It's difficult for me, because I like to do the deep dives and explain every little thing with my over active brain. So this has been the process for some videos recently (and when I started) record. RE record lol. Hope you're well!
This makes me want to toss one of these in my attic! Of course, I actually need an attic first. But it still makes me want one for my house that I'll eventually hopefully maybe someday own! Great video Sean!
Thanks for sharing Sean, It seems like Retevis radios can use some improving But is seems like they are at least getting a little better as time goes along. Cant wait for the next video. KO4HPC 73
Thanks! I have a couple projects to finish up and then want to get started on walk through videos of the FT60 as well as setting this up for All Star... Or should I say GMRS live.... Or should I say my GMRS ... 😂
Great review.. I have a couple of questions about one that I just purchased, my use case is a portable, fishing camp repeater to extend HT range, and maybe set it up at home for fun: Mine came with all channels in Narrow mode, should I use the programming cable to change to wide mode? What tones (if any) do I need to program into the HTs? Are they standard for the standard 8 repeater channels?
Mine lasted 3 months, and warranty only covers the original seller. So if you got it from a reseller or an importer you are SOL. But...I had the ARRL insurance and they cut me a check to replace it and I ended up getting a pair or older commercial Motorola radios and a duplexer that has not failed since. I have emails from retevis and on their amazon account asking me to remove the bad review..and when I did I got nothing at the end...again ARRL insurance covered me.
The ID thing is the only thing that stops me from purchasing one. I would like to have one for a portable ham repeater for EMA drills and such. If the raspi could inject the ID, I would be on it.
It can. There's something called an ID-O-Matic which I don't know a lot about, but I'm just using a raspberry pi configured with an All-Star node. I set up a job in crontab to identify every X minutes. I'll make sure to get a video out soon
absolutely. You can go direct if they were within range or use the repeater, with an antenna on a high mast to get a little more distance. Since you do mention camp ground, I will point out heavy trees will interfere with the total possible distance...
I may be showing my novice level of knowledge here, and that is fine I never tried to convince anyone I knew anything ;) But, has anyone replaced the SO239 connector with an N type? Isn't that better for these frequencies? Are we losing anything by the choice of connector here? EDIT: I did some reading on my own since this is a new subject for me, and seems that yes the connectors are better but it would not really matter enough to worry about doing in this situation. Unless I just felt really compelled to swap them out, that is.
That's about correct (Regarding your edit). Although it can be done, most likely. The next thought my mind has is: Would N be better than so239 for weather proofing. My Answer is, probably; but I have yet to test this. In the field, when I worked towers, we would use a lot of N. I think this was mainly due to the frequency ranges we were working with, at the time. Cheers! Have a good one!
So affordability, but lackluster quality control Cant believe they shipped a power cable that barely fits when a generic pc cable fits perfectly, just seems like a glaringly obvious mistake. For the price, though, its an attractive option Thanks for the info 🎉
Oh I forgot to say re the science. Do a test with an efhw of similar length. And do a pros and cons. Like how hot does a 49:1 get when using a tuner out of band 🤔... also obviously signals like you usually do. This is something I feel no one has done and with one up it's relatively easy to swap an unun and tune. Just a thought.
Hey there, I don't have an answer for you. You may reach out to them and ask. I only say this because my experience may differ from yours since it was sent to me and they may or may not have (I don't know) upgraded the shipping. Also, it depends on what festival/holiday they are currently celebrating as well as how much inventory they have in stock.
There is no difference between a want and a need, first topic in your first Marketing class. I did not know it was metal, I too assumed it was plastic. Also, the station ID requirement, that would be a real bonus if it had been built in. I have looked at these for years now.
You might be onto something Liberty cave...... Imagine some sort of PCB board that plugs in to the DB9 and utilizes something like an Arduino with a timer to activate a voice recording every 15 minutes. I know that's still not built in, but there might be another solution instead of going the whole raspberry pi route
Already in to buy list, think it's a really good add on in emergency situations ... I'm sure you will do a great work to find an audio card to connect a raspi! 73 de iz3qvb
DB9 maybe DE9 www.nullmodem.com/DB-9.htm
From 45 minutes to just about 7.5? Impressive editing! Great video, and the product is pretty interesting. Thanks, and 73!
It's difficult for me, because I like to do the deep dives and explain every little thing with my over active brain. So this has been the process for some videos recently (and when I started) record. RE record lol. Hope you're well!
Picked one up last year to play with, very impressed, we use it at deer camp
This makes me want to toss one of these in my attic! Of course, I actually need an attic first. But it still makes me want one for my house that I'll eventually hopefully maybe someday own! Great video Sean!
Is this like a private repeater? We can speak any language so people don’t get upset about not understanding. ? Thx
Thanks 😊. I just ordered the amateur uhf version, RT97P,
which is more expensive than
the GMRS or Analog only amateur
RT97, which I have also used. 😊
Good choice! Enjoy!
@@HAMRADIODUDE Thanks 😊
Thanks for sharing Sean, It seems like Retevis radios can use some improving But is seems like they are at least getting a little better as time goes along. Cant wait for the next video. KO4HPC 73
That "some kind of metal" is called "Chinezium" but it's been really good to me too ;)
Excellent Video HRD!!! Can't wait to see me about this repeater.
Thanks! I have a couple projects to finish up and then want to get started on walk through videos of the FT60 as well as setting this up for All Star... Or should I say GMRS live.... Or should I say my GMRS ... 😂
@@HAMRADIODUDE Ha Ha Ha!!!
Great review.. I have a couple of questions about one that I just purchased, my use case is a portable, fishing camp repeater to extend HT range, and maybe set it up at home for fun:
Mine came with all channels in Narrow mode, should I use the programming cable to change to wide mode?
What tones (if any) do I need to program into the HTs? Are they standard for the standard 8 repeater channels?
What’s the difference between Midlands version and this one?
Please make the video I have a Retevis on order and already have a hotspotradio GMRS and would like to link the two
Mine lasted 3 months, and warranty only covers the original seller. So if you got it from a reseller or an importer you are SOL. But...I had the ARRL insurance and they cut me a check to replace it and I ended up getting a pair or older commercial Motorola radios and a duplexer that has not failed since. I have emails from retevis and on their amazon account asking me to remove the bad review..and when I did I got nothing at the end...again ARRL insurance covered me.
The ID thing is the only thing that stops me from purchasing one. I would like to have one for a portable ham repeater for EMA drills and such. If the raspi could inject the ID, I would be on it.
It can. There's something called an ID-O-Matic which I don't know a lot about, but I'm just using a raspberry pi configured with an All-Star node. I set up a job in crontab to identify every X minutes. I'll make sure to get a video out soon
@@HAMRADIODUDE That would be a good video. I have never used that application before.
I'm going to have to get one of these. I'm trying to get my wife on the radio so I got a GMRS license and am easing her into it.
Im in Oakley CA too. Looking to set one up in my house to add another repeater to the area.
Interesting. Thanks for the video.
Could i use this at a camp ground with my kids? Thatd be awesome!
absolutely. You can go direct if they were within range or use the repeater, with an antenna on a high mast to get a little more distance. Since you do mention camp ground, I will point out heavy trees will interfere with the total possible distance...
I may be showing my novice level of knowledge here, and that is fine I never tried to convince anyone I knew anything ;) But, has anyone replaced the SO239 connector with an N type? Isn't that better for these frequencies? Are we losing anything by the choice of connector here? EDIT: I did some reading on my own since this is a new subject for me, and seems that yes the connectors are better but it would not really matter enough to worry about doing in this situation. Unless I just felt really compelled to swap them out, that is.
That's about correct (Regarding your edit). Although it can be done, most likely. The next thought my mind has is: Would N be better than so239 for weather proofing. My Answer is, probably; but I have yet to test this. In the field, when I worked towers, we would use a lot of N. I think this was mainly due to the frequency ranges we were working with, at the time. Cheers! Have a good one!
So affordability, but lackluster quality control
Cant believe they shipped a power cable that barely fits when a generic pc cable fits perfectly, just seems like a glaringly obvious mistake.
For the price, though, its an attractive option
Thanks for the info 🎉
Pretty cool device
Does the repeater get hot if used a lit.
Oh I forgot to say re the science. Do a test with an efhw of similar length. And do a pros and cons. Like how hot does a 49:1 get when using a tuner out of band 🤔... also obviously signals like you usually do. This is something I feel no one has done and with one up it's relatively easy to swap an unun and tune. Just a thought.
What's the shipping time from Retevis if ordered from them ?
Hey there, I don't have an answer for you. You may reach out to them and ask. I only say this because my experience may differ from yours since it was sent to me and they may or may not have (I don't know) upgraded the shipping. Also, it depends on what festival/holiday they are currently celebrating as well as how much inventory they have in stock.
There is no difference between a want and a need, first topic in your first Marketing class. I did not know it was metal, I too assumed it was plastic. Also, the station ID requirement, that would be a real bonus if it had been built in. I have looked at these for years now.
You might be onto something Liberty cave...... Imagine some sort of PCB board that plugs in to the DB9 and utilizes something like an Arduino with a timer to activate a voice recording every 15 minutes. I know that's still not built in, but there might be another solution instead of going the whole raspberry pi route
Then, if they make another revision to the repeater maybe they'll be able to build it in
Awesome video as always. Thanks Dude!
You bet!
What's the Difference between the rt97s and rt97p. Is the p DMR.
Wow! I didn't even realize there was a DMR version. Upon initial glance, yes the RT97P, appears to be DMR! Cool
Big Shout out to GMRSLive
We'll be doing a livestream Sunday 11/26/2023, where we install GMRS Live
Those Retevis repeaters are pretty cool. Just wish they are 25 or 50 watts. Could you connect them to a 2m amp?
Great video as usual, HRD!
Most likely not! a 2m amp after the duplexer would probably create issues with de sense.
I agree look at all videos and make own opinions
liked shared
Already in to buy list, think it's a really good add on in emergency situations ... I'm sure you will do a great work to find an audio card to connect a raspi! 73 de iz3qvb