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Com Radio: Replace my underpanel unit or go with panel-mount "handheld"?

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Vigilant1

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 24, 2011
Messages
10,596
Location
US
The underpanel-mounted VAL COM 760 radio in my Sonex is nearly dead (largely unreadable in transmit mode). I spent over $200 eight months ago to get it put right, and I'm not sure it was ever really fixed, so I don't want to spend any more on it. My (low-budget) options are: Get a used VAL 760 unit (probably around $200-$250) which would slide into the existing bracket, or mount a "handheld" on the panel and hook it into my plane's power, intercom, and VHF antenna. With the handheld I'd save some money, get a warranty and get some new features (station memory, maybe even a VOR/LOC function for $100 more). But, a handheld won't look as good and the knobs won't be quite as easy to use (up on top). The carrier power on these handhelds is about 1.5 watts, much less than the 8 watts of the VAL or other panel mounts, but I've heard that people use them just fine for the typical 0-50 mile comms of VFR flight when using an external antenna.

Thoughts and experiences with the handheld-on-the-panel option?

Thanks,
Mark
 
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