Gadget/Saftey: New handheld radio with ILS

[Fred]

Has anyone tried this new product?

[Kai]

Hi Fred,

I have a Vertex Standard Pilot III for a bit over a year now. It comes with VOR and CDI navigation. I am not sure if that is the one you are asking for.

http://www.vertexstandard.com/indexVS.c ... Archived=0

I bought it rather than for the navigational functions than for the fact that it is waterproof. It is an excellent part of a survival equipment if you have to make a landing on water. I wouldn't think it is very probably that both G1000 units fail while in IMC and neither the emergency batteries would help to keep it running. Only in that case the Vertex VXA-300 could be helpful.

[Gary]

Sporty's sells a hand held radio with ILS capability for about $400. I had the older version SP-200 with NAV/COM but no ILS and was not impressed with the quality. I checked it a year or two after I got it and there was a lot of static. I bought a Vertex hand held NAV/COM to replace it. I can see using the VOR in the event of Avionics failure but doubt that a hand held ILS would be very useful except in rare circumstances.

[Rick]

I also have the Vertex Standard Pilot III. I've used it a few times on the ground to talk to the tower - it seems to work fine - but never in the air yet. The thing I like best about it is that the battery seems to last forever! I run it for hours as a scanner when I'm at the airport, and I maybe stick it on the charger once every other month, when I think of it. I would estimate I run it (receiving) 30 or 40 hours without ever charging it. It's never gone dead yet.

I've never used its LOC receiver either, but I might try it one flight just to see how well it works. It would be nice to know I have that extra backup, just in case!

[Fred]

Has anyone placed a BNC connector on the pannel to attach a handheld radio for better reception?