Tri PRC 152 MBTIR Replica (Super Gucci)

[specialist]

Re: Tri PRC 152 MBTIR Replica (Super Gucci)

The spec, functions, menu and display are identical.

[dj2l8b]

Re: Tri PRC 152 MBTIR Replica (Super Gucci)

I just had a play and ye they are identical but its a bitch to program!

[KE5LNG]

Re: Tri PRC 152 MBTIR Replica (Super Gucci)

Does not appear to be any other radio inside, seems to be a custom radio build. I have been looking to program these radios (to get names with the memory channels). I would be surprised if some Wouxun, Baofeng etc software did not work with it (or CHIRP).

Look at the cable for programming (from the initial TRI press rollout). The connector looks suspiciously like a Kenwood (Baofeng, Wouxun, etc) programming cable plugged into a simple adapter.

Here is the cable on the radio:

tri_anprc-152_multiband_inter_intra_team_radio_harris_falcon_iii_ips_ipx-7_7_1024x768_jkarmy_tex.jpg

Then here is the adapter without the cable attached:

tri_anprc-152_multiband_inter_intra_team_radio_harris_falcon_iii_ips_ipx-7_6_1024x768_jkarmy_tex.jpg

Here is a Kenwood cable for comparison. Notice the similarity?

IMG_20140428_210101.jpg

The adapter for the radio has 9 pins only. INSIDE there are only 6 pins connecting to the board.

IMG_20140428_203908.jpg

Now to see what pin goes to what color. After that...which is data, ground. Etc. (This connector was also intended for radio to radio cloning).

It's a start though.

Regards,

Jim

[Subcaptian]

Re: Tri PRC 152 MBTIR Replica (Super Gucci)

So Jim, can you find the main chip and find out what model it is? We can try to find a datasheet on it with a pinout.

[KE5LNG]

Re: Tri PRC 152 MBTIR Replica (Super Gucci)

It appears to be a completely custom built radio, from the board up. The software in it is probably also a custom build of a whatever the generic version in Baofeng, Wouxun, etc is. Hopefully CHIRP will work.

I looked at the Kenwood mobile and portable cables, both simply use a GND, RX data & TX data at the radio connector (aside from internal components in the cable). So 3 wires to contacts on the radio. I was a bit confused at first, as this PRC152 has a 18 pin connector vs the 32 pin on the Real PRC152. I then realized they used the MBITR connector. (Probably so they can use the same programming cable on both replica series). So out of the 6 wires to the connector, it looks like only three are actually used to program (if it is a kenwood compatible cable they're using). The other three may deal with the cloning function.

I'm going to take the easy route and simply see which wire goes to what contact on the connector. Then try combinations of wires to the contact with a Kenwood cable and attempt to read the radio with CHIRP. (This will undoubtedly fail, but is still worth trying). I may of course also see if any pin has voltage 1st, see if I can find the common gnd...well, you see where it's all headed. Beer, alligator clips, contact pins...and trial and error.

regards,

Jim

[specialist]

Re: Tri PRC 152 MBTIR Replica (Super Gucci)

It is not a custom radio. It's a BAOJIE BL-UV88. Of course you would not see a BL-UV88 in it's original casing inside the PRC152 case. The BL-UV88 was stripped of its case and dropped into the PrC-152 casing. The BL-UV88 is 100% match. The software for the BL-UV88 is what you use with this PRC152. The connection adaptor is the thing you need to get.

[KE5LNG]

Re: Tri PRC 152 MBTIR Replica (Super Gucci)

The thing is not a Bajoie stripped of it's case. As you can see from the photos, it is a custom circuit board in the radio itself (That perfectly fits the custom metal frame that is under the green plastic in the replica PRC152. (Note the PRC-152 (UV) Beta markings). I have extensive knowledge of Radio electronics, so I knew there was not another radio inside, though from reading my sentence one could possible infer that is what I meant . Practically EVERY Chinese branded radio uses the same basic operating system package. I am pretty sure they all buy it from the same manufacturer. Individual tweaks to match the radio it is used in, but the same generic base. Go download a Wouxun, Baofeng UV5R, etc manual. You will see exactly what I am talking about. As for the freqs covered, that is not unique to the BAOJIE BL-UV88.

Have you opened your PRC152? Have you programmed the radio? If so, please provide the pinout of the side connector, it'd be a godsend. I have opened mine, it is a 100% custom circuit board. Custom display. Custom frame. Recycled MBITR Replica side connector. The question is a good one I believe Subcaptain was asking, in that perhaps they have also recycled the main IC from some other generic Chinese cheapee portable (perhaps even your BAOJIE BL-UV88). I can easily seeing that happening.

If you have the pinout, then I can see about fabricating a cable with a spare MBITR connector kit from work.

regards,

Jim

(PS: My user name is also my Amateur Radio call sign, look me up at QRZ.com if sufficiently bored)

[specialist]

Tri PRC 152 MBTIR Replica (Super Gucci)

Ok. Every single function, setting, mode, frequency range, option and screen graphic is identical to the BL-UV88. The manual is virtually the same. They are using a BL-UV88 radio system, then same pin out?

[KE5LNG]

Re: Tri PRC 152 MBTIR Replica (Super Gucci)

Yes and similar to a half dozen other no-name Chinese radios. I have two Wouxuns, and Baofeng UV5r, and they have virtually identical menus and options to the PRC152 replica. This is getting us nowhere, just because a Chinese replica has a menu system almost identical to at LEAST 3 other Chinese branded radios doesn't mean much. If you have specific knowledge that the IC from a BAOJIE BL-UV88 was used in this radio, then stop beating around the bush and say so. THAT would be amazingly helpful news, and would save a lot of trouble in choosing the software. (Though to be fair, I did put the BAOJIE BL-UV88 software right behind CHIRP in my list of "TRY THIS!" after your posting).

I am not interested in the IC pinout (as I cannot follow the circuit from the IC on the PRC-152 (UV) main board to the board connector that leads to the side connector (Wonder if they did that on purpose). I am interested in the pinout on the MBITR connector on the side. Example: Pin 12 RX Data, Pin 14 TX Data, Pin 18 Ground....

Appreciate the help specialist, regardless of how I may sound.

Jim

[specialist]

Re: Tri PRC 152 MBTIR Replica (Super Gucci)

Why not ask TRI directly? They seem quite active on Facebook

[jonglow]

Re: Tri PRC 152 MBTIR Replica (Super Gucci)

I've used mine for a while now with no problems with impedance at all and I use a silynx c4ops duel comms setup really love it and once you get your head around how to program the channels in to it.
Used it on Easter suday at a local site and it was poring down with rain all day the unit got soaked and didn't have a problem and the battery seems to last for ever I've used it six whole day events since its last charge and it still says battery is full on the screen I'm super happy with mine

[specialist]

Tri PRC 152 MBTIR Replica (Super Gucci)

I concur. I think TRI PRC 152 is the best replica radio kit around. It's professional grade build. Add whisper mode, voice encryption and Digital Capability and you have one that's capable of serious real world military use. Kirisun has a digital UHF radio with those features for around £90 sold in the UK. Transport that radio system into the PRC 152 :-)

[MarkTwelve]

Re: Tri PRC 152 MBTIR Replica (Super Gucci)

I have one of these. I'm also a full time radio repair technician and am well qualified to evaluate the radio from a technical perspective.

To be quite honest about it, this radio is SURPRISINGLY good. Its technical specs as I have determined them to be are EXCELLENT, with
a very sensitive receiver and a strong transmitter with very good transmitted audio quality and modulation.

The weak point of the radio is its speaker. I'm modifying the front cover and front PC board to accept the speaker from a Motorola XTS5000,
and that work should be completed and tested this coming weekend. This mod requires machining out a space on the cover for the larger speaker
and also requires machining a hole in the front PC board (fortunately there are no traces in this area to damage) so the speaker magnet can pass thru.

After I've completed this mod I'll then evaluate whether or not it might be advisable to increase the power of the audio amplifier circuit, which
should not be difficult. There is no lack of room for mods inside the radio and on the front PC board.

For you techno-geeks like me, here are the basic specs I've established on the radio's RF performance so far.
(These apply to my own radio, totally "as it arrived", untweaked.)

TX output: 5.8 watts in VHF (forgot to check UHF, sorry.) Modulation at a full 5 KHz in wideband, 2.5 KHz narrowband, just what it should be.
No weak audio here!

Highest level radiated harmonic or spur from the transmitter: An impressive 96 dB below the carrier level. That's GOOD. I don't usually see
that unless the radio has a multi-thousand-dollar price tag.

Receiver sensitivity: Opens squelch at a ridiculously low -126 dBm. I'm getting 12 dB SINAD at -121. That's HOT.

Build quality is pretty good. But I did have one leg of the front cover assembly break off, so I had to reglue it. JB Weld to the rescue!

Gaskets and seals: They all consist of RTV silicone applied to the mating surfaces, the parts screwed together, and the excess wiped off.
So, if you enter the radio, you will need to clean away the broken RTV seal and apply new RTV before you close the radio up unless you
don't really care if it's water resistant.

The programming of the radio is NOT the most user friendly but I managed to get most of it figured out in a few minutes. The Chinglish of
the user's guide is sometimes quite confusing.

At this moment I have not yet actually figured out how to store a created channel in the memory.

I really LIKE the orange/yellow/green LED functionality but am contemplating at least looking into the idea of replacing the green LED with a blue
one, if I can find drop-in replacement LEDs in blue for this application.

I'd love to get into the radio's software and make a few changes, primarily aimed at making the radio simulate a real PRC-152 more closely in
terms of what you see on the display. Starting with the Harris logo on the initialization screen. But I don't actually expect that to happen.

If you're thinking about buying one of these radios, have no worries about quality or performance. I have found them to be commendably good radios.

I deal with commercial, business, professional, and public safety grade two way radios on a daily basis. I own current generation Harris and Motorola
public safety radios that cost over 4000 dollars each, and even having become quite accustomed to the outstanding performance of a Motorola XTS5000, I still find the Triumph PRC-152 to be a very good performing radio. It deserves a better speaker but otherwise I give it the seal of approval.




M12

[Stones]

Re: Tri PRC 152 MBTIR Replica (Super Gucci)

what exactly do I need to get this working with real steel headsets such as Peltor Comtacs or MSA Sordins?

[JCheeseright]

Re: Tri PRC 152 MBTIR Replica (Super Gucci)

amplified PTT with pins A + E shorted.