Hey all,
Some of us have been flying with a hand-held ham radio much more
this year than previous years. Some of you have asked me to send
links to some actual makes and models.
Here's a model that is most common among our group. It is a rugged
and reliable model:
Yaesu FT-270R
Here is another Yaesu radio. It is a bit smaller (and more
expensive) than the 270 above, but it is still as equally rugged as
the 270:
Yaesu VX-6R
Both of these radios above use the same "mini speaker-mic" which is
very useful when you are flying:
Yaesu MH-57A4B Mini
Speaker Mic
If you buy some other radio, make certain that it operates on the 2
meter band. This seems to be the most common band for hand-held ham
radios, and it is the band I've observed used by pilots at Inspo and
also pilots in California. Some radios can operate on both the 2
meter and 40 centimeter band (i.e. the Yaesu VX-6R). However, avoid
any radio that operates exclusively on the 40 centimeter band.
If I were shopping for a radio today, I would first check out Ebay.
If you can't find it on Ebay, then
Ham Radio Outook is a
reputable online store. Expect to pay between $120 and $150 for the
270. The VX-6R will cost around $250 to $275.
I know others in our group use different makes and models (Cody,
Ron, Greg, Spencer). Guys, please feel free to jump in and tell us
your radio's make and model and price.
Jeff