Retevis RT91 Amplifier - Does The RT91 Work With The Retevis RT97 Repeater As Claimed By Retevis?

You can get info on the Retevis RT97 Repeater here: amzn.to/3Gk2ALB
You can check to see if Retevis has updated the page for the RT91 amplifier here: www.retevissol...
In this video I test if the Retevis RT91 amplifier is compatible with the Retevis RT97 repeater, and other repeaters as claimed on the Retevis website. I also give you an overview of the RT91 amplifier and I test the RT91 power output. I test the UHF version of the RT91 but there is also a VHF version that can be used on a ham radio repeater. The UHF/GMRS version can also be used on a ham 70cm repeater so everything in this video applies to both ham radio and GMRS repeaters.
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[@frankbowman22]

If I'm not mistaken you're supposed to hook it together via coax you did not show that in there so how do we know it's not working great video though

[@TheNotaRubicon]

The repeater was connected to the amp correctly, as per the user-manual. If you dont trust me/what I say/what I do, then please dont watch my videos.

[@frankbowman22]

@@TheNotaRubiconI was just saying that it doesn't look like it's connected so you my friend need to look at the video

[@hartranft66]

thank you capt. obvious

[@1NationMediaUS]

That escalated quickly.

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

​@@frankbowman22 lol he dosent need to look at his own video He edited his own video Hoe about people like you stop running there Mouth with useless Crap

[@d3w4yn3]

I am so relieved that you broke the sharpened tip off of that lethal weapon you were so flippantly brandishing. I predict they will never correct their inaccurate claim. TBH, they probably meant that you could physically connect the two devices together, not that either of them would actually function.

[@lindsaykid9947]

When you "almost forgot" and broke out the sharpener I laughed so hard and was expecting you to push it through till the pencil was gone

[@orpheusepiphanes2797]

That would have been better

[@barrykelly2722]

I lived in a duplexer for a while. Hated the neighbors.

[@billknn]

I have the same repeater and the BTECH version of the amplifier. When I first put it together I got the same results. I had placed the amplifier on the repeater and also next to the repeater and it cycled on and off like this demo. However, I moved the amp away from the repeater by about 2 ft more or less and it all works fine. It’s been working like that for a couple of months. I suspect that RF was getting into the repeater and causing that cycling from an RF feedback loop. Bottom line, it does work, at least for me. Try a bit of separation and see what happens.

[@notsure7874]

My question, is do you get any more fars with the amp connected?

[@SK-rj1ti]

@@notsure7874 This is an important question. Does anyone know the answer?

[@Redbaron3314733]

I am a sad Ham and would like to switch to GMRS, but have no friends to talk to--all my Ham conversations only last about a minute. I pray to Zenu that you will make videos on how to meet people and potential hobbies that use GMRS. Also, how long do I need to transmit with the RT91 to adequately heat a HotPocket, should a Zombie apocalypse destroy my mom's microwave? Thanks Randy!

[@phillipsmiley5930]

at least a minute more than the chinese hexfet PA transistor burns up on its inadequate heat sink the eazyist way heat a HotPocket with a chinese handy is hammer a nail through its Li-ion battery pack, the problem you will then have is trying to stop it burning down your shack. I too am a Sad Ham with no friends, would GMRS help me?

[@1AXMRDR]

That bit with the pencil made me laugh out loud, and I rarely laugh out loud. Congrats. Thanks for taking the time to test and show the test results.

[@yungsmile7546]

I've found out by experience that Retevis is full of shit on antenna specs of their MAO8 VHF mobile antenna. They claim VSWR @ 1.5< when it's 4.8:1 at 146.520. Pathetic. Only their customer service is worse.

[@Blasserman]

I'm sure in their mind, the compatibility is that you can use the device with an HT to access the repeater, therefor it is compatible.

[@Gruuvin1]

LoL. But then they could say "compatible with ALL repeaters" ... but I don't understand how the Chinese brain works.

[@davep6977]

@@Gruuvin1 Chinese brain-we build cheap, they buy high

[@davep6977]

Dave is 100% correct. It's all marketing

[@dominodoggy1]

RETEVIS RT91 now fully compatible with cars, countertops, floors, children's books.

[@WildCaptures]

I understand your blue message , a 24 year old friend of mine just passed suddenly. He was an athletic outdoors enthusiast but he took multiple medical procedures.

[@klv400]

Sorry for your loss. I will never take the needle.

[@applejacks971]

😢💔

[@leskobrandon538]

No GMO shot for me... I like my IgGA 4 being 0.....

[@grigorirasputin5020]

@@klv400 No Faucian clotshot for me, either. Forever pureblood!

[@frankieraymond]

suddenly,i get the message

[@mmostwill]

Thanks for doing this. I've been happy overall with Retevis products. The RT97 has been an awesome little portable repeater for me. But it's irksome that their website still lists it as being compatible after a number of KZbinrs et al have called them out on this... That fact makes me think a little harder before considering their products in the future. Not that I expect them to, but an about face from them would help repair their image in this regard.

[@GTRnissan2012]

The internal notch duplexer could not handle 40w of power. To make it work, you need a external duplexer and jumpers.

[@AnthonyFierro568]

I died laughing when you sharpened the "God damned pencil." Then I really lost it when you broke it 😂😂 keep em coming sensai!

[@karlschwab6437]

Excellent! I have been a Ham for 50 years, and I knew, that this amplifier would not work with my RT97S repeater! But, I had never ever, seen that fact proven, and you just did, thank you so much. I would not hold my breath waiting for Retevis to correct the uses for this amplifier. I like the comment below by ham KO4VNX on "what they may have meant".

[@frankieraymond]

i tried my amp from china after the repeater to the antenna and i was mobile with my wife at home. , it did"nt work. i thought maybe i blew both units up but both are ok. stupid me,i should have known better

[@CooterMolot]

The pencil LOL and he breaks it again 6 seconds later hahahaha I love this guy

[@chknlyps2373]

WTF Randy! Your videos will never be the same with a sharp pencil. Edit: Further along in the video and you redeemed yourself... thanks for giving that PL259 connector the what for! My life has meaning again

[@kchedville]

Maybe someone should sue them for False Advertising... I sure would. How many people may have had their Repeater Blown UP??

[@TheNotaRubicon]

None, because this would not damage a repeater.

[@raymondmiller4981]

Randy, thank you for inserting the long round thingie into it's dark hole. Now maybe I can watch without getting.. hey! auuggghhh! What the Xenu loving... BTW, it's actually CDO. It's like OCD, but it's alphabetical the way it should be. I don't understand the duplexer problem, but I would have thought that plugging the amp into the antenna hole would have simply increased the fars. But that's my Jeep brain in action. More lights and bigger tires, right?

[@shackti1699]

Well, I learned something new today about duplexers. I would have thought the amplifier would have worked just fine. The more you know. Thanks for the video!

[@bills7115]

Me too not only that I'm a Ham might lose my license because I don't know everything.

[@shackti1699]

@@bills7115 Oh I know right. I've been a ham for 3 years, the FCC knocked on my door and fined me $10k because I use a Baofeng, haha. Just got my GMRS license. Looking forward to it!

[@phillipsmiley5930]

@@bills7115 The FCC Offence is in admitting you don't know everything. Its like being the Captain of a Ship, If you run the ship onto rocks you have to tell everyone that was what you intended to do. Didnt you get the Sad Ham 101 memo?

[@timpetrillo2802]

I would have bet 20$ the eraser end was going in first lol

[@andrewrudlang2785]

I'm not falling for the trap Randy laid; waiting to see how many over-eager hams will push their keys right through their keyboards racing to explain the detailed technical reason WHY a power amplifier cannot ever work between the antenna and the duplexer. 'Bout to be a lot of unpaid self-appointed professors in this comments section, get your popcorn 😏

[@TheNotaRubicon]

already been about 20 of them answering questions that nobody asked.. All swiftly deleted to help keep your KZbin experience more pleasurable.

[@phillipsmiley5930]

Its as Randy Said (From a Sad Ham with 46 years of Licensed sadness)

[@RINNTY]

Nice Video Randy, I Couldnt figure out How that was going to Work. Ive never seen amplifiers placed after the Duplexer. That amifier is for hand helds. Thanks for the demonstration. Retevis would be Smart to make a repeater thats 35 or 40 watts.

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Nice going Retavis On Lieing about Compatability on your own Products. I bet they will never update there webpage Randy 15:30 @NotaRubicon Productions

[@JupiterDrifterX]

Died suddenly on the tv😁 can't talk about that on KZbin!

[@andybonneau9209]

You have two friends? I might have believed one and a paid participant.

[@goodoz9942]

Another classic Video Backdrop. 👍

[@criss350]

Update retevis has updated the product specifications for the Rt91 amplifier on there website 👍🏻

[@notsure7874]

And they are STILL ... lying.

[@googleuser1036]

Their

[@dawndenvercook]

"I can work... Amplifiers that work in two directions filter the signals through two separate amps and recombine them. A less perfect SWR could be a problem; sometimes, a high-loss line can be an advantage it looks like a good SWR. Then there is the cost: can they have a good filter at that price point? It is bad that they do not provide good English support, which would be a big help."

[@alvinmorris5404]

I prefer the pencil in it's normal(?) state it more closely matches the mental and personal aspects of the owner...BENT😂and BROKEN 😅😂

[@andybonneau9209]

There's something kind of sexy with that pencil sharpener, not sure what.

[@DePalma.]

Is this the same as the Btech amplifier for $137? It looks like the same factory produces both & private labels them for each company, respectively.

[@SW0000A]

Another commenter on here said they got the Btech working with their repeater after they put a couple feet of distance between them.

[@gregsavernik3650]

I’m still waiting on Retevis to warranty the programming cables they sent… that was months ago. My suggestion is not to hold your breath waiting. Thanks for the great video!

[@StevenRAssmann-tb7ty]

👍😎thank you for finally sharpening your pencil! That didn’t last long!!! Try pointing with the eraser end of your pencil!

[@Edb007th]

Xenu provides the extra power for the unit.

[@av-il6bf]

Hands Down...and Hands Up... the funniest pencil sharpener intro ever...The big "Z" is impressed!!!

[@joestreiff9401]

I'm not a ham, heck, I don't even play with gmrs. the best I can do is fall back in my CB experience. I can't really see where it would matter. it shouldn't make any difference whether you have an antenna, a dummy load, or an amp beyond the duplexer. seems to me that a duplexer is nothing more than a glorified notch filter. it could be that you're inputting more than the 5volts to the amp and it's being overdriven. Again, not a ham, but have put a bunch of amps on CB''s since the 70's and learned a little input power goes a long way in an amp.

[@beardedbehr4105]

I just want to highlight the fact to everyone that Randy said I was his FAVORITE VIEWER. We all heard it.

[@chrisfontenot3006]

@NotaRubicon Productions... i love the shirt. Thanks for your work

[@allendevans]

Hold the phone … you skipped a step. Between 7m09s and 7m10s power magically appeared for the megaphone enhancement gadget. Please elaborate.

[@patricklozito7042]

I never thought a pencil could be so hilarious. I believe, but cannot be certain, that Retevis will respond possibly before you resharpen the pencil. However, that is just a shot in the dark.

[@archmasterone]

You should never use the Lord's name in a swearing fashion. Most really talented GMRS and Hams feel it's like fingernails on a chalkboard. Your ignorance in the matter is no excuse.

[@W5KJD]

You just saved me some money, thank you so much. 👍 Also, please never sharpen that pencil, I like that pencil just the way it was.

[@timpetrillo2802]

Sucks man. I thought this was the answer. Been trying to figure out a gmrs repeater thats not a billion dollars. Been looking at the m1225s but wanted something more new

[@mmcnew1]

Ever think about designing a Sad Ham meter to go along as a companion product with the innovative Fars-O-Meter 2000? You could market it as the Know-it-All meter by the Rectal Retentive Company. It could measure just how sad the ham is. Oh wait… I think you have a pretty good one already built in. Never mind. 😂

[@LatitudeSky]

Suddenly had memories of when Mr. Wizard took a hot dog and eletrocuted it with mains voltage. That would be a terrific sad ham meter.

[@patthesoundguy]

If you email Retevis I bet they would change the website pretty quickly. Just today they changed their website to include a radio that was previously not available to Canada to make it available so I could order it. I love the fact you took the time to actually test that set up... It was the only way to truly know. Now we know, and knowing is half the battle 🤦 ugh sorry I just quoted GI-Joe from 1983😂 Yeah not sorry 😛

[@applejacks971]

Flint and Lady J have entered the chat!!! Gooo JOE!!!!!

[@rdsmith334]

@@applejacks971 Mmmmmm… Lady J

[@applejacks971]

@@rdsmith334 Exactly!!! The Baroness though, oofta! 😍🥰

[@AZ762SHOOTER]

Damn you make me laugh. I see you too love to fuck with people. The whole pencil thing with the lead had me laughing. Ocd people were probably grinding their teeth watching it...

[@willacewallace5905]

Yo. Re-sharpen that goddam pencil again, already. It's bothering me.

[@mattdisero]

Up here in Canada lots of us see your tv screen and agree.

[@imgettinby]

looking at the page you show, I find it interesting that "compatible with..." is the only line NOT capitalized and I'll bet that was not unintentional. They will probably just say, "we meant if you hook it to your HT and talk to the repeater it will work just fine". Or something like that.

[@marshred]

The Pencil...!!!! Love it!

[@jackpalma3590]

Thank you for this information on the amplifier. I bought one to try.. I was wondering if you could do a more indepth tutorial on the BTech Pro ? Just starting out and do not know a lot about anything on GMRS radios at all. Thanks again for your help

[@Moonbogg]

My ignorant ass would totally try to plug those two things together then return them both to amazon when it doesn't work, then try again with the replacements.

[@SocialistDistancing]

Interesting. Maybe what retivis meant was, tge repeater can "receive " the 40w power. (I don't mean input). Just speculating how retivis will twist it,

[@rocks2rocks06]

Worrying about a pencil is like pissing your pants and wondering if anyone else has wet pants.

[@dennisjones8991]

You could use that system, but it would require two antennas and some rewiring inside the repeater case.

[@Brood_Master]

The pencil sharpener didn't help. You clearly have a defective pencil...

[@jheichelbech]

Like the Btech, the on/off tones drive crazy. Feel opposite.

[@palehorse7377]

it made my radio def. Id ping a repeater with the amp and hear nothing back. a second radio without amp would hear the repeater tone. I also had no more range to hit repeaters on the edge of reception. using simplex I could tell virtually no difference with the amp either. functionally it was a paper weight. I returned it and got a crossband mobile radio and that was all the difference in the world.

[@eskieguy9355]

I'm going to say, either 7 business days to fix the web site, or 7 BDs to send you instructions on how to disassemble the repeater and make internal changes, which may release the magic smoke.

[@PsRohrbaugh]

Why would anyone give this guy money?

[@TheNotaRubicon]

I know, right?!

[@kardotalisayph5986]

I tried the same with mine i separate about 2 feer it works fine .. any way im lucky 😅

[@KELLER_FPV]

bro...🤣🤣🤣 10 months old and I can't stop staring at that pencil

[@dgalloway67]

That's quite a claim about it working with the RT97. I don't own either, but am wondering if the RT97 can perhaps be configured as a base only, rather than repeater mode, which would make it compatible. Just a thought?

[@TheNotaRubicon]

Nothing about that in the user-manual or the software, so probably not.

[@FloridaOverland]

Thank You Randy... I own the same repeater... I was truly hoping that it worked with the repeater... thanks...

[@landontakeamericaback2106]

Thanks!King Calypso Banana Puffy Sleeves, Ive learned a pant load.Keep it Fun for the fold.

[@TheNotaRubicon]

Thank YOU!

[@kleinbiker1]

I’m sure their claim just means that you can connect an HT to the amplifier and then use that to transmit into the repeater.

[@TheNotaRubicon]

Thats not how I, or the dozens of people emailing me to confirm if it would work interpreted it.

[@kleinbiker1]

@@TheNotaRubicon yeah but I’m sure they (retevis) knows it won’t work, so that’s kind of the only thing it could mean then. Just a thought.

[@iwontlagback7236]

Oh, I could swear I saw this advertised on AliExpress as a radio. Good thing i got an rt95 instead 🤣

[@Michael-tq5il]

Love the carbon pointer. 🤣

[@grigorirasputin5020]

Won't that contribute to "global warming" and the destruction of our planet? 😄

[@phillipsmiley5930]

Thats not a Carbon Pointer, its its a fully automatic weapon of Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

[@ParallelCamper]

I do not use a radio, but I always watch at least to see your t-shirt.

[@whollymindless]

The site appears to already have been updated. There's a new model number and a new price, but no indication of compatibility with the RT97.

[@TheNotaRubicon]

Not when I look - check the link to the page in the info-section of the video.

[@russellherron6116]

Messy Bologna cable... ha ha ha, he said he has a messy bologna, he he he...

[@rvermill47]

Great video man. You and that pencil started my day off right!

[@ke8mattj]

Interesting. I am a ham, but I didn't know about the amplifier/duplexer thing. Apparently I must've glanced over it in the books since the ARRL books are that boring. I don't even remember any questions relating to it.

[@TheNotaRubicon]

Dont read too much into it.. It was at the top of the Jenga Wall Of Radios and easiest to grab without knocking over any other radios.

[@kb6lcw99]

I hope Jose is watching in England, he is so insightful. 😊

[@PowderMill]

Talk about desense… ! I’d love to find an inexpensive RF power amp that works with analog AND digital types of input like P25 and DMR. I usually select TPL or Crescend amps but these easily are in the $1k + range. What about taking the repeater apart and replacing the duplexer with a 50 watt mobile notch style duplexer? It’s still very economical if it does work. Thanks for the video.

[@wheelersecuritygroup]

That’s funny Sh*t about the pencil 😅

[@jamesd4013]

Hahahaha....you are a trolling Super-Saiyan!

[@Umbrarian]

RT-91 web page has detailed instructions on how to make it work.

[@TheNotaRubicon]

It does not work, and according to physics and how antennas function, it cannot work.

[@chrissewell1608]

I keep waitin for a cartoon clip, from the old He-Man cartoon. Yelling "I HAVE THE POWER"! That broken pencil lead was to funny! As was the "Ching-lish". I am one happy ham, today! Thanks. 🐷

[@bills7115]

I would have thought it should work, interesting, Trying to think out the science ... OK no, it wouldn't work as the repeater is both transmitting and receiving at the same time. I think Sales wrote the literature with out consulting engineering, BUT I'm a bit clinical might be a little sarcastic too. It is probably the Chinese being their old ethical selves. On the other hand there would be quite a few returns and pissed ex customers, which doesn't help the bottom line... oik got to be the first reason... OOPS. It will be changed in 24 hrs. Thank you, learned something today, besides the planet is swirling deeper in to the toilet. OH! I forgot to announce that, I'm a Ham... or maybe not because I don't know everything even though been licences 33 yrs AND on top of that, I was born in New Jersey. left when I was 7 though.. Maybe that is the reason I don't know everything, I left too soon. Do you really get comments about your pencil!? Well further proof we are swirling faster and faster. BTW last week or so some professors back east (where a lot of people DO know everything), Among the 110 words, acronyms etc. OCD is now verboten They are now to be refereed to as Object ORIENTEERS.. Since I am a Ham I guess some where in part 97 rules from Title 47 of the code of Federal Regulations I have to make sure you are correct, don't want to be reported or something. I don't remember seeing it but I may have missed it during the fascinating read. I hope this was long enough to qualify as a HAM.

[@jhartmac100]

I just purchased the Package from Retevis RT97S with antenna.....and was hoping this combo would boost the signal

[@garylanders1470]

Is there any chance that connecting an additional "external" duplexer between the amp and repeater with one antenna at the amp output and another at the other leg of the duplexer would remedy this?

[@TheNotaRubicon]

You would have to disconnect the internal duplexer and then connect an external duplexer capable of handling the power.

[@Calebh40]

#pencilenvy

[@Scout75PortableRadio]

After watching this video, Retevis engineers and marketing people are looking up "compatible" in the dictionary and are collectively going "oooooohhhh, yeah that's not what we thought." By the way, just incase there may be any confusion; Randy was pointing directly at me when he said "my favorite viewer" not you.

[@kerrymcdonaugh2437]

You get a like just for the pencil bit

[@notsure7874]

Great Catch by Notarubicon! Calling out a long term sponsor for lying is ballsy. They "updated" it to say you have to upgrade from a 30 watt to a 50 watt duplexer to use it with that repeater. They are still ... lying.

[@dominodoggy1]

I hope your aftermarket product testing and the subsequent hurried editing of The Lie has deepened your longstanding relationship with Retevis and the two of you are closer than ever before in these trying times. :p

[@jeff4423]

Two websites? Retevis vs retevis solutions? One has a cig liter for power the othe does not help?

[@TheNotaRubicon]

Both websites are owned/maintained by Retevis. According to Retevis, one is primarily for United States visitors, the other for the rest of the world.

[@radiohobbyist13]

I was going to send you a box of 1,000 pre-sharpened pencils but after I watched this video I changed my mind. ✏️ 😅

[@neilmayo6868]

Pretty sure you got pencil lead in the SO-239 connector, or otherwise I'd be hearing your repeater at my house.

[@SomeGuy-hy9zf]

Not much confidence with that direct HT to Amp test huh? Using the old radio to test I see (KG-905G)

[@angeloritz2483]

Can't retivis just make a slightly larger rt97 with more power like maybe 15 to 20 watts ??

[@jbray8603]

I always thought the broken pencil was just a metaphor for all of the pointless comments from the broke-dink sad hams.

[@nathansharpe3139]

I just checked their website.... it no longer states or shows that it supports the Rt97. It's completely removed.

[@echo1er]

You think you would get the same result with the midland repeater ?

[@TheNotaRubicon]

Yes, exact same.

[@RicSpivey]

"some people" need to stop complaining about sharpening his pencil! Almost fell in the dang mic port! See what y'all almost did!

[@icebrakernh]

If the thought is in place of the amp being between the repeater and the antenna it should work due to the repeater is a radio like your hand held it listens and transmits with the amp it allows the flow of in bound signals and boosts the output bound power and signal. Remembering the line of sight rule still comes in to play. Yet the penetration will be increased. Seeing your results something just didn’t add up why it was acting up so strangely. Although if the amp gets too much power from the radio it could cut out .

[@TheNotaRubicon]

You very clearly have no idea how a repeater with a duplexer works.

[@icebrakernh]

@@TheNotaRubicon still new and learning. I do know on many styles of amps some have what is called high drive and others have low drive input. High drive you can put higher power in and it works but low drive amps if you over drive them they tend to cut out. But then again that is 11 meter c b equipment on AM I’m sure the uhf vhf and fm are different in nature.

[@Jdubbsotheradventure]

What if you used two uv5r and the patch cable that connects them together turning them into a repeater. Could the amplifier make it a 40 W repeater?

[@roberthodges5039]

I am new to your channel and GMRS radio. I was thinking in "Chinglish" that the handheld connected to the amplifier meant it was compatable with the rt97 repeater.

[@garylanders1470]

You're The Man! Man