Harris radio PRC-117F

[prcguy]

One or two models of older SINCGARS transceivers could have the crypto removed and an impossible to find bypass module installed or some internal surgery, but that is the only modern type green mil radio I know of where you can remove crypto and still have a working radio. There are lots of pre 1985 vintage radios with removable crypto but we have been talking current stuff, which is not going to work out.

It seems so, I was told that some older radios, even after removing the crypto module, would work in PT Mode, but newer radios like PRCs-117F, 117G, 152/A, 150, 148, 1523E/F, won't work even in PT mode after removing the crypto module. The only alternative is to have export versions of these radios. As I researched a bit, perhaps it will help anyone in anything. I am rather pretty sure about these info. So, while having operating PRC-117F is of course illegal, such with removed crypto module is fine to have. Such appear from time to time as surplus, but then it can be used only as an object to put on the shelf, to admire for some collectors, or for some military reenactments. I am also pretty sure that the crypto module and other ones are inside the radio, you have access from rear after removing rear panel. As for KDU, it is needed to put crypto inside, it is for display, but nothing crypto inside. What is interesting, radio+KDU, to which crypto data are put, become 'linked forever', so only through the same KDU, you can put crypto data, and use the radio in all modes. When you have KDU which is not from a given radio, you can load crypto into the radio, but with this 'not assigned' KDU, only PT mode will work, of course crypto module is not taken. As someone was asking, never seen on EBAY DEMIL radio, software(nothing surprising), but some accessories, like cables, data one, these for KDU to work in remote mode, antenna, battery cover, handsets, spekaer, they appear, as someone can always have by chance from some source export version of 117F, so RF-5800M-MP.

 

[merlin]

Programming cables show up on eBay and I might have the programming software, would have to search around.

The closest I have found is some documentation for the older PRCs and pre Falcon III. That junk you find on feebay is the Chinese knockoff's and won't work on real L3 Harris equipment.
You can buy it if you are a buyer for the state or military.

 

[TDR-94]

The closest I have found is some documentation for the older PRCs and pre Falcon III. That junk you find on feebay is the Chinese knockoff's and won't work on real L3 Harris equipment.
You can buy it if you are a buyer for the state or military.

The "real" cables show up on ebay for sale and if you look hard enough the OEM L3HARRIS programming software disc, for the PRC-117 and PRC-152, can be found for sale on the surplus market.

 

[gtaman]

Is the radio running thru a BITE test or is it just booting to the Harris screen? Usually the EPROM is hosed when they do this. Usually from a drop. (Yeah 30k radio can’t survive a drop) Sometimes you can pull and reseat cards and it will boot.

There is a procedure to wipe the COMSEC of algos and making it PT only. We had a few in training but I have never seen it done.

 

[TDR-94]

Even wiping the crypto won't change it from being classified as a CCI.

 

[Morrison44]

That is why I asked the author of the post, if he meant stuck, as Harris logo is permanently displaying, or stuck, so that he cannot enter any other option, after logo appearing. If the first one, above suggestions should be ok, if second option though, it is normal behaviour for such radio, when no crypto module is inside. So, the power goes, logo will show up, but as KDU doesn't detect a module, it stops there. Now, the question, if even in such condition it is interesting for some military radios collector, to put on shelf or for some fan of military reenactments, and how much it can be worth? As for cables, I also saw them, the real ones, as for sotware I didn't, as for other accessories they are rather universal for most Harris radios, like handset, speaker, batteries, battery cover, some antenna.

 

[JoshBA]

Does any one have any experience repairing/troubleshooting a Harris radio PRC-117F? The keyboard Display unit(KDU) is stuck on the the Harris logo screen. I’ve tried restarting the radio and the same result.

Did you ever get issue corrected? I have full 117F and RF-5800H-MP manuals if you need Solutions out of the manual.