AN/PRC-77 Portable Transceiver
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AN/PRC 77 Radio Set is a manpack, portable VHF FM combat-net radio transceiver used to provide short-range, two-way radiotelephone voice communication. It can provide secure voice (X-mode) transmission with the TSEC/KY-57. The radio consists of the RT-841 transceiver and minor components. In the Joint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS), AN/PRC translates to "Army/Navy, Portable Radio, Communication."
The AN/PRC 77 entered service during the Vietnam War (circa 1968) as an upgrade to the earlier AN/PRC 25. Today it has largely been replaced by SINCGARS radios, but the AN/PRC 77 is still capable of interoperating with most VHF radios used by U.S. and allied ground forces (although it is not compatible with the SINCGARS frequency hopping mode). It can be used with the KY-57 voice encryption device for secure communications. The 77 set is also used by the Australian Army Cadets and the Australian Air Force Cadets. The Australian Army is phasing out the 77, which is being superseded by the RAVEN series. Because of a shortage of the Raven sets due to the extensive overseas commitments, the Australian Army still has PRC 77 sets in service.
The Austrian Army still uses the device, though it seems as if it is only used for training cadets in radio communications. For border patrol the Austrian Army now uses a new device called "TFF-41", which is capable of frequency-hopping and digital encryption. The radio has been gradually modified by the Austrian Army, for example the Austrian AN/PRC 77 have a special switch for a 25kHz mode, which increases the frequency of the selected channel by 25 kHz and therefore doubles the number of available channels. Internally the device is also different, because the vacuum tubes, which were used in the Vietnam war for example, were replaced by modern transistors.
| Technical Characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Frequency Range: | Low band, 30.00 to 52.95 MHz; High band, 53.00 to 75.95 MHz |
| Planning Range: | 8 km (5 mi) |
| Power Output: | 0 to 4.0 W |
| Power Source: | BA-4386/U, BA-398/U or BA-55984 |
| Antenna: | AT-271A/PRC multisection (10 ft) "Static", or AT-892/PRL-24 3-foot tape "Bush-whip" |
| Type of Service: | 30K0F3E Manpack Field Radio |
| Weight: | 10.7 kg (23.5 lb) |
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