GMRS - Retevis RA25 review. HARD to program!!!

Here's my review of the Retevis RA25 GMRS mobile radio. If Retevis could make this thing easier to program it would be AWESOME!!! Plenty of power, nice display, great mic BUT the programming software SUCKS!!! Take a watch and let me know your thoughts if you have one of these radios.

[@billknn]

Congrats on the new little rig. I have the same radio with the "Anytone" name on it (AT-779UV) I did have to spend a a few minutes figuring out the programming but I didn't have the problems that you are having, but you're right, there is a learning curve. Once you learn what the software wants to see it's pretty easy. OK, maybe it was more than a few minutes. It's been awhile since I programmed mine but I seem to recall that you have to go to the "edit" function across the top of the software, then go to CH EDIT. If you continue having problems let me know and I'll hook mine up and let you know. Just FYI, you can use the Anytone software, I found on mine that the software was interchangeable. Also, you probably know that the radio can be easily "expanded in coverage." Or so I've heard😉I like mine, it's small but capable and doesn't break the bank. Good luck! Bill WRJV395, Wimberley.

[@MCTGMRS78009]

THANK YOU Bill for all that good info!!! I'll be heading out to the shack to tinker with it!!!

[@hatchetjackphillips]

I was gonna buy this radio for my Jeep, till I saw this video. I downloaded that joke of a manual, and that was a red flag and not being able to program extra channels was another red flag. I have the RA86, and really like it.

[@MCTGMRS78009]

This was probably one of the most difficult radios to program. And YES, the RA86 is great if you want something simple and basic. THANKs for watching!!!

[@retevisQA]

Thank you for your review, we will improve the issues you referred in time. Regarding programming, you can download the latest programming software from the official website, and you can change the frequency.

[@MCTGMRS78009]

THANKS for taking the time to reply!!! I can't wait to review more of your products!!!

[@djsoundzentertainment42]

I have three of these and love 'em. I put mine in dual-band mode (136-174MHz/400-490MHz). With radio off, hold down the V/M button while turning on radio. This puts you into the MODE MENU. Select the mode you want and turn radio off. Done, enjoy your radio.

[@MCTGMRS78009]

BOOOOOOM!!! Thanks for the tip Sir!!!

[@rustyhaddock7954]

I also have the Anytone AT-779UV radio as well and thoroughly enjoy it! The Anytone version of the CPS appears to have been improved a bit over what Retevis has. I did have some problems with my Anytone but with a internal firmware upgrade to version 2.30 made just about all my problems go away. I've never seen the transmit on USB cable insertion though and I've been bringing my little radidio back to my bench most nights just to tinker with it. I like this little rig!!!

[@MCTGMRS78009]

I wish Retevis would get on the ball like that! If they would this would be a GREAT little unit!!!

[@Blaculo]

As other comments mentioned, unlock the radio and use the anytone software. The programming is still a little clunky, but far better than you’re seeing. I built a go box around the Anytone 779 and it works well out to 30 miles.

[@MCTGMRS78009]

I was able to get it done last night thanks to y'all WONDERFUL VIEWERS!!!

[@glenh2159]

Using several retevis portable radios (H777) programmed with chirp and they do the same transmit issue- read the radio and the thing keys up until I turn it off and back on again. Seems like this may easily be an issue with retells or at least several of their products.

[@MCTGMRS78009]

You may need to find the Retevis programming software. Sometimes CHIRP has some issues with certain radios, I have found out.

[@jweaver7170]

👍

[@YayaOrchid]

Great video. I am looking at the Radioddity DB-20G. I saw a video that DB-20G, RA-25 and AT-779UV are the same radio just different name on them. Any reviews on the DB-20G from the group.

[@MCTGMRS78009]

So the DB-20G looks to be the same radio. I have grown to like the Retevis version simply because of 2 reason... its putting out close to the 20 advertised watts & the fact the dual monitoring doesn't flip flop back and forth so when I pick up the mic I know what channel I'll be transmitting on, unlike the QYTs and Btechs I've tried. There are still some programming issues that drive me bonkers about it and you'll need to "unlock" it in order for a little easier programming.

[@YayaOrchid]

@@MCTGMRS78009 Ok. Thanks.

[@MikieLAX]

I have the Anytone (opened for Ham and more) and the Radioddity (kept as GMRS) and IMHO, I prefer the Radioddity and will probably open it up as well soon. I have downloaded the Retevis software to experiment with but code plugs created with Retevis will not load into Anytone or Radioddity software.

[@46camper50]

I’m more into the BTECH radios although the RA-25 GMRS has a decent price. For my base station radio I’m going with a 50 watt radio

[@MCTGMRS78009]

I'll be going that direction soon. I agree that Btech has a great product!!!

[@PeacefulExposures]

looks like my Radioditty DB 20

[@MCTGMRS78009]

Yes... exactly. Lol

[@Biblicalprofessor]

the Retevis RA25/Radioddity DB20/Anytone AT779/CRT Electro. All are the same radio. Supplied software is the usual clunky mess

[@MCTGMRS78009]

Totally agree lol 😆

[@2148aa]

Jailbreak the radio. Push M/V button while turning power on and pick the widest option which removes all channel programing. Download empty radio back to spred sheet software and that sets everything so radio and spred sheet software will interchange data. (Must be done) You have a blank slate and must reprogram everything back in. MURS/ GMRS full power transmit all 5 and 22 channels. 17 watts UHF/ 21 watts VHF All safety locks will be removed. It is a pain but when you can talk ham 70 cm/ 2 meters. Link with any business band UHF/VHF with their tones. Talk Marine band and railroad if you have RR encoding. Oh yah/ You can even transmit on weather station channels VHF. Yup you can get into alot of trouble. Keeping a matching antenna becomes an issue.

[@MCTGMRS78009]

All great info! I did unlock mine but kept it on GMRS only, don't need all those other problems. Lmao!

[@46camper50]

Why not go with a 50 watt GMRS radio ?

[@MCTGMRS78009]

So these reviews are done for folks who may be on a budget

[@46camper50]

@@MCTGMRS78009 I see. I don’t have a 50 watt radio but sometime in January I’m going to get one for my base radio and put my 20 watt radio in the car. A 50 watt GMRS radio is pricy.

[@MCTGMRS78009]

@@46camper50 Oh 100%... I'll be doing some 50p watters soon!!! Thanks for your comments and feedback! Hope you're having a great weekend!!!

[@joecraft4409]

Comment #2 should be deleted if you have that abitlty. Some people! KI5IQE

[@FelixLantiguaCamacho]

I hate that radio. I have one in my wife`s car, using CTCSS on channel 15 so we can talk freely, sometimes we can`t talk at all, we can see the voice meter when key up, but gray, she turns it off, back on, nothing happens. She doesn`t touch the menu and she has it, key locked. The only way we can talk back on is making a factory reset and redo the CTSS tones, can`t use channels 8-14, I have the Radioddity DB20-G, same radio, different brand, I don`t have that problem. I bought another brand radio for her, QYT KT-8900, just to try something else. I did not want to spend that much now, for testing purposes. I am planning to buy 2 BTECH GMRS-50X1. But, this radio, Retevis RA25 I won`t recommend it to NO one, that is a piece of garbage!

[@MCTGMRS78009]

Funny you say all that... I installed it in my vehicle and I think it dumped all my tones bcs I just started picking up all sorts of traffic on our liveth repeater. Now gunna have to yank it out and reprogram. I like the power it puts out but at this point that's about it. 😩

[@FelixLantiguaCamacho]

@@MCTGMRS78009 When this radio is all good set, it does its job. It pulls out 18 watts, according to my meter, the only problem is, sometime in while it goes crazy in channel 15, which is the one we always use. Not further problem. Can't be used channels 8 through 14, we don't mind because, like I said, we only use the 15

[@MCTGMRS78009]

@@FelixLantiguaCamacho yeah... I am finding out that the 8-14 channels are being blocked by these GMRS ONLY radios from being on a simplex only type channel. I guess their reasoning is they are supposed to be on the top side of the "repeater" channels. It's annoy. AF. 🤬

[@FelixLantiguaCamacho]

@@MCTGMRS78009 Yeah, it is annoying!

[@MikieLAX]

The Radioddity DB20-G is the best of the lot - stable and working for years; FCC rules prevent a GMRS mobile from transmitting on Channels 8-14, so that is why they are receive only. You will not find transmitting on them on 50 watt radios either!