Limitations of 1 Comm and 1 Nav Radio

texasclouds

texasclouds

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F0CAFFCE-5165-46CE-972D-4B12BB9EAA2A.jpeg I am looking at a plane that has an old simple radio in it. 1 comm radio and 1 nav radio. Simple dials on both with no flip flop. How limiting will this be? Will it be difficult to pickup weather while on flight following? I would have to ask to momentarily leave the channel, right?

Right now in private training in a 172S we have dual comms with flip flop and a nav with flip flop. I usually pickup weather on comm 2 and use comm 1 for ground/tower/flight following.

I have considered changing the radio to a garmin 250xl gps with single comm flip flop radio. That would fit in the same space but i would lose the nav radio (currently built into one unit with comm).

KX170B

Thoughts?
 
I think you are saying you have one KX170B Nav Com radio. It sucked flying in planes with two of those radios, double sucks flying with one.
 
I flew most all of my civilian IMC time in airplanes equipped with two KX170B radios and an ADF. Took my ATP in a similarly equipped airplane. Never had a complaint or problem. Flip flops are for sissies...
 
VFR, no problem. Carry a handheld as back-up though these are very dependable radios.
 
IK04 said:
I flew most all of my civilian IMC time in airplanes equipped with two KX170B radios and an ADF. Took my ATP in a similarly equipped airplane. Never had a complaint or problem. Flip flops are for sissies...
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Well having two radios and switching between them with an audio panel is pretty much the same as having one radio with a flip flop stby freq. The exception is that you can’t listen to both freqs at the same time with the single radio. Maybe two radios are for sissies.
 
texasclouds said:
View attachment 71582 I am looking at a plane that has an old simple radio in it. 1 comm radio and 1 nav radio. Simple dials on both with no flip flop. How limiting will this be? Will it be difficult to pickup weather while on flight following? I would have to ask to momentarily leave the channel, right?

Right now in private training in a 172S we have dual comms with flip flop and a nav with flip flop. I usually pickup weather on comm 2 and use comm 1 for ground/tower/flight following.

I have considered changing the radio to a garmin 250xl gps with single comm flip flop radio. That would fit in the same space but i would lose the nav radio (currently built into one unit with comm).

KX170B

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

That radio probably bleeds onto other frequencies than the one selected, if it works at all.
 
You'd get used to it. When I was waiting for an avionics upgrade I was down to one COM and no NAV's, I got pretty used to it. So much so that when I get my panel upgraded I forgot what to do with two COM's :eek:.

More importantly... what type of plane?!?!?!
 
bnt83 said:
That radio probably bleeds onto other frequencies than the one selected, if it works at all.
Click to expand...
That hasn't been my experience with them. They were always very reliable for me, and I never heard any complaints about frequencies bleeding over.
 
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IK04 said:
I flew most all of my civilian IMC time in airplanes equipped with two KX170B radios and an ADF. Took my ATP in a similarly equipped airplane. Never had a complaint or problem. Flip flops are for sissies...
Click to expand...
Me too, but it is all civilian. Sometimes we had a DME or 8 wpt RNAV towards the end. Enjoy being vintage.
 
Mtns2Skies said:
DUUUUDE She's a beaut. BUY IT. BUY IT NOW. Radio is far less important in a beauty like that... you won't even be thinking of ATC or comms... just about flying.
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Pigpenracing went with me to look at it. He says airframe is good. Wife is about to give me the nod of approval.
 
Just means you are spinning dials a lot when having to change frequencies or grab an ATIS, not the worst, but certainly makes things busy if you are IFR and have a bunch of other tasks you are trying to accomplish at the same time. Obviously flip-flop radios are more convenient so that you can pre-set items that are known/expected and avoid some of the distraction. Dual radios with an intercom are even better so that you can listed to two frequencies simultaneously, if desired. Holy grail is dual comms with flip-flop so that it lets you sequence several frequency changes ahead of time.

If VFR, pretty much a non-issue, but a flip-flop would be a nice to have.
 
The KX170/175 series were really good radios in their day. They still perform very well, but they are getting old and repairs might not be feasible. I had two KX-175Bs that were original equipment in my 172N from October 1977. One of them finally croaked last year and I replaced it with a new TKM MX170C. The factory is just up the road here in Scottsdale, so I picked it up there, drove it back to my hangar and put it in. Installation took almost ten minutes, including the log entry.

Screen Shot 2019-02-11 at 10.27.20 AM.png

So far I really like the MX170C. I do wish though, it had a feature to allow monitoring of the standby frequency, as I had on the SL40 in my old Sport Cub.
 
Nice Stinsons like that one are getting more and more difficult to find. This one actually is worth an engine up grade if it were to come to that.
 
DutchRoller said:
Well having two radios and switching between them with an audio panel is pretty much the same as having one radio with a flip flop stby freq. The exception is that you can’t listen to both freqs at the same time with the single radio. Maybe two radios are for sissies.
Click to expand...

I've got a Garmin GTR-200, and you can monitor two frequencies at once...there's a dedicated MON button for this. I find it really helpful for monitoring ATIS while having the CTAF as the active frequency.
 
I'm thinking with a portable ADSB-In receiver and iPad, I can navigate just fine. 300-500 mile XC is probably the longest trips I'll take. Flying within TX, OK, LA.
 
texasclouds said:
I'm thinking with a portable ADSB-In receiver and iPad, I can navigate just fine. 300-500 mile XC is probably the longest trips I'll take. Flying within TX, OK, LA.
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Good Idea....>

when it becomes time to do the ADSB thing these are the radios that fit the space in the rack, So you won't be modifying the panel.

http://www.funkwerk-usa.com
 
I do ok with one com, zero navs, ForeFlight and a Scout. The "monitor" capability that lets me talk on the flip freq while listening to the flop freq is handy. I should probably pick up a handheld just in case...
 
I have just the one radio in my plane... flying around VFR in So Cal was not a problem... I rather like it being a simple plane to fly all the way around. I have the MX170B replacement for the Kx170b and it works with no issues. And like mentions, have a handheld backup is needed...

That is a great looking Stenson.. old school rules!... get it and fly it to your heart's content..
 
The 108-3 is a really sweet ride.
Not fast (125ish cruise), not roomy, just classy fun.
Bigger tanks are a plus.
 
My C-140 has one comm and no nav of any kind. My handheld can tune and track a vor or a gps course, so no worries... ;)

I just realized I do have a SBY frequency! OMG, I'm a flip flopper!
 
texasclouds said:
My holdup is the 1000 hrs on 1200 tbo Franklin 165.
Click to expand...
That certainly is an issue..

I'd remove it and at least tear it down, inspect it, replace what is needed. and return to service.

Before it fails and ruins a bunch of parts you can't get any more
 
Tom-D said:
That certainly is an issue..

I'd remove it and at least tear it down, inspect it, replace what is needed. and return to service.

Before it fails and ruins a bunch of parts you can't get any more
Click to expand...

They are producing Franklin parts again... It only has a couple hundred hours on the top overhaul.
 
bnt83 said:
That radio probably bleeds onto other frequencies than the one selected, if it works at all.
Click to expand...
I really doubt that,, KX 170/175 were 3% compliant.
 
texasclouds said:
View attachment 71582 I am looking at a plane that has an old simple radio in it. 1 comm radio and 1 nav radio. Simple dials on both with no flip flop. How limiting will this be? Will it be difficult to pickup weather while on flight following? I would have to ask to momentarily leave the channel, right?

Right now in private training in a 172S we have dual comms with flip flop and a nav with flip flop. I usually pickup weather on comm 2 and use comm 1 for ground/tower/flight following.

I have considered changing the radio to a garmin 250xl gps with single comm flip flop radio. That would fit in the same space but i would lose the nav radio (currently built into one unit with comm).

KX170B

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Ahhhhh the days of my primary training.... one NAV/COMM... life was simple then flying over the amish countryside of southeastern PA... and there was an iComm A-22 in the seat next to me... Use to fly a 152 all around the Los Angeles basin with a one radio set up just like that.... but I was also in the practice of writing down frequency assignments..
 
pigpenracing said:
They are producing Franklin parts again... It only has a couple hundred hours on the top overhaul.
Click to expand...
I'd be more worried about the Franklin throwing a rod. but the nice thing about a Franklin Is they have inspection plates to inspect the lower end.
 
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