Unit 2a

Question 1

INTRODUCTION

Answer 1

• The AN/PRC-152 is designed with several different features and capabilities. - - Understanding these functions and how they work will minimize downtime and increase system reliability.
• Utilize the AN/PRC-152 operation manual to learn more of what the radio’s capabilities are.

Question 2

Equipment Description

Answer 2

• The AN/PRC-152 Multiband Handheld Radio is a tactical transceiver designed for use by military/agency personnel requiring Type-1, NSA certified, secure voice and data communications. The AN/PRC-152 is a member of the Harris Falcon III family of products, which provides highly reliable communications for the severe conditions of tactical operations.
• The AN/PRC-152 provides multi-band, multi-mode operation. This enables a wide variety of applications for the user, including ground-to-ground, ground-to-air and tactical satellite (TACSAT) communications. Over these links, the type of communication traffic includes voice and data for the purpose of command and control on the battlefield. Since much of this information is highly sensitive, encryption is critical.

Question 3

Supported Waveforms

Answer 3

• VHF/UHF Line of Sight ( LOS ) Fixed Frequency FM and AM
• UHF Dedicated Channel SATCOM
• SINCGARS Frequency Hopping ( FH ) and Single Channel ( SC )
• HAVEQUICK Frequency Hopping ( FH ), HQ, I/II
• High Performance Waveform ( HPW )
• Project 25 ( P25 ) ( Optional )

Question 4

Features

Answer 4

Refer to Chapter 1.5 of the AN/PRC-152 Operations Manual for information on features.
• 30.0000 MHz to 511.9999 MHz continuous frequency coverage.
• Up to 99 programmable system presets (numbered 01 - 99) containing user-specified frequencies and operating parameters.
• Built-In Test (BIT) for operational test, battery check, display firmware and hardware versions. • Optional internal GPS unit for use with time tracking and position reporting.
• Interface to an external Precision Lightweight GPS Receiver (PLGR) or Defense Advanced GPS Receiver (DAGR).
• Internal Hold-Up Battery (HUB) to maintain programmed information when the AN/PRC-152 main battery is removed.
• VINSON, Advanced Narrowband Digital Voice Terminal (ANDVT), Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), FASCINATOR, and KG-84C embedded encryption modes.
• Automatic scan operation of both Cipher Text (CT) and Plain Text (PT) channels on LOS fixed frequency or dedicated UHF SATCOM channels.
• High Performance Waveform (HPW) mode for increased data performance over dedicated Narrowband (NB) and Wideband (WB) SATCOM channels.
• Situational Awareness feature to transmit and receive encrypted location information. • Exclusion Band feature that prevents operations on specified frequencies.
• Supports Mixed Excitation Linear Prediction (MELP) and Linear Predictive Coding (LPC-10) digitized voice in ANDVT operations. Radio will autoselect between incoming MELP and LPC-10 traffic. • Operable on all VHF Maritime Channel frequencies.
• PT Override function, which allows the operator to hear Plain Text (PT) Voice in a Cipher Text (CT) mode. • Operable with Falcon III Vehicle Adapter Amplifier (VAA).

Question 5

Characteristics

Answer 5

Refer to Chapter 1.6 of the AN/PRC-152 Operations Manual for information on characteristics.
The following VHF-UHF Line of Sight (VULOS) fixed frequency operating capabilities are supported by the AN/PRC-152:
• Operating Frequency Bands:
- VHF Low Band – 30.0000 MHz to 89.9999 MHz
- VHF High Band – 90.0000 MHz to 224.9999 MHz
- UHF Band – 225.0000 MHz to 511.9999 MHz
• Frequency Spacing – Transmit/Receive (Tx/Rx) frequencies can be programmed in 1 Hz increments with ASCII remote control, or 100 Hz increments when set from the front panel.
• Simplex Operation – LOS nets with the same transmit and receive frequencies.
• Half-Duplex Operation – LOS nets with different transmit and receive frequencies. • The following squelch types are available in PT mode:
- Disabled – No squelch, receiver remains open.
- Tone Squelch – AN/PRC-152 unsquelches when it receives a 150 Hz tone. The radio can be configured to transmit 150 Hz squelch tone on FM LOS fixed frequency presets.
- Noise Squelch – AN/PRC-152 unsquelches when RF or noise is greater than a set threshold level (Paragraph A.8.3.4).
- CTCSS - Supports transmit and receive of EIA standard squelch tone frequencies in PT mode to allow interoperability with equipment that uses CTCSS.
- CDCSS - Supports transmit and receive of EIA standard digital squelch codes in PT mode to allow interoperability with equipment that uses CDCSS.
NOTE
It is recommended that the same squelch settings be used for
all radios within a net. The use of incompatible squelch types
will result in the radio not being able to hear radio calls.