Microlighters

Hello guys,

I am looking foy buying a new Two Way Air Band Handheld Radio for using it with my Quicksilver Ultralight. Was checking on the net and found a JRC JHP-500 for around U$ 115.00 Brand New

Have any of you have some experience with this Brand/Model Radio? Or you recomend me to go with a ICOM Radio?

THX for your time and help,

Isaac



Active/Standby Frequency Control: Switch between active and standby frequencies at the press of a button
· Dual Watch: Monitor two frequencies at the same time.
· Instant Memory Write: Instantly transfer the displayed frequency to memory at the press of a button
· Nav Scan: Scans the Navigation frequency band to find useable VOR signals. (JHP-520 model only)
· Group Scan: Scan memory channels in groups of 10
· Auto CDI Centering: Automatically centers the CDI. (JHP-520 model only)
The JHP-500 is the lowest priced, full featured, full keypad handheld on the market!

Good Day

We are Icom dealers and manufacture products for the South African Icom importers many items including headsets for Fire trucks, ground crews and antennas.

I have never seen the JRC brand in South Africa so cannot comment on its performance or suitability for a Ultralight.

Icom have made some very good radios in the past namely the ICOM ICA2/20 series which is now extinct the ICA3/22 series which is a very good unit with many around the world but now extinct and the best is the ICA4 which is the aviation version of the F3 (US mil PMR radio) really tough. Then in their wisdom decided to release the ICA5/23 series which work well but do have problems with ultralights, (mainly overvoltage) which was a Ham radio (ICT8) in another format. Then they released the ICA6/24 series, this was disaster as they are not directly compatible with previous models. They have a good fascia etc, but need 11 volts, do not operate well with headsets and suffer from a rf feedback down the mic line. (We sell a special version which works well). Then they introduced the ICA14/ICA15 series which I have tested for Multisource, sorry no external power supply in it, so now Icom is a no go with current models.

There are a few Icom ICA 4s still in the market which is a very good option. Alternatively the Vertex standard VXA220 series which we advise to all customers now. (yes as Icom dealers !!) In short its a known brand (Yaesu) and is now part of Motorola. It has excellent ANR features and has a good memory and battery life. And waterproof.

The Icom ICA 210 is avery good radio and the ICA110 is good for ground vehicles but a tad too powerful for aircraft (they only turn down to 4,5 watts).

Good Luck zulu1

Hi Zulu1
Thanks for all the info. Will contact you when ready to buy.
Best wishes
Andre

Hi Andre,

I bought a Vertex VXA-220 from Zulu1 and am really happy with it. It is simple to operate and transmits and receives with perfect clarity. There is one feature that I cannot figure out though, it receives on the NAV band but has no VOR capability. Not sure what purpose this fulfills?

By the by ....
My complete system was supplied by Zulu1, intercom, power unit, headsets, radio etc...
The quality of their product, even down to the instructions and packaging is fantastic. Attention to details, even the tools for the V-Rabbit antennae came in a little leather pouch. Highly recommended.

the VOR receive the CDI TO FROM ADF and VORTACS for instrument pilots in IMC (instrument Meteorological conditions) you are thus able to receive your VORTAC but with the split function talk to controllers on your COMM