Posted on Apr 23, 2016
Is there a better field radio than the AN/PRC-25?
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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.
2531: Field Radio Operator
0621: Field Radio Operator
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 27
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Sgt Jeff Kelly
LCpl Donald Faucett - The heaviest radio I ever humped was the PRC-41, a UHF unit for ground to air comm. The PRC-25 was feather-lite compared to the 41. I guess I'm dating myself here.
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LCpl Donald Faucett
Sgt Jeff Kelly - I thought the 41 was AM and could transmit and receive from around the world?
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Cpl David Cowger
LCpl Donald Faucett - Dave Cowger Cpl USMC 1965-69 The PRC 41 was UHF line of sight for ground to air communications. Had a short fat antenna. Tough to hide.
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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
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LTC Jason Mackay
I once had been left with only a PRC126 Squad Radio. Good little radio but had to relay to someone on a vehicle with a VRC46 and a power amp
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PR77 to start, then SinGars @ the end. Programming that mofo sucked, 1 digit off & it wouldn't hop/stay secure @ all.
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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
smh
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Cpl Adam Johns
I would say just for shear longevity alone the PRC-77 would win out. I used some of them in the early 90's that were but in the late 60's/ early 70's.
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Cpl Ben Marquez
Ask me and I'll tell you. That radio saved many lives when I was in the Nam and ull swear on a stack of bibles it's the best piece of communication equipment I ever used. If they got better now, good. But for its time, yes, it was the best radio out there.
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I never had issue with the PRC-77,even with additional batteries and a KY-57...then we went digital and the craziness began.
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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.
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"PRICK" 25. A patrols best friend. Operators had the shit. If you used one in combat, you know what I'm talking about.
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My all time favorite was an/prc 77 basically the same as the 25. It could do FDC, Hot air, Navy gangbang everything.....
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More familiar with the AN/PRC-77.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/AN/PRC-77_Portable_Transceiver
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."
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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.
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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...
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The prc 150 and the prc 117G. Programing both are simple as well as loading them.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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CSM Richard StCyr
So no crap there we were... We had just been issued the new SINCGARS radios a couple weeks before our ARTEP and everyone had gone through the training, same issue date, same training cycle for the entire BN. I was the BN Ops NCO and my buddy was the BN S-4 Log NCO. The Log Pac was at a separate site than the BN Main. We had done the ERF for the radios at midnight and all was well until about 0300 when it was time to update the battle boards. Some folks could hear transmissions and others could transmit but not hear, total goat screw, graded exercise, utter pandemonium, fun meter was not pegged. SO SSG Morgan is at the Log Pac thinking that the radio is dead and transmitting in a perfect Elmer Fudd voice. "Herwe I am at the Wog Pac; all awone, nobody wuvs me, why won't anybody talk to me" because he couldn't hear ;he was stepping all over everyone's transmissions, Like he was purposely jamming, I was rolling from laughing because he was usually the picture of professionalism. The CSM on the other hand failed to see any humor in it and lit me up for failing to see the dire consequence of commo failure and I just couldn't get my composure which made things worse, and off he went to ream poor Morgan. But wait ....it gets better when the radio hot mics and the monumental reaming of the century complete with multiple four letter expletives and questions regarding Morgans intelligence and, parentage broadcast live for the entire Engineer group and the ARTEP evaluators to hear. Turns out the radios were all shipped, and fielded and put into service at the same time so all the little brain batteries failed at or close to the same time causing them to drop time. Lesson learned if its new to you replace every stinking battery in existence, don't fool around on the net you never know who's listening and Elmer Fudd Lives.
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