Retevis RT-82 Receiver Sensitivity

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Auldgeek
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Retevis RT-82 Receiver Sensitivity

Post by Auldgeek »

Hi all,

Looking for feedback from owners of the Retevis RT-82, particularly with regards to receiver performance.
I've recently taken delivery of one of these dual band DMR transceivers and have spent some time on creating a suitable codeplug to use in the Central Scotland area.
I already own a UHF Retevis RT-3 and using my external colinear, can hear the various timeslots from GB7EE and GB7GG along with a bunch of analogue repeaters so I have a good idea of what I should be able to hear.

So here's the thing. Using my RT-82 and the same colinear, I'm unable to hear anything from the 2 DMR repeaters and there's another repeater, GB3OH that's so weak, it won't lift the squelch. This is an analogue voice repeater that's fully quieting on my RT-3. Even switching down to 2m, it's well down on other radios I own. One of the annoyances of the RT-82 is the squelch sensitivity setting. Instead of a stepped setting, you seem to have a choice of normal or tight which isn't very practical.

Anyway, before I call the supplier, looking to guage how other owners of this radio think about the receiver sensitivity. Is it much the same, better or worse than your other radios?

Cheers
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Re: Retevis RT-82 Receiver Sensitivity

Post by Admiral »

Sorry, I don't own one, but regardless of if everyone else's is deaf compared to the RT-3 then I would send it back anyway, it's either faulty or a crap radio, either way you don't want your hard earned sitting useless on a shelf.
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Re: Retevis RT-82 Receiver Sensitivity

Post by Auldgeek »

Admiral wrote:Sorry, I don't own one, but regardless of if everyone else's is deaf compared to the RT-3 then I would send it back anyway, it's either faulty or a crap radio, either way you don't want your hard earned sitting useless on a shelf.
Yeah, it's pretty useless as is, just keen to know if it's a general thing or mine is particularly crap!
Intending to call Martin Lynch tomorrow.

Cheers Admiral.
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Re: Retevis RT-82 Receiver Sensitivity

Post by BK »

Mine's comparable with the MD-380 on UHF using the stock antenna, it sounds like you've got a duff one.
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Re: Retevis RT-82 Receiver Sensitivity

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BK wrote:Mine's comparable with the MD-380 on UHF using the stock antenna, it sounds like you've got a duff one.
Cheers mate. Back it goes!
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Re: Retevis RT-82 Receiver Sensitivity

Post by gmham »

Sure I noticed a video on YouTube showing similar findings re poor rx, will see if I can find it, wasn't connected to a poor antenna connector on the set was it ?
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Re: Retevis RT-82 Receiver Sensitivity

Post by Auldgeek »

gmham wrote:Sure I noticed a video on YouTube showing similar findings re poor rx, will see if I can find it, wasn't connected to a poor antenna connector on the set was it ?
Same sma adaptor was used for both radios for test and I made sure the connection was tight.
I'll have a search myself but compared to my RT-3, it's awful!
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Re: Retevis RT-82 Receiver Sensitivity

Post by gmham »

sorry this was the video I had seen, was the antenna itself. are they clones off each other the tyt and the retevis new models ? sorry been out off the DMR handie scene for a while !

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=J5-rObslwP0
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Re: Retevis RT-82 Receiver Sensitivity

Post by GaryWilson »

I have recently got one of these as well, I really don't like the squelch arrangement it's just not variable enough. I was recently up at Epsom downs and could Key up GB3LW and receive a signal back which was loud and clear at a distance of about 17 miles so I guess the receiver in mine is OK however i'm sure i'm missing stuff under the squelch level at times, perhaps a firmware update in the future will resolve this issue.
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Re: Retevis RT-82 Receiver Sensitivity

Post by BK »

gmham wrote:sorry this was the video I had seen, was the antenna itself. are they clones off each other the tyt and the retevis new models ?
The antenna and case are completely different, I believe the innards are the same though.
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Re: Retevis RT-82 Receiver Sensitivity

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GaryWilson wrote:I have recently got one of these as well, I really don't like the squelch arrangement it's just not variable enough. I was recently up at Epsom downs and could Key up GB3LW and receive a signal back which was loud and clear at a distance of about 17 miles so I guess the receiver in mine is OK however i'm sure i'm missing stuff under the squelch level at times, perhaps a firmware update in the future will resolve this issue.
That's something I noticed myself. On 2m, GB3FF is not strong enough to lift the squelch but if I open up the squelch, it's in smooth noise. The squelch arrangement is very poor as is.
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Re: Retevis RT-82 Receiver Sensitivity

Post by Auldgeek »

A little update on the receiver sensitivity issue. Replacement sent by the supplier and this one is absolutely fine, no issues with receive. It's easily as good as my RT-3 so all is well :P
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Re: Retevis RT-82 Receiver Sensitivity

Post by Admiral »

I'm glad you got it sorted Drew, I guess this is a bit of a message that spending a bit extra buying from a reputable UK dealer rather than an anonymous Asian outlet does have benefits.
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Re: Retevis RT-82 Receiver Sensitivity

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Admiral wrote:I'm glad you got it sorted Drew, I guess this is a bit of a message that spending a bit extra buying from a reputable UK dealer rather than an anonymous Asian outlet does have benefits.
Absolutely. I've been burned before with buying from China so I now have a maximum amount I'm willing to risk and for this radio, I wasn't willing.

Service was excellent. Replaced at my front door as it happens. Replacement delivered and faulty one collected at the same time.

Can't really complain at that! :thumbup:
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Re: Retevis RT-82 Receiver Sensitivity

Post by GaryWilson »

kilimax wrote:A little update on the receiver sensitivity issue. Replacement sent by the supplier and this one is absolutely fine, no issues with receive. It's easily as good as my RT-3 so all is well :P
I'm glad it's sorted now Drew, I've managed a few contacts now on DMR which turns out to be more fun than I expected!! so I'm really pleased with this purchase, I'm still hoping for a solution to the squelch system but other than that it's a great radio.

73 Gary.
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