Batboard

I have three Motorola HT90's that I wish to use for modern military reenactment, but in order to do so, I need to somehow change the receiving and transmitting frequencies of the radios to work within FRS frequency ranges (462.5625MHz-462.725MHz) (hoping to avoid having to get a FCC license, and trying desperately to maximize compatibility with other people's radios). Can it be done, or am I wasting my time combing through tons of junk looking for the appropriate replacement crystals to solder into the board in the place of the old ones? Could it really be that easy? Did I waste my money on radios that I can't use as I intended?

Your HT-90 radios do not conform to the FCC requirements for FRS service usage. Do some searching and you'll quickly see what I mean. Here is a good, though unofficial, place to start reading up on the subject:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Radio_Service

Thank you for the link...After reading that, it is fairly obvious that the radio doesn't fit those requirements.
Apparently I wasted my money on a bunch of radios that are pretty much useless for my purposes except to talk to one another?

Stupid question, but I have to ask (real shot in the dark here): What about GMRS frequencies? The radios seem to better fit that bill anyway (they seem to meet the transmit power requirements). I am willing to get the appropriate licenses, though I would rather avoid the hassle and the dent in my wallet.

The real issue with that, though, is that I have no idea how GMRS radios work (more importantly, I have no idea how I would set it up). Setting up for FRS seemed pretty straightforward, but as you pointed out, it doesn't meet the requirements.

To avoid spending more money, like on a license for GMRS, the only legal, viable option would seem to be that you dump the HT90 radios and get some VHF MURS radios where there's no licensing at all and you have 2-watt radios and five FM channels available to you. If you do a MURS search you'll come up with a lot of information for sites that tell you about this type of service. What you do NOT want to do is to engage in any kind of unlicensed operation except for MURS; the penalties if you're caught can be mind-numbing.

Anyway you would have to replace the crystals in the HT90s to get them on GMRS and that is very expensive. Crystals cost about $40 per channel.

Thank you all for the assistance. While I'm sure I can find some use for the HT90s, I've decided to also go with an HT600 (hopefully) that I found on ebay for a price I just couldn't refuse. I know for a fact I can get that one to play nice with the other radios out there.

On a note slightly related to the original post, does anyone know where I can find the frequency crystals?

Hello :
As WILL said - crystals would be expensive unless youd care to purchase GMRS 462.550 tx and rx here from me used.
If interested PM me and im sure you and i can come to a pretty reasonable agreement.
I have enough to do 2 HT90 portables and also have 2 sets of 467.550 tx and an extra set of 462.550 rx for repeater operation.
If you used the extra 462.550 rx rocks on the 3rd radio youd only need another 462.550 tx crystal.
So i do have enough to do 2 1/2 of your needs.
Satelite

GMRS would get pricey license-wise unless all of the users are members of your immediate family (which could be covered by a single license). The current fee is $85 for a five-year license.

vulrath wrote: I've decided to also go with an HT600 (

The HT600 is NOT type certificated for use on FRS, in fact no handheld radio is due to the removable antenna and more than 1/2 watt transmitter power narrowband.

Will, I actually knew that (I was hoping to get something that was compatible). Since I now know that I can't do what I wanted (don't know what made me think I could in the first place as the radios don't conform to FCC regulations for FRS), I am going to get the license and run on GMRS frequencies. Thank you all for your help.