FYI on the replacement of the AN/PRC-127A by the "Land Mobile Radio" compatible version, the AN/PRC-127EF:
(from PS Mag, 5/2004)
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What do you do when you're eyeballing the maintenance done on a HMWWV and the mech you need to "instruct" is at the other end of the motor pool?
Well, an old-Army sergeant could just yell, "Smith, get over here!" and be heard a mile away. But you're a part of the new Army. You need a hand-held squad radio, and the latest and greatest is the AN/PRC-127EF, NSN 5820-01-509-9053. With it you can just whisper, "Smith, get over here."
This EF model is replacing the AN/PRC-127A. It's digital, secure voice, APCO P25 CAI standard with smartnetII/smartzone trunking and can be programed for more than 250 channels! It's also land mobile radio compliant and meets VHF band requirements. The same can't be said for the A model!
The AN/PRC-127EF uses a rechargeable battery so you'll need to order battery charger, NSN 6130-01-509-9224, too. That charger has one docking station. For a multi-unit charger, use NSN 6130-01-509-9216.
In addition to motor pool use, these squad radios are good for MP units, engineer construction areas, base defense programs and convoys. Use the 127A until it becomes unserviceable and then send it to DRMO.
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And here's the info from a CECOM release:
Hand Held Radio
AN/PRC-127A
CECOM recently procured a new version of the AN/PRC-127A Hand Held Radio NSN: 5820-01-436-1893, with the new Land Mobile Radio (LMR) compliant AN/PRC-127 EF-Johnson family of radios, NSN:5820-01-509-9053. It is approved by headquarters, DA for Army use, at a unit price of $3,900.00. The AN/PRC-127 EFJ Radio is a digital FM Radio APCO P25 CAI standard with SMARTNET II/SMARTZONE Trunking, with secure voice (des-ofb) that has keyboard frequency programming, 256 channels, and can be programmed in analog mode to talk to the current AN/PRC-127A radios. This new radio is replacing the old AN/PRC-127A radios currently out in the field. The old radio is not Land Mobile Radio (LMR) compliant and it doesn't meet the VHF Band of 138-174 MHZ and APCO project 25 requirements. All assets exhausted.
The AN/PRC-127 EFJ radio is a small unit radio used at the lowest echelons of the command to communicate with the squad and team-sized elements of combat service support units whose mission requires the use of a secure radio to communicate with supply and construction areas, convoys, base defense and dismounted rear battle operations. The primary users of these radios will be engineer platoons, maintenance units and teams, military intelligence teams, military police, etc. These radios will not be used for processing video or data transfers.
POC: Carol Magee, Inventory Management Specialist,
AMSEL-LC-COM-R, DSN: 992-9187,
e:mail:
[email protected]----------------------------
More info (from PS Mag, 7/2005)
Dear Half-Mast,
Does the new AN/PRC-1271EF hand-held squad radio have have a headset?
Also, are alkaline AA batteries the only option?
Finally, are there new TMs for this radio or do we still use the AN/PRC-127 TMs? SGT J.L.C.
Dear Sergeant J.L.C.,
The new digital, secure voice, AN/PRC-127EF radio, NSN 5820-01-509-9053, does indeed have a headset for hands-free operation. It's NSN 5965-01-509-9022. To use the headset, you'll need adapter, NSN 5965-01-509-9212.
Related Results
* A new and "handy" radio
AA batteries are not the preferred option for battery, power. You should be using the 3600 rechargeable battery, NSN 6140-01-509-9091, as your primary source of power. To charge this NiMH rechargeable battery, you'll need single battery charger, NSN 6130-01-509-9224, or four-battery charger, NSN 6130-01-509-9216.
As for the TMs, the AN/PRC-127EF is a commercial radio and does not have a TM. When you get the radio it should come with an operator's manual on a CD.