I really appreciate your content and going into detail about this radio, and was wondering if you might be able to list the connector and meter you used, since I finally pulled the trigger on one of these Radios.... Thank you again
The harris charger will accept 12041-2100 series batteries, i'm pretty sure you are using a 12041 in this video but you can verify by looking at the bottom
I’ve heard they’re close to releasing a programming cable for this. Know anything about that? If there was a way to use software to program all channels and settings instead of the keypad that would make it more desirable for me.
I know nothing about it. I think there is a programming cable already for it but it is hard to get because of FCC rules. I believe these radios are not technically "approved" for use in the United States, like most other imported radios. To avoid digging a deeper hole, TRI controls their software & PC connection cables. Why? No idea. It would make this radio 100x more marketable if it had software & a USB cable with it. I will talk more in depth about this when I make my programing videos.
Thank you for the video! I went ahead and purchase 4 batteries and the charger for a radio, I don't even have! Looking to find the best deal before I order. Do you recommend any specific antennas? Since this is a VHF and UHF capable radio, you need a dual lead antenna, something that the real PRC152 antennas don't need.
@@CallMeColtLLC Yeah, the real Harris/Thales antennas have a built-in, impedance matching transformer that are optimized for higher-band, military frequencies and not for civilian, lower UHF frequencies; nor are they VHF compatible. I mean, they work but in this case, a frequently tuned antenna wins out over military surplus.
They have something that they call encryption, but it's not true encryption. If I had more than one of these radios, I would make a video explaining it better but without 2, it makes it a bit challenging as you can't really show what it does completely.
@@CallMeColtLLC Maybe someone has one and can borrow it over for you to test out. Would love to see how it works as some encryption is better than none. I was thinking of getting one as well. Possibility for future video.
@@alexorf6058 I don't know anyone close by with one & I'm not going to ask someone I don't know to mail me a $400 radio. If I can earn enough from views on these videos, I may get a second one.
I have a pair of PRC-152 portable radios and although the advertising calls it "encryption" it's not encryption in the traditional sense. It's just a simple form of analog scrambling called 'Voice Inversion' (there's a good Wikipedia page describing how it works). I personally don't use it because it changes the tone and quality of your audio and as such, most people who try it choose NOT to use it. It's more a marketing "gimmick" than a practical feature. In short, it's sounds HORRIBLE and I don't recommend using it and if you ever try it I'm certain you would too. Just do a TH-cam search for "Voice Inversion demo" and you'll hear some illustrations of what it sounds like.
Yes they will but I would not recommend it. They will not charge them well because the battery cells in types are not the same. The real Harris chargers are cheap so if you're going to buy real batteries, buy a real charger at the same time.
At the time of this post, it costs the same amount to buy TWO genuine Harris batteries and a Harris drop-in charger via Ebay than it is to buy just one TRI brand battery case!
I can't believe I didn't cover this in the video. No, the voltage is different. I think the battery type is even different so I didn't even think to try it & that is why I didn't talk about it in the video. Thanks for bringing it up!
William Andrews: I see that you are using a Latnex PM-100 W POWER METER to test rf output and swr. It's a good idea to have such equipment on hand to support your radios. What type of dummy load do you use on the Latnex to test the RF power , and will you do a video on the Latnex pm-100w power meter
I use the load that came with it. Didn't have any plans to do a video on it but you bring up a good point... that you should have "supporting" gear for your radios. This is something I will consider down the road... a quick video showing things besides your radio that you should have to make sure it is working to it's peak!
@@CallMeColtLLC it looks like Baofeng makes a 152 looking replica now but it doesn't take mil type connectors or batteries. The radio software is pretty similar from what I've seen online. It seems like it would come down to what people have on hand or what they want to use. If someone has a lot of Bao accessaries and just want a 152 looking radio, then maybe. Otherwise, it's no really comparable to the TRI or TCA
@@Guardian2A I know the radio you're talking about now. It's no different than a UV-5R type radio, except the slightly larger green or tan body. It isn't waterproof or anything, even though they claim it is. 2 pin side connectors are terrible in my experience. I'd just get a Baofeng Multipin type radio over the military looking one.
Hi Colt, be sure NOT to use the 7.0 maH batteries... s/n: "12041-2400--02" batteries! Those are a storage low current battery The one you want are the 12041-2100-02", Hi current capacity ones. 👍 If you dont, the radio wont Tx right
@@CallMeColtLLC The "2400" is a Storage battery. its used when the radio gets tutnrf bavk in when the guys come back from thier missions. sometimes a radio isnt used for a year; thats why its 7.0, a 4.8 wont last as long.
Well, i am glad they're working for you. I used one on my 7850 MB and if i transmit, i get a message " Battrry In Current Limit" report. Maybe your radio doesnt use as much current 👍👍🇺🇲
Thanks for this video. Can you please help me out with batteries? Im from the Netherlands, but its not that easy to find those Harris batteries cheap. 🙏
Awesome. Good to know. Thank you for doing these tests.
Not a problem. This was an easy & cheap one!
I really appreciate your content and going into detail about this radio, and was wondering if you might be able to list the connector and meter you used, since I finally pulled the trigger on one of these Radios.... Thank you again
I added links to the video description to similar items that I used in the video. Hope that helps, enjoy the radio!
@@CallMeColtLLC Thank you for te information I'll check it out...
Impressive that it actually transmits 12 watts 🤯
Yes, pretty good. Has to be paired with a good antenna though.
I mean at this price, better be providing 12 watts
The harris charger will accept 12041-2100 series batteries, i'm pretty sure you are using a 12041 in this video but you can verify by looking at the bottom
Charger worked great, but I ended up getting another one that was newer down the road & sold this one.
Two Stevens going through Floresville Texas with the Call Me Colt handle one in tow one towing
That was me!
Where can you buy a harris battery
I’ve heard they’re close to releasing a programming cable for this. Know anything about that? If there was a way to use software to program all channels and settings instead of the keypad that would make it more desirable for me.
I know nothing about it. I think there is a programming cable already for it but it is hard to get because of FCC rules. I believe these radios are not technically "approved" for use in the United States, like most other imported radios. To avoid digging a deeper hole, TRI controls their software & PC connection cables. Why? No idea. It would make this radio 100x more marketable if it had software & a USB cable with it. I will talk more in depth about this when I make my programing videos.
@@CallMeColtLLC cool man I’m looking forward to more videos, also one more question, are these able to transmit on murs?
Thank you for the video! I went ahead and purchase 4 batteries and the charger for a radio, I don't even have! Looking to find the best deal before I order. Do you recommend any specific antennas? Since this is a VHF and UHF capable radio, you need a dual lead antenna, something that the real PRC152 antennas don't need.
Get them while you can! I plan to do a video on antennas in the future. It's a broad topic but I don't think a dual lead is needed.
@@CallMeColtLLC Yeah, the real Harris/Thales antennas have a built-in, impedance matching transformer that are optimized for higher-band, military frequencies and not for civilian, lower UHF frequencies; nor are they VHF compatible. I mean, they work but in this case, a frequently tuned antenna wins out over military surplus.
Do you have the model numbers for the batteries, battery pack and charger?
There are links in the description of the video to each of the items. If they don't work, please let me know.
Is the battery that comes with the 152 a lipo? Or is it a quad 18650
It is a pack filled with 18650 cells. I think it is 6 of them. The LiPo ones are the real Harris batteries.
Can I use a TRI charger with a Harris battery?
Not sure, I would not though. I wouldn't not use a "toy" charger with such a quality battery.
Is the build quality of the real batteries worth buying them for?
Yes
Do you happen to know if these new TRI radios or TCA radios have any onboard encryption?
They have something that they call encryption, but it's not true encryption. If I had more than one of these radios, I would make a video explaining it better but without 2, it makes it a bit challenging as you can't really show what it does completely.
@@CallMeColtLLC Maybe someone has one and can borrow it over for you to test out. Would love to see how it works as some encryption is better than none. I was thinking of getting one as well. Possibility for future video.
@@alexorf6058 I don't know anyone close by with one & I'm not going to ask someone I don't know to mail me a $400 radio. If I can earn enough from views on these videos, I may get a second one.
I have a pair of PRC-152 portable radios and although the advertising calls it "encryption" it's not encryption in the traditional sense. It's just a simple form of analog scrambling called 'Voice Inversion' (there's a good Wikipedia page describing how it works). I personally don't use it because it changes the tone and quality of your audio and as such, most people who try it choose NOT to use it. It's more a marketing "gimmick" than a practical feature. In short, it's sounds HORRIBLE and I don't recommend using it and if you ever try it I'm certain you would too. Just do a TH-cam search for "Voice Inversion demo" and you'll hear some illustrations of what it sounds like.
Will the TRI battery charger work with the Harris battery packs?
Yes they will but I would not recommend it. They will not charge them well because the battery cells in types are not the same. The real Harris chargers are cheap so if you're going to buy real batteries, buy a real charger at the same time.
At the time of this post, it costs the same amount to buy TWO genuine Harris batteries and a Harris drop-in charger via Ebay than it is to buy just one TRI brand battery case!
Will the Tri charger work with Harris batteries?
I can't believe I didn't cover this in the video. No, the voltage is different. I think the battery type is even different so I didn't even think to try it & that is why I didn't talk about it in the video. Thanks for bringing it up!
William Andrews: I see that you are using a Latnex PM-100 W POWER METER to test rf output and swr. It's a good idea to have such equipment on hand to support your radios. What type of dummy load do you use on the Latnex to test the RF power , and will you do a video on the Latnex pm-100w power meter
I use the load that came with it. Didn't have any plans to do a video on it but you bring up a good point... that you should have "supporting" gear for your radios. This is something I will consider down the road... a quick video showing things besides your radio that you should have to make sure it is working to it's peak!
You can open the stock battery and replace the cells if you want. Well at least on the tca ones. Not sure about the Tri ones.
I think the TRI is the same. I plan to do just a video on the battey options & will explore this more & explain it.
So this vs the baofeng 152....
Who wins?
Not sure what you mean by the Baofeng 152, They do not make a replica like this.
@@CallMeColtLLC it looks like Baofeng makes a 152 looking replica now but it doesn't take mil type connectors or batteries.
The radio software is pretty similar from what I've seen online. It seems like it would come down to what people have on hand or what they want to use. If someone has a lot of Bao accessaries and just want a 152 looking radio, then maybe. Otherwise, it's no really comparable to the TRI or TCA
@@Guardian2A I know the radio you're talking about now. It's no different than a UV-5R type radio, except the slightly larger green or tan body. It isn't waterproof or anything, even though they claim it is. 2 pin side connectors are terrible in my experience. I'd just get a Baofeng Multipin type radio over the military looking one.
Can you fill this radio?
No, it is doesn't have encryption of any type.
Hi Colt, be sure NOT to use the 7.0 maH batteries... s/n: "12041-2400--02" batteries! Those are a storage low current battery The one you want are the 12041-2100-02", Hi current capacity ones. 👍 If you dont, the radio wont Tx right
I have used the 7aH 12041-2400-02 for years on the radio and it works fine. Can you elaborate?
@@CallMeColtLLC The "2400" is a Storage battery. its used when the radio gets tutnrf bavk in when the guys come back from thier missions. sometimes a radio isnt used for a year; thats why its 7.0, a 4.8 wont last as long.
@@CallMeColtLLC You can use them for receive... but not intended for transmit.. especially at High+ (10 watts)
@@biffsr32 I have used them for both. Hasn't been a problem that I've seen & I show the output test in the video. I'm not a battery expert though.
Well, i am glad they're working for you. I used one on my 7850 MB and if i transmit, i get a message " Battrry In Current Limit" report. Maybe your radio doesnt use as much current 👍👍🇺🇲
🇺🇸⚔❤
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for this video. Can you please help me out with batteries? Im from the Netherlands, but its not that easy to find those Harris batteries cheap. 🙏
I'm not sure how. Sending Lithium overseas is expensive. I'd say try eBay. You may only be able to get TRI batteries.