Avionics News July 2018 - 19

Like cellphones, these handheld transceivers face
limitations. But notwithstanding those limits, the
lowly handheld air-band radio transceiver serves many
functions important enough to prompt thousands of
pilots to carry one in their physical flight bags. And like
virtually everything electronic in aviation, the state-ofthe-art continues to improve on the quality and
feature sets of the latest handheld transceivers.
Today's offerings go well beyond simple
two-way voice communicators and into more
complex navigation functions, including
some featuring both localizer and glideslope
functions and even satellite navigators.
The large number and variety of options
provides graphic testament to the value pilots
place on carrying a reliable, powerful tool
geared to fulfill the many needs of pilots -
whether calling for the fuel truck on the airport
frequency to serving as a backup communicator
and emergency navigator.
The handheld aviation transceivers of today
provide enough power for these many functions,
in packages both light and compact - so much so
that they impose little weight penalty on the user.
Portable aviation transceivers:
A multitude of uses in compact
packages
Today's handheld VHF transceivers perform
a variety of functions, from basic two-way
communications radio to adjunct VHF navigator to
all the above plus satellite-based augmentation
system-enhanced GPS navigators.
Consider these common uses:
Experimental, amateur-built aircraft
often use a good handheld transceiver as
their primary comm radio.
With the advent of handhelds capable
of VHF and satellite navigation, the
handheld may also serve as the primary
provider of guidance.
Pilots of everything from antique
aircraft to NORDO planes - those with
no-radio - to commercial iron use
handheld transceivers for two-way
communications needed on ramps and
aprons, whether to access common
frequencies at busy airports, call for the
fuel truck, listen to weather frequencies
or calling clearance delivery.

Handheld transceivers are a routine accessory in pilot
flight bags, right there next to the electronic flight bag
those pilots use to eschew paper charts and plates.
Choose wisely - to meet the pilot's needs
Doug Ranly, catalog manager for Sporty's Pilot Shop,
offered some insights into selecting a suitable handheld
for the buyer. "When you look at the radio, you should
look at the radio in terms of what you need to use it for -
define your mission," Ranly explained. "When you reach
into your flight bag after the power goes dark, you want
something simple to use."
A student pilot, for example, may be best served by
the simplest handheld.
"A student pilot can look at something simple for
communication only," Ranly offered. "They don't need
something that does 12 things and may be complicated
to use in an emergency."
He noted that both Icom and Yaesu, which Sporty's
carries, offer simple comm radios, "though the Icom is
simpler to use in some ways," Ranly said. "Yaesu has
some features that are great, but they may be a little
more complicated to operate."
That said, he continued, the Yaesu models enjoy a
wide level of popularity.
"They take a bit more of a learning curve," Ranly
explained. "I compare the Yaesu guys to ham radio
guys: They want to know everything about their radio
and how it works."
Ranly noted that many pilots use their
handheld as a primary comm radio.
"Putting the cable in there for an
external antenna, particularly for
primary and backup roles, is a good
insurance policy."
And today, he explained, all
the new handheld radios use the
same BNC antenna connection.
"So you have some uniformity
across the manufacturers - no
adapters needed," Ranly said.
Beyond the simpler models
are a variety of options with
VHF and/or GPS navigators
built in.
"We think our (Sporty's)
SP-400 is an excellent choice
- simple to use, has the full
Continued on following page

Photo by Scott Spangler

avionics news

*

july

2018

19



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News July 2018

No label
Avionics News July 2018 - No label
Avionics News July 2018 - Cover1
Avionics News July 2018 - Cover2
Avionics News July 2018 - 1
Avionics News July 2018 - 2
Avionics News July 2018 - 3
Avionics News July 2018 - 4
Avionics News July 2018 - 5
Avionics News July 2018 - 6
Avionics News July 2018 - 7
Avionics News July 2018 - 8
Avionics News July 2018 - 9
Avionics News July 2018 - 10
Avionics News July 2018 - 11
Avionics News July 2018 - 12
Avionics News July 2018 - 13
Avionics News July 2018 - 14
Avionics News July 2018 - 15
Avionics News July 2018 - 16
Avionics News July 2018 - 17
Avionics News July 2018 - 18
Avionics News July 2018 - 19
Avionics News July 2018 - 20
Avionics News July 2018 - 21
Avionics News July 2018 - 22
Avionics News July 2018 - 23
Avionics News July 2018 - 24
Avionics News July 2018 - 25
Avionics News July 2018 - 26
Avionics News July 2018 - 27
Avionics News July 2018 - 28
Avionics News July 2018 - 29
Avionics News July 2018 - 30
Avionics News July 2018 - 31
Avionics News July 2018 - 32
Avionics News July 2018 - 33
Avionics News July 2018 - 34
Avionics News July 2018 - 35
Avionics News July 2018 - 36
Avionics News July 2018 - 37
Avionics News July 2018 - 38
Avionics News July 2018 - 39
Avionics News July 2018 - 40
Avionics News July 2018 - 41
Avionics News July 2018 - 42
Avionics News July 2018 - 43
Avionics News July 2018 - 44
Avionics News July 2018 - 45
Avionics News July 2018 - 46
Avionics News July 2018 - 47
Avionics News July 2018 - 48
Avionics News July 2018 - 49
Avionics News July 2018 - 50
Avionics News July 2018 - 51
Avionics News July 2018 - 52
Avionics News July 2018 - 53
Avionics News July 2018 - 54
Avionics News July 2018 - 55
Avionics News July 2018 - 56
Avionics News July 2018 - 57
Avionics News July 2018 - 58
Avionics News July 2018 - 59
Avionics News July 2018 - 60
Avionics News July 2018 - 61
Avionics News July 2018 - 62
Avionics News July 2018 - 63
Avionics News July 2018 - 64
Avionics News July 2018 - 65
Avionics News July 2018 - 66
Avionics News July 2018 - 67
Avionics News July 2018 - 68
Avionics News July 2018 - 69
Avionics News July 2018 - 70
Avionics News July 2018 - 71
Avionics News July 2018 - 72
Avionics News July 2018 - Cover3
Avionics News July 2018 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-10
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-9
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-8
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-7
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-6
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-5
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-4
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-3
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-2
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/60-1
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-12
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-11
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-10
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-9
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-8
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-7
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-6
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-5
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-4
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-3
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-2
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/59-1
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-12
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-11
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-10
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-9
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-8
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-7
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-6
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-5
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-4
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-3
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-2
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/58-1
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-12
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-11
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-10
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-9
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-8
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-7
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-6
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-5
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-4
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-3
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-2
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/57-1
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-12
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-11
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-10
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-9
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-8
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-7
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-6
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-5
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-4
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-3
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-2
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/56-1
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-12
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-11
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-10
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-9
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-8
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-7
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-6
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-5
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-4
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-3
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-02
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/55-01
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-12
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-11
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-10
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-9
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-8
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-7
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-6
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-5
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-4
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-3
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-2
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/54-1
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-12
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-11
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-10
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-9
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-8
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-7
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-6
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-5
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-4
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-3
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-2
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/53-1
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/52-12
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/52-11
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/52-10
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/52-9
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/avne/52-8
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/52-7
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/52-6
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/52-5
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/52-4
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/52-3
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/52-2
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/52-1
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-12
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-11
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-10
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-9
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-8
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-7
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-6
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-5
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-4
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-3
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-2
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/51-1
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-12
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-11
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-10
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-9
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-8
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-7
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-6
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-5
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-4
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-3
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-2
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/50-1
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-12
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-11
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-10
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-9
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-8
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-7
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-6
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-5
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-4
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-3
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-2
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/49-1
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/48-12
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/avne/48-11
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com