Most Useful Radio MP3 Player: the Retekess V115

A review of what makes the Retekess V115 (aka Tivdio, aka HanRongDa, etc) the most useful AM/FM/SW Radio MP3 Player/Recorder in its price range.
Special focus in this video is using the device as an MP3 player, and how to navigate its menus.
#retekess #v115 #hanrongda

[@michaelturner4457]

I've got a V115 myself, and very happy with it. But it does something I didn't know, and I don't think is in the manual, I plugged into a computer instead of a charger, and to my surprise the radio appeared as a USB sound device, so you can play the computer's audio through the V115. It also functions as a USB mass storage device as well.

[@denalidude]

thanks for the wonderful review. answered a bunch of my questions. thanks again. God bless

[@tuanisthename]

very helpful. thank you for your instruction on navigation

[@ah4furnishings348]

Nice review and helpful hints 😊

[@ma-mo]

Thanks, Henry!

[@gailsfoodandstuff]

i just got mine today, it was on sale on line via walmart for just 19.99. i wanted a small digital (not dial) radio with a speaker to have by the pool, or around the house if im not listening to pandora. so far i absolutely love it but still trying to figure out how to store (favorite) radio stations. i read the instructions but out of desperation, im here now, and about to watch. i love youtube, lol. 😅. oh, and it works/sounds and gets better reception and way more stations than my much more expensive ryobi radio!

[@tony182709]

Thanks for making this video.

[@ma-mo]

Thanks, Tony.

[@landgabriel]

Looks like a great device, especially for the price.

[@kwdavids1]

This is essentially the same as the ZHIWIS ZWS-603, except that the latter adds Bluetooth, and is one of the few that can record from Bluetooth.

[@ma-mo]

I have an XHDATA that records from Bluetooth, and it's a terrific recorder. I don't think I've heard of any others that can do that.

[@TheKetsa]

@@ma-mo wich one is it ?

[@ma-mo]

@@TheKetsa It's the XHDATA D-318BT. It's FM only, but records from Bluetooth which I find very useful. It's tiny but also has a good sound.

[@MoopEPoom0]

Two things here, first I just got this radio Monday, and really like it. Even though I am totally blind, I'm still managing to use it for what I want it mainly for, the recording. But if I have a sighted family member set it to random, will it be set to random forever, as long as I don't let the battery die? Also, I notice my recording files are mega huge, like 84 mb for a half hour, I know I can down-convert them on my computer post-recording, but is there a way to set bytrate and stuff on the recorder itself? Also, what about file split settings, I often record a news station overnight, I know, I'm a geek, lol, but the file was about 14 hours, and was almost 2 gb. I have a Sangean pdr 8 radio, which is huge, and I don't even think it's available anymore, plus, it was expensive, much more than this little treasure. But that recorded in mp3 128 kbps, and split the recordings every hour, which made it easy to find things. Thanks

[@user-lb7wz9dy6n]

It's a good radio. I have one under the Kalmeda name. It has a soft plastic screen. Be careful it scratches easy.

[@ma-mo]

@@user-lb7wz9dy6n True. Both of mine have screens that are covered in fine scratches. But it, of course, doesn't affect the functioning of the units. Thanks!

[@davidfarrell7318]

it does sound very tinny if it had bass boost the would be a huge bonus.

[@plamentodorov788]

Hi, very good review. May I ask you for your opinion which radio is worth to buy V115 or L-258 ? When you have them side by side, which have better performance, like how good it tunes fm stations(specifically the weaker ones), the sound quality and clearity, the battery life and overall experience. I will use it mostly for a radio. Thanks. 🙂

[@valentin1808]

Great video also this radio is so small,slim and compact like a deck of cards,great sound with mega bass,great FM reception and everything works simply and easily ,the am and sw is a bit poor

[@ma-mo]

Agreed all around. Thanks!

[@edwardfletcher7790]

It's a real shame they ruined the AM/SW reception for lack of shielding on the LCD ☹️

[@rockeyrocket1224]

good 4 audiobooks

[@starshine419]

PLUGGED into comp to try to put mp3 files in... got a ghost image .. clicked on it then it said put disc into usb drive G ! so Im at an impass ...... looking at the instructions I see .... insert the TF card .... wot is this ..... did it come with the radio and Ive missed it ? do I have to buy it ?

[@gailsfoodandstuff]

darn, i was hoping you would show how to have fav radio stations saved. but appears not.

[@ma-mo]

I've actually never done that! I either just punch in the frequency or let the auto scan store all the presets.

[@eva673]

Hi, thank you for useful comments on mp3 player. One more question - when you play spoken word (i.g. I want to listen to 120 minutes long lectures) - does it remember where you stopped to listen so it will start to play from that spot when you turn it on again or switch from other track? And when you want to listen to few tracks simultaneously (I mean listen just part of the track and then part of other one) is it possible? For example a player on mobile does so or a voice recorder with player has a function of T-Mark.

[@ma-mo]

Mrs. Moving About (who uses it all the time) says it remembers. My experiment just now confirms: it remembers your place and picks up right where you left off. Thanks!

[@ma-mo]

The other function you asked about I think is beyond this device's abilities.

[@eva673]

@@ma-mo Awesome! Thank you so much for fast answer. Looking forward to this gadget :)

[@lullaby218]

Sata4n bless you dear and thanks for the review

[@joeking1105]

I listen to series of lectures which have to play in a certain order. But when I play them, no folders are visible--only files, and all out of order. How do I sort the files? Either alphabetically or numerically with a letter or number prefix? I've tried both and neither way sorts correctly.

[@ma-mo]

Unfortunately there's no way to sort in the device. You'd have to sort in your PC (or whatever you're using) then, when in the order you want, make sure this radio isn't set to Random play ("R").

[@Gadgetdad007]

Why can’t i access the mp3 recordings on my v115 via the mode button with a single push. I just get a 1 second silence and then it will stay on the radio. The only way i can access the mp3 is by pushing the rec file button for 2 seconds. Help me please.

[@ma-mo]

I haven't had that trouble. Not sure. Has to be 32 gig or less, I know. When I format, I simply used whatever the default format on my PC was. Next time I'm at that PC I'll try to check.

[@johnrobinson1140]

did you ever figure out why, mine does the same

[@Cuneyt_3D]

hi, i bought v115 a few days ago. radio is good but when I put sd card screen says WAITING... 1 seconds than screen says CAN NOT FIND DEVICE. I used 2gb and 16gb sd cards. both of them is working on laptop and on my dslr camera. What can I do? please send me a solution

[@ma-mo]

You may need to reformat the card. I've had to do that before. Especially if it was used in some other device.

[@NotExpatJoe]

SD card must be formatted as FAT32. The radio does not support exfat or ntfs file systems.

[@The06201980]

Funny, I have this radio, live in Central Ohio and listen to 820AM too! Small world

[@ma-mo]

Indeed! But do you have an AM 820 sticker on your car? I don't, but an awful lot around here do. It might be hard to explain to my pastor.

[@The06201980]

@@ma-mo haha no I don’t have the sticker. I’ve also watched a few of your prayer book videos now, good stuff, very interesting 👍🏻

[@richardfranciscone3392]

I feel kinda dumb here.....I tried three of these and was pumped to get this because of the fact that it was a recorder as well as a player along with a radio. It sounds pretty good for its size and price. But on none of the units I tried did the Mode button work as it should have. It never went to the files It only worked for Hold when long pressed. Has anyone else had this happen,or was there something real simple I was doing wrong?

[@ma-mo]

Not sure. Does the SD card register okay in another device?

[@richardfranciscone3392]

@@ma-mo Yes. the cards work fine in other devices

[@michaelturner4457]

Possible solutions: Micro-SDs must be formatted as FAT32, the radio can't use exFAT or NTFS, and it only supports up to 32GB maximum, SDHC type.

[@craigclark1474]

@@michaelturner4457 Hey, thanks for the helpful info. You'd think they'd put this in bold on the product description or say frequently bought together. I've already returned one as defective. I hope this new chip works for the second. I searched on fat32, and 32gb, as well as tf. Thanks, Micheal!

[@gerrysantos724]

Hi, may I ask, can the Retekess V-115 be operated when being charged? Thank you

[@ma-mo]

Mine does not work while charging.

[@NotExpatJoe]

Mine works while charging. I have to hit the mode button a couple times to get it to switch to FM. There is AC interference noise when using a wall wart but, the noise is gone when charging with a power bank. Mine will also work without the battery while hooked up to a power bank. With that said, I usually just take the battery out and charge it in a dedicated charger. I use a 2450 mAh battery and it takes forever and a day to charge while in the radio.

[@Gadgetdad007]

How do i format the SD card so that it works properly with this unit ?

[@ma-mo]

I just tried reformatting a used 32g card in my PC, in FAT 32 format, and it works in my Retekess V115.

[@NotExpatJoe]

SD card must be formatted as FAT32. The radio does not support exfat or ntfs file systems.

[@scottblanche6657]

Is the new version, the Prunus J401 better ?

[@ma-mo]

Shockingly, I have yet to pick one of those up, so I can't answer that.

[@gcmonarch]

I have the Retekess V115 and the Prunus J401. I don’t know if I got a bad copy of the J401, but my J401 is basically dead on the AM band. Same locations, same time, my V115 will pick up several AM stations clear as a bell, where nothing, or weak at best signal on the J401. FM seems about the same to me and I’ve made some nice FM recordings on the J401. Have only tested the V115 recording functions and seems about the same. V115 sounds better imo.

[@richardfranciscone3392]

I'd love to have the J-401 also. But Amazon doesn't have it in stock anymore and I can't find it anywhere as of about a month ago

[@ma-mo]

@@richardfranciscone3392 AliExpress has it currently for US $21, with free shipping to the US.

[@adriantepes-qu8wm]

a manual in 10 languages

[@edwardfletcher7790]

I've got a V-115 and love it ! But I wish I'd known about the HanRongDa K-603 ! It's the exact same radio, but cheaper, and with Bluetooth !

[@ma-mo]

I ended up picking one of those up, too; I haven't actually tried it, though. Do you know if it can record from Bluetooth?

[@edwardfletcher7790]

@@ma-mo I'd assume so, it's just another audio source to the chip, but I don't know anybody who's got one to test...

[@ma-mo]

@@edwardfletcher7790 ha! I'll see what I can do!

[@edwardfletcher7790]

@@ma-mo Oh, another tip. If you're running it from the power supply, take the battery out or flip it over. There's no charge protection circuit. It's dangerous for a lithium ion battery. (Think Samsung note 7 phone 🔥)

[@NotExpatJoe]

The V115 I have does have a Bluetooth capable IC and antenna but, it does not have Bluetooth functionality in the software. Maybe we will get Bluetooth in a future code update.