Thales/Racal Difference

[MOTOROLANUT]

What if any is the difference between the Racal (PRC6894) and the Thales?
Software Versions?
Pro/Cons between the two?
Or just a name?

[mancow]

There were two versions while under the RACAL name -501 and -503. The 503 is newer and will accept 8.? version firmware whereas the 501 has a different lower numbered revision. They made a few RF antenna port changes and other smaller improvements in the -503.

As for the Thales, I don't know. I would assume that things have been improved over time but as of right now the the current firmware updater package works for the latest product all the way down to the old 501 series. It will auto sense and adjust to whatever revision of radio it's trying to update. So, basically it doesn't look like there is much difference between the RACAL and Thales models.

[MOTOROLANUT]

Many Thanks, I have being seeing them for sale lately and thought about purchasing one. Just was on the fence as to which one.

[sparky]

I have a racal (thales??) prc6841HBRV, batteries are shot, have ac charger, are there batteries other than $200 ones listed, or a ni-cad rechargable cell holder? I am a Ham and want to try it out.
Thanks

[W0VNE]

In regards to the first question I think the Racal and Thales 25 (Aka PRC6894) are the same. There is a -505 Rev A I see mostly followed by -503 Rev B also seen often. I'm not sure what was done different between these versions but they look very much the same inside. Using the Thales Update Version 4.0 (2004) The -503 and -505 both update to 8.03.003 (Control S/W Version 8.3.3 / DSP S/W Version 8.3.3) which I believe is the last firmware released? The older -501s I don't see often. If you run the updater for the 8.03.003 on these older radios they do update but to S/W Version 5.13 *Note nothing noted about DSP so I wonder if the -501 used a different DSP? And not sure these are capable of doing all the optional things like AES, GPS etc. Anyway if you have a choice I would opt for the 505 or 503. These radios are Military Grade (Saw a Youtuber drive over one with a truck)

Yes the Litihum Ion battery has been a pain in the rear. The BMS in the pack needs to communicate its being "official" and sending some data or the radio will not run at 5 watts output (Limited to 2 watt) There is a AA clam shell for these but Alk batteries versus LiIon? Your lucky to get much operating time with the Clam Shell pack. Anyway my wife and I came up with a spoofer so the radio happily runs on our DIY battery packs *3D printed. We used 21700 batteries rather then 18650 so we could get 5,000MAh rather then 1,800. The antenna that comes with the radio is not very broad banded (For sure its not a Motorola Red Dot) It uses the same Antenna connector so you can swap out the not so great antenna for a red dot or better yet a Blade antenna. Anyway just starting to make up packs and clean up these "very mighty fine" radios and have a listing in products at the
https://refurbatron.bigcartel.com/progr ... we-do-this
web page which (I admit) is rather basic. I can write code in assembler and if a gun is held to my head can poke out some C++ but making web pages? Not so hot at doing those.

[W0VNE]

Just wanted to add that I've also come across a -505 Version B. *And no clue what makes them different.