New Radio

[Richard Boyer]

I just thought I would share a picture of the new radio I got at Oshkosh and put in my "Avionics Compartment".

It's an XCOM 760. VERY amazing radio and weighs 1lb.

The hardest part was making the wiring harness, but I no longer have any of the wiring mess under my feet.

Richard Boyer
N95791

[zero.one.victor]

Re: New Radio

Using the avionics compartment like that makes for a very tidy installation. I see you have a transponder as well as the com radio in there. Cool! I assume that you're running a battery-only electrical system. What type/size battery and where mounted? And how much radio/txp time between charges?

Eric

[mulwyk]

Re: New Radio

Very nice, Richard.

Most folks just settle for a handheld stuffed in there. What do you use for a battery? Charger? Antenna?

Details please!

Bob Gustafson

[Richard Boyer]

Re: New Radio

I did the handheld thing for 5 years. That Icom A22 is an amazing radio! But....I got tired of all the wire mess under my feet and wanted something that looked a bit nicer as well as having more utility.

Luckily my T is a BC12D/19. Gilberti/Harer upgrade, so I have all the electrics. I have a 12amp gear driven Alternator with a concorde sealed battery in the back (weight and balance thing). This year I even hooked up the positioning lights, which I have used exactly once. Kind of pointless to fly at night since I can't see my instruments!

The radio lets me monitor two frequencies at once and you can flop the channels by pressing one button. It has a two place intercom built in as well as an input for your ipod. It has a bunch of other wiz bang features, most of which I ignore. The Dual watch and flop functions are nice when I am on a long crosscountry trip. All that and under 1 pound.

The only thing about the Harer conversion with all the add ons is that the plane weighs more (mine is 905 empty). I really noticed this when flying with Rob in jolly ole England. His plane is really light! We touched down (in some very gusty winds), I pulled the stick back like I do in my plane. I was VERY suprised to be back up at pattern altitude!! (Got Robs undivided attention too!!!)

Richard Boyer
N95791

[paulp]

Re: New Radio

Howdy Richard,

How is the reach on that radio and who makes it? What are the dimensions?

My mod 19 is 922 empty but I have a 20 amp gen and the old style pull starter.(heavy rascals). You might want to look into the strip lighting. I put it in mine and it is great. Kinda pricy but worth it.

[Robert Lees]

Re: New Radio

back up at pattern altitude

What, 100 feet?

Looks nice, Richard. Where was that photo of your alternator installation?

[Richard Boyer]

Re: New Radio

The radio is made by an outfit in Australia.

http://www.mcp.com.au/xcom760/

It fits into a standard 2 1/4 inch hole, but I couldn't get it to work on my panel (fuel tank in the way). Maybe if I cut another hole, but that isn't going to happen! It is 2.4 inches high/wide, by 5.83 inches long. It transmits at 5.5 watts but steps down the power as your battery gets weaker. I think at minimum it transmits at 2 watts. It uses 140ma to receive and 2.5 amps to transmit. check out their website.

I have heard people as far as Houston from Georgetown, I have never tried to talk to them. (about 250miles?)

As for the Alternator, I have the 200G B&C Specialties lightweight alternator. They now make a 30 amp one that weight a couple of lbs more.

[Yellow Duck]

Re: New Radio

Why the Xom rather than the Microair? Both 2 1/4 and both about 5 W. Just curious. The price of the microair is about $800

[Richard Boyer]

Re: New Radio

Microair must have really dropped their price. The were about 500 more when I was looking at them in july!

Mostly Price at the time.

I think that the XCom has more features and programability, but I could be wrong.

Richard Boyer
N95791

[paulp]

Re: New Radio

Howdy Richard,

No, you are not wrong! I looked @ their web site and based on what they advertised, they have MicroAir beat all the way. The system is programable, more out-put wattage and has a built in VOX intercom. This is a heck of a system. I am considering one now for the gyrocopter. Looks like a good deal to me.

[Richard Boyer]

Re: New Radio

One of my neighbors is who got me interested in the radio. He built a Helicycle. My understanding is that those helicopter guys really can't let go of the stick. So they get a stick with buttons all over it. He can then program each of those buttons to do something specific on the radio. Not terribly useful in a taylorcraft, but very versatile!

It amazes me how much is packed in to this radio and how reasonably (achem) it is priced compared to other aircraft radios. Most of them can only do a fraction of what this sucker can do.

Oh yeah, it has NOAA weather bands in it and if you push two specific buttons in at the same time it automatically swithes to 121.5.

slick!

Richard Boyer
N95791

[Yellow Duck]

Re: New Radio

Need to check again. Been looking at the Microair for a few years now. They have always been about $800 for the radio and about $1600 for the Xponer. But I was wrong once before.

[VictorBravo]

Re: New Radio

I am just now in the process of putting a Walter Dittel FSG 60 radio on the T-craft. It uses 50ma of current on standby, about 150 ma when receiving (or squelch off), and only 1.5A when transmitting. It was specifically designed for glider use, where there is a small battery and no charging method. They make a newer version that fits into a small instrument hole. www.wingsandwheels.com

[zero.one.victor]

Re: New Radio

The VOX intercom is a nice feature. Most of the intercoms that are built into radio's are hot-mike and/or push-to-talk set-ups, both of which are a PITA.
My 2004-2005 Spruce catalog lists the Xcom at $694, and the Microair at $835.

Eric

[Yellow Duck]

Re: New Radio

Has anyone compared the Xcom and the Microair ? Both 2 1/4 low amp useage.

Going out in a while. To ARA, we meet there every Sunday to help straighten the world.

Little ground fog, but looks nice. Weather says CAVU, light breeze and 70's. Another average day in paradise