Becker vs Microair

I've decided to give up on my Avionic Dittel and buy new. It's been a
good radio and has given many years of service, but I'd like some new
functionality.

Functionality is really at the heart of my dilemna. I've kind of
narrowed things down to Becker vs Microair (I've ruled out Walter
Dittel on price... everyone has a limit independent of reason). There
seems to be a broad consensus that the Becker is a more reliable
choice. However, the Microair seems to offer a number of superior
features.

1) Remote operation from a stick mounted toggle.
2) Dual scan beteween the active and standby freqs with the ability to
transmit on the active. (Becker also offers a scan option but it seems
to be cover far more freqs and the freqs covered can only be changed
by turning the radio off and on at least twice. Dual scan seems very
nice when flying XC in the vicinity of an active airport.)
3 Alpha descriptions of saved freqs.
4) Variable squelch (Becker has this, but not without turning the
radio off and on at least twice to make changes.)


So here I am... The Microair costs less and has "better" features. But
who cares if it doesn't work?

What to do? What to do?.. I think I'll fly with the handheld!

What am I missing? I'm sure there are many cosniderations that escape
me.

Doug

We have had a Microair on our plane. It has never worked properly, in
spite of two returns to the factory. We don't bother anymore. 'Nough
said.

Cheers, Charles

I have had a Terra 760D in my glider for the last 10 years. It works
great nearly all the time except when I fly in our soaring regatta in
Central Idaho. It has always recieved great but when I start flying at
High Altitude were we typically fly between 14,000 and 18,000 feet the
tranmission occasionally becomes unreadable. I suspect this is some
combination of the batteries getting cold (low voltage) and possibly
the radio itself not liking the altitude. After a couple years of
consistantly having trouble I performed my own informal survey. We
have up to 15 different gliders flying in these regatta's and the
after listening to different radios I determined that only the Dittles
and the Beckers consistantly performed well (with clear
transmissions) in this High altitude enviorment. This year I
installed Becker and am very pleased with it with everyone giving the
transmission quaility a thumbs up. I remember that the MicroAir
miserably failed my informal Survey and the ATR was suspect (due to
the pilot often failed to respond, I don't know if this was the pilot,
the reciever or the transmitter). I don't recall what other radios I
evaluated.

Brian
HP16T

Does anyone have any experience with the newer XCOM radio? I had a demo
at Oshkosh and it looked logical with reasonable performance and power
draw. It also has a repeater head, which would be nice for my
two-seater. Given all of the comments in this thread, its obvious that
reliablity is a key concern.

- from someone with an unnamed brand radio in for repair for that last
11 months, but that's another story -

...... Neal

Dixie Sierra wrote:
> I've decided to give up on my Avionic Dittel and buy new. It's been a
> good radio and has given many years of service, but I'd like some new
> functionality.
>
> Functionality is really at the heart of my dilemna. I've kind of
> narrowed things down to Becker vs Microair (I've ruled out Walter
> Dittel on price... everyone has a limit independent of reason). There
> seems to be a broad consensus that the Becker is a more reliable
> choice. However, the Microair seems to offer a number of superior
> features.
>
> 1) Remote operation from a stick mounted toggle.
> 2) Dual scan beteween the active and standby freqs with the ability to
> transmit on the active. (Becker also offers a scan option but it seems
> to be cover far more freqs and the freqs covered can only be changed
> by turning the radio off and on at least twice. Dual scan seems very
> nice when flying XC in the vicinity of an active airport.)
> 3 Alpha descriptions of saved freqs.
> 4) Variable squelch (Becker has this, but not without turning the
> radio off and on at least twice to make changes.)
>
>
> So here I am... The Microair costs less and has "better" features. But
> who cares if it doesn't work?
>
> What to do? What to do?.. I think I'll fly with the handheld!
>
> What am I missing? I'm sure there are many cosniderations that escape
> me.
>
> Doug
>
>

ATR600 and ATR833 have a remote head capability.

I understand that if cheap is the requirement then the Microair or XCom may be worth looking at. Based on what I saw -
the eagerness of nearly every microair owner I met to move their radio on at an attractive price, caveat emptor...

Personally I find it impossible to remember what all the frequencies are - given there are 9 of them I program in what I
need if I move to a different location. We have relatively uncomplicated airspace so I have never felt a need for even
the full 9.

Neal Pfeiffer wrote:
> Does anyone have any experience with the newer XCOM radio? I had a demo
> at Oshkosh and it looked logical with reasonable performance and power
> draw. It also has a repeater head, which would be nice for my
> two-seater. Given all of the comments in this thread, its obvious that
> reliablity is a key concern.
>
> - from someone with an unnamed brand radio in for repair for that last
> 11 months, but that's another story -
>
> ..... Neal
>
> Dixie Sierra wrote:
>> I've decided to give up on my Avionic Dittel and buy new. It's been a
>> good radio and has given many years of service, but I'd like some new
>> functionality.
>>
>> Functionality is really at the heart of my dilemna. I've kind of
>> narrowed things down to Becker vs Microair (I've ruled out Walter
>> Dittel on price... everyone has a limit independent of reason). There
>> seems to be a broad consensus that the Becker is a more reliable
>> choice. However, the Microair seems to offer a number of superior
>> features.
>>
>> 1) Remote operation from a stick mounted toggle.
>> 2) Dual scan beteween the active and standby freqs with the ability to
>> transmit on the active. (Becker also offers a scan option but it seems
>> to be cover far more freqs and the freqs covered can only be changed
>> by turning the radio off and on at least twice. Dual scan seems very
>> nice when flying XC in the vicinity of an active airport.)
>> 3 Alpha descriptions of saved freqs.
>> 4) Variable squelch (Becker has this, but not without turning the
>> radio off and on at least twice to make changes.)
>>
>>
>> So here I am... The Microair costs less and has "better" features. But
>> who cares if it doesn't work?
>>
>> What to do? What to do?.. I think I'll fly with the handheld!
>>
>> What am I missing? I'm sure there are many cosniderations that escape
>> me.
>>
>> Doug
>>
>>

On Aug 15, 8:18 pm, Dixie Sierra <themsnyd...m> wrote:
> I've decided to give up on my Avionic Dittel and buy new. It's been a
> good radio and has given many years of service, but I'd like some new
> functionality.
>
> Functionality is really at the heart of my dilemna. I've kind of
> narrowed things down to Becker vs Microair (I've ruled out Walter
> Dittel on price... everyone has a limit independent of reason). There
> seems to be a broad consensus that the Becker is a more reliable
> choice. However, the Microair seems to offer a number of superior
> features.
>
> 1) Remote operation from a stick mounted toggle.
> 2) Dual scan beteween the active and standby freqs with the ability to
> transmit on the active. (Becker also offers a scan option but it seems
> to be cover far more freqs and the freqs covered can only be changed
> by turning the radio off and on at least twice. Dual scan seems very
> nice when flying XC in the vicinity of an active airport.)
> 3 Alpha descriptions of saved freqs.
> 4) Variable squelch (Becker has this, but not without turning the
> radio off and on at least twice to make changes.)
>
> So here I am... The Microair costs less and has "better" features. But
> who cares if it doesn't work?
>
> What to do? What to do?.. I think I'll fly with the handheld!
>
> What am I missing? I'm sure there are many cosniderations that escape
> me.
>
> Doug


Doug,

I bought a used Becker AR3201 from Wings & Wheels more than 15 years
ago and it has been working flawlessly ever since. If I had to replace
it, I would consider a Becker again.
You want to pick a manufacturer that has been around for a while and
will be around for a while, too. Service/Repair facility network is an
important point, too.

Uli

Both my Becker radio (AR4201 installed July 2000) and Becker
transponder (ATC4401 installed April 2008) have worked and performed
to my entire satisfaction. I would definitely buy Becker again!

I know there are folks who have had problems, but I think you'll
always hear about problems and seldom hear about good experiences. One
should also keep in mind that electronics problems in gliders may be
magnified since a lot of instrument wiring seems to be done by non-
professionals.

-John

When I asked about XCOM, it was not because of price. In fact in the US
the cost is on par with a Becker and definitely well above a Microair.
I simply wanted to know if others out there use them and found them to
be reliable.

As for ATR radios, the ATR720C in my Ka6E has worked well. The ATR57 in
my Ka6BR has not been reliable. Now the ATR57 in a friend's Elfe
appears to work well for him. My 57 was an early version and they may
be more problematic. Whenever I get the 57 back from the shop, I will
need to decide whether to keep it or trade it out. I do want to keep
the small package with a circular, panel mount.

...... Neal

Bruce wrote:

> ATR600 and ATR833 have a remote head capability.
>
> I understand that if cheap is the requirement then the Microair or XCom
> may be worth looking at. Based on what I saw - the eagerness of nearly
> every microair owner I met to move their radio on at an attractive
> price, caveat emptor...
>
> Personally I find it impossible to remember what all the frequencies are
> - given there are 9 of them I program in what I need if I move to a
> different location. We have relatively uncomplicated airspace so I have
> never felt a need for even the full 9.
>
> Neal Pfeiffer wrote:
>
>> Does anyone have any experience with the newer XCOM radio? I had a
>> demo at Oshkosh and it looked logical with reasonable performance and
>> power draw. It also has a repeater head, which would be nice for my
>> two-seater. Given all of the comments in this thread, its obvious
>> that reliablity is a key concern.
>>
>> - from someone with an unnamed brand radio in for repair for that last
>> 11 months, but that's another story -
>>
>> ..... Neal
>>
>> Dixie Sierra wrote:
>>
>>> I've decided to give up on my Avionic Dittel and buy new. It's been a
>>> good radio and has given many years of service, but I'd like some new
>>> functionality.
>>>
>>> Functionality is really at the heart of my dilemna. I've kind of
>>> narrowed things down to Becker vs Microair (I've ruled out Walter
>>> Dittel on price... everyone has a limit independent of reason). There
>>> seems to be a broad consensus that the Becker is a more reliable
>>> choice. However, the Microair seems to offer a number of superior
>>> features.
>>>
>>> 1) Remote operation from a stick mounted toggle.
>>> 2) Dual scan beteween the active and standby freqs with the ability to
>>> transmit on the active. (Becker also offers a scan option but it seems
>>> to be cover far more freqs and the freqs covered can only be changed
>>> by turning the radio off and on at least twice. Dual scan seems very
>>> nice when flying XC in the vicinity of an active airport.)
>>> 3 Alpha descriptions of saved freqs.
>>> 4) Variable squelch (Becker has this, but not without turning the
>>> radio off and on at least twice to make changes.)
>>>
>>>
>>> So here I am... The Microair costs less and has "better" features. But
>>> who cares if it doesn't work?
>>>
>>> What to do? What to do?.. I think I'll fly with the handheld!
>>>
>>> What am I missing? I'm sure there are many cosniderations that escape
>>> me.
>>>
>>> Doug
>>>
>>>

Must be new to Rev P.

I decided on the Microair. I don't know if I'll regret it... but I'll
sure find out. Cost was not the only factor, or even the deciding
factor, but it was a factor. With the money I'll save, I can buy a
PCAS (almost). There's at least one Microair in the local area that
seems to work fine.

6.1.2 Monitor Function
By holding down the remote memory button or toggle key for 3
seconds and then releasing, the M760 will enable the monitor
function. Both active and standby frequencies are monitored at
the same time for a signal. An ‘M’ character will oscillate up
and down to indicate that the monitor function is active.
A signal can be received on either the active or the standby
frequency. While receiving a signal on the
active frequency the standby channel is NOT monitored. While receiving
a signal on the standby
frequency the active channel is periodically monitored. If a signal is
found on the active frequency the
M760 will revert to the active frequency. After a signal has been
received the M760 will return to
monitoring both frequencies.
IMPORTANT NOTE
The user can only transmit on the active frequency. If the PTT is
keyed the
radio will transmit on the active frequency only.
Monitor mode can be cancelled by pressing the remote memory button or
toggle key briefly. The ‘M’
character is no longer displayed at the right hand end of the display.
If the mode key is pressed to move
to channel mode, the monitor function is dis-engaged.