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Reviews For: Retevis RT-3S DMR/FM dual band radio with programming cable

Category: Transceivers: VHF/UHF+ Amateur Hand-held

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Review Summary For : Retevis RT-3S DMR/FM dual band radio with programming cable
Reviews: 1MSRP: $81.99
Description:
RT3S Dual Band DMR Radio (Optional for Non-GPS and GPS Version) With Programming Cable This bundle comes with the Retevis RT3S dual-band DMR radio and its programming cable, making it easy to customize the radio settings to your needs. RT3S can complete 90% of the operations and replacements using the keyboard, and all settings can be completed using the program cable. Whether outdoors or in the company, RT3S can be set up according to the situation. Main Feature: Dual Band This two way radio features UHF and VHF frequency; Basic coverage of the frequency range of the 2m and 7cm bands; You need not to buy and carry both two VHF or UHF radios when you are travel. And it also help you connect more repeater at the same time and monitor two channel at same time. 2 time slot Use time-division to cut 1 channel to 2 Independent channel; You can get more channel and can have two calls in one channel Promiscuous Choose Private/Group call match, then you can talk directly with the people in another group without the group restrictions; Record/DTMF keypad Recording function support you to record enough important call content and listen to each call content repeatedly; DTMF keypad helps you quickly operate multiple repeaters and rely on this radio as your everyday carry. Compatible with Mototrbo Tier?&? This ham radio uses Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) Tier 2 Standard protocol. It is compatible with the popular MOTO TRBO series radios using standard encryption, as well as other makes and models of DMR supported radios. It is also compatible with any existing analog two-way radio operating on the supported UHF frequencies for easy migration to digital technology. Note:RT3S can switch to VFO mode by long pressing the back button in MR mode.
Product is in production
More Info: https://www.retevis.com/rt3s-dmr-radio-and-cable-bundle
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
1414
DV7GDL Rating: 2024-10-05
Good entry-level DMR HT Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I bought the Retevis RT-3S with GPS as my first DMR radio due to its affordability, good reviews on YouTube, and its compatibility with OpenGD77 firmware. It comes with a fairly comprehensive manual, a rubber duck antenna, a charger, a desktop rapid charging cradle, a programming cable with an FTDI chip, a 2000 mAh battery and a belt clip with screws which mounts onto the battery.The Retevis CPS, and firmware flashing app which includes the Windows driver, can be downloaded from the retevisolutions website.

This is the very same radio as the TYT MD380 but with a Retevis logo on the front, so check out the reviews of that radio also.

PROS:
Dual band DMR and FM
Compatible with OpenGD77
APRS beaconing (if you get the GPS version it uses your current position)
DMR SMS messages (with the stock firmware, not with OpenGD77 due to lack of technical documentation being available)
Low price for a DMR HT with GPS
The radio feels good and solid, not cheap and "plasticky"
Lighter weight than my FT-70D and FT-60R
Comes with a desktop charging cradle and an FTDI programming cable
Large, bright, color display (around 4 cm.)
Keys easy to read and to press
Separate volume knob with on/off switch like the FT-60R has. Makes it easy to adjust volume with one hand with the HT on your belt.
Clean transmit.

CONS
Included antenna is only fair. You'll probably want a better aftermarket antenna.
Battery life per charge is similar to that of the Yaesu FT-70D, lasting only about a day per charge.
PTT button hard to find by touch, you need to look at the side of the radio.
No internal KISS TNC for APRS texting.
SMA male antenna connector, not BNC.
Belt clip attaches to the battery not the radio body.
The internal GPS antenna isn't all that great, sometimes taking several minutes to acquire your position and it doesn't work at all indoors. The antenna's small and is located on the front of the radio beside the display. Even in a clear area it can take a while to get a GPS "lock."
No IPxx waterproof or splash-resistant rating.

Most of the cons are nitpicky. Very few stock HT antennas work that well, hardly any radios have TNCs for APRS and I don't think any DMR ones do, and almost all recent HTs use SMA connectors. Regarding the battery, if you're using the radio all day long at an event or S&R operation carry a spare and you're fine, though you'll also need to buy an extra belt clip. And I have yet to have any GPS receiver that will work when under a roof and have had more-expensive cell phones with worse GPSes. Not many entry-ish level radios are IP rated for water and dust penetration: radios that do have that are usually more toward the higher-end range (and price tags.).

Do yourself a favor and flash it with the OpenGD77 firmware. Besides making the DMR codeplug easier to program it adds a built-in satellite and ISS tracker that automatically takes care of the Doppler shift for you, changing the RX and TX frequencies in real time. That makes this radio ideal for low-power satellite communications when it's connected to a suitable handheld or otherwise portable Yagi.

I would recommend this radio for any ham who has DMR repeaters nearby and wants to try DMR digital voice without breaking the bank, provided she also gets a better antenna, spare battery and belt clip, and preferably flashes it with OpenGD77. For a sub-$100 radio it's pretty nice. I like it and think it's well worth the money.