I'm debating buying a new handheld radio, which will be my sole com radio (no electrical system in my plane). I'm currently using an Icom A24, which I used as the primary com radio for about 10 years in two airplanes before buying a plane that had an installed radio 6 years ago. Now I'm back to a no-electric airplane, I pulled out the old Icom again. The battery is getting weak and the headset plug has always been flaky, it needs a rubber band pulling the plug sideways to make reliable contact. I considered buying a new battery and the 12V adapter to run it from an external battery, but the radio is somewhat dated by now... newer radios have bigger screens and flip-flop frequency, which the A24 doesn't.
Anyway, my first inclination was another Icom, like their A25C, but offerings from Yaesu and Sporty's are less than half the price. Sporty's PJ2+ looks OK, but even though the aircraft headset plugs directly into it without an adapter (I like that), it appears I'd still need an adapter to use an external PTT button, and if I want a rechargeable battery it's $100 extra.
The Yaesu FTA-450L costs more than the PJ2, but comes with both rechargeable and alkaline battery packs, needs a headset adapter but it's included,, as is the DC power adapter. Their similar FTA-550L costs the same as the PJ2 and has added VOR, which I don't need.
So, opinions or personal experience?
Anyway, my first inclination was another Icom, like their A25C, but offerings from Yaesu and Sporty's are less than half the price. Sporty's PJ2+ looks OK, but even though the aircraft headset plugs directly into it without an adapter (I like that), it appears I'd still need an adapter to use an external PTT button, and if I want a rechargeable battery it's $100 extra.
The Yaesu FTA-450L costs more than the PJ2, but comes with both rechargeable and alkaline battery packs, needs a headset adapter but it's included,, as is the DC power adapter. Their similar FTA-550L costs the same as the PJ2 and has added VOR, which I don't need.
So, opinions or personal experience?
