Combat radio promises short-range, secure communication. (Tech Talk).

The Personal Role Radio (PRR), introduced by Television Equipment Associates, of Brewster, N.Y., provides soldiers with short-range, secure communication, according to Bill Pegler, president of TEA.

Using advanced wireless, local-area-network technology, which incorporates spread-spectrum techniques at 2.4 GHz, the new radio is less likely to produce signals that can be intercepted and detected, he asserted. It also performs well in operations where many radios are co-located, he said.

The radio is an integrated package, minimizing interconnecting cables and making it simple to use, Pegler said. Two variants of the push-to-talk switch assembly are provided for single or dual-radio operation. The headset is developed from in-service designs and is both rugged and flexible, being compatible with all standard military headgear, he explained.

A hands-free push-to-talk option is incorporated into the system, Pegler said. Operating on a UHF telemetry frequency, the encoded push-to-talk can operate the radio from a few meters away, giving users freedom to concentrate on other tasks.

The Personal Role Radio has been selected as the new short-range radio for British soldiers as part of the Bowman radio project, Pegler said.