand is a concentration of 400kV lines connecting Appollo (near Rietvlei Dam) to Minerva (near Kyalami) run by Eishkom.

I am in the industry of power engineering for a day job and I can tell you that anything over 275kV emits serious corona discharge in the Mhz band (radio interference). What you are getting from your experience at Midrand is a bloody big radio signal from a huge antenna that will be hard to cancel out. This is largely a function of the voltage and current of the line and with a number of them concentrated in the same area, you are f@rting against thunder...

As an experiment to prove the point, when you are travelling by road, flip over to Radio 702 when you get to the area and listen as you get to the line of shortened lamps on the N1 where the lines cross the road. Let me know what you hear?

I am awaiting a consignment of Paul's antennae which should arrive in the next couple of days here on Oz. You will then hear us on the Great Barrier Reef from the Reef in RSA loud and clear on 126.7 - CTAF....

((A final footnote for those of you who wish to still have families - be careful of your antenna placement as many trikes I have seen that have huge antennae sticking out of the front of a pod in line with your balls - Note that the radiation has disastrous medical side effects and this includes sterility...Keep those antennae as far away from humans as possible and turn the transmit power down as far as possible))

Regards