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Retevis RT73 DMR 2m/70cm DMR

This primer considers the Retevis RT73 mobile Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) and gives some tips on seting it up and connecting to local repeaters.

  1. Introduction
  2. Retevis RT73 Buttons and Controls
  3. Upgrade the RT73 Firmware
  4. Default the Radio
  5. Configuring the Radio
  6. Configuring the Zone
  7. Write Data to the Radio
  8. Saving the Codeplug
  9. Reusing the Codeplug

Last updated: 27 February 2024

1. Introduction

Retevis RT73 two-way radio mobile car radio is designed to be installed into a vehicle and connected to an external antenna mounted outside the car. long range Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) sports 4,000 channels, 200,000 contacts, and 20,000 DMR call groups. It has a built-in Global Positioning System (GPS) with an external antenna.

2. Retevis RT73 Buttons and Controls

On the top of the radio there are seven buttons, from left to right these are:

  • Power switch
  • Programmable Function key 1
  • Programmable Function key 2
  • Programmable Function key 3
  • Volume/Squelch key (Short press for Volume/Long press for squelch (Analogue mode only)
  • Tone/T.Sel key
  • B/E key. Band A/B selection.

On the front panel there is a channel select knob.

On the left side there are two jacks, from the top:

  • Speaker (SP)
  • Microphone (MIC)
  • Both together are used, with the USB cable, to program the radio.

Before programming, connect the USB cable to the SP and MIC jacks, to the left side of the radio, and to the computer. In the 4. Default the Radio section the process of installing Retevis management software is described.

3. Upgrade the RT73 Firmware

Code site https://www.retevis.com/rt73-dmr-ham-mobile-radio-with-mini-size-gps-dual-band-eu

Download the latest firmware from the Retevis site:

  • FirmwareDownloadV3.04_EN.exe
  • RT3S(CSV)-V19.26.bin # Prioritise memory for contact lists
  • RT3S(CSV)-V19.26.bin # Prioritise memory for recordings

Put radio into Download Firmware Update (DFU) mode:

  • Press the PTT and up side key, turn on the radio at the same time. the LED on top starts flashing RED and GREEN.

Run the DMR Download software:

  • Install the FirmwareDownloadV3.04_EN.exe, the DMR Download software
  • Run the DMR Download software
  • Click Open file upgrade and select the firmware binary RT3S(CSV)-V18.11.bin
  • Click Download file of upgrade to load the new firmware.

Confirm upgrade:

  • Disconnect the radio from the computer and reboot it.
  • Select Menu >> Utilities >> RadioInfo >> Versions
    • Firmware Ver.: V019.026
    • CP-Ver.: V01.12

4. Default the Radio

To default the radio, a Default radio CodePlug must be uploaded to the radio.

Download the RT3S management software:

Extract RETEVIS-RT73-CPS-V9.1.195.zip:

  • Retevis RT73 CPS&FW Changlog.pdf
  • RT73 CPS_V21.12.24(Setup).exe

Install the RT73 CPS_V21.12.24(Setup).exe RT73 Radio Programming Software. An icon labelled DRS CPS_V2.1 will appear on the desktop and a directory DRS CPS will appear in the operating system applications. This will contain the DRS CPS_V2.1 Retevis RT73 Management Software icon.

Upload the Default Codeplug Retevis-RT73-Factory-Codeplug.F136:

  • File(F) >> Open(O) >> Retevis-RT73-Factory-Codeplug.F136 >> Open.
  • Device(D) >> Write(W).
  • Flash Write will appear on the radio display as the upload is going on.

4.1. Upgrading the Radio Firmware

To upgrade the radio firmware. Check the current version:

  • Press the knob at the front of the radio.
  • Rotate the knob until it displays Device Info.
  • Press the knob again to select.
  • Rotate to Version and press it to select.
  • Use the B/E button to go exit.

Download RT73-FW-20210923.zip and extract the files from it:

  • Uploader: IAP+Flash.exe
  • Firmware file: Retevis_RT73_20210923.bin to the radio.
  • Retevis RT73 CPS&FW Changlog.pdf

Use the IAP+Flash.exe to upload Retevis_RT73_20210923.bin to the radio.

5. Configuring the Radio

Run the DRS CPS_V2.1 Retevis RT73 Management Software:

  • On the left pane, select DMR CPS DRS >> Basic Parameters
  • Enter your Callsign in the Radio name field.
  • In the Radio ID field enter the DMR ID assigned from radioid.net
  • Set Time Out (TOT): 180S

5.1. Configure a Contacts List

Go to radioid.net/generator and using the Contacts List Generator create one and download those that you want. Add the following plus those you select from the downloaded list.

Contact Name Call Type Call ID Call Receive Tone
EI4XX Private Call 2725552 Yes
Talk Gp 9 Group Call 9 Yes
IE Call Group Call 2722 Yes
IE Chat Group Call 2723 Yes
IE YSF Group Call 2724 Yes
  • On the left pane, select DMR CPS DRS >> Contacts >> Contact list.
  • Enter table information as you select.
  • Click the Save icon on the top bar.

6. Configuring the Zone

On the left pane, select DMR CPS DRS >> Zone[Channel].

  • A table of zones appear, by default with only one, Zone 1.
  • Rename as required, for example, MID-WEST.
  • Click the Save icon on the top bar.

6.1. Program Channels

Select the zone from the DMR CPS DRS >> Zone[Channel].

  • A list of channels in the zone appears, edit as required.

6.1.1. Configure a Digital Channel

Example to configure the following Analogue channel:

  • CH Mode: Digital
  • CH Name: EI2REG-Roosk-D
  • RX Freq: 145.125 MHz
  • TX Freq: 145.725 MHz
  • Power: High
  • Contacts: IE Call
  • Receive Time Slot (RX TS): 2
  • Transmit Time Slot (TX TS): 2
  • Receive Colour Code (RX CC): 1
  • Transmit Colour Code (TX CC): 1

6.1.2. Configure a Digital Channel

Example to configure the following Analogue channel:

  • CH Mode: Digital
  • CH Name: EI2REG-Roosk-D
  • RX Freq: 145.125 MHz
  • TX Freq: 145.725 MHz
  • Power: High
  • Contacts: IE Call
  • RX QT/DQT: 103.5 (CTCSS)
  • TX QT/DQT: off

Note: Quiet Talk (QT) and Digital Quiet Talk (DQT) are functions that reject undesired signals on your channel. A call will only be heard when a signal is received that contains a matching QT tone or DQT code. It is similar to Continuous Tone-Coded Squelch System (CTCSS).

6.2. Create Scan List

On the left pane, select DMR CPS DRS >> Scan List >> Scan List.

  • Set Scan List name to one of your chosing, say MID-WEST.
  • From the list of Optional Channels move those to Selected Channels.
  • Click the Save icon on the top bar.

6.3. Side Button Programming

On the left pane, select DMR CPS DRS >> Preset Buttons

  • Program the side buttons P1, P2 and P3 as required.

7. Write Data to the Radio

On the topbar, select Write or Device(D) >> Write(W) from the top bar to upload.

  • The radio display will show Flash Write as the data is uploaded.
  • The Radio will reboot to enable uploaded codeplug.

8. Saving the Codeplug

From the topbar, select Save.

  • Choose a filename such as 20240225-RT73-Codeplug.F136 and click Save.

9. Reusing the Codeplug

From the topbar, select File(F) >> Open(O).

  • Choose a file, such as 20240225-RT73-Codeplug.F136, and click Open.
  • Load to the radio as already shown.

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