10 Watts & USB-C - Review of the Best Budget HT: Retevis RA89 UHF / VHF Amateur Radio Transceiver

The RA89 is one of the most well built, budget friendly HT's for Ham Radio; in this Review I'll demonstrate its strengths.

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[KSJD]

I find the Retevis 89 is a great value and meets all the specs. I like how you stick to your charter of short concise videos. You put quality in your content not quantity in your content. The items you cover should be a standard script on how to create videos on the review of equipment. Keep them coming. 73

[KNVA]

Awesome Review. I have two of these. I use one every week from my Winlink Go Bag setup on Vara FM and Packet via a Digirig without issues. 73, KN4VA

[davidyummus]

Thanks for the Video :) I have a Baofeng AR-5RM which tested at >10watts & I am, for under $30, very happy with it BUT I am looking for a true 10watt HT that is a bit better quality & so far from what I have seen, this model seems very "clean" so this could be the one.

[norm_sueb]

Thanks for another video that makes me want to spend money!!!

[mwildam]

Indeed - fresh amateur - this is my very first transmitter. I do not have a base station yet, but can operate with this even in the city from my home on 2m and 70cm bands. I got the retevis 771 antenna which is way better than default, but finally the Diamond SRH771 because I had problems of being understood on 2m. The retevis 771 is optimal for 70cm (very little better than the SRH771 from my impression), but for the 2m band the Diamond SRH771 works significantly better - maybe because it is a little bit longer than the retevis 771. And with the right antenna I am fine with 1W for the nearby repeaters.

[donnakano]

Thanks for the review. I have a few Retevis radios and have been happy with them. This probably won’t be added to the flock, but it seems like a nice, basic radio.

[sekibulja-fubv]

Another excellent video, thank you. Does this radio have Fast copy frequency button like Baofengs, Quashengs, Radioddity and all other radios? Thanks you

[hugovanderzee]

I have one for some months and I like it very much. A robust device with excellent performance. The only invonveniance is that it's a bit chunky and heavy. It's indeed a 'brick'. So if I need something to carry in my pocket I usuallly take the quansheng uv K6.

[MattCoversTech]

Anyone else get a little wary transmitting 10 watts close to your head? Love the features, especially being waterproof and programmable by CHIRP. Just not sure I want that much power near my eyeballs.

[redhouscv]

How do you feel this radio compares to the TD-H3 or TD-H8

[josephdeery]

I am a white stick op very important if you can not see the screen only the main menu is spoken once you enter a menu the radio beeps and the pitch of these beeps does not change, so say if you wanted to change the power you press the f button which gets you in to the menu and number 4 and the radio will announce power all good so far. then you press the f button to take you in to change your power now the radio only beeps it does not announce high medium and low so if you can not see the screen you have no idea what power you have This is a step in the right direction however a real shame that retevis did not voice the menu's
thank you Joe

[mdc]

Mine has a weird low volume issue where if I toggle the noise cancelling mode on and back off the volume goes to normal. But if I DONT do that, with the volume knob CRANKED up it sounds like I’m on volume 3 of 10, plus I can’t hit certain repeaters I normally can with smaller 5 watt HT’s and I was really hopeful the scramble function was going to be compatible with the Retevis rt87 I have. I was super amped on this radio but was such a let down.

[wolfgangfisch]

Gibt es denn hier niemand der mal über das gerät in Deutsch was zu erzählen hat zum Donneretter.Denn ich finde das Teil ist einfach gut.

[kruiser]

I do a lot of outdoor activities and I’m in the rain, wading through water, and occasionally falling into water. I’m looking for a radio that will survive these conditions will this radio fit the bill? I know it says ip68 but not sure if that is legit. I’ve been looking at the icom t10 but I’d prefer not to spend that much because all I’m after is a weatherproof and a.accidental drop in waterproof ht.

[lloydtolentino]

May i ask what is the differences of Europe & US version? Just newbie sir😂

[blackterminal]

Why don't they just make a physical button to jump between power levels instead of needing to use a menu?

[emanoeldeoliveira]

What is the average battery life at high power?