The Retevis A1, to paraphrase Retevis’ literature, is a GPS IP67 waterproof analog amateur two-way radio aimed for use in camping, outdoor exploration, emergency rescue, etc. It is waterproof and dustproof, has a 2200mAh battery, supports Type-C charging, and can receive aviation band frequencies.
When you’re hiking through remote terrain or preparing for emergency communications, having a reliable yet compact antenna like the ladder line j-pole can make all the difference. I’ve experimented with numerous antenna designs over the years, but few match the versatility and performance of a homemade 450 ohm ladder line Slim Jim for the … Read more
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen new hams struggle with poor reception, only to discover they’re using that stock “rubber duck” antenna that came with their radio because they have no idea what the different types of ham radio antennas are. Want to know a simple secret? Swapping that stubby little thing … Read more
Learning how to tune an antenna is important because a poorly tuned antenna can reflect nearly 50% of your radio’s power back into your equipment. This knowledge proves crucial for anyone who uses radio equipment – amateur radio operators, CB communicators, or professionals. Standing Wave Ratio (SWR) measures your antenna’s efficiency. The measurement shows how … Read more
The Baofeng UV-25 and UV-25 Pro are bit radios, as in really big. The only Baofeng radio I have ever worked with this big was the AR-152. Does that large size and huge antenna make for a better radio? Let’s find out!
The Yaesu FT3DR was Yaesu’s top-of-the-line handheld radio from 2019-2021 and broke new ground by having not only a beautiful, large, full color screen, and also that the screen was a touchscreen. Its predecessor from 2015, the FT2DR was also a touchscreen, but was monochrome.
This Abbree AR-730 comes just days after my review of the Abbree AR-518, which won the award for lowest scores every achieved in the history of my tests. Everyone can make a dud, so I am hoping for better from this radio. I have to admit, I am a little worried though as this one starts off advertising 6-bands just like the last one. I guess we will see.
Believe it or not, the Yaesu VX-8G was my first Yaesu radio, and my third ever handheld radio. I saved up some money and wanted to buy a really top-of-the-line radio to replace my Kenwood that was having problems. My new radio had to also have a bevy of the latest features and most capabilities of anything out in 2011. That’s a lot of pressure on a little radio.
The Kenwood TH-K20A came into my possession because I have always had a thing for Kenwood. Home stereo, car stereo, MINI-Disc recorders, and yes, ham radios. My first serious ham radio was a Kenwood TH-79, which I dearly loved. So when I saw a K20A for a reasonable amount, I grabbed it.
The Wouxun KG-UV6D V2 is a fairly popular dual-band radio from Wouxun that has been around a while. It shares the same basic layout and looks as the other Wouxun radios released around the same time. In fact, if you ignore the green button on the front labeled RPT, it is really hard to tell the UV6D and UV3D apart from a couple feet away. The question becomes, what is the difference, if any?