The -70 version is the only version of the KY-96A and KY-97A that is still available from Honeywell (formerly Bendix/King). This unit is categorized under their Crown Series product line of low budget panel mount avionics. Under this product line, the Crown Series units have a solid black face unlike the black face with silver trim synonmous with the Silver Crown product line. The -60 version of these units is the original Silver Crown version no longer available from Honeywell and is functionally equivalent to the -70 units.

None, they represent the same unit. Original King Radio part numbers were 9 digits. For example, 066-3056-01. During the Bendix and King merger (i.e. Bendix/King), a new part numbering system was created that converted these 9 digit part numbers to 12 digits. Therefore, 066-3056-01 became 066-03056-0001. Despite this numbering change, units that were originally from the King Radio design still have the 9 digit part number format on the unit dataplate. The 12 digit format for King units appears to be used for catalog and internal Honeywell purposes only. Therefore, any unit that has a zero in its third to last number (i.e. XXX-XXXX-X0XX) has a 9 digit part number (i.e. XXX-XXXX-XXX) on its dataplate / ID Plate.

This does not pertain to the comm selector channel spacing.

With the evolution and growth of airborne travel and the necessity for more usable frequencies in the VHF communications spectrum, the "channel" spacing became smaller. To avoid interference between channels the bandwidth of the RF stages was decreased from 50khz to 25khz. In doing so, another problem was introduced. If the ground transmitter or the air to air transmitter was not capable of tighter frequency tolerances, it was possible the 25khz RF selectivity would not allow the receive signal to pass and the aircraft crew could miss critical voice communications.

Due to the presence of older, outdated equipment in some countries, some manufacturers (namely Bendix/King and Collins) produced VHF comm radios with the 50khz receiver selectivity. With the recent mandates and technological advancements in Europe and South America, the requirements for the 50khz versions has diminished. If an operator were to use a 50khz version radio in the position of a 25khz, they would potentially have channel crossover and or an increase in background noise.

In January 1989 Bendix/King changed from a nine digit to a twelve digit part numbering system. The new, larger 12 digit numbers allowed for the inclusion of software version into the last two digits of the part number for certain units in which software changed frequently such as EFIS and TCAS processors. Therefore, the two digits immediately preceding the software version indicate the hardware version of the unit.

Different software versions imply different operational features and/or interface capabilities and software modifications imply software repairs (bug fixes) to insure proper operation of these features and interfaces. Software version upgrades frequently require hardware modifications to the unit. Such hardware modifications accompanying software version upgrades do not necessarily change the hardware version of the unit.

Navigation (Nav) and Communication (Comm) radio receivers and transceivers are available as separate, individual radios or as a combined Nav/Comm unit. A Nav/Comm unit is sometimes more economical in price than the 2 separate Nav and Comm radios and usually requires less panel space. Obviously, one disadvantage to the combined Nav/Comm unit is in the case of unit failure you lose both nav and comm functions since the entire unit is removed.

KN-53 Nav: KY-196A Comm: KX-155 Nav/Comm: