Retevis RT97 power cord pinout

[Flameout]

I ordered a Retevis RT97 repeater last week and I should hopefully have it by the end of the week. In the meantime, I wanted to make a couple of power cords. The RT97 uses a 4 pin aviation plug but I can not find anywhere which pins are which. I thought that pinout would be easy to find online. I was wrong

 

Does anyone that owns the RT97 know which 2 of the 4 pins are used?

[Flameout]

I received my RT97 today (ordered last Thursday -4 days from China to PA)

For anyone that need to know, pin 2 is + and pin 1 is -

When I first powered it up it wasn't working on 462.550/467.550 so I was kind of upset, to put it mildly. Especially when the display screen came with no protective film and was very scratched up. Maybe a used unit?

Testing the other channels it works just fine, so no clue what is with channel 1. It is showing that it is picking up the HT signal and the 2nd HT is receiving it but there is no audio.

The power output was a little better than I was expecting and that was using the supplied power supply, which was 12.87v. Maybe more power in would be more power out? 

[OffRoaderX]

Your channel 1 may have a different/wrong CT tone set on it. Easy to check.

More power in will not = more power out - you're lucky to be getting almost 6W out of it!

[WRFP399]

I know this is an older threat. I was using the search function to find another post and saw this. I just to add detail on the more/less power in not making more/less power out. I did a bunch of poking around inside mine and found the voltage is dropped down to about 8 volts before it goes into the radio unit itself. The RT97 is listed as needing anywhere from 12-24 volts input but due to that regulator it won't change what the radio itself sees.

 

In the attached image you will see this circuit board circled in orange. Power comes in on the red and black wires, the other two are data (Red Arrow). The reduced voltage leaves on the ribbon to the radio unit itself, I don't recall exactly which in the ribbon are the main power wires anymore. (Teal Arrow)

[WSGU500]

That is interesting, WRFP399. I appreciate you including that information, especially in light of the response I received from Retevis regarding power output. I get between 5.5 and 6.7 watts output on my RT97. I figured that it was due to going through a duplexer but wanted to see what Retevis support had to say. Their response included various things to check with one of them being the input power. They indicated that low input power would cause low output power from the transmitter. I did my testing using their included power supply.

Anyway, I am happy with my RT97 overall. I thought that their response was interesting and possibly inaccurate. I figure as long as you give the unit 12 volts DC, it should do what it's supposed to do.

[HHD1]

1 hour ago, Socalgmrs said:

That’s not a circle its a square so I’d say it’s outlined in orange not circled

Actually, a square has four sides of equal length.  I would say this is a rectangle. However, you are right.  It is definitely not a circle. 

[WRUY699]

I would like to ask another question since this repeater is open; could you please tell me what the markings are on the 5 pin IC on the green board?  It appears to be a voltage regulator and mine was blown apart from an apparent lightning/voltage spike.  I have not found a schematic for this repeater anywhere.  Thanks, WRUY699.

[WSHH887]

On 3/11/2025 at 12:06 PM, HHD1 said:

Actually, a square has four sides of equal length.  I would say this is a rectangle. However, you are right.  It is definitely not a circle. 

Technically a "rounded rectangle".  But whose counting.

[WRPB666]

My power supply the RT97P quit working! Someone reversed the polarity and well it stopped working. 

I believe its the switching voltage regulator

https://amzn.to/3G4yTSd

 

[Jaay]

On 3/20/2023 at 2:25 PM, WRFP399 said:

I know this is an older threat. I was using the search function to find another post and saw this. I just to add detail on the more/less power in not making more/less power out. I did a bunch of poking around inside mine and found the voltage is dropped down to about 8 volts before it goes into the radio unit itself. The RT97 is listed as needing anywhere from 12-24 volts input but due to that regulator it won't change what the radio itself sees.

 

In the attached image you will see this circuit board circled in orange. Power comes in on the red and black wires, the other two are data (Red Arrow). The reduced voltage leaves on the ribbon to the radio unit itself, I don't recall exactly which in the ribbon are the main power wires anymore. (Teal Arrow)

Can you do a Search on the Board number ?  It looks like it might be Under the large cabled connector. Doing a search of that number on duck duck go OR Repeaterbuilder.com might pull up the wiring guide.

[Jaay]

On 3/11/2025 at 12:13 PM, Socalgmrs said:

Man can’t believe I missed this thread.  This cheap repeater is listed at 5w so why would any one expect more than 5w. I’d figure 3-4 max so doing great.  Second you say “needing any where from 12-24volts”.  That is actually not what retivis says at all.  It says it supports 12-24volts.  So needs 12 can use upto 24v.  Not the same thing. And last you said “circuit board circled in orange”. That’s not a circle its a square so I’d say it’s outlined in orange not circled. 

You SHOULD have skipped over this thread, since you had NOTHING HELPFUL to add !!!

[Jaay]

On 3/11/2025 at 2:06 PM, HHD1 said:

Actually, a square has four sides of equal length.  I would say this is a rectangle. However, you are right.  It is definitely not a circle. 

SOCAL would try to jam Square objects in round holes, then bitch about the corners being there !

[Jaay]

On 3/31/2025 at 3:04 PM, WRUY699 said:

I would like to ask another question since this repeater is open; could you please tell me what the markings are on the 5 pin IC on the green board?  It appears to be a voltage regulator and mine was blown apart from an apparent lightning/voltage spike.  I have not found a schematic for this repeater anywhere.  Thanks, WRUY699.

What's the Model Number ? Search that number in repeaterbuilder.com or on the Retevis website.

[SteveShannon]

9 hours ago, WRPB666 said:

My power supply the RT97P quit working! Someone reversed the polarity and well it stopped working. 

I believe its the switching voltage regulator

https://amzn.to/3G4yTSd

 

Does the board have reverse polarity protection?  
Here’s a data sheet for that regulator: https://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/lm2576.pdf

Trace the voltage coming in on the red wire all the way to pin 1 on the voltage regulator.  If you don’t see voltage there the problem isn’t the regulator. In that case look for a circuit breaker or fuse that might be tripped or blow for reverse voltage.

[WRPB666]

I Trace the 12 volt voltage coming in on the red wire all the way to pin 1 on the voltage regulator. 

However that's where the voltage stops. nothing beyond that.  

[SteveShannon]

6 minutes ago, WRPB666 said:

I Trace the 12 volt voltage coming in on the red wire all the way to pin 1 on the voltage regulator. 

However that's where the voltage stops. nothing beyond that.  

If you have voltage on pin 1, but not the output, then yes, the regulator is shot. 

[Socalgmrs]

On 3/20/2023 at 12:25 PM, WRFP399 said:

I know this is an older threat. I was using the search function to find another post and saw this. I just to add detail on the more/less power in not making more/less power out. I did a bunch of poking around inside mine and found the voltage is dropped down to about 8 volts before it goes into the radio unit itself. The RT97 is listed as needing anywhere from 12-24 volts input but due to that regulator it won't change what the radio itself sees.

 

In the attached image you will see this circuit board circled in orange. Power comes in on the red and black wires, the other two are data (Red Arrow). The reduced voltage leaves on the ribbon to the radio unit itself, I don't recall exactly which in the ribbon are the main power wires anymore. (Teal Arrow)

Man can’t believe I missed this thread.  This cheap repeater is listed at 5w so why would any one expect more than 5w. I’d figure 3-4 max so doing great.  Second you say “needing any where from 12-24volts”.  That is actually not what retivis says at all.  It says it supports 12-24volts.  So needs 12 can use upto 24v.  Not the same thing. And last you said “circuit board circled in orange”. That’s not a circle its a square so I’d say it’s outlined in orange not circled.