NEW Retevis RA89 - Overview, Purity , Torture Test and Review.

Retevis RA89 - A nearly complete overview.

In this episode:

1st half, on the desk
2nd half, in the field.

About 42 minutes long

UPDATE HERE:

_________________________
Specifications:
Memory Channel 200

Power
High: 10W, Middle: 5W, Low: 1W

Battery Capacity
2500mAh

Waterproof Level
IP68

Charging Jack
USB-C

Operating Voltage
7.4V DC

Operating Temperature
-10℃~ + 50℃

Dimension

126*62*43 mm
Weight

295g (with antenna and battery)

Audio Port

Compatible with 2Pin K Plug Accessories

Antenna Connector

Compatible with SMA-M Antenna
00:00 Introduction
00:57 Nomenclature of The Radio
10:11 Turning on The Radio / Accessing Menus
16:24 Let's Program The Radio
24:08 Installing Drivers and Software
27:31 Spectrum Analyzer
29:49 Out in The Field / Testing Radios
32:44 Beating up My Radio - FOR SCIENCE
35:28 Testing it out after DESTRUCTION
38:03 Back on The Desk

[josephdeery]

Thank you so so much I am a blind ham so good to see sighted people closing there eyes and trying to use the radio. I think retevis got most of the way such a shame that the sub menus do not speak or the beeps do not change please retevis fix this you are nearly there. What a joy to here menus being spoken but the sub menus must speak also as you do not know what you are setting that menu to thank you very much!!! Joe

[btraindavidlemke]

Why I wait to buy a radio.Get the low down, before I make a purchase.Thanks for the video.

[sekibulja-fubv]

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

[baronedipiemonte]

"Convoluted" ... a polite way of saying "incasinato fottuto" 😮

I ordered an RA89 this afternoon AFTER I watched yours and Retevis' videos on how to unlock it. It does appear to be built well and tough... and it puts out close to the advertised 10 watts with vis a vis clean signals.

It would be nice the manufacturers would design these to the needs of the end users. I have the "new" HA1G and acquired it with the presumption that it could be unlocked. It CAN be, but it has to be done on an actual computer. And I don't have one since I have no use for one. Retevis has a bad habit of requiring a PC to be able to fully use all the features e.g. scanning, channel banks etc...

Appreciated your video.

[JoeFramo-uwfp]

A radio in that caliber should have the weather channel in built right in😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

[jamesriecke]

Thank you! I am going to order 1 or two.

[snakezdewiggle]

Great review Dude.
Curiously, it's identical to my Baofeng AMG that is 14 months old (I have 3)
2 or 3 differences in the menu / programming.
Although the the Driver and Final Mosfets are rated 25 watts, it maxes out at 7.25 watts.
C😎😎L Dude.

[timel]

I believe the IP67 rating did hold up to its claim. There didn’t appear to be any water intrusion to the radio itself. The contacts in battery the compartment were protected by the gasket, yes? And the K type mic/spkr jacks were also sealed by the gasket under the cover. I would consider this a “Pass”. Yes the compartments were compromised, but the radio was not. Although, I don’t like the use of “jacks”. If you were to actually use an external mic/spkr at the time of immersion, I suspect that would be a fail. I would rather have sealed contacts like used on the Baofeng UV9R radios. I use mine while kayaking, I use the external mic/spkr clipped to my PFD, always ready when I need it. I tethered a float to the radio so if I tip it won’t sink to the bottom. They don’t float like VHF Marine HTs.

[thspirit]

Usb C and IP68 makes this radio banger already. 73

[audiomaker]

Hey Sean,
Here’s an idea for a vid’…
What does adding BNC antenna adapters do to your IP rating and also to your signal?
I have a Yaesu FT5D and I added a BNC….always wondered if the radio is still IP67? Also wondering if the radio is fine, if the transmit signal is affected by the water in the BNC connection.
And most importantly, it’s not as important how much water will kill a radio, but if it will recover once dried out (perhaps days later).
In this video, it would have been cool to submerge it until it was unusable and then see how long it takes to work again (if ever).
Thanks much for your efforts.

[FreedomFundsTV]

Nice review..Best tactical forward radio on a budget?

[fredhillhousejr]

Haven't had time yet to watch the whole thing yet but I did learn how to get to VFO mode.
I find it to be strange I can't enter WX frequencies. Not really a problem for me since I hame a WX radio too.

[НиколайИванов-мч]

In the new firmware they did not add the R icon when in reverse and the T icon when in talk around. In TYT99 all this has already been corrected, and the modulation has become much better than that of RA89.

[JoeFramo-uwfp]

Yes and if you did it in dirt and ran it over the LCD with a still worked😮

[FrozenMilkOnACloudyDay]

Idea: I dont know how difficult it is, so it may not be worth it, but adding chapters to your video reviews would help people jump to different parts they are especially interested in without seeking around and trying to find the right spot in the video

Thank you for the information and review, i see you may have an update on this radio; gonna watch that next and see how things turned out.

[sdbobbyt]

I would expect it to be programmable by chirp, most the other Retevis radios I have are supported.

[WaschyNumber]

Hello
Maybe a stupid idea or question from a newbie, but would it make not sense, if something would not be 100% water safe, could it be made kind of water proof by putting the hole inner parts and outside connector ports in dielectric silicone grease, to make it relatively water proof in a kind of DIY way, becourse dielectric silicone grease have been used for this reason in other ways. 🤔 So if it would than fall in water it could maybe still work and wouldn't be to much damaged?
Also a maybe dumb question, could the screw for the side cover not be replaced by a thumb screw, that would make it much easyer without any tool to open, beside your fingers if the person would still have them.
Sorry for my bad English, it's not my first language.

[clone]

Is there some kinda o ring in the stock antenna? I’m wondering if it’s ONLY water resistant with the included antenna. I would appreciate any insight, I think I’m putting this on my Christmas list!

[arupian]

5:09 ... that's usual. All the software for my Ailunce HD1 had issues so bad, even my neighbors anti-virus software went nuts. 28:33... you have the simplex calling frequency, labelled as "NOAA WEATHER"

[ikkeennietjij]

From what I can see only the contacts of the batterie are sealed waterproof, and the're still ok!!!