Club Homepage Forums Classified Ads Buy & Sell - Everything But Airplanes Finding the right one seems overwelming

Got another local plane to look at Friday morning. A 1974 150L, N11742. The owner says the radios are shot. I realize that the sky is the limit when talking about avionics but what would a decent, safe basic system run and what does a basic system involve? $500, $1,000, 1,500? He says the transponder, ELT(whatever that is ) and the VOR are OK. Don't need a lot of detail here guys, just something in the ballpark I can do some rough figuring with.

A basic nav/com radio is about $1000-$1200, plus installation (unless it's a slide-in replacement). ELT is Emergency Location Transmitter, it sends out signal on Guard Channel (121.5) in case of a crash landing. Its battery needs to be replaced every 2 years.

Dig around. I've seen yellow tagged KX170's in local (to Atlanta) airports for $500.
Ed

Rusty,

As previously mentioned, a King KX-170 or 175 with a VOR indicator would fill your needs. You may even find a radio and indicator with glide slope capabilities. A radio like this could stay with panel improvements. On the other hand, this radio is a used radio and repairs could be expensive.

Another low cost option would be a ValCom 760 Comm radio with a Loran for navigation. A new ValCom 760 would set you back $800, or $900 with a prewired harness. Other Comms to consider would be the King KX-97 or an ICOM (TSO?ed version). A current copy of Trade-A-Plane would help when comparing prices. A little research on the new will help define the capabilities of each.

To the best of my knowledge, the only two Lorans that are still supported by the manufacturers are the Northstar M1 and the King KLN-88. The Northstar M1 with a reasonably up to date database would be about $250. I have an M1 that was easy to install, works well and does well without exterior cooling. (Installed under the supervision of my A&P/AI.) The M1?s are simple to install and easy to use. The KLN-88 has a screen and requires exterior cooling. However the KLN-88 does have the ability to be upgraded to IFR.

A Comm step-up would be the Apollo UPSAT SL-30. This is a comm radio only, however it does have the ability to monitor the stand-by frequency. This is almost like having a second radio. This radio also has a built in intercom.

Don?t be rushed, enjoy the hunt, and Good Luck.

Well, here is my .02

You'll have the transponder and ELT dept. taken care of so thats good.

If it were me (as a VFR pilot) and a slide in replacement is out of the question. I'd just install a com only unit such as a Icom or a King KY 197 A and be done with it. I honestly in 2 years and 450 + hrs have never used the nav side for navigation since I jumped on the GPS bandwagon (I have a $300 Garmin Pilot III). This is what would suite ME as a VFR pilot in a VFR airplane.
My Skyhawk is going to be a VFR only plane, I'm not even gonna bother installing a transponder. I have a used Narco 720 channel COM 120 unit on it's way here now that I'm going to have installed. When I need to navigate I'll just hit the little "GO TO" button on the GPS, type in the airport's ident, and away I go.

Incase someone asks...."what are you gonna do if you lose signal in the dark, at night, in an unfamiliar area?"

Luckily in the 2 years I have had the handheld GPS (using the non remote antenna) I have only lost signal a few times and each had been durring the day and lasted only a minute or so. But I'm rarely if ever, in an unfamiliar area at night and I do a LOT of night flying. If your ever plan on going into an unfamiliar area at night, even with a VOR or GPS, you'd BETTER know how to read a sectional chart.

Again, this is just my opinion. My Warrior is equipped with dual nav/coms and I have flown that plane from Indiana to Florida, New Orleans, Tennessee, Iowa and many places in between and I have NEVER used either one of the VOR's in the plane.

Now, if you want to fly IFR, well thats a whole 'nother can-o-worms!

Hi Rusty!

My own (limited) experience makes me lean (if not fall), toward at least one nav-com and a VOR indicator. You don't need a glideslope unless you intend to use the aircraft for instrument flight, which in your case, isn't in the immediate future.

So, what to do?

Well, you've got the ELT taken care of. That's a GOOD thing. It's taken care of for 24 months. The transponder is in good shape too. Make sure the Mode C altitude reporting feature and the altitude encoder are ok. What the transponder does, is to distinguish you on the radar screen in Air Traffic Control as well as show your altitude to the controller.


As far as a radio goes however, there will be times that you'll want to fly, check the weather with the Flight Service Station, and find that the wind is say, 15 to 25 knots at your altitude, or the visibility is say, 6 to 10 miles. Well, you fly along, and find out that the wind is at the upper range or maybe a bit over what was forecast, or the weather may deteriorate a bit. So, you want to get either current conditions or want to land for fuel, or have to tend to other human needs. Hmmmm... we need a radio. Now, unless you REALLY know the area that you're flying over and feel that you will NEVER need any help whatsoever from the ground - and not necessarily ATC help, but rather need to contact a controlled field's tower, well, no radio is needed. However, we have to face it - if you're going to do anything much over touch and goes at an uncontrolled field, you need to communicate, even if just to let other aircraft know where you are on the CTAF (Common Traffic Advisory Frequency). Now, a VOR receiver is very useful, and that I believe you said is in good shape. But get it verified. There will be times you'll want to cross check your position from a VOR station, therefore, you need a NAV radio. So, what you can do is to perhaps look on EBAY for radios, although you have to know what you're getting. Alternatively, you can go to one of the avionics shops the advertise in Trade A Plane, such as Gulf Coast Avionics, Pacific Coast Avionics, Sarasota Avionics, et al. (No, I'm not endorsing or getting paid!) Look at the used and reconditioned radios. You can really find some EXCELLENT units for sale and at reasonable prices! Don't be afraid to ask questions of the salesperson, either. Remember, their reputation is on the line, and there is a LOT of competition out there. Another alternative would be the avionics shop at your local airport or thereabouts. These places are doing panel upgrades constantly, and frequently have very nice units at reasonable prices also. Expect to spend say, $400 on up for a radio - about $800 to $1200 or so plus installation. Installation will run you from $45-$65/hr - figure about 5 to 10 hours on that, say, if you don't get a slide-in replacement.

A KX-170 nav/com, or a used KX-125 would be nice - about $900. Also, an MX-300 or MX-385 (both new) would run about $1500 plus or minus- but you get the warranty and the VOR indicator in the airplane will most likely interface with it unless it is TOTALLY blown.

Bottom line - CHECK AROUND. Ask questions. Read everything you can, and go to the websites. Think about what you'll be using the plane for, and work from there. You don't need a full glass panel, but you WILL need reliability.

Good luck in the search! The searching and window shopping, so to speak is half the fun!

Several folks have quoted "2 years" as the standard time
between battery replacements on ELTs.

It depends.

The ACK units utilize standard Duracell "D" batteries.
The date on the side of the batteries becomes the limiting factor for these. I'm good until 2011!

If you have a transponder, it must be re-certified every two years. Flying without one is absurdly limiting.

Regarding the life of the batteries used in the AKC brand ELT transmitters. The FAA considers the batteries serviceable for only half of their shelf life, or if the ELT has been used cumulatively for one hour or more.

Reference FAR 91.207( c ) ( 2 ):
(1) When the transmitter has been in use for more than 1 cumulative hour; or
(2) When 50 percent of their useful life (or, for rechargeable batteries, 50 percent of their useful life of charge) has expired, as established by the transmitter manufacturer under its approval.

For example, if the manufacturing date of the battery is 2003, and the battery expiration date is 2011 (8 years), then the service life of the batteries would be to 2007. A four year shelf life is still a lot better than mine (2 years at about $25), plus you can use the batteries after removal from the ELT.

Has anyone found a use for the old ELT battery packs?

Add a cigarette lighter outlet, and you have a backup power source for anything that will plug into it! I use one on my troubleshooting bench as a clean DC power source.

Carl

I leave it on my desk as a reminder of what a rip-off it is. $45 for six D-size Panasonic Alkaline batteries welded together.