New Radtel RT-950

[Paco-Jerte]

Got this info from a social media site. Tried on both 950Pro and 889Plus and worked. YMMV

To activate Super Mode on the Radtel RT-950 Pro, you must perform a specific startup procedure.
• Turn off the radio.
• Press and hold the PTT button (the large transmit button on the side).
• Simultaneously press and hold the "8" key on the numeric keypad.
• Turn on the radio while keeping both buttons pressed, then release them.
What Super Mode Does
• It unlocks extended transmit (TX) and receive (RX) frequencies across the entire band.
• It enables additional transmission settings on the various VFOs.
• Caution: Using frequencies that are unauthorized or unsuitable for the final amplifier (PA) design may damage the device or cause interference.

 

[devicelab]

Did you guys see this conversion kit? Pretty nifty.

 

[bearcatrp]

Looks cool.

 

[buddrousa]

Yes it looks cool but not many have the skill set to make this swap.

 

[bearcatrp]

I didn't watch the video but assume there is soldering needed. I suck at that so I won't do it.

 

[EAFrizzle]

It's more involved than I care to deal with anymore, but I'd love to have one.

 

[MrThompson]

I don't see the process as difficult. I also don't see the value for the cost and effort, the standard radio functions ok. A microphone, larger speaker and larger tuning knob appear to be the only upgrades. The kit seems to be well thought out although reusing adhesive on the plex window is sketchy. The fancy tweezer soldering contraption is on my buy list. OM0ET definitely has skills, apparently he doesn't own a spudger and I take issue with his statement that phase is not important in mono audio. It was really fun to watch someone who is comfortable with electronics.

I haven't posted anything lately and I'm an admitted radio snob, Icom R6s being our low end choice. In our rural, mostly analog county our R6s out perform every Uniden we have and the R30. The Bajeton BJ-9000 versions RF performance in our "rural" area is shockingly good. It doesn't have the scanning speed of the R6 however it does capture the distant signals which our other hand held radios struggle with. HF is surprisingly good outdoors with a CB whip and indoors with a Youloop. It's truly listenable however a Malahit DSP2 would be a much better choice.

I am blessed to own a number of the truly Holy Grail receivers for HF and the best of the best in scanners produced in the last 30 years. Despite the C radio compromises I have a second unboxed BJ-9000 waiting to be programed...

 

[W8WCA]

Wow my R6 is great but it does not beat my R30 on any frequency range.

And my 950Pro well most of the time I have it in VFO mode monitoring 3 Civil air (1 helo and 2 air-air) - it is a fun HT!

 

[MrThompson]

Our location has something to do with it. Its rural without much interference and we have about a hundred feet of elevation advantage over the valley. We have three R6s. They scan faster than the R30 and have what I understand to be a hotter, less filtered front end which from what I have read doesn't fair as well as the R30s more sophisticated one in dense RF environments. Distant towns whose signals are sketchy are where this observation comes from. I wish that I had purchased a second R30 when it was announced that it was being discontinued. I did so when the AR8000 was discontinued and both of them still work well.

I keep a SDS100, R30 and a couple of R6s on stands to the right of my favorite chair. The Bajetons will handle air band and the fire fighters aircraft traffic when fires are being fought in the Sierras, and perhaps dedicated public service channels during intense operations.The SDS does Southern California Edison as it's not even close to the others on analog.

Hope this provides enough information to explain my previous post.

 

[Paco-Jerte]

Anyone tested the nicFW950 Beta v6.00.12d from nicsure yet? This is the latest beta fw for the RT-950

 

[N4ZTH]

Anyone tested the nicFW950 Beta v6.00.12d from nicsure yet? This is the latest beta fw for the RT-950

Am I correct in assuming his firmware is only built for the 950, not the 950 Pro? I couldn't really tell from the Patreon page but would be interested in trying it on my 950 Pro.

 

[Paco-Jerte]

Am I correct in assuming his firmware is only built for the 950, not the 950 Pro? I couldn't really tell from the Patreon page but would be interested in trying it on my 950 Pro.

sorry my bad, it is for the 950 Pro

 

[bearcatrp]

What does this miscue file add to the radio?

 

[bearcatrp]

Should read nicsure. Dam autocorrect.

 

[N4ZTH]

I became a Patreon supporter and downloaded and installed the firmware yesterday evening. It's very different from stock but looks to be extremely customizable. I got my channels loaded in via the CHIRP import feature in his software which is convenient. I'll have to spend some time working with it before I form an opinion. It does appear to allow for AM transmit on CB freqs which is kind of cool.

 

[bearcatrp]

Is this firmware easy to install? Have you verified am works on CB by talking to someone on am? I may be interested in upgrading my 950 pro.

 

[N4ZTH]

It was fairly easy to install, I have not yet verified AM CB but will attempt to do so today.

 

[EAFrizzle]

It might show AM transmit as an option, but it's not going to happen without an AM modulator.

 

[buddrousa]

My 950 Pro works very well for what I need it for as for the 2 Paper Weights the 4D and 6D are useless.

 

[N4ZTH]

I was indeed able to transmit AM on 27.185

It might show AM transmit as an option, but it's not going to happen without an AM modulator.

On his github page he states

The RT-950-Pro does this differently. It doesn't use the FM adjacent trick that the 880 does. It modulates a carrier by adjusting the output power (and thus the amplitude). Meaning the 950 produces true AM rather than the hack the 880 uses.