I was given the opportunity to review this HT from Retevis, HA1UV, after winning a giveaway hosted by WorldWideDX.com and in collaboration with Retevis. This is my first review of this product and I will update as I review the HA1UV more thoroughly.
The HA1UV came with a USB programming cable, 2800mah battery, charger, belt clip, lanyard and dual-band rubber-ducky antenna. I was glad to see the cable, as this is often packaged as optional with the usual fees associated with such things. I charged the unit completely and began to review.
The unit shipped with an outdated firmware, that's common and Retevis has an up-to-date firmware available from their support page. Now, I'm using a Windows 10 x64 OS on an old HP Elitebook. Windows didn't offer a driver, and the one listed for this radio on the support page gave an error. It was compressed, and after many attempts to access the downloaded file, I decided the file was corrupted on their end. I emailed them regarding this, and they gladly sent a few driver packages to my email for me to try. All the driver packages they sent worked, and I was able to update the firmware to the latest version 1.01.10.009 easily.
Retevis offers configuration software for this HT, Retevis CPS V1.0.0, I opted for the x64 installer and the install went smoothly. It is easy to use the software to pre-configure the radio with the frequencies, channels, names, tones and other options, and write them to the HT, also easy to save a copy of the config for later, which should be done...
The menu is easy to view and the structure is intuitive. The software isn't absolutely necessary as it's a breeze to get on frequency using just the HT's buttons and menus. However, unless you were handy at texting using the original Nokia cell phone, entering names for the frequencies will feel archaic, if not nostalgic. The multi-function tactile knob on top is useful for changing settings in the menu as well as changing programmed channels. There is a programmable button on top and 2 side keys that give useful functions for whatever your situation. The body is a durable, hard plastic that doesn't feel cheap. The HT has a nice weight to it, it doesn't weigh your belt down, and the large battery provided approx. 40 hours of standby use before a recharge was needed. Overall, the HT feels sturdy. The scan function is okay, but slow, once you figure out how they organize scanning functions, utilizing scan lists and zones and all that. Even when everything is set up, scanning sometimes shows it scanning different channels not in the programmed scan list.
I like the menu and screen and love the NOAA weather band and alert function. I wish the NOAA WX wasn't only accessible by the menu, however, as it would be nice to access it via a programmable key. I was kind of surprised that it couldn't be programmed to the top key or either side keys. I hope the address that during the next firmware update. I had a few glitches while powering on or powering off the HT. Sometimes, when the unit is off, the HT would not turn on using the on/off vol knob. Then, turning the HT off and back on, the unit would power up but be non-responsive. It sometimes takes a few cycles of on/off for it to gain control of it's functions. Sometimes, when the unit is on, turning it off appears to be only a suggestion to the HT as it acts like nothing happened, staying on. Back to on/off/on/off cycle. Also, there are times where turning it on would make it glitch differently, as in it stays activated in RX mode with the green light indicating it's actively receiving a transmission with 2 bars of signal, even with no transmissions occurring, it does it on all chosen channels/frequencies and doesn't allow you to hear any actual transmissions. This is where the saved config file comes in handy, as a complete factory reset will fix it.
Well, maybe Retevis is paying attention, and these glitches will get some attention before the next firmware update. I have had to factory reset the HT 3 times and reload the config, paying attention that the glitch isn't something I am doing wrong. I don't believe so, as the unit works flawlessly for a few days, then one day it decides to glitch. Rebooting the unit fixes the on/off confusion of the device but a factory reset is the only thing I have found to correct the always-RX glitch.
I was excited to get the opportunity to review this HT, and if the RX glitch can be addressed, I would recommend this HT to anyone, especially if they're already looking at an economic, entry level HT. The on/off glitch I can live with, but the RX glitch is a deal breaker for me. It will go into the box until that issue is addressed.
Greg
The HA1UV came with a USB programming cable, 2800mah battery, charger, belt clip, lanyard and dual-band rubber-ducky antenna. I was glad to see the cable, as this is often packaged as optional with the usual fees associated with such things. I charged the unit completely and began to review.
The unit shipped with an outdated firmware, that's common and Retevis has an up-to-date firmware available from their support page. Now, I'm using a Windows 10 x64 OS on an old HP Elitebook. Windows didn't offer a driver, and the one listed for this radio on the support page gave an error. It was compressed, and after many attempts to access the downloaded file, I decided the file was corrupted on their end. I emailed them regarding this, and they gladly sent a few driver packages to my email for me to try. All the driver packages they sent worked, and I was able to update the firmware to the latest version 1.01.10.009 easily.
Retevis offers configuration software for this HT, Retevis CPS V1.0.0, I opted for the x64 installer and the install went smoothly. It is easy to use the software to pre-configure the radio with the frequencies, channels, names, tones and other options, and write them to the HT, also easy to save a copy of the config for later, which should be done...
The menu is easy to view and the structure is intuitive. The software isn't absolutely necessary as it's a breeze to get on frequency using just the HT's buttons and menus. However, unless you were handy at texting using the original Nokia cell phone, entering names for the frequencies will feel archaic, if not nostalgic. The multi-function tactile knob on top is useful for changing settings in the menu as well as changing programmed channels. There is a programmable button on top and 2 side keys that give useful functions for whatever your situation. The body is a durable, hard plastic that doesn't feel cheap. The HT has a nice weight to it, it doesn't weigh your belt down, and the large battery provided approx. 40 hours of standby use before a recharge was needed. Overall, the HT feels sturdy. The scan function is okay, but slow, once you figure out how they organize scanning functions, utilizing scan lists and zones and all that. Even when everything is set up, scanning sometimes shows it scanning different channels not in the programmed scan list.
I like the menu and screen and love the NOAA weather band and alert function. I wish the NOAA WX wasn't only accessible by the menu, however, as it would be nice to access it via a programmable key. I was kind of surprised that it couldn't be programmed to the top key or either side keys. I hope the address that during the next firmware update. I had a few glitches while powering on or powering off the HT. Sometimes, when the unit is off, the HT would not turn on using the on/off vol knob. Then, turning the HT off and back on, the unit would power up but be non-responsive. It sometimes takes a few cycles of on/off for it to gain control of it's functions. Sometimes, when the unit is on, turning it off appears to be only a suggestion to the HT as it acts like nothing happened, staying on. Back to on/off/on/off cycle. Also, there are times where turning it on would make it glitch differently, as in it stays activated in RX mode with the green light indicating it's actively receiving a transmission with 2 bars of signal, even with no transmissions occurring, it does it on all chosen channels/frequencies and doesn't allow you to hear any actual transmissions. This is where the saved config file comes in handy, as a complete factory reset will fix it.
Well, maybe Retevis is paying attention, and these glitches will get some attention before the next firmware update. I have had to factory reset the HT 3 times and reload the config, paying attention that the glitch isn't something I am doing wrong. I don't believe so, as the unit works flawlessly for a few days, then one day it decides to glitch. Rebooting the unit fixes the on/off confusion of the device but a factory reset is the only thing I have found to correct the always-RX glitch.
I was excited to get the opportunity to review this HT, and if the RX glitch can be addressed, I would recommend this HT to anyone, especially if they're already looking at an economic, entry level HT. The on/off glitch I can live with, but the RX glitch is a deal breaker for me. It will go into the box until that issue is addressed.
Greg
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