I got one of these a couple weeks ago through Amazon Vine. I don't have an SA, but everything else I tested really impressed me. I was originally expecting it to be a slightly upgraded Chinese HT, but it definitely has more than the bare basics. I also really liked the noise reduction function. Not sure how much I'll actually use it, but its fun to know that its there.
@@TheSmokinApe UPDATE: I received and programmed my RA-89 using CHIRP and am extremely pleased with the results. While the UV-5R triggers a 70cm repeater 5 miles away, it does not come close to accessing repeaters 23, 30, or 43 miles away. However, the RA-89 does trigger these repeaters - I am especially impressed with the repeater 43 miles from me. Both tests were conducted using the same magnetic dual-band antenna in my car while sitting in my driveway (my terrain is very hilly with lots of trees). 10 watts is key, and the fact that this is a 'clean' radio (unlike the UV-5R) makes me feel much better about it. Thank you again for your thorough testing and review.
great test . A clean radio puts the power right on the frequency that we want . I bet that HT sounds good on the air. I have a few different Retevis HT and they all check good. I have a 50 DB attenuator 25 watt I use. has N connectors. adapter to SMA and my short piece of RG 316 has N on both sides. my spectrum has N connector. same test . love when you test radios. USB C is standard charge port. even cell phones use it. some with PD for fast charge. waiting for Japan to make USB C . they have one with micro USB. lost of low cost USB solar panels around. some work great and some not so well. the best part of USB C is you just plug in. no up side4 down like the A B micro and mini USB. I have a nano VNA-H4 but not the tina SA. I like my full size spectrum with tracking gen. helps me tune filters and cavity's and duplexers. ETC. 73's
Hey Robert. I have a full size SA but I typically use the Tiny in the videos so others can learn and play along. USB-C across the board would be great but likely will eat into profits of the big 3 because they like to sell charging cradles. Even if you had to charge directly into the battery it's a plus... Overall, I would say that Retevis is one of the better Chinese vendors. Thanks Bro!
Nice to actually see a clean radio.😊 I still have the SA Ultra on my wish list. Then, I can follow along and actually remember commands and testing procedures. 😅
I recommend watching the smokin Ape on a regular basis. Glad to know the results, I have a pair of these, and would hate to have to have them destroyed to protect the bands.
Thanks Kurt. If they are really bad performers, they often go in the trash or saved for future comparison tests. If they perform well, I will pass them along to new hams, channel supporters or people who are working to get kids into the hobby.
@@TheSmokinApe thanks for the reply. Have to agree with all you said. I have given radios to young hams before, not just HT's. Told them to pay it forward when they can.
Another excellent video, thank you. Would this radio have Fast copy frequency button like Baofengs, Quashengs, Radioddity and all other radios? Thanks you
@TheSmokinApe Hey Smoking ape, apparently Ra89 does have fast frequency copy button, Retevis have responded to my question and I'm just waiting from Retives to show me how to. Thank you
You said, "...25 micro watts..." and then corrected that to "...25 micro volts..." but it's 25 micro watts. Your conversion to ~-16dBm was correct though.
Is the reciever sensitivity and selectivity on these radios any good? It's hard for me to justify grabbing another handheld when my Icom IC-V80 from Ebay still outclasses every chinese radio I've used so far.
Yo! Ape! I'm trying to understand why you're using 50db attenuation? Given the radio is 10W maybe more, maybe less. The tiny SA Ultra says to provide less than 10dbm into the device. Being conservative I used an output of 15W and using rapidtables, I get a dbm of 41.8., so in my mind 40 should be good enough, no? Am I missing something? Peace be with you brother Ape!
Hey Gap, you are correct 10w is 40dbm. In my experience the TinySA is more accurate when you measure lower signals so I tend to be an over attenuator type...
Um...math on stream? 146.521MHz - 146.52MHz = 1 kHz, not 10kHz I am curious what your scope frequency accuracy is. Maybe you should get a good-ish frequency counter to know for sure. It's the only way. (80's movie reference)
@@TheSmokinApe creo que no es copia compran el producto a un tercero tanto tyt y retevis y también hay otras por ahí PERO ES CHISTE ESTA QUE CADA UNO LOS TUNEA A SU MODO Y RETEVIS LES GANA
I got one of these a couple weeks ago through Amazon Vine. I don't have an SA, but everything else I tested really impressed me. I was originally expecting it to be a slightly upgraded Chinese HT, but it definitely has more than the bare basics. I also really liked the noise reduction function. Not sure how much I'll actually use it, but its fun to know that its there.
Hey Souta, I do like this one quite a bit myself. Thanks for working...
Excellent. Based partially on your testing, I have decided to go ahead and purchase this radio. Thank you!
Good luck with it 👍
@@TheSmokinApe UPDATE: I received and programmed my RA-89 using CHIRP and am extremely pleased with the results. While the UV-5R triggers a 70cm repeater 5 miles away, it does not come close to accessing repeaters 23, 30, or 43 miles away. However, the RA-89 does trigger these repeaters - I am especially impressed with the repeater 43 miles from me. Both tests were conducted using the same magnetic dual-band antenna in my car while sitting in my driveway (my terrain is very hilly with lots of trees). 10 watts is key, and the fact that this is a 'clean' radio (unlike the UV-5R) makes me feel much better about it. Thank you again for your thorough testing and review.
They must have snatched up all the RF Engineers in China, since others can't seem to get this right. Go Retevis! Thanks for sharing Ape.
I think that might be just what happened, thanks for watching Bob
I love the Retevis Products. They seem to be a step above a lot of others.
Totally agree, thanks for watching...
I got this radio a month or so back. Very impressed with it plus chirp now supports it. Retevis are the best Chinese radios on the market IMO
Yeah, they did a good job with it for sure 👍
great test . A clean radio puts the power right on the frequency that we want . I bet that HT sounds good on the air. I have a few different Retevis HT and they all check good. I have a 50 DB attenuator 25 watt I use. has N connectors. adapter to SMA and my short piece of RG 316 has N on both sides. my spectrum has N connector. same test . love when you test radios. USB C is standard charge port. even cell phones use it. some with PD for fast charge. waiting for Japan to make USB C . they have one with micro USB. lost of low cost USB solar panels around. some work great and some not so well. the best part of USB C is you just plug in. no up side4 down like the A B micro and mini USB. I have a nano VNA-H4 but not the tina SA. I like my full size spectrum with tracking gen. helps me tune filters and cavity's and duplexers. ETC. 73's
Hey Robert. I have a full size SA but I typically use the Tiny in the videos so others can learn and play along. USB-C across the board would be great but likely will eat into profits of the big 3 because they like to sell charging cradles. Even if you had to charge directly into the battery it's a plus... Overall, I would say that Retevis is one of the better Chinese vendors. Thanks Bro!
Well done, son!! Glad to see it's clean.
Thanks Ed!
Nice to see one get a passing grade. I like this radio
Hey Jason. I kinda like it too but I don't think it will be a big seller because it lacks a "sexy" display.
Thanks for the Test report ❤🎉😊
He Mick, thank for watching!
Nice to actually see a clean radio.😊
I still have the SA Ultra on my wish list. Then, I can follow along and actually remember commands and testing procedures. 😅
Being honest, I didn't expect it to be clean.
Thanks for the Video Sir! Good Info
Thanks Freddie!
I recommend watching the smokin Ape on a regular basis. Glad to know the results, I have a pair of these, and would hate to have to have them destroyed to protect the bands.
Glad you liked the video Siski, thanks for watching!
good video, glad it is clean.
Clean = More better!
Bout time we got a good one.
Right
Very interesting, thanks for sharing
Thanks Bob
Love your reviews. Just curious with all these HT's sent to you, do you keep them, send them back or what?
Thanks Kurt. If they are really bad performers, they often go in the trash or saved for future comparison tests. If they perform well, I will pass them along to new hams, channel supporters or people who are working to get kids into the hobby.
@@TheSmokinApe thanks for the reply. Have to agree with all you said. I have given radios to young hams before, not just HT's. Told them to pay it forward when they can.
Another excellent video, thank you. Would this radio have Fast copy frequency button like Baofengs, Quashengs, Radioddity and all other radios? Thanks you
It does not
@TheSmokinApe thank you for letting me know. I love this radio, but this option is must at my work...
@TheSmokinApe Hey Smoking ape, apparently Ra89 does have fast frequency copy button, Retevis have responded to my question and I'm just waiting from Retives to show me how to. Thank you
Awesome, good luck with it
You said, "...25 micro watts..." and then corrected that to "...25 micro volts..." but it's 25 micro watts. Your conversion to ~-16dBm was correct though.
D’oh! Thank you for the catch 👍
Do you think they'll bring NOAA in a firmware update? Otherwise nice radio!!
It would be awesome but I have no idea
I plan to buy RA 89 in a noisy environment of the engine running the generator. Can you test in a noisy environment?
I can put it on the list 👍
Is there a recommended antenna upgrade for the RA89, such as the Nagoya or Abbree are for the UV-5R?
I don’t have one but I wouldn’t hesitate to put a Nagoya on it 👍
@@TheSmokinApe OK, assuming I can find one with the correct connector. Thanks.
Mighty little radio. If only the Retevis software would connect to the radio via the supplied programming cable!😪
I haven't tried yet
Is attenuation affected by frequency input? I see some attenuators on Ali express which are 3/4GHZ hence my question. 73 Tnx
Kind of, they are rated for use in different frequency ranges because of the resistors used inside 👍
Is the reciever sensitivity and selectivity on these radios any good? It's hard for me to justify grabbing another handheld when my Icom IC-V80 from Ebay still outclasses every chinese radio I've used so far.
Hey CH, I haven't tested that out yet. What I can tell you is that I am fairly confident it's not as good as your Icom.
The V-80 also has a Superhet Receiver. I have that along with IC-T70's.
Yo! Ape! I'm trying to understand why you're using 50db attenuation? Given the radio is 10W maybe more, maybe less. The tiny SA Ultra says to provide less than 10dbm into the device. Being conservative I used an output of 15W and using rapidtables, I get a dbm of 41.8., so in my mind 40 should be good enough, no? Am I missing something? Peace be with you brother Ape!
Hey Gap, you are correct 10w is 40dbm. In my experience the TinySA is more accurate when you measure lower signals so I tend to be an over attenuator type...
@@TheSmokinApe Sure. Because if you drive TinySA too hard, it will go non-linear and create the "harmonics".
Same as the TYT TH350?
Sorry JB, I haven't used the 350
Does it have GPS
I don’t think so
Um...math on stream?
146.521MHz - 146.52MHz = 1 kHz, not 10kHz
I am curious what your scope frequency accuracy is. Maybe you should get a good-ish frequency counter to know for sure.
It's the only way. (80's movie reference)
D'oh! Good catch Lee!
Just for information. This is a copy of TYT UV99.
Had no idea, thanks for the info 👍
@@TheSmokinApe creo que no es copia compran el producto a un tercero tanto tyt y retevis y también hay otras por ahí PERO ES CHISTE ESTA QUE CADA UNO LOS TUNEA A SU MODO Y RETEVIS LES GANA
Nice! A pass 🥳
A rare thing these days my brother...