RA25 20W GMRS Mobile Radio

I have to start by saying that I'm a long time ham radio operator and have used several dual band mobile radios in the mostly distant past. I bought this radio hoping to use it on VHF Receive only, and GMRS TX/RX. I struggled with getting the programming to do this as it shows many available memory channels, but no ability to program them outside of GMRS even with TX disabled. Then I found this on a forum which is not mentioned anywhere else: You need to set the radio to the 136-174/430-470 mode (that's widely known on the forums and reviewers). But how to get the non GMRS programming to work? The key is to READ from the radio first, then modify that file which the software allows. Using the supplied code plug when installing the software does not work, must use the code plug read from the radio itself. Now I have it programmed up for GMRS with a bunch of CTCSS codes for privacy, and a bunch of VHF band RX only freqs. Besides that it's a basic dual receive radio that is super small. Audio out is great but I put an external speaker under passenger seat in truck, that's always the best. My only objection so far is that when in keypad/front panel lock mode there is no way to un-squelch to hear how loud the volume is set to. I wish that would work even with keypad/front panel lock turned on. update July 2024: I programmed in the NOAA weather stations and using a run of the mill dual band mag mount antenna. This radio is able to receive NOAA station over 40 miles away and with transmitter not very high. This may not sound like a good feat but is definitely better than my old analog Yeasu HT or Mobile radios. OK, I don't know the real RX sensitivity of this Retivis radio, it's probably only ok frankly, but at least it's not poor as I feared from a SoC radio. This makes is a great radio for the price IMHO.

Recently received my GMRS license, and decided to get a base station for the house. Plugged this radio into a power supply and got a small antenna, and it works flawlessly. Great audio quality and easy to program with the programming software on the website. Aside from that, you can still listen to HAMs if you so desired (Of course, without the ability to speak to them). 9/10, lovely radio. I recommend to anyone who wants a base station or a little radio to leave in the car.

Great little radio. Perfect for setting up a pack radio.

This is for the second one I have bought. Like the first one so much had to have one as a base unit. Works well wit a Browning br 450 5/8 over 5/8. Pinging repeaters 20 miles away in not near perfect conditions.

Easy to see display. This is my second one of these and couldn't be happier. My E-bike install causes some head turning. Can hear what is being received even while buzzing down the road. Takes a little learning curve to program with microphone but easy with computer and USB cable. Still no CHIRP programming yet but the company software is pretty easy to use.

I was impressed with the overall look and feel of this radio. The display is easy to read, and the controls well laid out. I needed a compact radio for the mounting location I have in my Nissan Titan. I used a flexible stalk that mounts to the passenger seat base, and this radio is perfect for that. I researched this unit a lot, and found something that was important to me that was missing on a lot of radios in this price point- a VOLUME control! When my wife is in the truck with me, it is very important that I can quickly adjust the volume so that it doesn't interfere with her hearing aids. I highly recommend this radio. I will be building a personal repeater soon and using more Retevis radios for that as well.

i was really shocked at how nice this radio sounds , crystal clear people are asking me man what radio do you have ! really nice product for beginners.

had to return it due to screen to small for me, I am older, and old school and like a bigger screen

I had a very specific purpose when I purchased this radio. I need a GMRS radio, which was compact in size, included a microphone with a microphone stud, rather than the hanger type, most amateur radios use, and could be easily mounted and dismounted in my truck. The original intent was to find a radio operated on all GMRS frequencies, including repeater pairs, that was easy to program from the microphone, and could monitor 70 cm hammer radio frequencies as well, because I was heading into a hurricane deployment, and frequently, we used GMRS as back up for vehicle to vehicle communications when needed, however, the state of Florida also has a robust network of 70 cm ham repeaters, which are interconnected and can be used in emergency situations by responders who need to communicate with the state operation center. I figured monitoring that network on the secondary channel while being able to communicate on a GMRS channel was exactly what I needed. However, once I left my hurricane assignment, I opened the radio up to the full spectrum of United States amateur frequencies, and I have operated this radio both on 2 m with a dedicated 2 m antenna, and on 70 cm with a wide band, UHF antenna, and I have gotten good reports on clarity and signal strength on both sets of those frequencies. so, in retrospect, when I thought I was buying a good GMRS radio, I actually ended up with a good dual band, low output, amateur radio, which has the appropriate part 95 certification to be used on licensed GMRS frequencies. It should be noted for the purpose of this review and for the use of this radio that I am licensed for GMRS and hold a Amateur radio license, and that anyone who purchases and operates this radio should be licensed on any frequency they may transmit on.

The Retevis RA25 GMRS Mobile Radio, Is a good little radio. It took me a few mins to figure out how to get the DCS codes out of it. This is my only complaint, come on Retevis there is no reason to ship these with the codes programmed in. Also no programming cable was included. Other than that a great little radio.