Retekess TR629 Shortwave Radio with USB based recording. Not bad!

The folks over at Retekess continue to come up with cool entry level shortwave radios and this TR629 is a great addition to their line up. It's a table top AM/FM/SW unit with a built in antenna. It's coolest feature? Well, you can put a usb stick in it and record right off the air. Nice!
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Guys, get one! I was excited already a year ago and bought much overpriced from ali back then. Retekess since improved, the original version had a T-sense which caused terrible interference in every band and couldn't be detached as it would trip up the CPU. Otherwise I would have kept it. Don't expect wonders on AM, it still has a little ferrite rod, on AM it's best "fair", below average. FM is great (DX quality) and SW is good.

[@FarpointFarms]

Good info.

[@hatchetjackphillips]

Good video! I’m a big Coast to Coast AM fan!

[@FarpointFarms]

Same here! I was listening yesterday to some older shows they has on. It was from 1998

[@hatchetjackphillips]

I don’t get to listen as much as I’d like, given what time it comes on. It’s my go to when I’m traveling on the road late at night.

[@NorthlanderMN]

I knew he was talking about coast to coast. I listen every night it’s on going to sleep. I think I’ll get this to record the show so I can hear it in the day time.

[@RETROTV1394]

This is a pretty decent unit . Especially at evening. Unfortunately in the day MW band suffers from static and buzzing in my area . I'm located in Huntsville AL. Last night I was able to pull in some distant stations. WBOB In Jacksonville Florida, WRJR in Charlottesville VA, WSB in AtlantaGA, mostly Southern Stations. However I was delighted pulling in WOR in NY NY, WSCR in Chicago ILL and CFZM in Toronto Canada. That Chicago station came in as clear as my local stations. I just purchased a USB Stick so I can start recording my Dxing Adventures. Tonight I'll do it Again . I only went as far as 790 am . Who knows how many I'm going to discover. Back in the 1970s I was able to pull in Netherlands Antilles on a old GE super radio on the MW band . That's still the furthest distance I've ever pulled in .

[@FarpointFarms]

I also love to hunt for those faint non-clearchannel AM stations!

[@ChuckPackwood]

I just got a FM Transmitter from Retekess today. Can’t wait to play around with it.

[@FarpointFarms]

Love it! Get that station up and running!

[@kurttuttle1817]

Nice little radio, wish there was a jack for external antenna.

[@FarpointFarms]

Good point, you cam still get creative and add one.

[@kurttuttle1817]

@@FarpointFarms I know but then you have to get the jack, drill a hole to mount it, wire it up, etc, when it would have been easier if it was there to begin with. Or just get an alligator clip and hook it to the antenna it has. :-)

[@gregalss]

@@FarpointFarms add a wier to the antenna

[@HenryCalderonJr]

Nice little shortwave radio 😊 I like it

[@FarpointFarms]

thank you

[@monotech20.14]

@@FarpointFarms I just bought one myself. I really just wanted a basic FM/AM radio for the most part but wanted to get into short band radio. I figured this would be a good entry model. Other radios w/ these features jump up to the 150 200 dollar plus price range. Plus if I don't like it , I can always send it back.

[@Alpha5119]

Its very well priced. I like it. I just recently picked up the eton 750 . If I wouldn't have I would definitely get one.

[@FarpointFarms]

For the price it is a decent entry level radio, a good way for some to get into the hobby

[@chrispowell3664]

Thanks for sharing. BTW the smaller knobs remind me of SO-239 antenna connectors. 😁

[@FarpointFarms]

It does!

[@NorthlanderMN]

Really enjoy your channel. You’d be a great neighbor.

[@FarpointFarms]

Thanks 👍

[@ChrisC-fp9qu]

sounds clear

[@FarpointFarms]

It is a good little basic radio.

[@jamescady723]

Nice review, thanks Erik! I wish these manufacturers would include an external antenna jack connection! It's the only thing that prevents my purchases. The USB record is cool, tho.

[@FarpointFarms]

agreed, it is still a good basic radio. I guess if it had more features, it would cost way more

[@stevenemert837]

You can always just clip a wire antenna to the tip of the telescoping antenna.

[@jamescady723]

@@FarpointFarms True enough!

[@jamescady723]

@@stevenemert837 Indeed, always have a portable antenna on hand. ;)

[@monotech20.14]

I just bought one myself. I really just wanted a basic FM/AM radio for the most part but wanted to get into short band radio. I figured this would be a good entry model. Other radios w/ these features jump up to the 150 200 dollar plus price range. Plus if I don't like it , I can always send it back.

[@Who.Knew-The.Salt.MustFlow]

I bought the TR618 version... Could not pick much on SW, hit and miss...a lot of interference. Although FM and AM are great. Nice sound through speaker.

[@FarpointFarms]

Fair enough!

[@ericdee6802]

Where did you get your eye glasses Erik???, I dig the 1800's look!✌️

[@FarpointFarms]

Don't laugh, you will get old one day too!!!

[@ericdee6802]

@@FarpointFarms That was a serious question, i've been looking for a pair that have small oval lenses at antique shops but havn't found anything I like yet and frames in brick and morter stores arent wirth a crap.

[@barneymm2204]

Mornin'.

[@FarpointFarms]

the same to you

[@VTPSTTU]

I ordered a little radio from Amazon that supposedly offered short wave. I even bought an external antenna. I have never been able to pick up any signal well enough to understand anything. That was frustrating.

[@FarpointFarms]

Are you in a major city maybe? That can cause poor performance on AM and SW.

[@VTPSTTU]

@@FarpointFarms No, if you draw a circle with a fifty mile radius around my house, there would be fewer than 12,000 people in the circle.

[@devans7730]

Hi, I have a question about what is needed to attach an external antenna. I do not get great reception in my house(metal siding). thank you for your videos.

[@FarpointFarms]

Just attach a alligator clip to the antenna and presto! You have a spot to hook a long wire antenna to.

[@devans7730]

@@FarpointFarms Thank You

[@charlesmurray3272]

Needs an external antenna jack then I’d be a fan

[@FarpointFarms]

I just use an alligator clip with a long wire attached.

[@GWGMJ]

What similar radios has CB band ? Great channel boss !

[@FarpointFarms]

Look for a "General Coverage Receiver" that will have the CB air and HAM bands.

[@Machi74005]

Thanks for presenting this. I may need to get one although I would like to try to get the volume control fixed on my Sony 7600 first. Anyone know what causes the volume control to go haywire on radios in general? My Sony and another house radio has the horizontal volume control dial that only the edge hangs out the side of the radio chassis and you control with your thumb turn. It is too low until you start turning it then it goes crazy loud with static.

[@LegacyLost]

Contact cleaner ?

[@ErinTurco21]

I just bought a used Sony ICF P26 and I have the same issue, any one have any suggestions?

[@FarpointFarms]

Not me, but maybe someone else can help?

[@danielthrelkeld1324]

If controls are dirty DeoxIT may help

[@Machi74005]

@@danielthrelkeld1324 I purchased some of that stuff from Amazon and while not perfect restoration it is working MUCH better! Thanks!!

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

Would be awesome if it would have been possible to record lossless PCM Wave too and not just MP3 files, since these radios with MP3 & WMA playback are usually also capable of playing lossless PCM WAV files with 44,1Khz 16 Bit resolution. Also the LCD backlight really could have been orange and not blue because blue really is tooo harsh on eyes. Other than that it's a fantastic radio.

[@FarpointFarms]

That would be cool! I have really bad hearing so high end or high quality audio is lost on me, but I totally get it.

[@MyEvette]

Hi.. which Is the best shortwave portable "AM,, FM,, SW,, & - other channels that I - can use 2 - pickup air traffic control,, boats & - scan for anything In between.. I - still want 2 - be-able 2 - lesson 2 - the local AM/FM radio stations.. I - live In the US Virgin Islands, a - half an hour from Puerto Rico & - British Virgin Islands.. Which Would be the best shortwave portable AM, FM, SW, UHF, VHF, etc etc etc Channels!!

[@FarpointFarms]

The eton 750 is about the best out there right now.

[@candycorn3690]

When will u have time to upload cb radio stuff again

[@FarpointFarms]

I have some coming, but I have obligations to post first.

[@ronleblanc9832]

i don't see upper and lower sideband

[@FarpointFarms]

No, this is an entry level unit.

[@jimgresham5529]

Could this one run on 12 volt cig. lighter car battery, solar battery ?

[@FarpointFarms]

I am sure that it can

[@jimgresham5529]

Thanks been enjoying your vids for years.

[@FarpointFarms]

Thank you for the support

[@tinachavez8712]

Hi Eric

[@FarpointFarms]

Morning!

[@wxfreak]

Radio

[@FarpointFarms]

Is fun?

[@MyEvette]

HI again.. I - Would like 2 - have a - portable shortwave radio 📻 !! so I - can scan for different channels along the Way, One W/ many channels so I - can lesson 2 Air traffic Control/Boats marina & - still be-able 2 - scan for the local radio stations..

[@FarpointFarms]

you would have everything covered with all of them

[@MyEvette]

@@FarpointFarms Hi again, thanks for the response.. I'll catch U - In the next video..

[@germanbravo9949]

It does not have subtitles in Spanish👎

[@FarpointFarms]

I'm sorry, I do not speak Spanish, let alone write it.