The Retevis RT-24 PMR/FRS UHF Handheld Radio.

[@survivalcomms]

I say it often - simple radios like that will serve most users needs admirably. They are priced cheaper than an an operational period's disposable batteries for a high tier commercial radio. Thanks for sharing !

[@forthy62]

I really like Retevis Radios. Never had any problems. I am using the RT29 and the Ailunce HD1 (same case, same connectors) and I am very happy with both. And both are very rugged. 73, Stephan, DF6PA

[@robcollie8141]

in australia we have to have a radio with a screen we can get radios up to 5w on cb 477 to 476 uhf use 80 ch cb has to be progamed by a compney

[@MeineVideokasetten]

I have this radios. I'm using the 1st 8 channels for normal PMR use. On the upper channels I programmed lokal repeaters for >>>>>SWLing

[@TonyHoldenEsquire]

Hi Gil, I'm in the UK and have a ham licence, I've been thinking about getting a PMR radio to experiment with. After watching this review I've ordered a RT-648 for myself. I operate a lot portable or mobile, so water resistance is a key feature for me, it's why I also have the Yaesu VX-6. I may also check the battery clip mount on the RT-648 for continuity, again for experimentation purposes.

[@RadioPrepper]

I am waiting for a waterproof model, but no idea which one they sent..

[@martinvanek5951]

Glad you're back! Cheers

[@RadioPrepper]

I never left ;-)

[@G0GCQ]

Thanks for this video. I agree, they certainly look professional.

[@mike-M0MSN]

Great little radios Gil.. 👍

[@rogerlafrance6355]

I like that they have put a 1/4 wave antenna on it. Most have short antennas that have short antennas that loose over -6Db that unit to unit is -12Db! A lot to loose when you only have half a watt.

[@alderankorym]

I wonder if I could swap the antenna of a PMR for another fixed one but 1/4 or 1/2 wave to get better performance while remaining (somewhat?) legal. Do you think that's doable?

[@RadioPrepper]

Doable but not legal. Also has to be a 1/4 wave but you can add a 1/4 w rat tail..

[@rogerlafrance6355]

@@RadioPrepper The next step to get more range is to use a speaker-mic so you can hold the radio above your head or away from you when you need more range.

[@alderankorym]

@@RadioPrepper Thank you for the answer. Why would 1/2 wave not be possible? Wouldn't that be better? (sorry noob question)

[@RadioPrepper]

No because the impedance at the end of a half-wave wire is a few thousand Ohms while the final amplification stage of the radio wants 50 Ohms. But if you feed the half-wave in the middle, two quarter waves, one connected to ground and the other to the centre conductor, then the impedance is close enough to 50 Ohms.

[@tombaffa9374]

Very interesting and thanks for the info

[@theultimateblindmaster8570]

I actually have the retivus RT648 radio, and it is really good . Yes, like you said in the video, it would be really good for your boat as the 648 is IP 67 rated . If you could also, please could you upload a review of the retivus RT648 radio?

[@RadioPrepper]

If I get one yes.

[@brunocdt2765]

Using this models in my job ,i'm machines drivers in quarrys, very good littles radios and not expensives. Before we had Motorola or Icom on a professionals frequency but very expensives.

[@joecraft4409]

Loving all my "Gil" videos. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@MoTown44240]

Good to see and hear you Gil. Thanks for review. 72 de KB8AMZ

[@jimthvac100]

Nice video, Only thing I don't like about these radios is the top channel selector. When I am working and have it on my belt it is so easy to accidentally change channels and not know it. This happened to me several times when using it on a job with a friend.

[@RadioPrepper]

It happens often with my Yaesu VX6, not with these..

[@michaelloughlin734]

I've got these and using a small hex key. Hole at bottom of antannae has a small grub screw when removed allows stick antenna to be screwed off revealing a mini female sma I use a Nagoya on mine.

[@RadioPrepper]

Great info thanks!

[@fred-283]

What size hex key, please? I have a set of 9 small such keys, and none fits. Could you give me the size, perhaps in mm? Thanks.

[@ianxfs]

Chunky and cheap! Quick, useful review 👍🏻

[@mikesey1]

I like Retevis radios, but they have banned me from buying from them on Ebay. They did that because I drew attention to the bad chargers & batteries in reviews. I had to buy new chargers and cradles for RT5s and RT27s, even one of their RT 84 DMRs needed one. New batteries for the radios reviewed here were required. I can buy from Retevis, but only by email, with higher postage costs than if purchased from Ebay.

[@RadioPrepper]

Interesting, I never had problems with batteries or chargers...

[@mikesey1]

@@RadioPrepper You probably have not had them for long enough!

[@RadioPrepper]

I've had some for years but I have so many radios that I don't use them all extensively...

[@raykiii]

Hey Gil, Do you also have GMRS. We are now allowed to make repeaters for that service and have an antenna 20 feet (That's about 6 meters.) above the ground. So on top of a hill, that could increase your line of sight and talking range. Pretty cool, Right? I enjoy your videos. Good to see you on a boat. 73

[@RadioPrepper]

Thanks!. No GMRS in France... PMR only.

[@DocteurJacquesBUIS]

Bonjour et merci pour vos vidéos. Pour obtenir la bonne longueur d’antenne, vous proposez un système « queue de rat » sur une des deux vis du support de BF uv5r. Ma question est quel : est le diamètre du fil à utiliser ? Merci

[@RadioPrepper]

Peu importe...

[@DocteurJacquesBUIS]

Je vous remercie !

[@tainoaces5604]

Hi Gil, thank you for all your great reviews and overall content. Question: isn’t .5 watts an extremely small amount of power to rely on for family emergency comms? If so, can you recommend an alternative for more pwr (5watts) but without an amateur radio tech lic? Thank you...Joe.

[@RadioPrepper]

It is.. Works great line-of-sight, but as soon as you have obstacles... In the US look at GMRS and MURS.

[@brunom5333]

@@RadioPrepper Super vos vidéos Gil ! En utilisant une antenne Yagi a une hauteur favorable elle Fonctionnes Vraiment Bien

[@briantheminer]

Unfortunately Taino, with no licence 0.5w is your limit But, for an emergency, just keep a programmed UV5 or similar, in those situations anything counts

[@tainoaces5604]

Radio Prepper thank you.

[@markg6jvy135]

👍

[@dltarvin]

I assume the radios are still line of sight range? You mentioned emergency contact with family. This is what I had in mind. We all live within 5 miles of each other but on a hilly terrain with structural obsticals.

[@RadioPrepper]

Line of sight yes. Any obstacle and it won't go through.

[@dltarvin]

@@RadioPrepper I figured as much. The next solution was CB or family members obtain at least a Tech class license. We could take advantage of local repeater until the lose power. Communications is a bit of challenge when living in a river valley.

[@RadioPrepper]

A valley means NVIS, which means a horizontal antenna on 40 or 80m... The tech license does have some allocations down there using CW...

[@dltarvin]

@@RadioPrepper I was hoping an affordable 1.25m, 2m or even 6m to keep family friend in touch. But i still comes down to getting them to taking their tests. Only a couple are willing to put in the effort.

[@RadioPrepper]

That is always the most difficult! Get them to try General, it is only a hair above tech.

[@faolou800]

bonjour bonjour, je ne parle que français... Je voudrais m'équiper en Baofeng UV-5R. Ma question est : il y a-t-il mieux point de vue rapport qualité prix ? Un autre modèle de Baofeng ? une autre marque ? merci déjà ;o) et bonne continuation.

[@RadioPrepper]

Retevis et TYT sont un peu mieux. Au dessus il y a Icom, Kenwood et Yaesu. J'utilise un Yaesu VX6. C'est pour faire quoi?

[@faolou800]

@@RadioPrepper merci beaucoup d'avoir pris de ton temps pour répondre, c'est chouette__guide nature en Ardenne, j'ai besoin de communiquer en forêt à "quelques" km. Il me manque la marque et modèle ET que cela ne soit pas trop encombrant ni trop lourd.

[@RadioPrepper]

TYT MD-680. A programmer avant usage...

[@brunom5333]

Bonjour Pour ma part j'utilise le Baofeng DM 1701 comutable en PMR et DMR avec antenne Nagoya Na 771 ou une Yagi 3 éléments ou Plus

[@leystate]

@@faolou800 yaesu FT4 X 👍

[@AliReza-zx8km]

Nice 😁

[@VicGreenBitcoin]

A real European Prepper should buy a FRS/GMRS radio, in case of a real emergency PMR would be hopeless full and you can not use it. FRS for example is free in Europe, nobody is using it. And remember in a real catastrophe like War, meteor hit, new pandemic you can use what ever you want.

[@RadioPrepper]

What makes you think I don't own half a dozen?

[@VicGreenBitcoin]

@@RadioPrepper To be honest, I already suspected you of this ;) Maybe a nice video Motorola T82 against the Motorola T800 or T801

[@benitopussolini544]

PLANDEMIC!