8.33Khz Radios

[C Rule]

Looking to the now not so distant future when all installed radios need to be 8.33Khz compliant I was looking at the options available.
The set up we have at the moment is a KY97a which sits on top of a Trig tt31 transponder on a panel which is very tight on space.
What we are looking for is a 8.33khz radio which is of the same or very similar dimensions to the KY97a.
I thought I had found a direct King replacement but it is only made in a 28V model. I live in hope that Trig will produce a plug and play replacement for the KY97a like they did for the KT76a Transponder.
To save a total panel rebuild does anyone have a suggestions of a suitable communications set in letterbox format?

Cheers Colin

[tnowak]

What about removing the KY97a tray and replacing it with a blanking panel.
Then fit your Trig Mode S transponder and Trig 8.88khz radio display/control units in the new blanking panel?
Tony Nowak

[Brian Hope]

Icom's IC-A210E would be a straightforward answer and would probably slip straight into the existing tray (the KY97a being similar if not the same as the Icom A200) but as yet it is not approved. Icom say they are talking to the CAA so maybe it will get an approval of sorts. Even if it is a UK only approval like the handhelds it will provide a solution to those of us with an A200 who want a simple solution. At Sun n Fun this year you could pick up a 210E for around $1100. We still have three years before we need to change so I'm going to wait and see what develops.

[C Rule]

I think I am going to wait for a while and see what happens with new equipment coming on the market.
The problem is with the USA not mandating 8.33Khz the here is no driver for the US manufacturers to develop the relevant kit. It will I feel be left to European companies to develop for a much smaller local market with higher unit cost.