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Yup, I was able to save one of the default repeater channels into 39, but 31-38 aren't an option through the radio menu. Talk about extra handicapped...

And you can usually do the MARS Mod to these types of radios with will open up MURS, GMRS and CB bands. Not that I would condone using a non Part 95 certified radio on GMRS or a radio that puts out way more than 4 watts on 11m/CB or more than 2 watts on MURS

Was gonna reccomend the 778uv, which i own 2 of, or finding a good deal on a used anytone 5888uv, which i also own... great radios for the price....

Fun fact.... dummy loads can still get out there if you are close enough.... was testing radios in my buddies backyard one drunken evening, about 3 miles from the local repeater, and were able to hold a conversation on said repeater thru the swr/power meter and dummy load configuration, on a radio which showed just over 7 watts..... recieving side said audio was a bit muffled, but clear enough to be understood

Hello Group! Here is a quick repeater system update! 9/7/25 SGA-575 is ON the air! New updated repeater is in and being readied to be installed in the near future. Also antenna crew is being scheduled to replace the existing antenna with one that has higher gain. SGA-600 is ON the air! Intermittent noise issues....Replacement duplexers have been received and tuned. Scheduling date to install them during last quarter 2025. SGA-650 is NOT on the air! Down due to hurricane Helene tower being destroyed. New site has been located and equipment is being ordered. Tower crew to be scheduled for work. Still no ETA at this time. Hopefully during winter 26-26 SGA-700 is NOT on the air! The tower site is being reconfigured. The repeater will be off for a few months while work is being completed. Thanks, Scott Haner - SYSOP WRFS362

Congrats on the tech.......EMCOMMs are ok....most of the CERT members I knew only used the radios for local nets. There is a lot more to this hobby as I'm sure you will find out. The other tests are not that hard either compared to the 'old' days.

Looks like in my absence, you got some positive suggestions to solve your problem. If you are still running into trouble let me know some specifics and I will re-lock my radio and work them out for you!

I posted that comment hoping I would get some feedback from a Retells Ra-25 owner. I have never laid my eyes on the Retevis, but I once helped someone online debug their codeplug. The problem I had was I could not open their Retevis codeplug in either my Radioddity CPS software (preferable) or even my older Anytone CPS software. So I had to download the Retevis software to open it, modify it and save it back to send it to the user. I notice that @wayoverthere just mentioned a similar anomaly above: Hence my reluctance to recommend someone purchasing the Retevis over a choice of either the Radioddity unit or the Anytone unit.

I'm running MX-Linux 23.3 based on Debian. Ubuntu and Mint are both offshoots of Debian. I'm using WINE to run my CPS programs and they pretty much work without issue. You should be able to find WINE, WINE Tricks and Play on Linux in the Repos of your Distro. Once you get that installed it's just a matter of making the .exe file executable in the permissions then you can open with WINE and either run it or install it.

That radio has SMA Male in the radio so you'll need SMA Female to BNC Female for it. Then which ever antennas you'd want to use. I have the stubby on my work radio but can quickly change to the 771 length antenna when I need more range and I don't have to ware out the threads in the radio. Like I said, I wish I'd have done this from the start, it really makes antenna changes a breeze.

Ok thanks. I was looking at some of those, and wasn't sure if I needed both the different ones. I have TD H3's.

Depends on the antenna connection on your radio(SMA Female(most common) or SMA Male(less common)) then you just get a BNC Male antenna to connect to the BNC Female connector. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FD3BSMSK?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CVQL14A?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N5Y8H9L?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085MDL66C?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F9FB4J3D?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

The IC-2730 is also MARS-moddable, but doesn't support D-STAR.

Ok, new to this, but this sounds like a good idea. What exactly do I need to look for to do this? Do I need two connectors? One for the radio, and one for the antenna?

Why is that, they are all the exact same radios. I have the Retevis, and works great! No issues at all.

The Retevis RA25 now does come with the programming cable. It didn't at first. Also, Abbree now has one on Amazon too, but I think it's like $10 cheaper than the others. Not sure if it comes with a cable though.

Both of my Anytone came with the cables as well (from amazon). AFAIK, the Anytone software and the Radioddity software are interchangeable between either brand radio. The Retevis software doesn't play nice with my Anytones, but I can program it just fine with the Radioddity software.

There are “shack in a box” radios that include every common band from 160 meters to 70 cm.

Naa naa naa see, that's TOTALLY different. You need a screwdriver and a soldering iron to unlock MARS mod that radio! You can't do it in software!!

Icom, Yaesu, and the other top brand ham radios follow the rules. CCRs may let you break the rules. 95.1761: (c) No GMRS transmitter will be certified for use in the GMRS if it is equipped with a frequency capability not listed in § 95.1763, unless such transmitter is also certified for use in another radio service for which the frequency is authorized and for which certification is also required. No GMRS transmitter will be certified for use in the GMRS if it is equipped with the capabilities to operate in services that do not require equipment certification, such as the Amateur Radio Service. All frequency determining circuitry (including crystals) and programming controls in each GMRS transmitter must be internal to the transmitter and must not be accessible from the exterior of the transmitter operating panel or from the exterior of the transmitter enclosure.

I see where the confusion lies. It's rooted in the idea that the FCC actually does anything to or for anybody.

My advice, is avoid the Retevis

If you mean the DB20-G, then yes. Or you could pick up the Anytone or Retevis flavors, whichever is cheapest, they're the same radio (hell, my Radioddity showed AnyTone on the welcome screen haha). Pick up whichever's cheapest and comes with the programming cable (the Radioddity at least did when I bought mine, the Retevis didn't, and I don't remember about the AT). My DB20G showed the same price at the time as the Retevis, but came with the cable.

FWIW: I also got a DB-25D which is basically the same format with DMR capabilities.