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Reviews For: EF JOHNSON 5100 aka AN/PRC-127EF

Category: Transceivers: VHF/UHF+ Amateur Hand-held

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Review Summary For : EF JOHNSON 5100 aka AN/PRC-127EF
Reviews: 7MSRP: $2500
Description:
130mhz to 178mhz front keypad programmable (military model only) mixed mode (p25/analog) 512 frequencies. MilSPec C D E F waterproof 1m for 30min and intrinsically safe. Its as rugged as rugged gets. Uses Motorola XTS batteries and Jedi/HT1000 accesories. Also capable of DES DES-OFB and AES therefore illegal to export. This rig has better rx and tx than any other ham 2m ht I own.
Product is not in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0074.7
NC5P Rating: 2020-01-05
Excellent 900 MHz HT! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I bought my 900 MHz version off ebay several years ago while in Arizona. I used to check into the Calzona net from Scottsdale through a repeater almost 40 miles distant. The audio quality is excellent, both receive and transmit. I got several compliments about it. It does P25 though currently the only 900 P25 repeater around here is too far away for me to reach. The FPP works, though it's kind of quirky to input 93x.xxxx instead of 92x.xxxx. I bought two cheap Chinese lithium batteries off ebay and they work quite well. It uses most Motorola XTS accessories (I own two of those) and I charge it in my Motorola charger. The Motorola XTS programming cable won't work, had to get an EFJ cable. I recommend this radio for anyone wanting to try out 33cm cheap.
AB9TA Rating: 2013-10-31
Rugged and Built for Professionals Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I own both a VHF and UHF radio, both are FPP. They are both rugged and well built. They have good sounding audio in both directions..
They are fairly large with an uncluttered display and buttons that are well-separated. The radio is obviously designed for use in hostile environments, and all features can easily be used while wearing gloves
As opposed to ham radio programming, the FPP on these is much easier to use, it's much more intuitive. The programming leads you along from one item to the next, as opposed to ham radios where you have to keep finding and choosing the menus to do what you want.
Software programming is fairly complex with many items you can change in the configuration, as most commercial radio are. But, once you learn it, it's straightforward.
On the auction site, there are a wide range of firmware versions available, the later versions are better but more expensive. But EFJ is still a little less expensive than other manufacturers in the used market.
All in all, if you want to use a portable radio worthy of the name, you can't go wrong with these.
KA2AYR Rating: 2012-10-12
c-c-c-combo breaker Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I felt the need to break the tie. I have a 10 year old 5100 v 1.18.15 VHF radio (typical auction site radio) that gets buggy from time to time. While the first versions use Motorola OEM'ed boards, the operating firmware is different. Subsequent versions of the 5100 are unique to EFJ and are "XTS-5000-like" but are NOT XTS-5000 radios. Operationally, the ergonomics of the radio are difficult. At a noisy incident, I hold the speaker to my ear and the mic falls roughly into place by my mouth - except the radio is upside down this way. The metal frame is less substantial than an XTS and is pot metal. The plastic front is thinner and is metalized on the inside for a groundplane. This particular radio has several intermittents including an RF transmit but no TX audio condition, and a lock-up condition where the radio locks in its last state and has to be reset by removing the battery. Both are probably the result of an IC substrate that has intermittent joints and both conditions are cleared by squeezing the front (yes, the front is "bendy" - DON'T DO WHAT I DO - EVER!). This could probably be repaired with a hot air bonder. Repaired this would be a very efficient, but bricky radio. EFJ corrects much of this in subsequent versions and their VP600 portable is entirely redesigned and repackaged into a new form factor. Your mileage will likely vary with firmware and version.
K5HDM Rating: 2011-09-08
Great radio! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I have a few of these and they're really great radios.. If you can find one that doesn't have the DSP FAIL error of death, they're really nice radios.. I like the FPP (Front panel programming) better than Motorola's because you can change just about everything about the channel you're editing. They have all the same guts as a Motorola XTS5000, but they're a little bigger.. I have found myself carrying my 5100 more than my 5000 these days. Great Analog and Digital audio!!
N2CUE Rating: 2009-11-14
mother of all commercial radios so far Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
What more can you ask for in a radio. The radio comes equipped with encryption options, if you buy the radio new, they will give a free key upload to the radio. the radio is 512 channels, and if you need more than that, you can order the 862 channel option which throws in something else for you. the band split is on the money. Especially if you are using uhf 380-470 if you want public service use a ft 60.
The only con on the radio...
Receive audio is tinny. Not as good a motorola receive but other than that with all the features you can get over tinny audio.
Make sure to read how to program the radio before attempting to do so, the software is very very confusing on first glance but you get used to it very quickly
KB4TPP Rating: 2008-10-05
Awesome but be wary of ver 1 units Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I have a pair of EFJ5100's on VHF and one UHF. These are awesome radios but beware of the early legacy version 1's. The version number is displayed when powered up. Most of the ones on Ebay are older ver 1 units. They have various issues mainly RF getting back into the radio controller and it acting erratic (such as locking up on TX, displaying garbage on the display, etc). They are also no longer supported by EFJ.

Otherwise, the later revisions are EXCELLENT radios. You won't be dissapointed.
KG4FOY Rating: 2007-05-25
Excellent, built like a tank Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
rugged, indestructable, great rig better than any "ham rig" out there in both tx/rx and durability. Backlit keys, enough channels for each 2m freq pair and then some..