Transcievers

[Wargames]

Hi,

Maybe someone with knowledge about radios can answer this. I have been browsing a few websites and couldn't help to notice that handheld radios is about 1/3 the price of panel mount radios. What is the difference between them(besides being handheld and panel mount) that brings the huge price gap, and maybe a few pro's and con's.

Thank you.

[Morph]

Panel mounts generally have higher power output and very often have integrated intercom systems. They are intended for permanent installations into GA type aircraft.

[Wargames]

thanks!

[Boet]

And the panel-mounts lasts longer than the handhelds.

[Wargames]

And the panel-mounts lasts longer than the handhelds.

How much longer??

And you must have a radio license from ICASA??

Is the panel mount really worth the higher price??

[ZULU1]

Just one point, with a panel mount they require a radio station licence, they do not have battery back up. As regards lasting longer..I have had radios in our workshop 25 years young which still work perfectly and Microairs 2 months old with poked output transistors.
I think the issue with hand helds is the plug assembly in the radio, the Icoms (mainly the ICA 3/22) series likes to damage itself with the second pin inside (the mic connection). Generally speaking this has been rectified with the Vertex series screw type plug. Another common fault is they are overpowered ie no protection from the Rotax electrical storm and the power connections are connected to the aerie with poor fitting plugs. The sockets crack on the pc board inside, we have a mark on our workshop wall for every unit we fix like this and they are now in the hundreds. No reason why they should not last as long as a panel mount providing the installation is mechanically acceptable. The lower power from a hand held bears no relevance to distance transmitted (antenna related) and in most cases when installed in a trike (Airbornes with Microairs as an example) the higher output has to be reduced to limit rf ingress in to the headsets and network. This is made worse with Garmin 296 and Rotax skydats. A good antenna with a ICA4 will give any trike superb performance and as good as any panel mount. BUT Installation mechanically is very important. In most cases the intercom in panel mounts are not acceptable for trikes. Hand helds have awesome memory banks and in some units such as the VXA710 have PMR and also commercial radio frequencies. They also are totally waterproof (VXA220 also). You pays your money and take the choice...

Zulu1

[Wargames]

Another common fault is they are overpowered ie no protection from the Rotax electrical storm and the power connections are connected to the aerie with poor fitting plugs.

Zulu1

Thanks ZULU1, but with regards to above comment you made. How can I protect my handheld radio from that rotax electical storm? My radio is working fine, but I am experiencing problems with regards to this, and want to keep myself from more damage.

Regards,

[ZULU1]

OK, I dont use this forum to advertise as its not our core business, I really try to help the chaps out. We manufacture a power supply/filter arrangement at cost plus a few cents (R220,00 ex Ballito, KZN) its a purpose built line choke, regulator unit. We have sold hundreds to forum members and in all cases works a treat. If using a ICA 5/23 without protection it will definitely get nailed, (then you throw them away) recently we have seen a batch of ICA6s get a warning OVERV. I have found a software fix for these though.

If you fly from Wintervoegel Barry Kruger has some complimentary units that he may help you with in the meantime. I dont advise any hand helds to be fed from an unprotected power supply.

eish Zulu1

[Wargames]

Thanks again. This is not "advertising", it is just help.

Can anyone PM me Barry Kruger's telephone number??

Regards,

[gertcoetzee]

Paul (Zulu) has been very helpful in sorting out my radio problems (on DVE) and now is sending me (hopefully this should read "sent")a powerboxgoodie for the Icom and Ipaq combination I have on WUO.

[Wargames]

Paul (Zulu) has been very helpful in sorting out my radio problems (on DVE) and now is sending me (hopefully this should read "sent")a powerboxgoodie for the Icom and Ipaq combination I have on WUO.

Hi Gert,

We should have communicated, other wise we could have double ordered!!!

If he has not sent them, can you let me know. Then we can share the postage!!

I have ordered some mgl instruments, and need this protection for them, as well as my radio!!

Regards,

[ZULU1]

We have made Gert a dual power supply (same as we supply to Australia) with two regulators in the same box, one unit for the radio and the other for the GPS or iPaq whatever you require. They prevent the rf ingress coming down the feed cable from the units (GPS 296 favourite fault) and are current limited so they dont overcharge batteries. Its basically the same board that we make for our chatterbox type R (rechargeable system) and Chatterbox Pro series as they also have a built in headset battery charger. These systems have one box with Intercom, Dual power supply and a headset charger and are totally waterproof with Military specification plugs.

Same specification as the units we put in Ratel communication equipment for the Middle East !!

Cheers Paul

[Wargames]

Hi ZULU1,

Can you please PM me your phone number??

Why did you make a dual box?? Cant you just do a parallel link to power supply for all the various instruments??

Regards,

[ZULU1]

Hiya Again, We make a unit with a line choke, several other devices with two regulators and a battery charger in it for the reason that most GPS devices are not fed with 12 volts. For example Gert is using a iPaq which requires a 5 volt supply, the Garmin etrex uses 3 volts and the radios such as the Vertex like 9,6 volts, the Icom ICA6/24 will not operate over 11 volts. So we placed two units on one board and the battery charger powers the Chatterbox to charge the headsets batteries. They are sold primarily to Australia as they fit behind pods and out of the way. Branded "The Power station".

We still make the standard single unit as well.

Cheers Paul (032) 5255168