Radio's

dave-mclaughlin · Post by **dave-mclaughlin** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 1:26 pm

I'm looking to buy a new radio. Any recommendations? One's to avoid?

Ta....

Brian Nellist · Post by **Brian Nellist** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 7:54 pm

I am also after buying a new radio so I will be interested in any replies

cheers

regards

Brian

alan westmoreland · Post by **alan westmoreland** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:17 pm

i use an alinco dg 195

John Wallis · Post by **John Wallis** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 9:06 pm

There's been a few of us upgraded our old sets and went for the Yaesu VX2 which I see has been upgraded to the VX3 available from all good stores but particularly the Sick and the Wrong Check the link.

http://www.sickandwrong.co.uk/item/prod ... VX3E/1484/

It's a great compact radio and Yaesu is a good brand. The only small criticism I've got is it needs charging after a full days use.

You can also get a headset to plug in or a small mike that you just clip on your harness. I've tried both and I prefer the mike.

HTH

ron freeman · Post by **ron freeman** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 11:53 am

I have six Alinco's ranging from 180- 195 you can not go wrong with the DJ-195 with the heavy duty battery pack (last for ages)

You can also get a dry battery cell case for the 195, £20 & very handy if you are caught out with a flat N-cad pack.

I carry six spare 2.500 mAH AA's just in case...and they will last for weeks !

AlastairW · Post by **AlastairW** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 1:14 pm

I have had a variety of radios..... (mostly John Wallis's cast offs....!)

Alinco are good, as Ronnie says. I have a DJ195, with a spare drycell case, so if it does go flat you can easily put another battery pack in.

However, last summer I bought a new Yaesu vx2 as recommended by John.

Battery life is about a day, as he said, and I dont think it is as powerful as the Alinco, BUT its main advantage is it is small, and dead easy to put in a pocket, so you are more likely to take it with you.

That is the main problems with radios.... most people forget to take them out with them, or they are not charged etc etc....

Get a spare battery pack for the Yaesu, stick it in your flight deck with the radio, and put the radio on to charge when you get home from a days flying... sorted....

Now even more complicated discussion........ headsets!

I use one from Maplins, which cost £15. Better than the ones from PG shops, but the PTT is not long enough to stretch to your arm. I clip it on to my collar, but that makes it difficult if not impossible to use when thermalling, as I am NOT going to take my hands of the brakes at that point.....

Dave Hume · Post by **Dave Hume** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 2:24 pm

AlastairW wrote:
I use one from Maplins, which cost £15. Better than the ones from PG shops, but the PTT is not long enough to stretch to your arm. I clip it on to my collar, but that makes it difficult if not impossible to use when thermalling, as I am NOT going to take my hands of the brakes at that point.....

Watching Gary walking around on Model Ridge talking to himself I finally sussed he hadn't gone barmy but had a bluetooth headset for his mobile phone under his balaclava. Which set me thinking. What we really need is a bluetooth radio with wireless headset and PTT. headset stays in the helmet, PTT stays on the glove. But you'll need to remember to charge your helmet and gloves as well as your radio, vario, GPS etc............

lanceg · Post by **lanceg** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 7:39 pm

Brian you might want to have a look at the link below
Alinco DJ 195 at £99.95 + £6.50 postage

I have just bought one. As for the PTT - headset/speakermic etc haven't got a clue what to get.

http://www.nevadaradio.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh ... 2413#a2413

See you in the club competition.

Misk · Post by **Misk** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 11:43 am

We use the Yaesus both the 2 and the 3 from S&W and they are just fine, not the most powerful but you don't need to broadcast the length of the country.

I just took Alastairs advice and bought a dry cell case off ebay for £10.

Also consider these....

http://www.parasupply.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=22

I have used them and they work just fine, for the price it is a hell of a package as you buy in US $. The company is trustworthy.

AlastairW · Post by **AlastairW** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 12:28 pm

I bought replacement batteries for the Yaesu from Ebay.... about £8 each, so I now have three batteries.

You can even buy an in car charger so that you can charge the batteries whilst driving to the flying site......

Bradleisure · Post by **Bradleisure** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 1:31 pm

Just a quick question someone may be able to help me with.

How do you transmit on the club frequency with the proposed radios when there tx frequency range is "144-147.995"?

Mine says TX Error when I try?

Someone please shed light on this for me?

Thanks.

Misk · Post by **Misk** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 1:37 pm

What is your radio?

Most handhelds need their frequencies opening up. This is usually a cunning combination of button presses whilst standing on one leg and chanting a secret mantra. A quick google search may find the method to use.

Try 'alinco frequency open' or something like that.............

Bradleisure · Post by **Bradleisure** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 7:05 pm

Thanks Misk that worked a treat.

Fully open and ready to communicate with you all.

I wonder if I'll be able to receive you on xfell from home!

Misk · Post by **Misk** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 9:59 pm

Roger........we do all know these radios are all illegal in these frequencies and we wouldn't dream of using them in the air, don't we!

AlastairW · Post by **AlastairW** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:40 am

Of course Ian.....!

Thats why everyone always turns up on site having left them at home, in the car, or with flat batteries......

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Radio's

Radio's

radio

Alinco 195 with heavy duty battery pack brilliant !

Radios.....

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