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From: marcum@sun.uucp (Alan Marcum)
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: Re: Info on transceivers?
Message-ID: <3205@sun.uucp>
Date: Thu, 30-Jan-86 19:48:57 EST
Article-I.D.: sun.3205
Posted: Thu Jan 30 19:48:57 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 1-Feb-86 06:02:12 EST
References: <33200006@convex>
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Lines: 29

> I'm looking into purchasing a handheld transceiver to go along with my
> soon-to-be-had instrument rating. The item in the November issue of Flying
> was helpful, but I would like to get more opinions.
> 	Rob Carruthers	{allegra,ihnp4,uiucdcs,sun}!convex!carr

I just bought an STS7600.  I've yet to go flying with it, but have used
at home, listening to transmissions and the local ATIS.  Initial impressions
are good -- well built, easy to use (usually), some nice bells and whistles.

STRONG POINTS: price, 720 channels, built-in clock, DC jack and lighter
	plug (though who cares if you use it as an IFR lost electrical
	comm backup!), NiCad charger, clear instructions, remembers
	last frequency, light, compact, easy-to-use.
WEAK POINTS: battery life seems a bit short, non-aviation-standard jacks for
	headphones and PTT (headphones do, though use what appears to be
	a standard earphone jack, and microphone/PTT connections are
	documented, so one could build an adapter I suppose), no nav
	reception (a cute, potentially useful feature of at least
	one hand-held).

On my next let's-just-go-fly flight, I'll be using the 7600 exclusively,
to see what it's like.  I reckon I'll let the group know my impressions.
During normal operations, I'll use it almost exclusively as an emergency
backup, though I'll probably also use it for ATIS clearance delivery at
busy fields, when I don't want to start the engine and the battery drain
might be excessive.
-- 
Alan M. Marcum				Sun Microsystems, Technical Consulting
...!{dual,ihnp4}!sun!nescorna!marcum	Mountain View, California