PRC-25 Radio Handset Question?

Question

I just got a PRC-25 radio that was used in Vietnam. I have been watching a couple of Vietnam War and in most of them, the PRC-25 radio handset has some kind of material rapped around it (probably to keep water out). Does anyone know what thay material is and wear I can get it?

P.S. I mostly saw this in the film Platoon (1986). Many of the RTO's like Tony Hoyt and Cpt. Harris's RTO have this material wraped around their handset.

-thank u

Answer 1

I cant say for certain about the PRC-25, but it was probably tape wrapped around.... We did that with several other handsets we had.. We would wrap tape around them (across the PTT Push To Talk button) so we wouldnt have to keep keying the hand set every time we wanted to talk..... All we had to do was pick it up and talk....

Answer 2

It's just some tape or material to keep the radio dry. Platoon was shot in the Philippines, so the humidity factor was a real one. BTW, the technical adviser on that film (Retired Marine Captain Dale Dye) is an old friend of mine. And I'll let you in on a secret about a real technical "flub" in the movie. The radio chatter uses Marine Corps terminology, even though it's about an Army unit. I once quizzed Dale on this and he admitted he had to use tapes he had available and he was a Marine.

Answer 3

Quote " * Dan
We would wrap tape around them (across the PTT Push To Talk button) so we wouldnt have to keep keying the hand set every time we wanted to talk..... All we had to do was pick it up and talk....
Source(s): Army Vet, 1997-2005... Signal soldier"

IMPOSSIBLE!! you would Jam the radio frequency by having the handset button taped down, nobody else would have been able to transmit on that frequency.

Another wannabe who was a nevertherebe!!!

Answer 4

Tesa tape! Secure many of these devices’ tiny electronic components, elements of their exterior casings, and parts of their visual presentations firmly and permanently. Tesa adhesive tapes have marked advantages over glues and mechanical connections and are far superior to them in some cases.

Answer 5

It was a plastic baggy or some plastic from the Laundry.
The idea was just to keep water out.

Answer 6

Its just a piece of plastic. Keeps the mud and water out, otherwise the speakers rust and wires corrode and short. Its whatever we could rustle up.

Answer 7

Any Plastic Bag the right size should do.......
However, if you want a real interesting bag, use one of the Old Magazine bags with the "Cheiu Hoi" message printed on them. usually you can find them at Gunshows for less than a Buck. Wrap it with OD Tape,

.....isnt Grunt tech grand?