Aviation Band Radio in Ditch Bag Opinions...

[shanec]

For any weighing the utility of having one in a ditch bag, against the cost, weight, size and expertise required to use, my Yaesu FTA-230 cost $200, weighs 12.7 oz (360 grams) and is 2.36" X 4.5" X 1.2" w/o detachable 6" antenna. Emergency use to call a plane out on 121.5 requires just turning it on, pressing the upper right button marked 121.5, then press 'push to talk' button.

Includes the AC adapter, DC Car adapter, NiMH rechargeable battery AND it comes with the back-up AA Alkaline battery pack, too. (Oh yeah, headset cable, too.)

Icom IC-A14, which I've also owned, is similar priced, but IMO less features/benefits/value all around when you compare the two. For instance, the ICOM is only water resistant, where the Yaesu is fully submersible. More included accessories with Yaesu, too. (Icom's back-up AA Alkaline battery pack and 12vdc car adapter would cost another $60.00, EACH!)

FYI, I don't have any financial interest in any radio sales, but maybe an inexpensive airband will be helpful to somebody someday when their EPIRB goes down with the ship and no working sat phone is at hand. It's happened before.

That said, for any with an EPIRB and sat phone, probably best getting a PLB next, before acquiring an air band transceiver.

- Shane

[goboatingnow]

while in theory air band might be useful, today many traditional sailing routes do not coincide with much air traffic, e.g. canaries to carribean for example.

dave

[shanec]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

while in theory air band might be useful, today many traditional sailing routes do not coincide with much air traffic, e.g. canaries to carribean for example.

True enough, until your long overdue scheduled reporting-in eventually gets search planes into the general area. You could be many miles well outside of their search grid but still see them from afar to try and call them in then with an air band radio. Beats hoping search grids aren't moving even farther away as deadline for eventually quitting search altogether steadily looms ever closer.

- Shane

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by shanec

True enough, until your long overdue scheduled reporting-in eventually gets search planes into the general area. You could be many miles well outside of their search grid but still see them from afar to try and call them in then with an air band radio. Beats hoping search grids aren't moving even farther away as deadline for eventually quitting search altogether steadily looms ever closer.

- Shane

All search planes carry marine VHF.

Dave


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[shanec]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

All search planes carry marine VHF.

Good point!

- Shane