Excellent Video. I've been into comms for some time, used them in the military, civilian public safety, and as a private citizen. I also hold two FCC licenses. The one you have appears to be an upgraded version of the Model 2017. Retevis makes a good product, but at one point or another, you're going to need to do something to it with a PC (activate SCAN, activate GPS, etc ...). I have a few of the Chinese brands (Baofeng & TYT) as well as an Icom & Kenwood. It's not a matter of being "posh", but I won't have a radio that I can't program/use WITHOUT a PC. Before I purchase ANY portable radios I make sure that I can get extra/replacement batteries, preferably with the ability to charge them on a 12 volt system (car cigarette lighter, a lithium battery pack/solar charger). Right now I'm taking a serious look at the Baofeng AR-152 (clone of the military PRC152. It comes with a 12,000mah Lithium battery (that's almost 5 times the capacity of the Retevis here) - extras ARE available, and can be charged from the car. They also are UHF & VHF, with output power of 10 watts (realistically, read that as 7-9 watts). It also receives FM broadcast. I went through Hurricane Katrina in 05 and Hurricane Ida of last year... we were out of electricity for 5 weeks and 2 weeks respectively. Cell sites/towers were down, and of course there was no internet. So having an almost fool proof means of emergency comms was vital, and was in several instances after Katrina, the difference between life and death (police & fire comms were very compromised and several individuals like myself were relaying radio traffic back & forth). I'm glad to see another bushcrafter/prepper acknowledge the value of radio communications in these endeavors. Any bushcrafter/prepper who scoffs at comms should be avoided. Another point of consideration is whether the radio is able to receive broadcast FM transmissions. In a disaster, that segment of the infrastructure is key and is one of the first to be brought back "online". Many radio stations have become "hardened" and were able to keep broadcasting right through Hurricane Ida. I also suggest having a decent, but not expensive Short Wave radio, as those also receive FM, AM (IDK are there any AM broadcast stations in the UK?). Even if you are just going to use comms for your party only, it's good to be able to keep tabs on the "news". And just a parting word of advice to anyone, no matter what country you live in... Be careful of what frequencies you do transmit on, as some are already assigned, or require a license.
@@PreparedPathfinder The Baofeng is about 10% smaller than the PRC, and lighter by half because the case is polycarbonate like your Retevis, not aluminium. You'll also need a cordura case as it has no belt clip (U.S. Amazon sells it in "packages" ranging from only the radio, battery, and charger ($85 U.S.) to the "full Monty" with the belt case, extra battery, tactical antenna, speaker/mic. I'm considering it because of the high battery capacity, > than 5 watts TX power, and it's simplicity - it programs and has an almost identical user interface/menu as all the other analog Baofengs. Right now my primary radio is the Icom V-86 VHF 136-174mhz that is advertised as 7 watts (6.4 actual), and it has several battery options to a maximum of 3200mah with the option of a case that uses 6 "AA" batteries. Icom advertises the UHF version, but it's only available for sale in Japan, Vietnam, and Philippines (don't ask me why...). The ones on eBay (U-86's) are COUNTERFEIT, as are many of the older Icom's like the V-8 which hasn't been in production in 20 years
you should get more than a couple of mile from that out side, i can work my local repeater 6.6m from in my house. getting the amatur radio licence in the uk is a fantastic thing to have under your belt. Retevis have made some great radios in the past. i have a yeasu HT as my EDC with a quad band cross band in the car and and a few others and HF in the off grid radio room at home. i even built my self a little repeater at home in case the grid goes down big time :D i all ways love the fact that mobile phone range is poor in most places but radios work when the phones dont :D i have even used radios a few times in the past for emergency reasons when mobile networks and land lines have let me down
Do take the trouble to take the UK Amateur Radio Exam and get licensed and callsign from Ofcom. If caught using a two-way radio without a license, one may be fined up to £5,000 or face imprisonment for up to 6 months. The model being reviewed unfortunately has a quite proprietary antenna, not convenient to upgrade to after-market Diamond or Comet antennae. Also, the trackball are prone to being fouled by dirt, grease, and so forth.
A good easily understood review of what looks like impressive kit, for the price. Well worth considering for group activities as reliable comms can save a lot of unnecessary worry under some circumstances. 👍
great reveiw there Tom, ive had a beofang for a couple of years, not the best perfomance but in the shtf thats coming ill use whatever works like many others will i expect.
Great review as usual Tom, with good explanation of the benefits of radio. I have an earlier Retevis. In a SHTF situation probably nobody will care, but it might be worth pointing out that transmitting on these radios, and others like them is illegal in UK without the relevant licence (e.g. Business/Amateur/Marine). Yes, there are the unlicenced 16 PMR/DMR 446 MHz channels but these radios do not meet the legal specification. This is because they are capable of more than the permitted 0.5 Watts and the antenna can be removed. Having said that I don't know anybody prosecuted by OFCOM for using them on PMR/DMR 446. On the other parts of the V/UHF spectrum people might find themselves in hot water.
Being a ex Reservist, I have soft spot for the old clansmen 320, so much when got my Ham Ticket I bought a second hand surplus one. Got it converted to work on both lower , and upper sideband . It comes into its own on CW ( morse) which is very hard to jam.
I would like to add that I had an accident back in 2016 on the farm and if it wasn't for my radio I'd probably still be lay there today !! I broke my femur jumping down out of the tractor
The cheap Baofengs are analogue (the ones you used at Gruntproof HQ) unless you spend the extra for the proper DM-1701 DMR version which is functionally nearly identical to this Retevis. It's worth getting the license as you'll learn how to operate and use effectively - just like medical training - having the medkit and no training is not the most effective.
You should start to mention that these types of radios cannot be used or even possessed without a ham radio licence. Being a ham radio operator for over 35 years it is quite annoying having pirate stations on our frequency. Not to mention that the band of these radios exceeds this frequency band and cause serious hazards. Those china imports also are not approved for use by european standards. Owning one of these requires a HAREC license. 73´s
I'm looking for a radio like this. Then actually has a SIM card. Just like next tell your memory old next cells. That's what I'm looking for a walkie-talkie like this. Exactly like this but that also has a SIM card in it which means another way to work on. Cellular actual 4GL TE and off grid exactly the way you have set it. It's your work I'm both for g LTE and walkie-talkie style the old fashioned walkie-talkie style. That is what I'm actually looking for. And I haven't found such a thing yet since the collapse of next tell I haven't found such a thing since. The collapse of next hell why can't we go back to the old next tell days? We're walking talkies actually had SIM cards between the worknation wide and possibly even worldwide were ever had a signal and it also worked off grid. Those were the days where radio. Communications was cool. And was what it needs to be? In a flawed or any type of crazy situation. If all soiler towers go down for whatever reason the old fashioned walkie? Talkie is what you need. To communicate and cellular walkie-talkies such as it has. The free frequencies and it like FRS or. Or I'm or even GMRS which of course you need a license for or even business license. You know which I'm talking about free ones where you don't need a business license for this has failed us megatime throughout the entire world. Nextel has something really really good going and unfortunately it got destroyed. We have to go back to those days. We're off grid and on grid communications. We're symphonized 1 on 1 like next steel. Next tell how business actually got done whether there was no solution or connection or whether it was a cellular connection. It didn't make a difference. Next tell how business actually got done. And again ladies on gentlemen I'm talking about the olden days when next tell was a blessing in this guy's next television next tell unfortunately. Is collapsed? End T-Mobile in Sprint denials although an AT&T in everybody else has a piece of it at this point. AT&T Sprint T-Mobile everyone has a piece of it everybody. Next Salem fortunately collapsed but they should not have. I'm bringing back walkie-talkies that actually also have a SIM card in. It is essential even for the average user to have it is essential. You'd have not part of who knows? What at b Ic? Yes? A police. Or whatever cops or whatever? You want to. Call it it's. Essential? In an offspring communications you should have a cellular walkie-talkie. Next don't manage to do it but unfortunately they collapsed so essential next tell us out that means that no walkie talkie.on a consumer. Grade level that everybody and everybody could enjoy is dead. People like me vow to bring it back. And hopefully God willing we will. Another case scenario would dip where I having a cellular walkie-talkie working like a regular old fashioned walkie-talkie and a cellular walkie-talkie is essential. Isn't a flood earthquake natural disaster whatever it is when the? Fridge goes hay wire you. Wanna have a cellular walkie-talkie? That works like an old fashioned walkie-talkie and it also works like A. Cellular walkie-talkie such as a Zillow walkie-talkie. That's something that's extremely important in a natural disaster. We lost that capability when next tell when the belly up.
I am not talking about the military the police FBI whatever I'm gonna talk about that I'm talking about average consumer. Who is not affiliated with anything? The average customer cannot get these days the equivalent of next tell. Or something to that effect? It's either cellular or you have to buy a blister pack walking talking from Walmart. I want that combined in the one unit cellular walkie-talkie with the frequency helping et cetera et cetera the same way next tell headed. Back in their days that is a consumer grade walking talking that everybody can afford. And that is what we are missing today. God bless you all and hopefully something will be done about this because it's consumer walkie-talkie cell phone old fashioned walkie-talkie put together. With a cell phone needs to be recreated big time. Ladies and gentlemen if anybody truly and truly believes in global warming then having a cellular radio like next tell had in the past is essential. Because that means gonna be landslides mega floods mega tsunamis. You name it earthquakes. You name it and in a natural disaster like this you wanna? Make. Sure you have a rugged radio ruggeder's rug is can be connected and it's been on the consumer grade. A level cellular as well as the old fashioned. Walkie-talkie could've you truly believe in global warming next? Tell would never have collapsed. And the fact that and the fact that next hell. Did collapse all you global warming? People are all hogwash hogwash hog wash hogwash. This is so the global warming community is through all of much of hogwash because if. The truly believed in global warming next hell would still be alive today. And well I'm doing great today. Next tell how business used to get done God bless that because business you should get done. Very very well back in those days. Next tell how business used to get done and if the global warming fanatics truly believe in global warming will bring back the either network make it a one. Plus much better than it was and bring back next hell. In a way where in 2024 and 2025 and above next tell will be king. God bless you all. And next double b what did originally intended to be next tell how business gets done?
As mentioned elsewhere you need an amateur radio licenses to use these radios even if programmed with dPMR frequencies as those were, and even if they can use encryption that would be illegal too... You might be OK if using a business license, you'd have to check. I'd definitely recommend that you and others go get a Amateur (HAM) radio license as you will have also have access to much more than a bit more power. Also there are usually repeaters on tops of hills that you can access and they allow you to relay the messages over a MUCH wider range. These are (virtually) line of sight but via a repeater you might cover 30-50 miles. The license is usually at several (3 in UK/USA) levels and is very easy to get the first level which is all you'd need for these and other radios (up to 10W in UK). In the UK it costs about £30-£40 to take the test and lasts for life... You can check rsgb.org/ for more info or www.oarc.uk for an online (free) club that will help you pass the test! As far as the comment from Barone di Piemonte about programming without a PC, I use an Anytone 878 UVII, this can cost a little more BUT has much more features an much more sophisticated interface for more advanced use it also can be operated and programmed from the front of the radio. The one I have has Bluetooth so I can also pair it to my car stereo or a headset for use in mobile situations. For most non-techies that Retevis will be just fine even if you do need to program it up front using a PC.
Excellent Video. I've been into comms for some time, used them in the military, civilian public safety, and as a private citizen. I also hold two FCC licenses. The one you have appears to be an upgraded version of the Model 2017. Retevis makes a good product, but at one point or another, you're going to need to do something to it with a PC (activate SCAN, activate GPS, etc ...). I have a few of the Chinese brands (Baofeng & TYT) as well as an Icom & Kenwood. It's not a matter of being "posh", but I won't have a radio that I can't program/use WITHOUT a PC. Before I purchase ANY portable radios I make sure that I can get extra/replacement batteries, preferably with the ability to charge them on a 12 volt system (car cigarette lighter, a lithium battery pack/solar charger). Right now I'm taking a serious look at the Baofeng AR-152 (clone of the military PRC152. It comes with a 12,000mah Lithium battery (that's almost 5 times the capacity of the Retevis here) - extras ARE available, and can be charged from the car. They also are UHF & VHF, with output power of 10 watts (realistically, read that as 7-9 watts). It also receives FM broadcast. I went through Hurricane Katrina in 05 and Hurricane Ida of last year... we were out of electricity for 5 weeks and 2 weeks respectively. Cell sites/towers were down, and of course there was no internet. So having an almost fool proof means of emergency comms was vital, and was in several instances after Katrina, the difference between life and death (police & fire comms were very compromised and several individuals like myself were relaying radio traffic back & forth).
I'm glad to see another bushcrafter/prepper acknowledge the value of radio communications in these endeavors. Any bushcrafter/prepper who scoffs at comms should be avoided. Another point of consideration is whether the radio is able to receive broadcast FM transmissions. In a disaster, that segment of the infrastructure is key and is one of the first to be brought back "online". Many radio stations have become "hardened" and were able to keep broadcasting right through Hurricane Ida. I also suggest having a decent, but not expensive Short Wave radio, as those also receive FM, AM (IDK are there any AM broadcast stations in the UK?). Even if you are just going to use comms for your party only, it's good to be able to keep tabs on the "news". And just a parting word of advice to anyone, no matter what country you live in... Be careful of what frequencies you do transmit on, as some are already assigned, or require a license.
Thanks for your comments, some great points there. I will have a look at the AR-152, I've used the PRC152 in service and it's a great radio.
@@PreparedPathfinder The Baofeng is about 10% smaller than the PRC, and lighter by half because the case is polycarbonate like your Retevis, not aluminium. You'll also need a cordura case as it has no belt clip (U.S. Amazon sells it in "packages" ranging from only the radio, battery, and charger ($85 U.S.) to the "full Monty" with the belt case, extra battery, tactical antenna, speaker/mic. I'm considering it because of the high battery capacity, > than 5 watts TX power, and it's simplicity - it programs and has an almost identical user interface/menu as all the other analog Baofengs. Right now my primary radio is the Icom V-86 VHF 136-174mhz that is advertised as 7 watts (6.4 actual), and it has several battery options to a maximum of 3200mah with the option of a case that uses 6 "AA" batteries. Icom advertises the UHF version, but it's only available for sale in Japan, Vietnam, and Philippines (don't ask me why...). The ones on eBay (U-86's) are COUNTERFEIT, as are many of the older Icom's like the V-8 which hasn't been in production in 20 years
Great demo. Lots of handy features. No comms no bombs brilliant.
Nate
you should get more than a couple of mile from that out side, i can work my local repeater 6.6m from in my house.
getting the amatur radio licence in the uk is a fantastic thing to have under your belt.
Retevis have made some great radios in the past.
i have a yeasu HT as my EDC with a quad band cross band in the car and and a few others and HF in the off grid radio room at home.
i even built my self a little repeater at home in case the grid goes down big time :D
i all ways love the fact that mobile phone range is poor in most places but radios work when the phones dont :D
i have even used radios a few times in the past for emergency reasons when mobile networks and land lines have let me down
Do take the trouble to take the UK Amateur Radio Exam and get licensed and callsign from Ofcom.
If caught using a two-way radio without a license, one may be fined up to £5,000 or face imprisonment for up to 6 months.
The model being reviewed unfortunately has a quite proprietary antenna, not convenient to upgrade to after-market Diamond or Comet antennae. Also, the trackball are prone to being fouled by dirt, grease, and so forth.
A good easily understood review of what looks like impressive kit, for the price. Well worth considering for group activities as reliable comms can save a lot of unnecessary worry under some circumstances. 👍
Very interesting video many thanks. I have had the 82 and many others
great reveiw there Tom, ive had a beofang for a couple of years, not the best perfomance but in the shtf thats coming ill use whatever works like many others will i expect.
Great review as usual Tom, with good explanation of the benefits of radio. I have an earlier Retevis. In a SHTF situation probably nobody will care, but it might be worth pointing out that transmitting on these radios, and others like them is illegal in UK without the relevant licence (e.g. Business/Amateur/Marine). Yes, there are the unlicenced 16 PMR/DMR 446 MHz channels but these radios do not meet the legal specification. This is because they are capable of more than the permitted 0.5 Watts and the antenna can be removed. Having said that I don't know anybody prosecuted by OFCOM for using them on PMR/DMR 446. On the other parts of the V/UHF spectrum people might find themselves in hot water.
Being a ex Reservist, I have soft spot for the old clansmen 320, so much when got my Ham Ticket I bought a second hand surplus one.
Got it converted to work on both lower , and upper sideband .
It comes into its own on CW ( morse) which is very hard to jam.
You loon, ha ha! We used those in 1 Para Patrols back in the early Nineties. Good bit of kit but a bit of a lump!
We use radios here on the farm due to no phone signal. They're a godsend
I would like to add that I had an accident back in 2016 on the farm and if it wasn't for my radio I'd probably still be lay there today !!
I broke my femur jumping down out of the tractor
Good stuff. In the US you technically need a license to transmit. I use a cheap Barfeng but they are nearly identical.
The cheap Baofengs are analogue (the ones you used at Gruntproof HQ) unless you spend the extra for the proper DM-1701 DMR version which is functionally nearly identical to this Retevis. It's worth getting the license as you'll learn how to operate and use effectively - just like medical training - having the medkit and no training is not the most effective.
Fantastic
Top draw video pal. Good kit is always a saver. I have a cheaper version.
I wonder if it's waterproof also with the headset attached.
It is. The design of the accessory connection is specifically to combat water ingress.
How much is it and where do I get them??
Does this radio to be licensed
You should start to mention that these types of radios cannot be used or even possessed without a ham radio licence.
Being a ham radio operator for over 35 years it is quite annoying having pirate stations on our frequency. Not to mention that the band of these radios exceeds this frequency band and cause serious hazards. Those china imports also are not approved for use by european standards.
Owning one of these requires a HAREC license.
73´s
do you use HamRadio
its a nice radio ,, but the retevis RB25 o eventhe P1 a much better radio and cheaper with a 10 watt output would be more idea for you environment
I'm looking for a radio like this. Then actually has a SIM card.
Just like next tell your memory old next cells. That's what I'm looking for a walkie-talkie like this. Exactly like this but that also has a SIM card in it which means another way to work on.
Cellular actual 4GL TE and off grid exactly the way you have set it.
It's your work I'm both for g LTE and walkie-talkie style the old fashioned walkie-talkie style.
That is what I'm actually looking for. And I haven't found such a thing yet since the collapse of next tell I haven't found such a thing since. The collapse of next hell why can't we go back to the old next tell days? We're walking talkies actually had SIM cards between the worknation wide and possibly even worldwide were ever had a signal and it also worked off grid. Those were the days where radio.
Communications was cool.
And was what it needs to be?
In a flawed or any type of crazy situation.
If all soiler towers go down for whatever reason the old fashioned walkie? Talkie is what you need.
To communicate and cellular walkie-talkies such as it has.
The free frequencies and it like FRS or.
Or I'm or even GMRS which of course you need a license for or even business license. You know which I'm talking about free ones where you don't need a business license for this has failed us megatime throughout the entire world. Nextel has something really really good going and unfortunately it got destroyed.
We have to go back to those days. We're off grid and on grid communications. We're symphonized 1 on 1 like next steel.
Next tell how business actually got done whether there was no solution or connection or whether it was a cellular connection. It didn't make a difference.
Next tell how business actually got done. And again ladies on gentlemen I'm talking about the olden days when next tell was a blessing in this guy's next television next tell unfortunately. Is collapsed?
End T-Mobile in Sprint denials although an AT&T in everybody else has a piece of it at this point.
AT&T Sprint T-Mobile everyone has a piece of it everybody.
Next Salem fortunately collapsed but they should not have. I'm bringing back walkie-talkies that actually also have a SIM card in. It is essential even for the average user to have it is essential.
You'd have not part of who knows? What at b Ic? Yes? A police. Or whatever cops or whatever? You want to. Call it it's. Essential? In an offspring communications you should have a cellular walkie-talkie.
Next don't manage to do it but unfortunately they collapsed so essential next tell us out that means that no walkie talkie.on a consumer. Grade level that everybody and everybody could enjoy is dead. People like me vow to bring it back.
And hopefully God willing we will. Another case scenario would dip where I having a cellular walkie-talkie working like a regular old fashioned walkie-talkie and a cellular walkie-talkie is essential. Isn't a flood earthquake natural disaster whatever it is when the?
Fridge goes hay wire you. Wanna have a cellular walkie-talkie?
That works like an old fashioned walkie-talkie and it also works like A.
Cellular walkie-talkie such as a Zillow walkie-talkie.
That's something that's extremely important in a natural disaster. We lost that capability when next tell when the belly up.
i think they disconued this one so if you have the software make sure you dont loose it
I am not talking about the military the police FBI whatever I'm gonna talk about that I'm talking about average consumer.
Who is not affiliated with anything? The average customer cannot get these days the equivalent of next tell.
Or something to that effect? It's either cellular or you have to buy a blister pack walking talking from Walmart.
I want that combined in the one unit cellular walkie-talkie with the frequency helping et cetera et cetera the same way next tell headed.
Back in their days that is a consumer grade walking talking that everybody can afford.
And that is what we are missing today. God bless you all and hopefully something will be done about this because it's consumer walkie-talkie cell phone old fashioned walkie-talkie put together. With a cell phone needs to be recreated big time. Ladies and gentlemen if anybody truly and truly believes in global warming then having a cellular radio like next tell had in the past is essential.
Because that means gonna be landslides mega floods mega tsunamis. You name it earthquakes. You name it and in a natural disaster like this you wanna? Make. Sure you have a rugged radio ruggeder's rug is can be connected and it's been on the consumer grade.
A level cellular as well as the old fashioned.
Walkie-talkie could've you truly believe in global warming next? Tell would never have collapsed. And the fact that and the fact that next hell. Did collapse all you global warming? People are all hogwash hogwash hog wash hogwash. This is so the global warming community is through all of much of hogwash because if.
The truly believed in global warming next hell would still be alive today.
And well I'm doing great today.
Next tell how business used to get done God bless that because business you should get done.
Very very well back in those days.
Next tell how business used to get done and if the global warming fanatics truly believe in global warming will bring back the either network make it a one. Plus much better than it was and bring back next hell.
In a way where in 2024 and 2025 and above next tell will be king.
God bless you all.
And next double b what did originally intended to be next tell how business gets done?
As mentioned elsewhere you need an amateur radio licenses to use these radios even if programmed with dPMR frequencies as those were, and even if they can use encryption that would be illegal too... You might be OK if using a business license, you'd have to check. I'd definitely recommend that you and others go get a Amateur (HAM) radio license as you will have also have access to much more than a bit more power. Also there are usually repeaters on tops of hills that you can access and they allow you to relay the messages over a MUCH wider range. These are (virtually) line of sight but via a repeater you might cover 30-50 miles. The license is usually at several (3 in UK/USA) levels and is very easy to get the first level which is all you'd need for these and other radios (up to 10W in UK). In the UK it costs about £30-£40 to take the test and lasts for life... You can check rsgb.org/ for more info or www.oarc.uk for an online (free) club that will help you pass the test! As far as the comment from Barone di Piemonte about programming without a PC, I use an Anytone 878 UVII, this can cost a little more BUT has much more features an much more sophisticated interface for more advanced use it also can be operated and programmed from the front of the radio. The one I have has Bluetooth so I can also pair it to my car stereo or a headset for use in mobile situations. For most non-techies that Retevis will be just fine even if you do need to program it up front using a PC.