THE RPTR HAD DIFFICULTY COMMUNICATING WITH EGLIN FOR CLRNC THROUGH RESTR AREA CORRIDOR. THE RPTR LANDED AT NON TWR ARPT. TO GET THE RADIO TO WHERE IT COULD BE REPAIRED HE PHONED MOBILE TWR TO ARRANGE TO LAND USING HIS HAND HELD VHF.

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ENRTE PFN TO INTENDED DEST MSO. DEPARTED PFN VFR; CLBED TO 1000-1500 FT AND CONTACTED (I THOUGHT) EGLIN APCH FOR ADVISORIES THROUGH VFR CORRIDOR; R2919A; WBOUND 1 MI OFFSHORE. APCHING HRT I ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT EGLIN; THEN HURLBURT TWR; FOR CLRNC THROUGH HRT CLASS D. UNABLE TO CONTACT EITHER; SO I CLBED TO 3000-3100 TO REMAIN CLR. THEN REMAINED CLR OF NPA OFFSHORE AT 500 FT; CONTINUED TO ST. ELMO (2R5). (DECIDED SAFEST PLAN WAS ON-COURSE; THEN LAND ASAP.) CONTACTED MOBILE DOWNTOWN TWR (PHONE) FOR NO- RADIO/HANDHELD RADIO LNDG. PROCEEDED TO BFM TO RADIO SHOP. (HANDHELD HAD BEEN INACCESSIBLE DURING FLT.) RADIO SHOP DISCOVERED SCREW MISSING FROM CONNECTOR ON REAR OF RADIO; RESULTING IN WEAK XMIT; INTERMITTENT IN FLT. IN HINDSIGHT; I AM NOT CERTAIN THAT I EVER ESTABLISHED CONTACT WITH EGLIN. THE CTLR WAS QUITE BUSY; WORKING PRIMARILY MIL ACFT ON OTHER FREQS. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT WHAT I TOOK TO BE A REPLY TO MY XMISSION MAY INSTEAD HAVE BEEN A REPLY TO ANOTHER (PROBABLY MIL) ACFT WITH A SIMILAR SOUNDING CALL SIGN; ON ANOTHER FREQ. MY ACFT TYPE (VARGA) IS UNCOMMON; AND FOR SOME REASON; MY NUMBER IS EITHER A TONGUE OR A BRAIN-TWISTER; THEREFORE; I AM ACCUSTOMED TO REPLIES FROM CTLRS WITH SIMILAR-SOUNDING BUT INCORRECT IDENT. IF THE CTLR IS NOT BUSY; I CORRECT THE IDENT. IF BUSY; I USUALLY GRIN AND BEAR IT. DID THAT THIS TIME. MAYBE BAD PLAN.