So you've purchased that new ICOM or other hand-held VHF com and you are ready to try it out (before the emergency)  just to see how clear it works and just how much range your little handheld has.  After all, the spec sheet said 5 watts (PEP) and that sounds like a lot.  And on the ground the speaker puts out plenty of audio, so what could possibly go wrong in the air?  What kind of range should you expect and how clear is the little handheld over the engine noise.  Let me tell you about some tests I ran on an ICOM A22 with the headset adapter and an external antenna adapter.

  Two questions I get everyday are "How much range can I expect using the rubber duck antenna" and "Do I really need the headset adapter"?  The test aircraft was a Cessna 210L non-turbo.  The only thing that could possibly produce more  noise than the cockpit of this aircraft is the flock of Cockatoos we have at home.  We had previously installed an adapter that when placed in series between the aircraft radio and the outside com antenna allowed the handheld ICOM to use the outside antenna of the aircraft and not transmit back into the aircraft VHF com.   Installation of the adapter took about 1.8 hours in this aircraft.  In most cases it can be installed in less time.  After the installation we ran some tests to see how much line loss the adapter caused.  With the two extra BNC fittings and the adapter, the loss was less than 1dB.  Not bad considering  the gain we will see during the test.

The ICOM was fully charged, the Cessna full of fuel and our handy audio level meter was ready to measure the cockpit noise.  After we got the Cessna airborne we climbed out and leveled off at 4,500 ft and the engine was set for 75% power.  Now for our noise check, the cabin was a whopping 88dB in the center of the aircraft and 91dB at the pilot's left ear!  This is loud, very loud.  At 5 miles out from the airport I turned on my trusty ICOM and tuned in the local ATIS.  Unless I held the handheld about two inches from my ear and the volume full blast, I couldn't really make out what was being said.  Now the power was lowered to 65% mainly by pulling the propeller to lower RPM.   The audio level in the center of the cabin was now 86dB and 90dB at the pilot's left ear.  I now could make out the ATIS with the ICOM about 6 inches away from my ear.  If the handheld was laid on the seat I could not make out what ATIS was saying. The handheld would really be useless in a situation such as this in a real emergency.  

I now talked to the control tower to see just how things sounded at 5 miles out.   Tower said the transmissions were clear but a lot of background noise.  With 86dB of noise I'm sure the background was noisy.  At 10 miles out I could still hear the ATIS but it was starting to break-up.  The signal to noise ratio was very poor at this point.  A call to tower confirmed my thoughts.  We were barely audible and the background noise was terrible.  At 12 miles out only  faint  ATIS was available even with the squelch open and tower could determine I was making transmissions but couldn't make out what I was saying.

Now was the time for the ICOM headset adapter.  This is adapter is supplied with the "full-tilt" A22 but not the Sport Model.  I wouldn't own any handheld without a headset adapter.  It only took a few second to plug my LightSPEED 20K into the headset adapter and then the adapter into the ICOM.  What a difference.   First off I could now make out the ATIS at 12 miles even though the squelch was full open.  Tower now could make out the transmissions due to the good mic on the LightSPEED.  With the headset adapter in place, one could easily handle an emergency situation.  You wouldn't have to hold the ICOM up to your ear or mouth.  This frees up both arms to fly the aircraft in an emergency situation.  In an open cockpit the headset adapter would be a must if you are using it for a primary radio.  You can use an optional PTT switch with the headset adapter but I didn't find that necessary.   I just pushed the button on the ICOM. 

What can we do about that short range?  The ICOM under test has one of the most powerful transmitters on the handheld market today but using the supplied rubber duck antenna in a aircraft does have some range limitations.  At 15 miles out I removed the rubber duck antenna, installed the cord to the top of the ICOM and plugged the cord into the mounted adapter on the aircraft.  This took about 10 seconds at the most.   Now the ICOM is using the same outside antenna that the King Radio mounted in the aircraft was using.  Did I notice a difference?  Right away, everything changed.   Not only was ATIS crystal clear but I could now close it out using the squelch.   A quick call to our local tower made us feel good with a 5X5 reply.  At this same distance, using the supplied ICOM rubber duck antenna, I couldn't even talk to the tower or receive them.  What a difference the adapter made but just how far out could I go and this thing still work.  I ran the Cessna up to 75% again, climbed to 5,500ft and headed away from my home field.  No biggie because I was using the headset adapter which allowed me to easily hear the ICOM.  At 35 five miles out I had to fully  open the squelch to hear ATIS but it still was fairly clear.  I gave tower a call at 43 miles out and they reported that I was fairly clear but slightly breaking up. I could still hear them on the ICOM.  At 45 miles out, my transmissions were intermit and so was reception.  Based on this, I determined my range max. range using the ICOM A22 was 43 miles. Now how many of you get that kind of range using the normal aircraft panel mounted radios? 

Using the headset adapter in conjunction with the external antenna adapter really give the ICOM A22 a lot of utility.  Now you have a handheld that you can easily use during an emergency and have the range of most panel mounted radios.  Of course you must own an aircraft in order to have the external antenna adapter installed.  Few rental aircraft will have the adapter installed.  If nothing else, order a headset adapter for your VHF handheld if you don't own one.  It sure makes the portable radio easier to use during an emergency. This is an installed type product that should be installed by an avionics shop with the proper crimpers and are able to make an entry in the aircraft records. 
 

Aircraft Hand-held Adapter	$76.00