RETEVIS RT-85 Manual Programming and Feature Overview / RT85 Part 3

[@LatitudeSky]

These things are now two for $19. Less than ten bucks a radio. The $25 Baofeng is nice and all but this is a steal. No worries about leaving one in the car or whatever. I remember when similar 5W handhelds were $300 used. That would cover more than 30 of these.

[@junrenman]

In the newest RT85 radios shipping from amazon in September 2022 you may not be able to unlock the expanded frequencies by holding 1 and 7 or F and 1 when you power on. I emailed them and they instructed me to hold F and 4 during power on and it worked.

[@SwampFoxOutdoors]

Thanks for the video. Was about to send this unit back because I couldn't figure out how to get to VFO mode. lol

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Glad I could help!

[@uMalice]

F + 1 + turn-on will also put in vfo. And, F + 4 + turn-on will expand your frequency band to 480 mhz.

[@nunyabusiness3082]

Uv5r unlicensed user here I always transmit on NOAA weather frequencies. I usually say " it's gone rain" 🤣 you got to be a avid NOAA listener in my area to catch it and in range of my boofwang 🤣

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Sounds like a reddit post that was made yesterday

[@Smaylik-j6u]

Привет друг, самый лучший обзор на эту рацию , даже на русских обзорах не смог найти полное объяснение, спасибо большое!

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Добро пожаловать. С наилучшими пожеланиями!

[@DonzLockz]

It looks way better than the UV-5R. I got its brother, the TYT UV-88 from a mystery box from MTC with a bunch of other stuff, not really worth it but atleast the radio is a good cheap radio to keep in the car. Thnx for the info Sean.👍🤓

[@joeframo3347]

Ham radio dude you're the best on KZbin 👍

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

I appreciate your kindness

[@joeframo3347]

Ham radio I love mine I love watching your video on it I might learn something 👍

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Thanks. Hopefully you're enjoying the radio, Joe

[@walkabout16]

Thanks nice series, just got one, now have to figure it out

[@joeframo3347]

Hey radio dude it's a good radio I got one in it works really well for me simple to program 👍

[@SteveParkinson-vt5vl]

For your info, for PMR 466 you need to turn off and press 4+F then turn on, this was a new update to firmware.

[@javor111]

Great video. Could you advise me what is the simplest way to set up Retevis RT85 to talk with Retevis RT647 without the software (I have no cable to connect it).

[@ivankuzma1365]

Hy do you know witch antena adapter i nedd to put baofeng type antena on retevis rt85

[@jimtsaveras5434]

I have two radios. I set to same channel. I can speak to one but the other can’t hear. However it lights up like it’s receiving. Is there a setting stopping from hearing? I can hear the initial speak to me changing modes.

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Ctscc for receive or transmit may be enabled

[@manuellopez504]

Great video !! My up and down keys to change channels don't do anything but to move on menu it does work sny advice Thanks

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

It's honestly hard for me to say because I gave the radio away. To get started, do you use the programming software and if so maybe there's an option somewhere in the programming software that disables those keys

[@keeler1160]

Do you know if Retevis has fixed the manual offset function?

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

You'll have to contact them regarding that sorry

[@craigstrbo]

Hello, When I first bought a TYT TH-UV88, it wouldn’t allow me to program or listen in FREQUENCY mode, it stayed on CHANNEL NAME mode but wouldn’t pick up anything. I figured out the problem with the VFO issue, but now that has caused another problem. I can now see the frequencies on A/B, but when I switch to A or B, only one frequency keeps broadcasting (Local Weather Frequency). For example: In the display I have A as frequency 462.72500. B is the WX frequency 162.40000, our local weather broadcast. When I push A/B, the arrow on the left is solid on A and OUTLINED on B, but broadcasts on B ALL THE TIME . When I push the A/B button again, the solid arrow on A disappears and the arrow on B stays outlined, but still broadcasts the WX channel. I don't understand why there are so many little things like this, but trying to figure it out. I really like this radio, but compared to a Baofeng, this one so far has been a huge headache. I still want to figure it out though. I would really appreciate you looking into this for me and letting me know what is going on so I can buy another one. I sent the first the one I had back to the seller. Will buy another one if somebody can figure this out for me. Thanks. I appreciate your time. Craig

[@craigstrbo]

PS, UV 88 is basically the same as the Retevis in your video.

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Hello. I will have another one of these radios in mid February and I will look into this then. Thanks.

[@craigstrbo]

@@HAMRADIODUDE Ok, thanks.

[@gregm.857]

The specs for this radio say it is capable of 2-tone or 5-tone signalling (like pagers). How do I program those features? Thanks for the video! 73

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Unfortunately, I'm uncertain as I think that radio is giving away a few times in a giveaway.

[@gregm.857]

@@HAMRADIODUDE A giveaway has nothing to do with programming the radio. Aside from the fact that your sentence makes no sense, it doesn't answer my question. If you really are a ham, maybe the FCC is making the license exams too easy. ;-)

[@thomasd.8831]

How to disable the VFO mode???

[@9x19freedom]

I'm new to ham radio just passed my technician exam I have this radio tyt the uv88 I have a question how come when I tune to a local repeater 444.3750 I can hear others from 6 hours away but as soon as I program the c cdc tone I no longer can hear them is that normal or what

[@baronedipiemonte3990]

Are you entering the CTCSS on the receive frequency ? And are you putting in the correct tone ? For repeater use (presuming that there's not another repeater on the same frequency close enough to interfere) you only need to put the tone on the transmit frequency. It could be a few things... The repeater does not have a transmit tone, or it may not be strong enough signal to get thru your receive tone, the repeater may be using a split tone... A different tone for Tx and a different tone for Rx .... Tx 114.8 Rx 127.3

[@christophe241273]

🇫🇷 Bonjour je viens de visionné vôtre vidéo, vous me semblé calé en la matière, peut-être pouvez-vous m'aider ? Je rencontre un problème avec le retevis rt85, je n'arrive pas a supprimé une fréquence que j'ai mis en mémoire ! Pouvez-vous m'aider svp ?. 73s 🇫🇷

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Malheureusement je n'ai plus cette radio. Je suis désolé.

[@sparrowj577]

Hey. How disable a R-CDC and T-CDC. Where is OFF option? :-)

[@anthonythomas5407]

Star key gets you DCS values and OFF. Pound key gives you inverted DCS codes.

[@Bruce-vq7ni]

Is that Keypad illuminated ?

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

I just had to double check. Yes, it is. 73!

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

@@shockadellick I'll be back soon. I appreciate everyone's support.

[@emanoeldeoliveira8943]

Is it possible to unlock the radio for a wider range of frequencies?

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

I found this: "My radio came locked on Amateur frequencies. This is easily remedied. First, shut the radio off. Simultaneously press the ‘F’ and ‘1’ buttons and turn the radio back on. That’s it. Of course, I feel compelled to issue the obligatory warning: this radio is sold as an Amateur radio and is not certified for use on any other radio services (At least not in the United States.). You are free to listen to anything you wish (Again, within the United States. The laws in other countries may vary in this regard.), but transmitting outside the Amateur bands is prohibited. If you choose to do so anyway, that’s entirely on you." from redeyeprep.wordpress.com/author/redeyeprep/

[@Lucas_Maciel_Vix]

@@HAMRADIODUDE Help me in this problem

[@YlvaBjarnson]

HELP! I bought this to use as a police scanner. Can I use it as a police scanner? I don't know how to set it up or anyting. It did not come with instructions. Please help me sir!😇🙏❤😟

[@Craptalker]

So what would be the best type of radio for the best price For church security?

[@gblan]

FRS is probably good enough for that purpose. Relatively inexpensive and zero license requirements, one watt. Here's a great option: www.buytwowayradios.com/dewalt-bch6-dx300.html MURS radios also require no license and give you 2 watts although less channels. They cost more. GMRS radios require someone using them to have an FCC GMRS license, $75, no test required. They are up to 5 watts and can have changeable antennas. That's kinds of a big deal as a good Nagoya or Diamond antenna can increase your range by a fair bit. These radios are pricey though. UHF/VHF Ham radios, like this Retevis, all require each user to be licensed by the FCC. Passing a 35 question test is required. Can you buy a pile of these $30 Retevis radios, dial in a simplex frequency and yak away? Sure, for a while maybe. You won't like the visit from the FCC though I promise so don't be tempted/

[@karlng2691]

I wonder how this radio holds up to its Yaesu counterpart, the Yaesu FT-4XR.

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Let's see in the next episode !

[@andrewwhiteheadmaking2murd699]

Hey can you tell me how to get a retevis rt85 on same channel as a Motorola cp200d

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Sure, do you know what frequency your Motorola is on

[@andrewwhiteheadmaking2murd699]

@@HAMRADIODUDE when I get back to work tomorrow, I was going to find out. Guess I have to call place where motorola was bought and find out?

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

@@andrewwhiteheadmaking2murd699 the radio should have a battery and if you remove it, it should have information on if it's UHF/vhf. Then you could on theory scan frequencies until you find it, or if the company has a license for that spectrum, look on the FCC database to see what frequencies they are authorized. Then, on top of that, if they are using digital modes like DMR, you won't be able to hear them with the Retevis

[@andrewwhiteheadmaking2murd699]

@@HAMRADIODUDE I have a picture of the inside sticker behind battery

[@ardvark84]

What I'm looking for is a simple instruction, here's what you have to do to... listen to the fire dept, police, this is how to communicate with that and that. But no, I'm on the fifth video going on about things I don't understand in very chaotic way. This might be help for someone using radios for a long time but for the beginers it's no help.

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

I know nothing about your fire and police department, so it would be difficult for me to help you program The radio for receive only. More information would be needed as some departments use encryption (not possible to hear), digital (not possible with this radio), analog, trunking, etc. I can help (even though I no longer have the radio) but I would need more info

[@bosspatis369]

Nice video. Very well presented!

[@rickymcdaniel6708]

I have 2 of these. And both I'm having trouble programming this radio. After programming it and it seams to be working properly, after I turn them off and use them again later they don't want to work. They aren't keeping their memory of what I programed in to it. I won't buy another..

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Interesting, I have a brand new one right here and I don't have the issue. I believe there's a firmware update for these radios. That may resolve an issue line this, if the firmware is older. Also,I believe chirp now supports the radio: chirp.danplanet.com/issues/8575. Maybe using chirp will help .. best wishes.

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

I'm going to program up one today and let it it sit. How long until this occurs after turning the radio off?

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

My apologies, this was on the manual programming video. Disregard the chirp comment.

[@kg5ysn341]

My RT85 will not function outside of the traditional HAM bands. I cannot receive any NOAA frequencies such as 162.500, nor can I hear any GMRS channels like you can on a typical Baofeng. Although the manual says it is possible, they must have updated the firmware to lock out this feature. Here is my firmware: MCU BQ 1.44 T 21/05/20

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

I no longer have the radio, and can't recommend it but did read the same thing occurred with the uv88 from tyt. The solution was a firmware upgrade. I don't see any firmware available for the radio, but didn't dig too deeply. I assume it's out there though since tyt released a fix www.buytwowayradios.com/blog/2020/05/tyt-th-uv88-firmware-update.html

[@nPcDrone]

14:27 saving to memory

[@ToddHa]

Fix (workaround): To get around the UP+DOWN manual adjust of the OFFSET til they fix it in the firmware: In the MENU, go to STEP, set STEP to 100K. Then adjust OFFSET from 0.600Mhz to 5.0Mhz. When you reach 5.0Mhz, set the STEP back 25Khz for the 70cm range. The Retevis RT85 stores separate STEP & OFFSET settings for both of the VFOs. They are independent of each other. Mine is set as follows: A VFO (2m): - STEP = 5Khz - OFFSET = 0.600 Mhz B VFO (70cm): - STEP = 25Khz - OFFSET = 5.000 Mhz OARN: The TYT UV88 recently got the firmware upgrade to manually key-in an OFFSET in both VFOs. So this Fix (workaround) only applies to the Retevis RT85 now. OASN: The 2m band is actually 15Khz Stepped channels. Most radios don't include a 15Khz Step setting.

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Interesting. Ill attempt to flash the uv88 firmware on the one I get. I think I did it with the last one and it worked fine. I'll let you know

[@ToddHa]

@@HAMRADIODUDE My TYT UV88 updated firmware: MCU B01.38 My Retevis RT85 has firmware: MCU B01.33

[@gblan]

I doubt Retevis could make programming this radio a more complicated pain in the arse if they tried. Pathetic.

[@baronedipiemonte3990]

It's really not any different from a Baofeng

[@shockadellick]

@@baronedipiemonte3990 You're so correct, its a solid built Baofeng. For example, I've broken the bottom battery holding tabs too many times on the Uv-Five Baofengs.