IC-24A & VXA-300 Handheld troubles...

[KC8YWO]

I just purchased an IC-24A handheld aviation transceiver. Although I like the layout of the radio, I am having a heck of a time picking up the tower and pilots. I work at an airport and my office is one floor below the tower. You would think I would be able to pick the tower up crystal clear, but I can't. The sound is very faint and fuzzy. I actually pick the pilots up while on the ground, better than I pick up the tower.

I also purchased a VXA-300 handheld to try out. I ended up returning it due to the radio always breaking squelch. The swivel belt clip was a bad idea as well, due to the radio easily coming off the clip.

In my opinion Icom has a much better and more practical radio. It is a bit bigger than Yaesu's which makes it easier to use. It also has a larger display and buttons. I may end up returning this radio as well though, if I can't get a better signal with it.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated (including buying a better antenna or different radio).

-Chris

[K0BG]

Usually, but not always, the radio transmitters are not on the immediate airport property. Further, you could be getting some de-sense from other transmitters you're not tuned to. This is especially true of handheld radios. After all, there isn't much room for bandpass filters.

Alan, KØBG
www.k0bg.com

[WW5AA]

Chris,

If the antenna for the tower is mounted on top, you are also dealing with "the cone of silence" which is directly under an antenna, most pronounced at VHF/UHF frequencies. A better antenna will help some.

73, de Lindy

[KC8YWO]

The antennas for the airport are located about 1,000 feet away from the tower.

It would be nice if these handhelds had better shielding from electroinc interference. When I get near computers the squelch breaks. It is very annoying. Our DPS Motorola radios do not to this. But I am sure that is a totally different radio.