£60 Network Radio / Two-Way Radio - But Does It Work?? 

The lack of volume control is not a glitch: Many guys will turn volume down to avoid radio chitchat noise. When someone calls them, they don't answer. That's the reason. Its for outside working guys. In the Office, you have to use a different model for confort.

Been considering a dedicated "zello handset" and this review reminds me why I haven't bought one yet. No volume control is just daft. Thanks for the video Lewis, great to get impartial views from someone who knows their stuff.

2021 UPDATE: 1) The android version is very important because some apps will soon stop supporting older versions if they havnt already. I wouldnt consider any device with firmware older than 6.01 otherwise you will be restricted to what apps are compatible, even if some of those may not be communication apps like Zello. 2) some apps wont support devices with less than 1GB of system ram therefore 1GB should be considered a minimum requirement. 3) aim to buy a network radio that is 4G compatible. Why? the Uk networks plan to switch off 3G networks in the near future, and they will shut them down before 2G GSM which may sound odd to most people! so why? 2G covers more locations than 3G including semi rural areas where other network technologies are not available, and is essential for dumbphones that only support 2G. this means if you buy a 2G/3G only network radio now, it will be practically useless when the providers turn off their 3G infrastructure. Vodafone have already set a date for the deactivation of their 3G service, although off hand I cant remember the date, but once they do the rest will follow. Its thought that Three will be the last network to keep 3G up and running. I only know this from past experience working in the mobile industry, so its handy knowledge to have where nework radios are concerned! this information is even more important today in 2021! 4) worryingly, even some upmarket network radios are running very old firmware today! so if you intend to splash out a lot of dosh its essential to check what version of android they are running! what applies with smartphones doesnt with network radios where firmware is concerned! meaning that, you should not automatically assume that a more expensive model is running newer software! because thats not always the case. its very unlikely you will ever get a firmware update on a network radio, making the preinstalled version of paramount importance.

thanks for putting the link in the description I found the website and I'm very impressed God bless you and something very special to me and I really appreciate it and this is the first video of this series that I have found and actually has the link in the description to the website that I'm actually looking for God bless thanks so much

The right way to use network radios is on a massive WAN/LAN type scenario. Like, if I own a business, and I have complete WiFi coverage at my main office, and a warehouse location someplace else in the city, also blanketed with WiFi access points, both networks linked via the internet. Now I need to only buy IP radios, and everyone can talk, fully encrypted, from either location, or back/forth between the two. You can apply this same concept to ham radio. Say, the aredn network. Or even not the aredn network. How bout a neighborhood of hams all with 2.4 ghz wifi omni antennas up high on their roof, all homes linked together via the internet connection. Now you can walk around the farm, neighborhood, and talk without anyone being able to eavesdrop. There are lots of other great uses. Zello is the last reason on Earth to purchase an IP radio. Zello is a closed, private service. A good IP radio is designed for private LAN/WAN use, outside of what zello has to offer.

At that price that’s a good introduction to network radio Lewis! Tnx Gm4zji Chris

I agree they do have their place! I've used Zello , Echolink, Teamspeak since 2013 and Zello will thrash a decent smartphones battery, so what's new out there Ringway Manchester? Love the videos! A new one on the new rigs on Ebay would be great! Thumbs up if you agree.

I've ordered one of these based on your review, so thanks for that! Pretty confident I can work something out on the volume issue, £58 is closer to the amount I feel comfortable paying for Android 4 than some of the offerings I've seen :)

Hi Lewis just to let you know a quick tip I heard you CAN adjust the volume, you have to go in to the music app and adjust the master volume using the hard toggle keys on the keypad , HTH cheers

It has a place so long as hams still prioritize having equipment that doesn't rely on internet.

Just heard from "Hairy Paul" on network radio that you have to adjust the volume by going into the MUSIC app and adjusting the volume from there. What a faff...…..but it works apparently!

It's using a custom launcher and icon set. I love the Rabbit logo case. Oddly I was thinking about those phones recently.

Great video ! Really very helpful. I've been looking for a budget price / inexpensive Android device to use Zello on. I've been using my LG mobile phone for Zello, but I wanted a separate device with a PTT button. After watching this video twice, I went ahead and ordered one of these today $68.00 (U.S) and free shipping. Thanks for the info ! 👍

Hi All- If you go to the Home screen and select the music app then you can use the scroll button up and down to adjust the volume but it doesnt work in Zello - still testing options , M0FXB Andreas.

At least this is a more sensible price....thanks again for the video Lewis!

Hi thanks for the introduction to these, just wondering where I can I get one for £60, i can see any links. Cheers

Shame about the volume control. Great video very informative. Thanks

Another good video. Well done 👍

Nice one Lewis! 💪😜

Thank Lewis for the wonderful subject, If the phone supports (for example) Arabic language, My question: Can I use physical keyboard buttons to write text messages in Arabic language?

Which cheap radio would you recommend that supports teamspeak as well as a wired microphone like a "proper" walkie talkie

Just watched this. I have the A-18. My newest network radio. The one I received does have the UHF radio function. I didn't recognize it right away as the icon is labeled "PTT". Works well like my W-5, as far as repeater usage. The one thing I had to work around was that the PTT kept activating Zello which interrupted my use of the PTT with Echolink and the Peanut app. What I did to get around that was to remove the PTT from use with Zello and used the Button Mapper App to program the volume down button (which is right above the actual PTT, on a "long hold" for PTT and "short hold" for "volume down" function, then added that button as the PTT for Zello, freeing up the actual PTT for use with Echolink and the Peanut App. When you are in a specific channel in Zello, the volume down now works as a PTT, but when you are monitoring all channels, it goes back to functioning as a volume down button. Works like a charm now. I like the A-18 for a cheaply priced Network Radio.

Oh wow. I ran into a similar device, almost identical down to the telescopic antenna and misspelt power on screen. A friend let me borrow it for testing due to problems he had with it. This one did have a UHF radio, accessible via a built in app. From experience, it wasn't great. You could set the frequency on it and CTCSS tones, but the mic gain was rubbish on it. I could not hear myself on another HT in the same room, on the same frequency with the volume turned up on it and there Android PTT phone didn't seem to have settings to adjust the mic gain. Also it had a tendency to start transmitting immediately when you opened the system UHF app and it would stick on Tx until you tapped the onscreen PTT button, so potential to cause interference there without noticing. Trying to enter frequencies was problematic due to that tiny screen. I resorted to typing in using the physical number pad. And to top it all off, the squelch settings were broken. You set it to "1" and it is too high and won't receive even strong signals. Set it to zero and you end up opening the squelch and hearing static. Particularly dreadful piece of equipment that I would steer clear of personally. Just my two pence. Love your work Lewis and hope to see more videos from you. 73

I love the torch - Maybe it because I live in Cheddar Caves :) M0FXB

Are you still into Network Radios Lewis? Is there a decent one in 2021 thats better than my Inrico T320 (small low res screen, slow, clunky), BUT incredibly useful to hit the repeaters with Echolink from a hospital bed where they may not appreciate a few watts of VHF / UHF around their equipment :-). An intertesting show would be based on Access Points for use with these and similar radios, watching RU-vid and doing Network Radio soon kills your data :-)

This is quite a nice radio, I heard only some airports and checkpoints use this radio

sorry this is a late comment but i have a question What sim card do you put in your network radios like in this video. I dont want to pay extra for texts or minutes. Do you have some sort of prepaid or like a walmart one?

What a strange device! So in theory without UHF, there's no need for an antenna on it?! I was looking for a decent UHF phone/radio but seeing this i'll definitely think twice. Thanks for the video Lewis, ATB. Mike.

Really interesting video, thanks for posting. Question further down this comment... We use Zello at home to stay in touch with the family -- great for 'who wants a tea' etc, and for staying in touch out and about. Brilliant app. We also use it at work for staying in touch around the building, and have just started using it for outside broadcasts -- base can talk off air to the field production team rather than making a phone call. I've been looking for a cheap dedicated PTT phone, at the moment its just the app on a smart phone. Question: if your PTT phone is screen locked (zello running in background, default group selected) and you push the PTT, does it automatically go into tx? Or do u have to unlock the screen and bring up zello before the PTT button will work (ie, as you would when running on an ordinary smart phone, where the PTT is an on screen button). Does that query make sense? Many Thanks in advance for any replies.

Hi I know this is a very old video, but did you ever sort out the volume problem? I see the A18 has volume keys but not sold in the UK.

can you change volume using the up n down on the ring just above keypad

Good to see the prices are coming down. Weird antenna. fine video lewis

Just like Motorola with boost about 10 years ago I believe (ptt push to talk) they still work ptt about a 1mile range . You gotta go in to the settings and activate manually !

Very good presentation.....

Hey dude that is an awesome video. Now i wasnt watching completely this video i was in a little rush but does this phone works on UHF/VHF frequencies? You now..like an usual two way radio that has a UHF and VHF band.....thanks,...bye...

hey ray can you dm me the link where you bought it from please cause im looking for one to try as a beginer

That at 5:58 I have that radio it's not a bad little zello radio even after a year aerial broke it all still works its now discontinued it all still works for price I payed its a great little phone I got mine for 49 pounds on a cyber deal

I like these stuff because they return the external antenna. Otherwise i think any phone will work. As partial hiker i would love a phone with external antenna option.

Hi Lewis , just found you last night on Martins video. G0KQN here, never heard of Zello, going to search for it now, a lot of my friends are on repeaters via the net, which i think just defeats the point, and some even run their own repeaters ! I am old school, analogue for me, but will try zello !

Thank you ,😃😃😃😃

Haii.. Are the first radio review can use zello?

With a portable Wi-Fi cellular modem one could bypass "content" Pro Fighters but still stuck with the cellular providers. A big Improvement

Great Video! How to buy? Lives in Sweden. Price?

I'm just getting into Amateur radio after taking art in this year's Jamboree on the air. Do you need a licence to use zello, or would it be a good way to get some experience on air?

Sonims phones don't use 4.4, they run more recent versions of android and are updatable from the handset. They have made phones that were licensed by land rover.

The more I look at these radio er .. Zello mobiles, the more I can't help but think someone needs to start a kickstarter or something and actually make a decent one with all the required features and hardware without it turning out to be a pile of pants. Surely by this point we should be able to get something that doesn't look like it's a mobile phone from 20 years ago, and from the looks of it, runs like it and has about as many features of it too.

Freudian slip I think at 13:04 - It looks nice and shi..... Great video though. I might just make a purchase.

I've got Sonim XP3 phone (still on duty as a works phone) and they look very similar

Hello WHAT IS THIS...... Never heard of a network radio, new world. Stumbled across this video from one of you other videos regarding listening to Manchester airport.

Has anyone found a headset that works with the A17, the one supplied is allowing me to hear, but when you click the talk on it, it doesn't send

마음에 든다

Just a thought on the A17 thingey volume problem. It looks a bit like my cheapo £10 Vodafone payg mobile and you adjust the volume on it during a call by pressing the right/left buttons on the up down/right left/ select button. Might be worth a try to see if that adjusts the volume during a call? I'm struggling to see the point of these "network radios". They all look like "bricks" from the 1970's. Why not just use your mobile phone which is smaller, lighter and you can adapt the volume button on your mobile to act as a ptt button with Zello…...or am I just thick and missing the point of having a separate device? Great video as always mate...…..keep em coming. It's so refreshing to have someone like yourself who "tells it like it is".

Hi can you do a detailed review and range test(without repeater) on Retevis RT1

I also found an a18 uhf phone radio should I buy one?

The web site i found states 400-470mhz 2 way radio intercom (option)?? Between two sets? Software or firmware option? Who knows?

Hi Lewis, It is my wife Sarah nr8888 that gave you the audio check in this video at 19.55 is there any chance next time you are doing a video you could include her set of channels that is called "Radio Network CH 01" There are 5 channels in total, 01 to 05, it is growing nicely with over 700 subscriber's, but she would appreciate her channels being included in one or more of your future videos. Thank you Stephen.

What is the antenna for if it doesn't have an internal radio?

Have you tried the A18, it has volume control on the side, + and -.

apart from it being a mobile phone... what is it good for ?

Broke the antena can you buy a replacement?

is it possible to review a sepura sbp8010

Got one of this and you have to get in the music app to turn the volume up and down... Huge design mistake IMO. And they say it's also UHF but it's really not cause there isn't any app or anything that could make this device talk to other UHF radios so that's pretty much a lie. Other than those 2 cons and the "make you happer" spelling mistake, this is a quite good cellphone on everything else and for the price it's not really a bad deal if you're going to use it with Zello. I don't regret buying it at all cause if you look at other cellphones/radios of the same type, this Anysecu A17 is cheaper and have better and more features than the other network radios with screen so... I'd bet that if it had the volume buttons this would be more expensive than the others. For it's price, I'd still give it a thumbs up 👍 Edit: Forgot to mention another con: - It comes with an earpiece but the earpiece doesn't fully work with Zello... You can listen and transmit with it but it's PTT button doesn't work so you still have to press the radio's PTT button to talk through the earpiece wich doesn't make much sense. Not sure if it was my earpiece came faulty or it's because it's PTT button isn't compatible with Zello.

Doesnt look to bad mate. I would prefer to pay a bit extra and get the 320 or rt3. Good review tho as always. Great video.

Do these require the antenna on for 3g/4g?

I have found these on ebayuk and aliexpress. Both list it as UHF optional. As for volume.... could one not use an earpiece even a bluetooth one if necessary, with its own volume control?

What is a "network radio". As opposed to a 2-way radio?

Can these work on a mesh network?

Couldn't see a link for these do they still exist?

+Ringway Manchester : I have a question. should the shtf scenario, would these radios become useless in the event should the 'network' go down???

Zello in HT body?? Nice idea but miss concept bout mobile radio i guess

Price has dropped even more . As of early October I ID'd one of these at 55 USD on ebay which is about 42 quid. Perhaps the word about no volume control has got around. It would be possible for someone like a radio ham to dig out the LED and use the space to install a small ALPS type volume control say 50R to put in series with the loudspeaker.. A BS170, SM if required could pull this pot out of cct when the PTT is pressed as long as 2.4 V at microamps is available. all a question of what you value time at... Either the company will go broke or come out with Mark II but at this price if the volume control issue is fixed they should stay in business.

Sort of mixed feelings about this device.... it may well be one to avoid?..... some may be 'happer' with it? ;-) .... thanks for the video 73

I still don't understand what is a network radio? Do you have to pay for the cellular charges? (since there is a SIM inside). Is it a walkie talkie or a mobile phone with PTT feature? IF its a walkie talkie how long is the range?

nice can it comunicate with 7s plus?

I would have to give this one a miss. It looks like it's decent enough, but the technology and OS are TERRIBLE! I currently use a Galaxy S5, which is 4 years old at this point, and it is 4G LTE and running Android Pie (9.0 for iPhone lovers) as my Zello device... There is no reason in this day and age to have a 3g device running a version of Android that was carved on stone. Not to mention, here in the US at least, 3G is on death row with Verizon and T-mobile planning on shutting their 3G network down within a year. That's why the RT4 looks so good to me. It's an LTE network phone, which still has plenty of support. LTE-A won't catch on, and we're at least a year away from 5G. By the time the LTE network goes obsolete, the RT4 device will have long since lived out it's usefulness. But for some reason China seems to want to keep churning out these devices that are ALREADY obsolete before they come off the line.

For me the volume issue is a bonus and exactly what I have been looking for.

These have just become available in Australia for $102. I don’t yet have a network radio, worth it?? Or keep saving? I’m just starting to explore Zello.

I hear a lot of folks talk about the lack of volume control being a deal breaker, surely volume could be mapped to the Dpad with a third party app?

make and model???

The volume is on the touch screen. You can turn it up or down no problem.

Despite the issues I could have overlooked them all for the fact that Zello will work reasonable well on it but without the volume buttons It wouldn't be any good. such a shame thay overlooked such a simple feature.

make you Happer? righto!

The Antenna is not connected in this device

2G and 3G are being switched off.

Do you need a licence to own one.

Can you get a network radio app for smartphone use?

WHEN ARE 5G NET RADIOS COMMING OUT

You can also find the wwarg network radio on discord at the following server address discord.gg/zwF8gfR and cross connected to our zello gateway network radio wwarg

Very interesting Lewis. Thanks for the video. I'd be interested if you find a way to turn the volume up and down. Adam M6XYT

Hi !! I didn't here mention the inreco T320

It's a mobile phone you buy to accept one more app.

NOAA capable?

UHF radio ready?

I have bought the same good product exept no possibilities to set volume... if we find that's a good product

I have one of these and thought it was just me not finding the volume! I downloaded a slider app - which works BUT it doesn't;t when zello is working, you need to come out of it, adjust the volume and go back in - what a pain.

Dothey make themfor cb band

Looks like the volume controls are rite under the PTT orange button.

Did you ever figure out how to adjust volume bud

How does the uhf work on this radio

Whats the point of dual sim?