Can anything be done with a PRC-90? How about a 112?

Outdoors » Ham Radios

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Can anything be done with a PRC-90? How about a 112?

Posted: 7/10/2018 7:27:23 AM EDT

Perhaps, if nothing else, I'll find a nice anyway for a collection item

Thoughts?

Posted: 7/10/2018 9:17:27 AM EDT

[#1]

Not really. I would really advise against TXing on them as those freqs are still monitored by some.

Posted: 7/10/2018 9:46:01 AM EDT

[#2]

Quote History

Quoted:
Not really. I would really advise against TXing on them as those freqs are still monitored by some.

View Quote

Definitely still monitored. We actually used them to test the ELT's (Emergency Locator Transmitters) on our helos. But it was only allowed for 5 minutes at the top of every hour.

Posted: 7/10/2018 10:15:17 AM EDT

[#3]

Carried a PRC-90 for 9 years. Never had a chance to use it, though (thankfully).

Posted: 7/10/2018 10:49:03 AM EDT

[#4]

I’ve been looking online and could have sworn I saw one that also used 121.5, which would make it useful in a GA pilot survival vest.

But all I’m seeing are the UHF freqs.

I guess the aviation ht, an FTA-230, will have to continue duty in the vest

Anyway, still seems like a PRC-90 is a neat piece of history to have in the collection.

Posted: 7/10/2018 10:49:52 AM EDT

[#5]

Quote History

Quoted:

Definitely still monitored. We actually used them to test the ELT's (Emergency Locator Transmitters) on our helos. But it was only allowed for 5 minutes at the top of every hour.

View Quote

5min/top of the hour is FAA standard.

Posted: 7/16/2018 9:00:16 PM EDT

[#6]

Ok, I found that the physically similar PRC-149 is the one that has 121.5mhz.

just fyi lol

Posted: 7/19/2018 7:36:49 PM EDT

[#7]

Quote History

Quoted:
I've been looking online and could have sworn I saw one that also used 121.5, which would make it useful in a GA pilot survival vest.

View Quote

Why?

Been a LONG long time since i did A/SAR, and I know that 121.5 is still reserved, but I thought it was all 406 now?

Posted: 7/20/2018 4:07:02 PM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:
Why?

Been a LONG long time since i did A/SAR, and I know that 121.5 is still reserved, but I thought it was all 406 now?

View Quote

The ELT/PRBs are 406, but 121.5 is still the emergency communication and short-range DF frequency, so if you
wanted to actually talk to aircraft, it'd be on 121.5, and some 406 ELTs still send a 121.5 signal for close-in
RDF.

In practice you'd be better off with a airband HT as a backup radio, but the -149 would work for its
intended purpose for a civilian pilot.

Posted: 7/20/2018 8:52:07 PM EDT

[#9]

What about the British Clansman series? Some work in the 6 meter band such as the PRC 350, 351, and 352 and the vehicle mounted version 353.

Posted: 7/20/2018 9:42:13 PM EDT

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:
What about the British Clansman series? Some work in the 6 meter band such as the PRC 350, 351, and 352 and the vehicle mounted version 353.

View Quote

I use mine from time to time, but 6m FM is pretty dead. Plus 5W in a 10lb package turns off most ppl.

Posted: 7/21/2018 8:20:33 AM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:

The ELT/PRBs are 406, but 121.5 is still the emergency communication and short-range DF frequency, so if you
wanted to actually talk to aircraft, it'd be on 121.5, and some 406 ELTs still send a 121.5 signal for close-in
RDF.

In practice you'd be better off with a airband HT as a backup radio, but the -149 would work for its
intended purpose for a civilian pilot.

View Quote

that's my current setup, a Yaesu FTA-230. Water rated 30min/3ft, has a dedicated 121.5 button, and a spare AA pack (I store it with Energizer lithiums) that maintains the water rating.

Posted: 7/21/2018 1:21:38 PM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:

that's my current setup, a Yaesu FTA-230. Water rated 30min/3ft, has a dedicated 121.5 button, and a spare AA pack (I store it with Energizer lithiums) that maintains the water rating.

View Quote

I haven't flown in ages, but that's a similar set to mine. I have an old radio I got from Sporty's that I think is a
rebranded Icom with VOR. (This is actually kind of fun because from my location I'm high enough for it to
see the Phoenix VOR that's about 50 miles away, so I have a HT-based radio compass on the ground.)
I just leave it in my flight bag with the same energizers as you just in case.

I have a headset adapter as well, so worst case I just unplug from the plane and plug in to the handheld
and keep trucking.

Posted: 7/21/2018 10:09:44 PM EDT

[#13]

I worked on PRC-90s when I lat moved into flight equipment mos. Then we switched to PRC-149s for CONUS use and then 112s for deployed use.

Would be cool to stick on a shelf in the shop for a conversation piece.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Can anything be done with a PRC-90? How about a 112?

Outdoors » Ham Radios

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