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Author Topic: Radtel RT-880 multi-band, multi-mode HT. Price is certainly right.  (Read 1724 times)

Offline ThaDood

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https://www.radtels.com/products/radtel-rt-880-10w-multi-band-ham-radio-hf-uhf-vhf-with-am-usb-lsb-cw-cb-lw-mw-sw-ssb-1024-channels-cross-band-repeaper?srsltid=AfmBOop2XlWOdMosg8Fuc1DN0fdQ7-6HI_w4HWMgH_0Cy3kEEG9eDNiG&variant=44505552486608  However, where I'd seen this is the eham review.    https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-product/16123      The closest that I have is the Kenwood TH-F6A HT. Doesn't TX on CB, but RX's it. This Radtel doesn't TX on 222MHz. Tell ya what, for around a C-Note, this HT is very tempting. In 2006, my TH-F6A was around $400.00, and I thought that reasonable, for what it does. (I still do, and still have one.) Anyway, this Radtel sounds like it would be good for a Go-Bag. 
“I am often asked how radio works. Well, you see, wire telegraphy
is like a very long cat. You yank his tail in New York and he
meows in Los Angeles. Do you understand this? Now, radio is
exactly the same, except that there is no cat.”
-Attributed to Albert Einstein, but I ripped it from the latest Splatter .PDF March 2025 issue.

Offline giggletron

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I bought an RT-880G (GPS) model when it was still in pre-ordering status. I’ve been using it for a few months and I am absolutely over the moon.

It took about a month to arrive (2 weeks in shipping) It’s able to do CB, HF down to about 18 mhz, FM transmission only (sadly no SSB or AM, only RX for all modes) Strangely there isn’t a way to toggle between USB or LSB, it seems the SSB mode is both upper and lower side bands together.

There are plenty of settings to play around with, it even supports APRS sending and receiving. It’s also able to TX on 250-260mhz for any mobile SATCOM uses (It definitely works, made contacts on the other side of the planet)

Only caveats I would say is the screen brightness outdoors in the sun and also the speaker quality. It sounds good but not great.

The physical chip inside the mobo (upon looking up the serial number) shows that it’s rated for 11W power (10W advertised) and in some cases it even exceeds the 10W range by a few decimals.

Overall an amazing radio, would definitely recommend for budget beginners.

Offline RobRich

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AFAIK, these evolved from the Si4732 mod boards for whatever popular cheap Quansheng handheld. I suppose those handy with a soldering iron might save a few bucks going that route, but yeah, the Radtel RT-880 would be the "better buy" IMHO.

Now if someone would bring a decent upper-HF handheld with AM/FM/SSB back to the market. A modern incarnation of the Magnum 1012 and its siblings. Too bad pricing would likely be cost prohibitive these days for a such a niche market radio.

https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-product/9836
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