A very informative video on the two fm handhelds,Carl, it seems that you really put the radios through their paces especially on the range tests, and thank you for sharing as I always learn a thing or two from you Carl, until your next video.
I already have a lovely HT so I'll not hold my begging bowl out again this time around Carl 😂 Thank you again for the EFHW kit, I've put it together now and I'll hopefully get out to test it next weekend. All the best.
I have the RA685, and I find it to be a really excellent basic radio. Amongst my crop of HT's it has the best reception. Probably not nearly as good as a Yaesu or Icom, but far superior to any of my Baofengs (UV-5R/UV82) or Quanshengs. It's also great on broadcast receive with a decent enough speaker to listen to a bit of music. The USB-C charging is a brilliant touch!
Thank you for sharing as always . It's brilliant that you are helping new beginners in ham radio . I've noticed that there's a number of ham radio operators that are critical of others , there really needs to be a new generation of ham radio operators , a new generation of liberal minded operators , it's difficult to explain , I've just found there's a lot of undesirables , that being said there's undesirables in every field ,I just find that the whole radio hobby becoming a very closed in world , particularly with all the computer technology , I'm just standing down for now & see how things progress?. I've noticed that there's a huge amount of analyzing of radios & again with all the technology it can become over complicated , seeing stressed out radio operators & so forth , one can look too much into technology , the art is to simplify & enjoy the hobby .
I just keep my socialising within the hobby extremely simple. I have some great people in my closer circle of contacts and don’t tend to use Facebook and other groups.
I find it strange when you did the test on both 5 watts radio and your mate didn't pick it on one of set! Just wondering if it both have different antenna. Interesting video.
The antennas were different to one another, we didn't measure the power output either. The review was a little informal so the difference between them may have been to other factors for example with the way I held the radio as you have to wiggle them around when the contact is weak.
Fairly new to the hobby and working on getting my license. I really want the ra685, but been seeing some of them are locked to 144-146 MHz and430-440MHz. What's the way to deal with this?
Ah ok, radios for 446 PMR have to meet a specification which radios for 2/70 are not built for (power/antenna type etc). Plus it’s not easy to have a radio for 70cms that can transmit on PMR frequencies well and cleanly.
I wanted to buy it and use it but sadly it's not available in india 😢 Here is lots of restrictions in importing this long range walkie talkie And if I get one no one gives a shit what I do with it
A very informative video on the two fm handhelds,Carl, it seems that you really put the radios through their paces especially on the range tests, and thank you for sharing as I always learn a thing or two from you Carl, until your next video.
I already have a lovely HT so I'll not hold my begging bowl out again this time around Carl 😂
Thank you again for the EFHW kit, I've put it together now and I'll hopefully get out to test it next weekend.
All the best.
RA685 is a great little Baofeng replacement, Its a shame its not standard cable USB-C programmable, you need another special USB-C programming cable.
Hey, you are on the wrong side of the road ! Thanks for the testing.
I have the RA685, and I find it to be a really excellent basic radio. Amongst my crop of HT's it has the best reception. Probably not nearly as good as a Yaesu or Icom, but far superior to any of my Baofengs (UV-5R/UV82) or Quanshengs. It's also great on broadcast receive with a decent enough speaker to listen to a bit of music. The USB-C charging is a brilliant touch!
Flash back time,they are good devices ,someone will be very lucky when they get one of those Handhelds!!
Great video again!
I have yet to try this brand but i don’t mind cheap little Handhelds…most are pretty clean these days.
Thank you for sharing as always .
It's brilliant that you are helping new beginners in ham radio .
I've noticed that there's a number of ham radio operators that are critical of others , there really needs to be a new generation of ham radio operators , a new generation of liberal minded operators , it's difficult to explain , I've just found there's a lot of undesirables , that being said there's undesirables in every field ,I just find that the whole radio hobby becoming a very closed in world , particularly with all the computer technology ,
I'm just standing down for now & see how things progress?.
I've noticed that there's a huge amount of analyzing of radios & again with all the technology it can become over complicated , seeing stressed out radio operators & so forth , one can look too much into technology , the art is to simplify & enjoy the hobby .
I just keep my socialising within the hobby extremely simple. I have some great people in my closer circle of contacts and don’t tend to use Facebook and other groups.
I thought it was a Baofeng. I reckon they share a fair few parts
I find it strange when you did the test on both 5 watts radio and your mate didn't pick it on one of set! Just wondering if it both have different antenna. Interesting video.
The antennas were different to one another, we didn't measure the power output either. The review was a little informal so the difference between them may have been to other factors for example with the way I held the radio as you have to wiggle them around when the contact is weak.
hi is the ra89 one of the best on 2m -70cm bands john
Reta=evis keep sending me radios too and I have no idea how to make the video! I'm all out of ideas..!
Funny guy...
Fairly new to the hobby and working on getting my license. I really want the ra685, but been seeing some of them are locked to 144-146 MHz and430-440MHz. What's the way to deal with this?
Do you need to transmit on other frequencies? 446?
@@M0SZT Yes.
Ah ok, radios for 446 PMR have to meet a specification which radios for 2/70 are not built for (power/antenna type etc). Plus it’s not easy to have a radio for 70cms that can transmit on PMR frequencies well and cleanly.
@@M0SZT well darn. Was hoping this was gonna be the new go-to thanks to its ability to charge up straight into the radio with a usb c cable
@@M0SZTUse this on PMR446 and you WILL go to jail.
I wanted to buy it and use it but sadly it's not available in india 😢
Here is lots of restrictions in importing this long range walkie talkie
And if I get one no one gives a shit what I do with it