Harris RF-5800M-HH
Overview
Placeholder page for my Harris RF-5800M-HH - this is the export version of the AN/PRC-152 and predecessor to the RF-310M-HH.Having sold the radio, the most suitable description I can provide for the RF-5800 would be an explanation of my reasons for selling it.
First and foremost was the rather severe limitations in interoperability with civilian public safety / amateur radio systems. The most glaring shortcoming here is the lack of support for CTCSS (Continuous Tone-Coded Squelch), which is utilized on nearly all civilian repeater systems. It follows that the radio does not support CDCSS either. These two items alone effectively relegated the RF-5800 to simplex / LOS operations.
The limited number of programmable nets and rotary switch positions further reduced the utility of the radio. The only practical use I ever found for the RF-5800 was ground-to-air communications with Medevac or National Guard helicopters for whom we would occasionally be tasked with establishing landing zones during emergencies. Despite it's shortcomings, the flexibility of having a radio capable of continuous 30-512 MHz operation was supreme.
The final nail in the coffin was accessories, which were essentially vaporware. Despite many vigilant hours scanning eBay and the greater internet, I was never able to source the vaunted 12011-0200-A006 programming cable or compatable CPS. At one point, I even had access to Harris Premeire- even this made no mention of the poor RF-5800!
Despite it's rugged construction and Harris pedigree, the RF-5800 is very much a radio for it's time, nowadays encumbered by a lack of contemporary waveforms and squelch modes. Sadly, the nature of government contracts spells doom for further development of these systems the moment the contract expires.
Fortunately, the radio has been sent to happily live out the rest of it's life on a farm, surrounded by other radios like it.
Email me if you have any questions.
Photos
Some photos for your viewing pleasure. Nothing is for sale.
Due to ITAR restrictions, there will be absolutely no sales/support to non-US citizens, or anyone outside the US.