TCA PRC-152a forums, user groups?

[TDR-94]

Our rep over there commented on how much the troops in the field valued their MBITs. It was hard to get them to give one up, even if it had problems, unless you could hand them a replacement in short order. He said the only things they seemed to value more was their canteen and their rifle.

Many didn't like them and preferred the PRC-152's.

 

[TDR-94]

I agree, the PLGRS were difficult to use at best. The DAGRS are somewhat easier to use and a whole lot smaller.

Yeah, the PLGR interface can be tedious. It's not too bad after you get use to it. The main battery caps on those were a bad design. The tension spring puts so much force on the plastic cap that it starts to crack and then it will eventually push through the top of the cap.

I have to laugh at these Chinese knockoff radios that are being sold. I'm sure they are probably just simple narrow FM transceivers. I doubt if they can even work on any of the Amateur modes like DSTAR or even P-25 let alone any of the "exotic" ones like SINCGARS, MUOS or SRW.

They're just a cheap Chinese transceiver and they don't have any "real" digital capability. If you think the TCA and TRI are bad, take a look at this POS!

Baofeng AR-152 VHF UHF Portable Tactical Game Walkie Talkie AN PRC-152 Two Way Radio - Two Way Radio

Did the PRC-154 (Rifleman) radios ever "actually" get deployed before the US ARMY s**t canned the program?

 

[wb4sqi]

Joel,
. I have to laugh at these Chinese knockoff radios that are being sold. I'm sure they are probably just simple narrow FM transceivers. I doubt if they can even work on any of the Amateur modes like DSTAR or even P-25 let alone any of the "exotic" ones like SINCGARS, MUOS or SRW.

Correct, they are just simple FM transceivers with an "exotic" look alike case but they appeal to airsofters and other role playing folks. I have one of each for use on amateur frequencies, fun to play with but overly large and heavy compared to newer amateur vhf/uhf equipment. More of a novelty for me.

 

[MUTNAV]

As I mentioned in another thread at some point, I would love for someone to take a look alike case for a PRC-152 or -117 and put a wideband SDR in it along with a raspberry PI 4 to get all of the modes on all of the available frequencies. After looking at the space available, It would probably have to be a PRC-117 since I don't think the prc-152 has enough room. Think of a PRC-117 that could do FS8, olivia, P25, APRS etc... while portable!

Thanks
Joel

 

[TDR-94]

Why? Just so it looks like a military radio?

 

[PrivatelyJeff]

Why? Just so it looks like a military radio?

Many of the airsoft people get really into mil-sim stuff and want things to look as close as possible to the real thing.

 

[MUTNAV]

Why? Just so it looks like a military radio?

Yes ...

For just a military 'look' , I would have accepted something installed in an ammo can though.

Thanks
Joel

 

[rescuecomm]

Mutnav, I feel your pain even though this is the Budget and Entry Level Transceiver section. It's amazing how many members like to come down here to talk trash about BUDGET AND ENTRY LEVEL TRANSCEIVERS. You would think that the Harris, Thales, and Motorola forums should be the focus for military radio talk. The problem is that real military radio gear is not available surplus to civilians and the commercial equivalents cost 50 to 100 times what we are supposed to discuss here. So replica radios are about it.

 

[DeoVindice]

The problem is that real military radio gear is not available surplus to civilians and the commercial equivalents cost 50 to 100 times what we are supposed to discuss here.

I don't know about that. I have numerous radios that are recent military surplus. PRC-127EFJs, a PRC-153, and two 5300ESs that came off an Army TRS. They're not all full-blown combat radios but they are real military radios.

 

[prcguy]

Lots of current military radios are available for civilians as surplus. They can get real expensive and some are restricted and not legal to own due to Type 1 crypto, but many don't have that. I won't go down the list of modern mil radios I own or have owned but its been a lot.

Prices can get scary on really current military radio gear with HF manpacks like the PRC-138 going for over $5k used, its newer version the PRC-150 export equivalent runs about $7k used, multiband 30-512MHz hand helds like the Harris RF-310M-HH and Thales clear MBITR going for $3,500 and up but the equipment does show up here and there for legal purchase. Older equipment from the Gulf war and before is much easier to find than current stuff but the older radios still command premium prices if they are functional.

I also find it interesting how good some of the Chinese knock offs look, in many cases only someone with extensive knowledge of the real radio can tell the difference when they are turned off. Turn them on and soon it becomes obvious they are not the real deal.

The problem is that real military radio gear is not available surplus to civilians and the commercial equivalents cost 50 to 100 times what we are supposed to discuss here. So replica radios are about it.

 

[TDR-94]

TRI is now selling some of their "look alike" 152's as relabeled RF-310M-HH's.

 

[MUTNAV]

Why? Just so it looks like a military radio?

In addition to the cool look, Something that could work from 100 Khz to 2 Ghz, on just about every mode imaginable, would be something else. Although not being able to do encryption, olivia and FS8 on HF might be interesting. I'm not really thinking of a mass produced radio, just something for hams to show off what they can do.

Thanks
Joel

 

[rescuecomm]

If it's not mass produced, it's going to be pricey. The closest amateur radio handheld so far was the Yaseu VX8-R with 6 meters, 2 meters, 220mhz and 440mhz. Expensive for a ham handheld and I thought it was too small to carry effective 6 meter antennas.

 

[prcguy]

Military radios are mass produced and possibly more are sold than most amateur radios. The Thales MBITR was first produced in 1994 and by 2007 had sold 100,000 units in 13 years. Now its 14 years later and who knows how many more have been sold. Similar for the Harris PRC-152 with 100,000 units sold by 2010 and now its 11 years later. They are expensive partially due to the cost of parts, cases machined out of solid blocks of metal and lots of paperwork and traceability during every little step of their manufacture. Not to mention the cost of manufacturing in the US compared to a third world country.

If it's not mass produced, it's going to be pricey. The closest amateur radio handheld so far was the Yaseu VX8-R with 6 meters, 2 meters, 220mhz and 440mhz. Expensive for a ham handheld and I thought it was too small to carry effective 6 meter antennas.

 

[rescuecomm]

That radio market is a bit different from commercial sales. All the used ones are one owner? I assume MutNav was wishing for an MBITR like handheld with wide frequency range. Seems like the TRI 148 and 152 lookalikes can still be programmed for transmit outside the ham bands. No market otherwise.

 

[prcguy]

When you say "All the used ones are one owner?" do you mean all the surplus military radios? If so it varies and you will never know. There are obvious new units in sealed boxes surplused at times and sometimes you get a good looking surplus radio that is trashed inside and you paid a lot of $$ for it. This is when dealing with the Govt and for private party sales you at least have the word of the owner on its condition or you personally check the radio. You will still never know where it might have been deployed or for how long. For most mil radio buyers you are just so happy to get one you don't really care at that point.

That radio market is a bit different from commercial sales. All the used ones are one owner? I assume MutNav was wishing for an MBITR like handheld with wide frequency range. Seems like the TRI 148 and 152 lookalikes can still be programmed for transmit outside the ham bands. No market otherwise.

 

[rescuecomm]

I was being a bit sarcastic about mil radios that aren't supposed to be sold.
One owner being a sovereign or perhaps a not so sovereign government.

 

[rescuecomm]

Seems the Baofeng AR-152 is advertised as having a 12,000 ma battery.

 

[TomTill84]

For those of you who have used both the newer tri and tca, which one of the two are the best, as far as sound quality and function?

 

[rescuecomm]

I've read that even the Harris OEM PRC-152 and Thales PRC-148 have tinny sounding speakers. However, both of the MBITER radios are intended to be used with a headset for battlefield security purposes. Not the same usage as police/EMS radios.