Is there a better field radio than the AN/PRC-25?

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Apr 2016 21:43:33 -0400

The AN/PRC-25 was dependable in the field. I would carry two or three extra batteries, a brush, and an extra handset. The handsets were sometimes a problem, along with the whip antenna, when you had to use it. Overall, a great piece of communications gear.

Response by Capt Tom Brown made Apr 23 at 2016 10:25 PM

Capt Tom Brown — Sat, 23 Apr 2016 22:25:29 -0400

It was always a great piece of gear wrapped in plastic to keep it fairly dry. Nowadays everyone appears to have a portable radio of some sort or a cell phone and ear piece. Probably have a TV camera strapped to their helmet so the CO can keep track of what's going on from the rear.

Response by TSgt Marco McDowell made Apr 23 at 2016 10:52 PM

TSgt Marco McDowell — Sat, 23 Apr 2016 22:52:05 -0400

I never had issue with the PRC-77,even with additional batteries and a KY-57...then we went digital and the craziness began.

Response by Cpl William James made Apr 23 at 2016 11:14 PM

Cpl William James — Sat, 23 Apr 2016 23:14:04 -0400

PRC 77

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2016 2:37 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 02:37:21 -0400

More familiar with the AN/PRC-77.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/AN/PRC-77_Portable_Transceiver

AN/PRC-77 Portable Transceiver - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

AN/PRC 77 Radio Set is a manpack, portable VHF FM combat-net radio transceiver manufactured by Associated Industries[1] and used to provide short-range, two-way radiotelephone voice communication.[2] In the Joint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS), AN/PRC translates to "Army/Navy, Portable, Radio, Communication."

Response by SPC Kenneth Koerperich made Apr 24 at 2016 6:14 AM

SPC Kenneth Koerperich — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 06:14:39 -0400

PR77 to start, then SinGars @ the end. Programming that mofo sucked, 1 digit off & it wouldn't hop/stay secure @ all.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Apr 24 at 2016 7:08 AM

SGM Erik Marquez — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 07:08:32 -0400

Started with PRC-25, then later the 77, then SINGARS, then all the harris radios, 138, 380, 152...and others, HF and TACSAT.... When I stated radios were at the command level and select places like forward observer..when I left, radios were down to team level

Response by GySgt Carl Rumbolo made Apr 24 at 2016 9:28 AM

GySgt Carl Rumbolo — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 09:28:36 -0400

It continues to amaze me that folks think that because they used something in the 'good old days' it was 'better' or the 'best'. While something was good in it's time it doesn't necessarily mean it is better or worse than what is available currently - would you rather see a dentist from the 1880s or one with today's knowledge and technology.

smh

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Apr 24 at 2016 6:49 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 18:49:26 -0400

I love the old Rough and Tumble Equipment.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Apr 24 at 2016 7:07 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 19:07:35 -0400

Hated to carry the spare batteries for the RTO but the plastic bags were great to keep your cigarettes and mail dry in the monsoon season

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Apr 24 at 2016 7:23 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 19:23:08 -0400

Great little radio to ever be used by the military.

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Apr 25 at 2016 3:40 PM

CSM Richard StCyr — Mon, 25 Apr 2016 15:40:58 -0400

I liked the AN/PRC 77. It was relatively light, dependable and easy to use and maintain. The SINCGARS that replaced it was a royal pain in the keester. It did however generate a couple funny war stories.

Response by PFC Steve Whiteshield made May 15 at 2016 4:42 PM

PFC Steve Whiteshield — Sun, 15 May 2016 16:42:55 -0400

Nice piece of equipment......Let me just add, it took an Operator like us to keep that PRC to do the job......with a Low Profile,LOL.....Now.

Response by Cpl Mark Crawford made Jun 14 at 2016 8:31 PM

Cpl Mark Crawford — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 20:31:51 -0400

My all time favorite was an/prc 77 basically the same as the 25. It could do FDC, Hot air, Navy gangbang everything.....

Response by PFC Timothy Kennaman made Aug 17 at 2016 9:20 PM

PFC Timothy Kennaman — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 21:20:52 -0400

Humped many miles with a PRC on my back

Response by Cpl Ben Marquez made Sep 10 at 2016 8:24 PM

Cpl Ben Marquez — Sat, 10 Sep 2016 20:24:41 -0400

"PRICK" 25. A patrols best friend. Operators had the shit. If you used one in combat, you know what I'm talking about.

Response by Sgt Demarest Newman made Sep 12 at 2016 11:39 AM

Sgt Demarest Newman — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 11:39:11 -0400

Compared to the PRC 10 it was a godsend. The battery life was cut short during the monsoon season even with plastic wrap. But with frequent resupply it was a workhorse.

Response by LCpl Donald Faucett made Nov 22 at 2016 5:52 PM

LCpl Donald Faucett — Tue, 22 Nov 2016 17:52:31 -0500

Yes they came out with a PRC-77. Just the updated PRC-25. Same size/ weight batteries. If you were lucky they would also let you hump a heavy bag with a disassembled antenna mast with antenna too. It was worn on top of your alice pack. The beauty of it was usually wherever ended up it would be a command center.

Response by Sgt Jeff Kelly made Nov 28 at 2016 3:05 PM

Sgt Jeff Kelly — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 15:05:12 -0500

I started with the PRC-10 and thought the 25 was a huge improvement. In Nam in 1968 only the Recon teams got the 77. As a TACP operator in the grunts, besides the PRC25 on my back I also carried a handheld UHF radio in a canteen pouch that I used for direct, line-of-sight comm with F4s A4s and A6s. I'm trying to remember the designation for the hand held. I think is was PRC93. It's what the pilots carried in case they were having a bad day. Our FAC and ALO got them for us.

Response by Sgt Jeff Kelly made Nov 28 at 2016 11:43 PM

Sgt Jeff Kelly — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 23:43:57 -0500

In Nam there was a thing called the "bullshit net" where guys in the firebase would play tunes over the PRC 25 for guys out in the bush. Some of those guys sounded like DJs back in the world. This was highly illegal, of course. They used the freq at top of the dial, 7500 I think. These illegal call signs were creative and rude. I won't repeat them; I don't know the ground rules here. But it was a nice relief to the boredom of hole watch when you knew the area was secure.

Response by Sgt Dana Smith made Sep 21 at 2017 8:16 AM

Sgt Dana Smith — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 08:16:45 -0400

as a 2841, ground radio repairer, and also humping one on night patrols and ambushes, i loved it. easy to work on easy and reliable to use. Does not like AK47 round through the battery, not fun for the operator either

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2018 6:45 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 18:45:59 -0500

The prc 150 and the prc 117G. Programing both are simple as well as loading them.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 14 at 2018 2:32 AM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 14 Apr 2018 02:32:55 -0400

I’m just starting the radio field operator & I enjoy the 152... It’s like a walking talky... but you can use the handset to... Plus you can use the SLk & it’s easy to program...

Response by SSgt Bob Gilchrist made Sep 1 at 2019 6:37 PM

SSgt Bob Gilchrist — Sun, 01 Sep 2019 18:37:05 -0400

Never had my antenna in the air.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Jan 2 at 2020 11:30 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 23:30:04 -0500

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member That is you, with an antenna waving in the bush/breeze? And you survived?

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 3 at 2020 10:59 AM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 10:59:08 -0500

About the same as PRC 77?

Response by Cpl Joseph Williams made May 11 at 2020 5:00 PM

Cpl Joseph Williams — Mon, 11 May 2020 17:00:04 -0400

Actually the PRC 77 replaced the PRC 25.
The 77 had the cryptosystem capability, they pretty much the same.

Response by Pvt John Ferguson made Jul 13 at 2020 8:15 AM

Pvt John Ferguson — Mon, 13 Jul 2020 08:15:37 -0400

https://www.bing.com/search?q=radio%20in%20vietnam%20war%20types&qs=n&form=QBRE&sp=-1&pq=radio%20in%20vietnam%20war%20types&sc=0-26&sk=&cvid=8C867F7365664F568C60CDABB5CD72E0
there MUST be by now

radio%20in%20vietnam%20war%20types - Bing

Not a member of Pastebin yet? Sign Up, it unlocks many cool features!. raw download clone embed report print text 178.03 KB download clone embed report print text 178.03 KB