EFJ 5100 UHF

[N1SQB]

Hi guys. I am a lifetime Moto guy. Lately, I’ve been seeing some very affordable 5100 UHF radios for sale. My question is, are they good radios? I don’t NEED one per se as I own a quad band APX8k.
But I would like to try something new. I don’t need FPP or things like that. Most likely for listening or some GMRS stuff. Nothing crazy..I don’t know anything about EFJ radios but would like to give them a try. I like hearing actual user comments.

Manny.

 

[ecps92]

Hi guys. I am a lifetime Moto guy. Lately, I’ve been seeing some very affordable 5100 UHF radios for sale. My question is, are they good radios? I don’t NEED one per se as I own a quad band APX8k.
But I would like to try something new. I don’t need FPP or things like that. Most likely for listening or some GMRS stuff. Nothing crazy..I don’t know anything about EFJ radios but would like to give them a try. I like hearing actual user comments.

Manny.

Keep in mind (my experience) is the FPP is only for Non Part 80/90 channels (Amateur, Federal)
many of the parts are XTS5k, so there is some inter-changeability there. Not a bad radio, I've got V / U and an 800

 

[N1SQB]

Hi guys. I am a lifetime Moto guy. Lately, I’ve been seeing some very affordable 5100 UHF radios for sale. My question is, are they good radios? I don’t NEED one per se as I own a quad band APX8k.
But I would like to try something new. I don’t need FPP or things like that. Most likely for listening or some GMRS stuff. Nothing crazy..I don’t know anything about EFJ radios but would like to give them a try. I like hearing actual user comments.

Manny.

Update:

The model number I’m looking at is 242-5137-461-BJ3 if that helps.

 

[buddrousa]

I ran a fleet of over 40 in the Fire Service 800 Trunking they held up very good very little problems. They are a very large and heavy radio that all have the same options in them they just have to be turned on. P25 Phase 1 only and EF Johnson Trunking Keys the only place I seen them was EF Johnson. There are also charts Different Firmware needs Different Software versions. Batteries still can be found but run in the $100 range.

 

[N1SQB]

I ran a fleet of over 40 in the Fire Service 800 Trunking they held up very good very little problems. They are a very large and heavy radio that all have the same options in them they just have to be turned on. P25 Phase 1 only and EF Johnson Trunking Keys the only place I seen them was EF Johnson. There are also charts Different Firmware needs Different Software versions. Batteries still can be found but run in the $100 range.

Thank you for the info. I appreciate it. Here’s a link to the one I’m looking at:

EF Johnson Model 5100 UHF 403-470 MHz Full Keypad Excellent Condition Intrinsic | eBay

These are in great shape and saw very little use. Minor scuffs from storage but otherwise they look great. Radio only. No battery or antenna included. Minor writing/engraving on the sides (see photo). Firmware version 3.2.2

www.ebay.com

 

[Project25_MASTR]

I would try an obtain a 5100ES instead of 5100.

The only thing that is interchangeable on a 5100 and an XTS internally is the XTS3000 UCM that the earlier hardware revision utilized. Externally, the antennas, batteries and speaker mics (though I'm not sure about the Commander series) can be interchanged. You can also modify an XTS keyload adapter to work with both XTS and 5100 series radios.

The ES series were all built on ARM CPUs and have hardware encryption modules baked onto the boards. 6.16.x and 6.18.x also allow for NAS through the Radio Wide Scan option. The ES series also use AMBE vocoders and feature EFJ's TruVoice (not sure if it was a thing with the original 5100's). You can spot a 5100ES in the wild pretty easily, the channel/zone up/down buttons are rectangular and separate on the case where the original 5100's have the connected arrow-like buttons. Try and stay away form the Ascend series...there were a lot of QC issues with those (5100 > Ascend > 5100 ES).

 

[N1SQB]

I would try an obtain a 5100ES instead of 5100.

The only thing that is interchangeable on a 5100 and an XTS internally is the XTS3000 UCM that the earlier hardware revision utilized. Externally, the antennas, batteries and speaker mics (though I'm not sure about the Commander series) can be interchanged. You can also modify an XTS keyload adapter to work with both XTS and 5100 series radios.

The ES series were all built on ARM CPUs and have hardware encryption modules baked onto the boards. 6.16.x and 6.18.x also allow for NAS through the Radio Wide Scan option. The ES series also use AMBE vocoders and feature EFJ's TruVoice (not sure if it was a thing with the original 5100's). You can spot a 5100ES in the wild pretty easily, the channel/zone up/down buttons are rectangular and separate on the case where the original 5100's have the connected arrow-like buttons. Try and stay away form the Ascend series...there were a lot of QC issues with those (5100 > Ascend > 5100 ES).

Extremely grateful for all this info. I will look for an ES then. Again, I’m totally green on EFJ so I appreciate all the info received on this post. This is a curiosity endeavor more than anything, but I want to it right.

Manny

 

[Echo4Thirty]

An ES would be a better choice. That radio in the listing is an X series and they were plagued with problems. $165 is a little steep in my opinion even though its UHF and in good physical condition.

 

[FFPM571]

Thank you for the info. I appreciate it. Here’s a link to the one I’m looking at:

EF Johnson Model 5100 UHF 403-470 MHz Full Keypad Excellent Condition Intrinsic | eBay

These are in great shape and saw very little use. Minor scuffs from storage but otherwise they look great. Radio only. No battery or antenna included. Minor writing/engraving on the sides (see photo). Firmware version 3.2.2

www.ebay.com

I actually have one of those they were programmed as part of a Cache of trunked UHF radios. It was like brand new with only a number on the side in marker. It cleaned up with an alcohol wipe and magic eraser I actually programmed mine for GMRS. I had to buy a cable from Ebay and I had the software from an earlier VHF model I had , They are FPP that did have to be enabled in its own zone as it came blanked out with only a zone of trunking . I am not currently using it I may be interested in selling it.

 

[buddrousa]

In plain English that one you posted a link to is a Version 1 when they stopped selling them they were like a version 4 and yes you want the EFJ 5100ES or Mobile version EFJ 5300ES

 

[N1SQB]

In plain English that one you posted a link to is a Version 1 when they stopped selling them they were like a version 4 and yes you want the EFJ 5100ES or Mobile version EFJ 5300ES

I posted that link because it was the first one that caught my eye. I don’t buy until I’m fully informed on what I’m getting. That’s why I came here and asked.
Now I’m looking for an ES hopefully in UHF.🙏

 

[gtaman]

ES radios can be found for under 100 dollars.

My UHF one was NOS and 75.

They are great radios.

 

[FFPM571]

I have not had one issue with mine and it is the exact same model number as the one in the auction

 

[buddrousa]

Out of my fleet of 40 I had 4 of the Version 1's of those 4 1 failed sent it to depot they sent a version 4 back we were very happy with the service of these radios for close to 14 years of service.

 

[DeoVindice]

I would try an obtain a 5100ES instead of 5100.

The only thing that is interchangeable on a 5100 and an XTS internally is the XTS3000 UCM that the earlier hardware revision utilized. Externally, the antennas, batteries and speaker mics (though I'm not sure about the Commander series) can be interchanged. You can also modify an XTS keyload adapter to work with both XTS and 5100 series radios.

The ES series were all built on ARM CPUs and have hardware encryption modules baked onto the boards. 6.16.x and 6.18.x also allow for NAS through the Radio Wide Scan option. The ES series also use AMBE vocoders and feature EFJ's TruVoice (not sure if it was a thing with the original 5100's). You can spot a 5100ES in the wild pretty easily, the channel/zone up/down buttons are rectangular and separate on the case where the original 5100's have the connected arrow-like buttons. Try and stay away form the Ascend series...there were a lot of QC issues with those (5100 > Ascend > 5100 ES).

We used surplus 5100ESs for mine ops for a while until replacing them with new Vikings. Our experiences were basically nothing but good (I ran into a few edge case bugs while tinkering that would cause lockup, but day-to-day functions are solid) and the radios are still on hand as backups. The noise cancellation on them is remarkably good for 2006; I have a video of me standing about a foot from an unmuffled Deutz air-cooled diesel at full throttle and transmitting with a 5100ES - perfectly intelligible.

Truth be told, I think they've aged better than XTS5000s even if the feature set is more basic.

 

[N1SQB]

ES radios can be found for under 100 dollars.

My UHF one was NOS and 75.

They are great radios.

Thanks. So I guess I will keep looking around for a UHF 5100ES that is around that same price. I don't see any like that online right now. No big deal, its a for-fun project..

Manny

 

[ecps92]

Thanks. So I guess I will keep looking around for a UHF 5100ES that is around that same price. I don't see any like that online right now. No big deal, its a for-fun project..

Manny

Browse some of the Amateur Radio Fleas, I've seen some out there, from time-time, even coming with a copy of the software and cables