This is the RETEVIS RA89R that I was lucky enough to win here on WWDX in the Father's Day drawing.
It came well and safely packed along with all the accessories in one carton. The battery level was at about 1/3 charge but charged to full in about an hour in the sturdy charging cradle using the wall-wart and USB cable provided.
The display is bright and clear with large, easy to read numbers. The Backlight time-on and brightness level are fully adjustable via the easy to access menu. All buttons are a bit larger and easier to use than other HTs I have.
Two features I really like are the separate PTT buttons and the Dual Wait setting. These features let me keep VFO-A programmed for 2m and VFO-B for 70cm with no need for switching VFOs, just PTT whichever one I want to talk on. Using the Dual Wait setting the radio will receive incoming signals on either band without changing VFOs.
The Retevis Radios App for Android is an easy way to change settings and program the radio via Bluetooth. It makes entering repeater parameters and accessing the menu a snap.
In an A/B comparison with a similar HT of a different brand that I have, the RA89R won hands down. It triggered and received my local repeaters much better, even inside the house and in the basement! The other radio can't even get close to that. I really like the RA89R and plan on ordering a higher gain antenna for it. This radio gets a 5-Star rating from me.
Big thanks to Retevis, WWDX and Tim/Moleculo for the Father's Day Giveaway.
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