Radtel RT-493

[Guest old baldy]

I'm interested in the Radtel RTT 493 handheld radio. It is advertised as a GMRS radio with repeater capability. I tried to find a user manual so I could review it and verify that it does what I need but cant find one.

Does anyone have this radio and can share their experience using it? 

thanks

 

Old Baldy

[BoxCar]

Reports on other models of Radtel state they're not great but adequate.

[Guest]

Yea it is repeater capable when programmed in a computer.   I have no idea if it comes with cable or kit or what software it needs to program.  Chirp? Rt systems?  
 

but I’d buy one of many other better radios. 

[Guest Programing a radtel 483 on]

Chirp is a no go..how do I program thus thing..nothing on youtube.

[Guest Jammin & Programmin]

Hey folks! Looks like Radtel have a software available on their site here (https://www.radtels.com/pages/software-download)
There's a cable they sell as well for under 10 bucks that does the job. You can find their cable on amazon, and I just ordered mine.
Look a little more than halfway down the page on their site to find the 493, you'll need WinRAR to extract and install the software and then you should be set up to program!

[Guest speedbump]

I have the software, the cable and the radio hooked up.  The software doesn't seem to recognize the radio at all.

[SteveShannon]

2 hours ago, Guest speedbump said:

I have the software, the cable and the radio hooked up.  The software doesn't seem to recognize the radio at all.

With all CPS software:

1. Make sure you load the driver first, before ever plugging in the cable.
2. Most require you to select the correct com port.

 

[1speedbump]

Driver???  

I have a selection of 2 ports, neither seem to matter.

[SteveShannon]

19 minutes ago, 1speedbump said:

Driver???  

I have a selection of 2 ports, neither seem to matter.

You must load the driver software. It is specific to the cable and creates a virtual serial port that the programming software can use. Look on the software download page for the right cable driver. You can see some listed in the center of the screenshot below:

[1speedbump]

I read somewhere that a driver isn't necessary, that it is in the cable.  However my cable is old and is for a UV5R.  I guess they are going to make me spend more money.

[SteveShannon]

Just now, 1speedbump said:

Iread somewhere that a driver isn't necessary, that it is in the cable.  However my cable is old and is for a UV5R.  I guess they are going to make me spend more money.

I have no idea if the UV5R cable might work, but it would still need a driver. 

[1speedbump]

Apparently it won't work.  I tried it on the old UV5R and it won't even work there on Chirp.  I guess I'll head on over to Amazon and get the new one.  It's been close to ten years since I used the UV5R and that cable, so who knows what goes on.  Maybe the difference between Windows 7 or maybe even earlie and Win 11. Plus 32bit as opposssed to 64bit.

[SteveShannon]

13 minutes ago, 1speedbump said:

Apparently it won't work.  I tried it on the old UV5R and it won't even work there on Chirp.  I guess I'll head on over to Amazon and get the new one.  It's been close to ten years since I used the UV5R and that cable, so who knows what goes on.  Maybe the difference between Windows 7 or maybe even earlie and Win 11. Plus 32bit as opposssed to 64bit.

Windows 11 killed the ability to use some cables that were made using counterfeit chips. Maybe that’s what happened. 

[1speedbump]

Very possible.  I just ordered the one they recommend.  I'll know more Friday when it arrives.

Thanks for the help!

[1speedbump]

Well it arrived and it is plug and play.  Downloaded all the stock freq's and changed all the output power to low so I wouldn't flatten my battery in short order.  Not bad for just over $ 6.00 on Amazon with free shipping.

Funny part; when I saved the file then went to look at it with Windows, it was all Chinese Jibberish.  The only way to view it is to open the software and do it there.