The Best NAV/COMM

[thehotshotpilot]

What is the best Nav/Comm in economical value features and durability? is it a ICOM, Sporty's, Vertex etc?

[Jason]

What is the best Nav/Comm in economical value features and durability? is it a ICOM, Sporty's, Vertex etc?

Vertex and Icom seem to be great.  Although Sporty's seems to have some nice equipment...I find that the ICOM transcievers are nice... Remember that it is VHF and that it is line-of-site. Depending on the distance from the transmitters (ATIS is usually on the field as is TWR, GND, and DEL) and terrain will affect the signals..with that being said, I would personally go with an Icom IC-A3 COM. I've used one before and seems like a very nice model. Another nice and considerably smaller one made by Icom is the Icom IC-A5 COM. I haven't used it but looks like a feature-packed tranciever.

[Robin Rebhan]

I like my ICOM A-21. Freq. Presets are easy to use enroute, Nav feature is simple, I like tthe To/From feature at the push of a button.  At 3,000 I can reach 7NM to the TWR. Back light is a little dim. Optional Headset adapter is a must have in the plane.
I have compared my ICom to others and it really punches out a better signal, some of the smaller units I have seen or tried hardly TX across the field.
Like almost everything you get what you pay for.
Good thing about a handheld is I listen on the way to FBO and know what is going on before I get there, I get my pilot head on and focused.
Great thing about a handheld is it is a backup radio if you lose your radio communicatons on the plane or have to shut off electrical power.
Just a couple weeks ago at KSCH a multi milliion dollar private jet came in without electric power and no radio contact and no Handheld. Looking into the sun Pilot could not see the light signals from the tower. All turned out OK with the Big Sky Therory, but it could have easily turned out bad.

Regards
Robin Rebhan
KALB Feeder

[thehotshotpilot]

Thanks for the comments but which ones have the best range?