The Radtel T18 is a basic UHF
transceiver that gets the job done well at a
minimal cost.
In the Box
Included with the radio are the:
- 3.7V 2200mAh Li-Ion Battery *
- Pamphlet describing the functions of the radio
- Charger base & AC power cord
- Belt clip
- Antenna
The radio measures: 5.0 x 2.2 x 1.1" (12.7 x 5.6 x
2.8cm)
Weight: 6.3 oz (178g) with battery and antenna.
The case has a rugged feel to it, giving the impression
that if it were dropped, it would bounce to safety.
The antenna is terminated with a standard SMA Female connector.
The
Li-Ion battery charger base is a basic design with an AC
power connector on the back (no Wall-Wart necessary).
The top of the radio has the traditional PowerOn/Volume knob and 16 channel selector switch.
The left side of the radio has the PTT switch and a monitor
button to open the squelch if desired. The right side of
the case has the
standard two pin
Kenwood K1 jack for programming.
The Receiver
The receiver sensitivity is very good. One thing I
specifically noticed was the power and clarity of the
audio. A slightly larger speaker than most makes a big
difference in the clarity. It T18 does support CTCSS/DCS.
Scanning
I found this to be a handy feature. To place the radio
in the scanning mode requires simply selecting channel
16. I clocked the scan rate at 10 channels per second.
When an active channel was detected, the radio will
either continue when the signal drops, or pause for 5
seconds to give you a chance to respond.
I did find that the options for scanning are reversed in
the software. TIME continues scanning immediately, while
CARRIER pauses for 5 seconds after the signal drops.
This is not a major issue, but worth mentioning.
The Transmitter
The T18 is a Single Band, UHF transceiver covering 400-470MHz.
The power output (rated at 2W) on a calibrated wattmeter shows as 1.9W, pretty much right where it should be.
Transmitter audio reports are very good.
The T18 contains an audio scrambler (voice frequency inverter)
which is compatible with the one in the BF888S. However,
before you use this option, you may want to confirm your
countries regulations regarding voice scramblers.
Software
There is no keypad, so a programming cable is a must. The software is readily
available and can be downloaded from Miklor.com. The OEM software is
very easy to follow, as shown below.
Conclusion
The T18 has all the basic features, and with the low price
tag, definitely won't break the budget. This handheld currently sells in the range of around $16
and are available on Amazon.
If you are a ham and live close
to your favorite UHF repeaters, or just want something
for the beach, these are good little transceivers. If
you drop it in the water or get sand in it, throw it
away and get a new one. They are great for hamfests and
other ham radio based functions and activities. The thin design fits great in a shirt pocket. If you have
spare change in your pocket, you just might want to play with one.
Note: This equipment was received for the purpose of a
fair and unbiased review. All findings are factual based
on the equipment I received. Any issues found have been
reported both here and back to the seller or
manufacturer.
