I really wanted to like this radio. I did. On paper? 5 bands. 10 watts. AM/FM/SSB/CW receive. A built-in ferrite bar antenna. A feature list that might make you think you’re getting a tiny IC-705 for lunch money.
Then I turned it on.
The Retevis A3 is one of those radios that shows up to the party bragging about its resume… and then trips over the welcome mat and spills dip on the carpet. You can’t enter a frequency without a cheat code, it ships locked to only TX on 10 meters, and it took a hidden unlock menu just to get the thing to transmit on bands printed on the box.
Oh, and spoiler: it does NOT do 10 watts.
In this video we walk through:
• Unboxing → immediate disappointment
• “Why can’t I type a frequency?” → because you must press # first.
• “Why can’t I transmit?” → because the radio ships locked like a phone from 1998
• Harmonics & power output testing → prepare your disappointment face
• HF receive test → hope you enjoy static
• CW test via PTT → because there’s no key input
• Why this radio could have been awesome… and why it isn’t
If Retevis fixes the firmware and unlocks BASIC RADIO FUNCTIONS, this could be a killer portable. Until then? It’s a case study in how to ruin a good idea.
👉 Retevis A3: https://geni.us/oEe9i
Test Gear:
👉 Surecom Power Meter: https://geni.us/ilm1zZ
👉 Tiny SA Ultra: https://geni.us/Ellyz
👉 Tiny SA Case: https://geni.us/jE2Pq5
👉 2x20dB Attenuators for Tiny SA Harmonics Testing: https://geni.us/3JI0IJx
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✅ Chapters
00:00 The Radio I Wanted to Love
00:45 What’s in the Box (Besides Regret)
02:10 The “Feature List” That Isn’t in the Manual
04:30 First Boot: Confusion Intensifies
06:11 Why Can’t I Type a Frequency?!
08:40 Oh Look, It’s Locked from the Factory
10:10 The Hidden Unlock Menu (Because Of Course)
12:55 Power & Harmonics Test — Reality Sets In
17:34 HF Receive: Yeah… About That
21:15 CW Test via PTT Button — It Ain’t Pretty
23:50 Can This Radio Be Saved?
25:00 Final Verdict (Bring Your Popcorn)