There are many affordable walkie-talkies in the market nowadays, but a truly affordable and reliable radio is hard to come by. You need to consider a lot of things before you can find that affordable two-way radio fit for your tight budget.
If you are such an individual and are looking for an affordable option, you should definitely check out the Retevis RT29. The Retevis brand has been known to provide quality radios for all kinds of industry use. Depending on your need and purpose, there is a perfect Retevis radio for you.
Looking to see what the Retevis RT29 has to offer? Well, stay tuned and find out.
Specs
- Brand: Retevis
- Range: not stated, but can handle long-distance
- Power output: not stated
- Frequency ranges: 400-480MHz / 430-440MHz (UHF), 144-148 MHz / 136-174 MHz (VHF)
- Battery: Li-On rechargeable batteries
- Size: 5.9 x 2.3 x 1.5 inches (with antenna)
- Weight: 0.74 lb
- Waterproof: yes (IP67)
- License needed: yes (amateur / FCC license)
Scope of Delivery
There are multiple packages you can choose from for the Retevis RT29 model. You can choose to purchase it individually or in sets of 2 or more. Nevertheless, the package comes with almost the same things. Besides the radio, you will be receiving an included antenna, rechargeable batteries, belt clips, hand straps, a charging adaptor, individual chargers, and if you have chosen to go with multiple sets, and included multi-unit charger.
Setup
One of the great things about this radio is its simplicity and user-friendliness. As such, it can be said that setting up these radios will be no problem at all. If there are any questions, the user manual is also informative and able to answer them all.
The first thing you must do is to make sure that the batteries are fully charged. You can do this by installing or placing the batteries into the two way-radios. Once installed, connect it to the charger. A red LED indicator will light up, showing that the device is charging. Once the indicator’s color turns green, your device should be fully charged up.
After charging the battery fully, you can now turn on the walkie talkies. Once turned on, you can pair them and setting up the individual channels they will be connected to. After this, you should be good to go.
As for the other features and specifications that this model comes with, it may take more time to grasp it without the help or guidance of the user manual. However, fret not as it is straightforward to understand, and I am sure that you will eventually get the hang of it.
Waterproof
The Retevis RT29 has an IP67 water resistance rating. It is one of the few Retevis brands with true waterproof resistance. An IP67 rating means that its waterproof resistance is of high quality. This means that the Retevis RT29 can withstand water submersion up to a 1-meter distance for 30 minutes. Not only that, but the rating also means that the RT29 is also protected from dust on top of its water-resistant features.
Being one of the few walkie talkies in the market supporting water resistance makes this walkie talkie quite a flexible radio. This product is much desired as it can be used for multiple purposes. With its additional protection, it can certainly survive even the harshest of conditions.
Power Source
The Retevis RT29 comes with 3200 mAH Li-ON rechargeable batteries to power the device up. These batteries can power up the device for about 30 hours and about 250 hours on standby. This can even potentially last longer depending on your usage of the device. This means that you will have more than enough power to use the walkie talkie for a whole day.
Since you will not have to waste time charging your devices, smooth and consistent communication can be easily achieved, especially in an environment where consistent communication is highly needed.
Unfortunately, it does not support the use of disposable batteries, so you will have to make sure that you have a means of charging the device whenever it runs out of juice.
Range
So how long exactly can the Retevis RT29 reach in terms of distance?
Although the manufacturer did not clearly state it, I believe it has a longer range than most affordable walkie talkies. Given that it has a removable antenna, you can even choose to upgrade it for an even longer range of communication.
The Retevis RT29 can easily reach about 10 miles of actual distance, even with many obstructions in between. This is actually impressive since most of the walkie talkies available in the market even have a hard time reaching this distance even when the manufacturer’s information states an even higher range.
Frequencies
The Retevis RT29 supports two types of frequency – UHF and VHF. Depending on your use, their respective frequency range also varies. For its UHF frequency range, it can operate at 400 – 480MHz/ 430-440MHz, while with the VHF frequency option, it operates at the frequency range of 144-148 MHz/ 136-174 MHz.
Compared to UHF, VHF has longer wavelengths, which means that it can reach further distances than you can even imagine. Just keep in mind, though, that you will need to procure yourself a license to operate this kind of radio. Since these radios are not FRS, GMRS, or MURS radios, you will need a tech class ham license or a commercial license to operate these two-way radios. For more information regarding this, you can click here.
Features
To the most important part of the article, what exactly are the different features that come with this promising model? Well, let me enumerate them one by one.
The Retevis RT29 has 16 channels that you can choose from. It also has three modes – high, middle, and low power output modes. Depending on your usage, you can switch between these modes accordingly to save battery life. Aside from this, it also provides clear and quality communication even on long distances.
On top of that, this device also has an impressive battery life. With its 3200 mAH Li-ON rechargeable batteries, it can deliver up to 30 hours of heavy use, easily lasting you a whole day. Not only that, on standby, it can last you around 250 hours. This means that with the RT29, you will not have to charge as much as the other models available in the market.
It also has other useful and handy features for your communication needs. One of these is its VOX hands-free operation support. Paired with earphones, this becomes a handy feature. What it does is it detects whenever you are ready to speak, and once you are, it automatically transmits a message to all radios connected to the same channel. This is useful since it allows your hands to do more productive things aside from holding your walkie talkie and pressing the talk button. It also has a squelch feature making sure that your communication line is clear with minimal to no unnecessary noises being transmitted especially if you are using the radio in such a loud place.
Other included features are scan/secure call, CTCSS & DCS support, battery-save mode, and battery voltage prompt.
Price
The Retevis RT29 can be purchased at an individual price of $44.99 via its direct website. However, it also comes with multiple packages and options you can choose from. If you wish to buy a set of radios, you may also do so. Just prepare an amount more or less equal to the individual price, and you will be good to go. Of course, buying the walkie-talkie in numbers will save you a bit of cash, but it can never hurt to prepare more than the expected price.
Pros
- Long-distance range
- Impressive battery life
- Small and Handy
- Dust and water resistance
- Affordable price
- Customizable
Cons
- Does not support disposable batteries
- Need a license to use
- It can be a bit pricey for some
Conclusion – Retevis RT29 Review
Over-all, is the Retevis RT29 worth its price for the list of features it offers? Well, it definitely is. It can be considered unparalleled in terms of its range and impressive battery life. Not a lot of walkie talkies in the market offer such capabilities.
Since it requires a license to operate, it can be quite a hassle, especially if you are less informed of the current set of rules and regulations made by the FCC. However, trust me when I say it is definitely worth all the trouble.
The convenience it brings cannot be compared to most of the radios in this price range. It may not have many more features than other brands, but its features are beneficial for daily use. With great features and an affordable price, there is no doubt that the Retevis RT29 is definitely one of the radios to go for your specific needs.
View on Amazon*FAQ
Where can I find a manual for the Retevis RT29?
You can find the manual here: https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1661205/Retevis-Rt29.html#manual.
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