by Paul Jamet

Looking for a versatile radio?

Which radio listener hasn’t dreamed of owning a portable multi-band receiver allowing them to explore the widest possible radio spectrum?

For nearly a year now, walkie-talkies have appeared on the market which, beyond the classic VHF–UHF functions, also allow listening and transmitting on CB (27 MHz) as well as listening to LW/MW/SW bands (LSB/USB/CW). The RADTEL RT-860 has won over those who have tested it.

Read here: Dan Reviews the Radel RT-860

The arrival of the Quansheng TK-11 — available in three versions — has caused quite a stir on social networks. Then, almost at the same time, the RADTEL RT-880 and RT-880G (G for GPS) appeared, also sold under other names such as iRadio UV98.

Among all these available models, I chose — as a radio listener, especially when I’m traveling — the RADTEL RT-880G. My choice is explained mainly by its antenna connectors (SMA-Female and SMA-Male), its large color display, its GPS module, its thousand memory channels, and the possibility of simultaneously monitoring three VHF/UHF frequencies. This device is highly customizable, but its user manual would deserve to be much more detailed and explicit.

The RT-880G comes with a “standard” 18 cm antenna for VHF-UHF bands, which is also used for FM station reception. I haven’t yet tested the device on the 27 MHz (CB) band, for which a dedicated antenna is preferable. No antenna is provided for LW/MW/SW listening.

For listening to LW/MW/SW bands, the device is often shown with small donut-type loop antennas (10 cm diameter).

However, for easier transport, I simply chose this small telescopic SMA-Male antenna, 48 cm long (weight: 20 g): to which it is possible to clip a wire antenna, such as the SONY AN-71, which can prove very useful.

I also used an antenna normally intended for CB, the ABBREE 27 MHz telescopic antenna (130 cm), admittedly heavier (weight: 78 g) and bulkier, but which gives very good results for the HF band.

The purpose of this contribution — which concerns only listening — is to arouse curiosity among mobile (or stationary) listeners, to invite those who own this walkie-talkie to come here and share their experience, and to collect your comments. It is therefore not a full review of the RT-880G, but simply an illustration of what it offers for listening to LW/MW/SW bands.

For LW/MW/SW bands, the RT-880G allows you to set the:

• step to 1 – 5 – 10 – 50 – 100 – 500 – 1,000 – and 9 kHz],
• bandwidth [0.5 – 1.0 – 1.2 – 2.2 – 3.0 – 4.0],
• AGC (Automatic Gain Control)
• BFO – (Beat Frequency Oscillator) – used for fine tuning SSB reception (the minimum step being 1 kHz).

Sample Recordings

Here are a few audio files that will help you form an opinion.  The recordings were made with a smartphone placed near the receiver.  The recordings were made using a smartphone placed near the receiver. The sound quality is quite good, even surprising.

LW – Long Waves

In Europe, most LW transmitters are now off the air.

The BBC still broadcasts Radio 4 on 198 kHz from Droitwich — distance: 467 km:

My DSP receivers (Tecsun PL-330, XHDATA R-108 and D-808) do not allow me to listen to BBC 4!

MW – Medium Waves

Medium waves are still widely used in Europe. Among the many stations received with the RT-880G:

• Lyca Radio broadcasting from the United Kingdom on 1458 kHz with a 125 kW transmitter from Brookmans Park Transmitting Station, north of London — Distance: 337 km

• Nemzetiségi Adások broadcasting from Marcali, South-West Hungary with a 300 kW transmitter — Distance: 1167 km

• Radio Alger International on 531 kHz from F’kirina Wilaya with a 600 kW transmitter — Distance: 1548 km

For MW, reception is at least as good as with the previously mentioned DSP receivers.

SW – Shortwave

But of course, it’s on shortwave that the RT-880G is really expected to shine, particularly in SSB. Here are some examples:

From my balcony:

• The Voice of Vietnam – VoV5 – in English, broadcasting from Sontay — Distance: 9156 km

From parks near my home (along the Oise River or a pond — reception is better near water). I mainly tried to catch low-power transmitters such as:

• Radio Slovakia International on 6005 kHz broadcasting from Kall Krekel in Germany with a 1 kW transmitter — Distance: 350 km

• Radio Europa — Dutch station on 6130 kHz broadcasting from Alphen with a 1 kW transmitter — Distance: 327 km

Cf. https://swling.com/blog/2025/11/radio-europe-shares-station-details-and-photos-with-paul-jamet/

• REE – Radio Exterior de España — Spain on 12030 kHz broadcasting toward the Middle East from Noblejas with a transmitter of 200 kW — Distance:  1111 km

Finally, I compared the reception of two VOLMET broadcasts — RT-880G and XHDATA D-808 — using a 7-meter SONY AN-71 wire antenna:

• Shannon VOLMET from Ireland on 5505 kHz USB — Distance: 875 km

• RAF VOLMET from Croughton on 5450 kHz USB — Distance: 401 km

Amateur Radio

Regarding amateur radio, here are two short clips:

What do you think?

Personally, this receiver offers many possibilities. With a minimum of equipment — the receiver (RT-880G: 341 g with the supplied VHF/UHF antenna and the small 20 g antenna), possibly a SONY AN-71 wire antenna (54 g), and the smartphone that will inevitably come along to record received stations, check frequency tables, etc. — the total weight is under 400 g, not counting the smartphone!

The RT-880G is currently available for about €80; without the GPS module, the RT-880 costs about €60.

The RT-880G has not yet revealed all its secrets! Its firmware is constantly evolving… There is still much to discover.

For reference, see the RT-880G manual and a few videos available on YouTube.

Paul JAMET

Purchasing Options

• Radtel Website
• Amazon.com (note: this is an affiliate link that supports the SWLing Post at no cost to you)
• Aliexpress