Burleigh Heads, Queensland, Australia

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Overview
The XCOM 760 VHF Transceiver is an interesting radio from Australia with an extremely complete set of features.  It has many features that are ideal for use in gliders such as the ability to transmit even when the glider battery is low (0.75 W output with 9V power input).  It also features low current consumption in standby mode, the ability to listen to 2 frequencies at once, and a built-in intercom.

Related Pages

• Handheld Radio Comparison
• Panel Mount Radio Comparison
• Headset Comparison
• Microphone Comparison
• Speaker Comparison

Demo
This is a cool little interactive demo of the XCOM 760 VHF Transceiver.
Demo

Features
The XCOM 760 VHF Transceiver is one of several innovative avionics products to be released by X-Air Australia. Based on the very successful Microair and Becker ranges, the XCOM 760 offers many advanced features previously only available in the more expensive brands.

Designed from the ground up, the XCOM offers superior performance under the demanding and noisy conditions experienced in many amateur built aircraft. With low power consumption, this radio is ideally suited to use in gliders, homebuilts and ultralights. A full 6-Watt carrier and +20 Watt PEP output ensure that you will be heard above the general chatter in busy airspace and the full VOX intercom with music input will enhance your enjoyment of the flight. With expanded receive range up to 163 MHz, the XCOM 760 provides NOAA Weather reception and has an optional CAP capability, ensuring that you are always aware of impending weather conditions.

Additional safety enhancements - "dual watch" allows the pilot to listen to the standby frequency while still monitoring the primary frequency. The XCOM 760 also has 99 memory channels, large volume and channel selector knobs and well spaced buttons. This radio is extremely easy to operate even when wearing flight gloves and you can even check the condition of your battery with the built in voltage monitor.

Software update capability and Internet downloads mean that you are always provided with the latest features. The XCOM 760 offers superior quality, enhanced features and improved performance over many of the more expensive airband radios, without the high cost found in other brands.

Features, value for money and performance have quickly establish the XCOM 760 as the standard radio for light sport aircraft use.

Loaded with features and performance

• Digital volume and squelch controls from front panel
• Digital volume and VOX intercom controls from front panel (same Volume Squelch control , but activated by mode button when required).
• 2 place voice activated intercom , with pilot over ride and passenger isolate (passenger can listen to CD music while the pilot listens to com). CD music has auto fade, turns off if comm is receiving and reduces in volume if pilot or passenger talk.
• Remote toggle (toggle active or standby via a push button on the stick , or scroll memory channels)
• TX timeout (stuck Mike) which times out after 30 seconds, re-enable by releasing PTT. (can be overridden in setup)
• 99 channels of user defined memory channels with quasi alpha numeric display
• Quick, single push access to Emergency channel 121.5
• 10 NOAA weather channels (suitable for USA only)
• Dual Watch - allows monitoring of the active and standby frequency, active has priority.
• User enabled wide receive mode - allows monitoring of frequencies between 137 and 163 MHz, in 12.5 kHz steps. These can be stored in the memory channels. Additionaly 108 - 118 VOR, no navigational data - receive only
• RS 232 interface, allows upgrading of firmware by internet or CD-ROM. Allows interfacing of radio to Multifunction displays (MFD's) or remote computer.
• Input voltage - 13.8Vdc (8 to 16 Vdc Receive, 10.0 volts transmit, reduced output)
• Low battery alert, user selects level to alert for under voltage (default is 10.5 Vdc)
• High battery alert, user selects level to alert for over voltage (default is 15 Vdc)
• Optional CAP capability (special order).

Dimensions
Length, back face to front face: 129 mm (5.08 in)
Length, back of BNC connector to front of control knobs: 159 mm (6.26 in)
Width: 61 mm (2.40 in)
Height: 61 mm (2.40 in)
Mounting Hole: Fits into a standard 57 mm (2.25 in) instrument hole
Connectors: 1 x BNC antenna connector, 1 x 15-pin DB-15 male connector for power, microphone, speaker, etc., 1 x stereo phone jack for serial communication (not for music input!)

Reducing Installation Issues
I highly recommend that you use the XCOM microphone, speaker and assembled wiring harness options.  The use of these items will reduce installation issues dramatically because they are designed to work together and tested together at the factory.  It is common for customers to try to use existing microphones and speakers only to have issues in the future.  Spending a few extra dollars now will save you many hours of troubleshooting and insure a quick and easy installation.  Wiring errors are the main reason for radio failures.  Purchasing a pre-soldered wiring harness will make sure your radio is working and you are flying as soon as possible.

Warranty
The XCOM 760 VHF Transceiver comes with a 3 year warranty.  The 3 year warranty applies to units shipped after May, 2008.  Units produced before that had a 1 year warranty - but a 3 year warranty was an option.

Repairs
XCOM has a repair facility in South Dakota.

Links
Demo
Manuals
Panel Mount Radio Comparison
Specifications
Frequently Asked Questions
Wiring Diagrams
Wiring Diagram and Setup Tips - Single Seat Glider
Wiring Diagram and Setup Tips - Dual Seat Glider
Harness How To - Excellent Wiring and Installation Tips
Dummies Guide to Aircraft Antennas

How to Order
To order a product, click on the button next to the product. 
When you are ready to complete your order, click on the button. 
Click on the small images to view larger versions.

Part #	Description	Photo (Click on images below to view large versions)	Price	Lead-time
XCOM-760	XCOM 760 VHF Transceiver Note: This is the glider version of the XCOM radio.  It is better than the standard version for use in gliders because it has a different speaker amplifier which produces move volume when the glider's battery gets low.  It is otherwise identical to the standard version.  It will work great in any airplane with standard speakers or headsets.  Future versions of the standard radio will all be the same as this version.		$1379	In Stock
RemoteHead	XCOM Remote Head Remote control head for use in 2-seat aircraft.  The 2nd head displays the same information as the radio's display.  The knobs and buttons are all fully functional.  This unit is great for use in 2-seat gliders.  The connection between the remote head and the XCOM radio is a simple cable allowing all of the controls on either panel to duplicate themselves on the other panel.  For example, if the pilot in the front seat of the aircraft adjust the radio to 123.45 then the display in the rear also adjusts to show 123.45. If the copilot in the rear seat makes any adjustments or changes to the remote head it will also adjust the radio in the front seat. All of the XCOM features can be duplicated with a remote head option. Note: Some connector wiring required.  The remote head includes a DB-9 connector and a plug.  The customer must provide a cable to connect them together.   The wiring diagram is below. Connection Diagram		$312	In Stock
Boom-Mic	XCOM Boom Microphone Boom Microphone - More than 1200 made and used all over the world, 3 year warranty. This microphone is specially designed for use with the XCOM radio.  It features an amplified electret microphone head similar to the ones used in standard aviation headsets.  I highly recommend that all installations of the XCOM 760 radio use this microphone.  It should also work fine with most other aircraft radios such as Becker, Dittel, Filser, etc. but will not work with a MicroAir radio.  Length: 510 mm (20 inches) (from mounting adapter to tip of the microphone) Diameter of gooseneck boom: 11 mm (0.43 inches)		$198	In Stock
Speaker	XCOM Glider Speaker Clear sound and easy to understand even in today's two seater gliders. Mounting screws included. Note: The speaker comes with an audio plug on the end of the cable.  Please remove the plug.  It looks like it would fit into the audio jack on the back of the radio, but the jack on the radio is for serial communication only. Do not plug the speaker into the jack on the back of the radio.  connect it to pins 4 and 15 on the DB-15 connector on the back of the radio. Ohms: 8 Watts: 5 Dimensions Width of speaker box: 113 mm (4.45 in) Width including bracket knobs: 135 mm (5.31 in) Height of speaker box: 64 mm (2.52 in) Height including mounting base: 78 mm (3.07 in) Depth: 57 mm (2.24 in) Installation Note: The black wire in ground, the black wire with white strip is +.		$40	In Stock
Capacitor	XCOM Capacitor Electrolytic Capacitor 22,000 μF, 25V Required when the radio is powered by an engine.  Not required when the radio is powered by a battery - such as in a glider. Note: The connectors on the capacitor are color marked to indicate polarity. Connect common to the connector with the black mark. Dimensions Length: 80 mm (3.15 in) (plus connectors) Diameter: 35 mm (1.38 in)	(photo of previous version)	$45	In Stock
Wiring-Harness-Glider	Wiring Harness for Single or Dual Place Glider, Pre-Assembled Larry Goddard makes all the terrific PDA and GPS cables that I sell.  He also does a fantastic job making radio wiring harnesses.  I send him your XCOM Speaker, XCOM Boom Microphone and an EAO Push-to-talk button (the cost of those items are not included in the price of the wiring harness) and he creates a "plug-and-play" wiring harness.  Wires are provided for connecting power to the radio and for connecting to your microphone, push-to-talk button and speaker.  The microphone, push-to-talk button and speaker are not connected to the wiring harness because those wires need to be routed through your glider before they can be connected to the harness. Crimp-on connectors are used for those connections and we provide the mating connector for attaching to the wires from the microphone, PTT and speaker.  There is a 3 week lead-time for assembling the wiring harness.		$125 (single-seat glider) $155 (dual-seat glider)	3 Weeks
Switch-PTT-EAO	Switch, Push-to-Talk This is a very nice metal push-to-talk button for use on the control stick.  It is the same unit supplied by Walter Dittel and Filser. I have seen many low cost push-buttons used in gliders - they don't last very long. This is an industrial switch that will last for years.  It has a very positive "click" so it is obvious when it has transitioned from off to on.  Includes 3 contacts so it can be wired as normally-on or normally-off.  Most radio installations require that it be wired as normally-off (current flows when it is pressed). Cable not included.  If you want it with a cable you can order the Dittel version Dimensions Diameter of threads: 10 mm (0.39 inches) Diameter of button: 6.4 mm (0.25 inches) Overall length: 35 mm (1.38 inches) Maximum diameter inside control stick: <14 mm (0.55 inches) Dimension Diagram		$35	In Stock
Dittel-F10050	Dittel PTT (Push-to-talk) key for control stick 3 m (10 ft) cable, very rugged design.  The same switch is available without the wires for less money here: Misc.		$44	In Stock
PTT-Gold	PTT Gold Adapter Push-to-talk adapter with Velcro strap.  Includes male and female microphone jacks.  Many pilots use these with handheld radios.  Most handheld aviation radios include a "Y" cable that can be used to connect an aviation headset to the handheld radio.  This unit can be used between the "Y" cable and the aviation headset.  The push-to-talk button is Velcro'd to the control stick so that it can be accessed easily.		$23	In Stock