Thanks for posting I have three Radtel radios the 470X the 480 and 890 they are very good radios they are reasonably sensitive and all put out nearly the stated output for what you pay they are great value I got them all from AliExpress they arrive in less than five days to the UK which is pretty good
Seems like a good little radio. I would still spring a bit extra for a Yaesu low end model, and have this as a back up. The USB charging is definitely something I wish larger manufacturers would get onboard with. It's got a nice set of features for like $50 though. I'll add it to my list of possible future grabs.
Nice review Max! My first radio was my vx6 r. Very nice radio. Still runs like a champ. But Wouxan and baofengs are in the line up too. Good review as always. Kf7lrr mike.
I just got the new firmware from Radtel for the RT470 V2pcb (firmware version starts with 2), #1 key long press switches to AM on any band now, also opens the radio between 18mhz-999mhz 👍🏻, also..the $3 Abbree AR771 Antenna and the AR776 of Aliex are the best performing antennas that I tried.
Why do you recommend the rt-470 over the rt-470x?? It seems the rt-470x is the latest version of the rt-470 and is superior. Reports show very high spurious emissions from the 470.
@@HeavyMetalHorizonshave you tested to confirm the 10w claim? Also, have you seen the FCC ID for the RT-470? It’s the same as the 470x. It’s the same internal, the same radio. To be skeptical of others testing methods, yet not do/share any of your own is an interesting take. Unfortunately these Chinese electronics companies can’t be blindly trusted.
@@mattrox1221 I agree, super high spurs on this one and I'm not a purist by any means. I have BaoFengs, TID Radio, and even Talkpods in my arsenal. This thing is dirty.
@@HeavyMetalHorizonsThat little boost in power doesn't matter! Sounds like you need to learn how power relates to the real world. That info isn't hard to find, but does require some thought! There's no difference between 10 and 12 watts!
Great Video, I just purchaed this radio to replace a dead Baofeng....Wish you would have covered one best features of this radio which is the frequency capture ability. Thanks!
Have you tested the receiver in city center or close to bradcast fm transmitters? I wonder if the teceiver (specially on vhf) gets blocked by strong out of frequency signals. The only cheep HT I know for now that is immune to that is DR (not DM) 1801. It is DMR capable but I am using it as pure analog fm because of beeing possible to use in the city.
Hello rockstar, I like your video and I buy by ali express my radtel 470, I want to know what is the air band antena. Can you tell me please? Thank you and 73 HJ6ASA
The RT 470x the newer version is only 5W with good ratings on Amazon plus Amazon Choice, the RT 470 is 10W (the one you are reviewing) but a lower ratings and more expensive. Which one should I go for? (Would be my first radio)
The USB charging port is good, BUT it is on the bottom! It needs to be on the side of the battery. I had to lay my 470X on its side to charge it, before I bought the charging cradle.
hi first of all thanks...learned more from you in 5 min than the instruction book...i have the RT-630...somehow i screwed it up and all buttons seemed lock....cannot change anything..according book have to short pust ''2'' but that does nothing ?? any idean""
Hey I'm glad it was helpful. Well the rt-630 has the same key pad as this... and the lock key is the # key, the lower right one. So if you hold that key down, it locks and unlocks the rest of keypad. Try that!
I followed all the instructions from Radtel's youtube channel for upgrading v1.25, I did it right and now I have no screen and tones are heard in the background?
@@HeavyMetalHorizons Still followed from their official youtube channel, step by step, everything was done except that in the end the screen didn't turn on ;-( arrived 3 days ago...
Yes after the firmware upgrade it will receive AM but not transmit. But it will transmit on the CB band on FM but I don't know how clean it is or if it is even actually on frequency. It will pretty much transmit on any frequency you can tune to except for the AM airband. How efficient or accurate the frequency is I can't say.
👍 Great video about a radio that's been all but ignored. I have an old radio with a V. 1.15 firmware. Do you know if it's upgradable? The radio will do simplex communicating, but it won't pick up on the local repeater. I can set one channel on 146.520 and communicate with another radio. I'd like to upgrade my firmware, but I don't want to turn it into a brick (their turn, not mine). It seems to be a great little radio, but I'm wondering if the problem is me, my setup or the radio itself?
I'm under the impression that the radio, even early models, can be used with repeaters. They key is to program the repeater offset and direction, and PL tone. If you can hear the repeater but not talk on it, then it probably does not have the PL / CTSS tone setup correctly.
@@HeavyMetalHorizons » With my ver. 1.5 firmware, can it be upgraded to your knowledge? The firmware upgrades, btw, aren't automatically tuned to the radios. In other words, some upgrades can turn your computer into a "brick" if you use the wrong ones (their word). If my 470 will work, I don't really need the newer models. But I can pick up repeater transmissions with all my other radios, but not my 470. Yet I can pick up simplex transmissions, and transmit with no problem. The repeater, btw, has no CTSS settings. My other radios pick up repeater transmissions, but the 470 doesn't. No CTSS settings are necessary. Yet I can't receive repeater traffic. I'm on frequency mode. I set up one channel for tx, 355 and rx, 955. The 355 is set to MAIN.
I think, for a beginner, this Radtel is better. The K6 is great, once you install other firmware, but for someone starting out, out of the box, this radio can do so much and is easy to use.
Sir,I like your video and am a ham operator but here's my question I am also a Volunteer Fire Dept member in Ohio and am wondering if I can use one of this radios to talk on my Fire Dept s repeater which has and output frequency of 151.31000 mhz and a input frequency of 154.95750 mhz with a DPL of152. Any info is greatly appreciated. Thanks Larry
Hi Larry. The answer is yes. This radio can operate on those frequencies, it's just a matter of programming that frequency split and PL tone into the radio, similar to how I showed in this video.
I use the Abbree AR-771 and it works great on 2m/1.25m/70cm with acceptable SWR for all 3 bands. I did have to mod the plastic base on antenna to make it fit because the radio body where the antenna connects would not allow it to screw all the way down but it was simple and well worth the time. The stock antenna is junk and had high SWRs on 2m/70cm that were over 3:1 and the 1.25m band was off the charts even though it received well on 1.25m. Definitely plan on getting a better antenna and I highly recommend the Abbree AR-771 as it does well on all 3 bands.
Thanks for posting I have three Radtel radios the 470X the 480 and 890 they are very good radios they are reasonably sensitive and all put out nearly the stated output for what you pay they are great value I got them all from AliExpress they arrive in less than five days to the UK which is pretty good
Thanks for the info!
It blew my mind when I found this channel, for years I've only known guitar max, I need to get my ham license
Thanks for checking my other channel out!
Seems like a good little radio. I would still spring a bit extra for a Yaesu low end model, and have this as a back up. The USB charging is definitely something I wish larger manufacturers would get onboard with. It's got a nice set of features for like $50 though. I'll add it to my list of possible future grabs.
Just ordered one. Couldn’t resist the high transmit power.
Nice review Max! My first radio was my vx6 r. Very nice radio. Still runs like a champ. But Wouxan and baofengs are in the line up too. Good review as always. Kf7lrr mike.
I have one of these and I like it a lot, another one of my favorites is the tidradio H8.
I had no idea you're a fellow HAM operator! I've been using my trusty Yaesu for years. No spurious emissions from a baofeng in my house lol
Excellent!
I used to love UVk5/6 nos that i found out that 470X also handles from 18mhz to 1ghz , for me became the best cheap radio
I just got the new firmware from Radtel for the RT470 V2pcb (firmware version starts with 2), #1 key long press switches to AM on any band now, also opens the radio between 18mhz-999mhz 👍🏻, also..the $3 Abbree AR771 Antenna and the AR776 of Aliex are the best performing antennas that I tried.
Oh awesome! Thanks for the tip. I'll check that out.
With that price i need to get one.
I normally use SDR to listen air band in my home, but that seems much more convenient
Why do you recommend the rt-470 over the rt-470x?? It seems the rt-470x is the latest version of the rt-470 and is superior. Reports show very high spurious emissions from the 470.
I recommend it because of the higher power output than the X version. Also, I am skeptical about the testing methods regarding the spurious emissions.
@@HeavyMetalHorizonshave you tested to confirm the 10w claim? Also, have you seen the FCC ID for the RT-470? It’s the same as the 470x. It’s the same internal, the same radio. To be skeptical of others testing methods, yet not do/share any of your own is an interesting take. Unfortunately these Chinese electronics companies can’t be blindly trusted.
@@mattrox1221 I agree, super high spurs on this one and I'm not a purist by any means. I have BaoFengs, TID Radio, and even Talkpods in my arsenal. This thing is dirty.
@@HeavyMetalHorizonsThat little boost in power doesn't matter! Sounds like you need to learn how power relates to the real world. That info isn't hard to find, but does require some thought! There's no difference between 10 and 12 watts!
Great content. Just received mine in the mail the other day. Went with a gooseneck antenna as well.
Excellent! Enjoy it.
Guitar Max!! Right on, man!!
Great Video, I just purchaed this radio to replace a dead Baofeng....Wish you would have covered one best features of this radio which is the frequency capture ability. Thanks!
That is quit handy!
How does RT-470 compare to the Baofeng UV 5RM plus? Thanks.
Oh gads. Now I’m prolly gonna buy another radio. I already bought the bluetooth speaker mic on Max’s other review 😂
How many memory channels? Programmable with Chirp? Thanks
Have you tested the receiver in city center or close to bradcast fm transmitters? I wonder if the teceiver (specially on vhf) gets blocked by strong out of frequency signals. The only cheep HT I know for now that is immune to that is DR (not DM) 1801. It is DMR capable but I am using it as pure analog fm because of beeing possible to use in the city.
I thought I was the only guitar junkie that is also a ham radio jnkie lol, keep rockin' and hamn' brother 🤟
Right on!
A ham and guitar guy. Great, me too, although I suck at the guitar thanks to nerve damage and age.
Great video,High quality content，Comprehensive analysis，set a high value on radtel two-way radio,thanks for recommending
Glad you liked it! I am looking forward to reviewing more of the Radtel radios.
Guitar Max is a HAM?! Rad!!!
Hello rockstar, I like your video and I buy by ali express my radtel 470, I want to know what is the air band antena. Can you tell me please? Thank you and 73
HJ6ASA
Is it better than the Tidradio TD-H3/8?
This radio has much wider frequency coverage, even stock out of the box. But I will try and do a video comparing those two.
The RT 470x the newer version is only 5W with good ratings on Amazon plus Amazon Choice, the RT 470 is 10W (the one you are reviewing) but a lower ratings and more expensive. Which one should I go for? (Would be my first radio)
Nicely done. I like that USB-C charge port right out from the battery itself. My 600 dollar HT doesn't have that. 73
It's definitely a big plus!
The USB charging port is good, BUT it is on the bottom! It needs to be on the side of the battery. I had to lay my 470X on its side to charge it, before I bought the charging cradle.
It would be cool if the radio included the “rock band.” 😅
hi first of all thanks...learned more from you in 5 min than the instruction book...i have the RT-630...somehow i screwed it up and all buttons seemed lock....cannot change anything..according book have to short pust ''2'' but that does nothing ?? any idean""
Hey I'm glad it was helpful. Well the rt-630 has the same key pad as this... and the lock key is the # key, the lower right one. So if you hold that key down, it locks and unlocks the rest of keypad. Try that!
Have you checked its out of band Harmonics , The radio is very dirty and not fcc accepted..from what I understand.
I followed all the instructions from Radtel's youtube channel for upgrading v1.25, I did it right and now I have no screen and tones are heard in the background?
Trying loading the firmware again. Sounds like it didn't load properly.
@@HeavyMetalHorizons Still followed from their official youtube channel, step by step, everything was done except that in the end the screen didn't turn on ;-( arrived 3 days ago...
I'm curious if it could receive only on CB band (27Mhz) on AM since, You said it is FM only but it does have an AM section for airband.
I think, with the new firmware which I installed in a later video, yes it could.
Yes after the firmware upgrade it will receive AM but not transmit. But it will transmit on the CB band on FM but I don't know how clean it is or if it is even actually on frequency. It will pretty much transmit on any frequency you can tune to except for the AM airband. How efficient or accurate the frequency is I can't say.
👍 Great video about a radio that's been all but ignored. I have an old radio with a V. 1.15 firmware. Do you know if it's upgradable? The radio will do simplex communicating, but it won't pick up on the local repeater. I can set one channel on 146.520 and communicate with another radio.
I'd like to upgrade my firmware, but I don't want to turn it into a brick (their turn, not mine). It seems to be a great little radio, but I'm wondering if the problem is me, my setup or the radio itself?
I'm under the impression that the radio, even early models, can be used with repeaters. They key is to program the repeater offset and direction, and PL tone. If you can hear the repeater but not talk on it, then it probably does not have the PL / CTSS tone setup correctly.
@@HeavyMetalHorizons » With my ver. 1.5 firmware, can it be upgraded to your knowledge? The firmware upgrades, btw, aren't automatically tuned to the radios. In other words, some upgrades can turn your computer into a "brick" if you use the wrong ones (their word).
If my 470 will work, I don't really need the newer models. But I can pick up repeater transmissions with all my other radios, but not my 470. Yet I can pick up simplex transmissions, and transmit with no problem. The repeater, btw, has no CTSS settings. My other radios pick up repeater transmissions, but the 470 doesn't.
No CTSS settings are necessary. Yet I can't receive repeater traffic. I'm on frequency mode. I set up one channel for tx, 355 and rx, 955. The 355 is set to MAIN.
Is it better than Quansheng k6 as a beginner radio?
I think, for a beginner, this Radtel is better. The K6 is great, once you install other firmware, but for someone starting out, out of the box, this radio can do so much and is easy to use.
If your not transmitting do you need a license for the RT-470 in the UK?
No license needed to just listen!
just purchased the radtel 470x for 29.00 on Amazon
What watch have you got on? ⌚️
what is the name of the antenna please tell me
Sir,I like your video and am a ham operator but here's my question I am also a Volunteer Fire Dept member in Ohio and am wondering if I can use one of this radios to talk on my Fire Dept s repeater which has and output frequency of 151.31000 mhz and a input frequency of 154.95750 mhz with a DPL of152. Any info is greatly appreciated. Thanks Larry
Hi Larry. The answer is yes. This radio can operate on those frequencies, it's just a matter of programming that frequency split and PL tone into the radio, similar to how I showed in this video.
@@HeavyMetalHorizons thank you very much
Also I would be able by just using the keypad and no other special programming correct?
Larry, yes you can program it manually, with just the radio keypad.
@@HeavyMetalHorizons Thanks again greatly appreciated
Which brand of antenna are you using with the RT-470?
73
KI5KET
I use the Abbree AR-771 and it works great on 2m/1.25m/70cm with acceptable SWR for all 3 bands. I did have to mod the plastic base on antenna to make it fit because the radio body where the antenna connects would not allow it to screw all the way down but it was simple and well worth the time. The stock antenna is junk and had high SWRs on 2m/70cm that were over 3:1 and the 1.25m band was off the charts even though it received well on 1.25m. Definitely plan on getting a better antenna and I highly recommend the Abbree AR-771 as it does well on all 3 bands.
1 correction the standard battery is 2600mAh, the optional is 3800
Thank you!
What’s the model of the upgraded antenna
RHD-771S
will it get police calls?
It depends on the police department and what they are using.
A lot of PDs have gone digital! That takes special rigs and software to decode. But there is still some analog stuff around. Just depends!
Can radtel radios be mars modded?
Yes, the firmware, for example, can be changed.
Do you NEED such a mod? That's the real question!
Well it looks like it's time to dump the uv-5r
Antenna???
Well yeah, it would not work very well without it. 😉
We need to go fly and talk music!
Whats ya call sign??? Get a license ya pirates!!!!
Refer to 0:05.
@@kumasuthat was a call out to everyone with license. 🤘🏽
@@PooNinja Ah, got it. Have a good one!
Are you stupid?
Oh dear ...Stick to what you Know
He's a licensed amateur radio operator, talking about an entry-level HT. What has he said that is inaccurate?
@@kumasuPhill must be a sad ham.
@@TheDoug625 Indeed.
This a best radtel radio? Or 730 model is best
I think this one, the RT-470 is the best.