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Don't forget to check out the AnyTone 778UV while you're at it.

I have never had a Retevis Ra-25 in my hands, but in an attempt to help a Ham that had one, I found that the Retevis version of the CPS software created codeplugs that I could not open in the Radioddity CPS software. So I have concluded that the Retevis model is not a 100% clone and I avoid it. Chirp (and/or the RT Software) may make this issue moot!

If memory serves me (and sometimes it doesn’t) I believe all three can be unlocked but you can also order either GMRS or ham versions as well.

Retevis RA25. I had to look it up, I couldn’t remember either

I share your old thing, that's why I ask via type so I can look back at it!

I find that my AT-779UV and my DB20-G into to my rooftop Comet CX-333 tribander, outperform my Yaesu FT-857d on 2 meters and 70 cm FM.

@WSEL330 - just so you know the AT-779 and the Radioddity are basically the same radio, just different name plates. There’s another brand also that sells their version of the same radio but I’m old and I don’t remember the name.

My tongue in cheek comment was a criticism of @amaff’s comment Did you take it personally because I replied to you?? As someone who suffers from ADD, I am always grateful to someone who enjoys doing the research and giving me a link in response. To those who passive-aggressively suggest “google” or “YouTube” they can F-themselves!!

You beat me to it

Real budget I like the Anytone AT-779 or one of it’s equivalents.

The Radioddity db20g is a 20 watt GMRS radio that is easily unlocked to operate on 2m and 70 cm. Several of us have one or more. Best wishes for your general!!

Bummer, I'll see what I can do...Any low budget options for this type of Radio (70cm-2m). Course I am going for my general and realize I will have several radios eventually as the rabbit hole swallows me up!

The “quick keying brings it back momentarily” has me suspicious of a loose connection in the radio and the additional power demand is temporarily making the connection better. I’m with @SteveShannon on contacting customer service.

That sounds like a problem with the radio. Can you contact customer service and maybe get a replacement?

But thank you, Sir.

Well that shoots down that theory…

Jesverty SPS-3011 set at 13.8V

I’m curious what you are using for a power source.

my bad. there were not one, but two.

Elmer/Elmo/Radio dorks/Etc..(not meant to be derogatory, affectionate), As the title says, I am new (KR4FHF). I have a TYT TH-9800. Getting at 1.01-1.65 SWR between freqs on 70cm and 2m. Coax is rg58 (I know....And length in this case made no difference with my problem). Antenna is about 60' up but I am on a wooded lot. I have it in as clear of a spot as I can hanging from a tree. I adjusted the height according to SWR. Repeaters report decent signal report. I have been on nets with no one saying anything about my trans. While listening, the speaker will start strong with great signal. Then the audio degrades but signal the same. I find if I 'key' quickly, the speaker comes back strong again but then fades again. My HAM study suggests that my radio does not have the features to 'track the fluxuating freq' OR I have a problem with capacitance and/or inductance somewhere. Surprisingly, the antenna tuned for 70cm and 2m works with an SWR of 1.2 on my GRMS tuned at a 462.575ish. I have swapped the coax cables back and forth (RG58 and RG213) as well with no change in fading. I this a product of my location and propagation problems due to my climate? Need some learnin', enlighten me oh wise HAM family.

You guys are going to turn him into Rodney Dangerfield

Not nearly as inexpensive as some others but for about $90 it seems pretty good to me. A friend of mine claims it has the best analog sound of any of my radios. I’ve worked on three of them. The first one I used RT Systems to build a codeplug. That worked well. Then I installed OpenUV380 on it for the speech features and traded it to a blind friend for his stock model. I have left it stock and use RT Systems to edit the codeplug. That’s my second one. The third was one a friend brought to me after he borked it trying to update the firmware. I installed the OpenUV380 system on it (which requires loading the factory firmware anyway) and built him a codeplug and he seems happy. I like it.

So it would be a decent budget DMR then?

The RT-3S is exactly the same radio as the TYT MD UV380 that I have. Just a different name plate. As such it’s a candidate for OpenUV380 (~OpenGD77)

Here's an excellent video I found showing how to set up a DMR radio. I was looking at the Retevis RT3S. It's 2M/70cm(so I can probably do MURS and GMRS too) and it's supposed to be 10 watts. The price isn't too Bad either.