I purchased this wonderful HT for several reasons, mainly because of the GPS and APRS capabilities. For less than $100, this radio has a lot more than the standard cheap radio including SW listening! It can also work on CB frequencies!
The main factor was the APRS as I decided to get into APRS and at the same time, set up my station as a better weather spotter by sending data to CWOP using APRS.
As with any radio, upgrade the firmware is always important. The latest firmware for the Radtel is showing on the website as v1.13 but when you click to download, the actual version is v1.14? Adding a side note, At least as of July 2025, v1.15 comes preinstalled with some models, more than likely from the Radtel themselves. Not why this was done as their website is confusing enough, with the added bonus the firmware updater app itselfs is considered a virus, failing almost 21/50 scans from VirusTotal. Luckily, Anything malicious from China is blocked on my network. The updated firmware is needed. The multiple versions of the CPS which links to Shopify is suspicious is enough. What did I get into? This is standard with cheap Chinese websites. Links below.
Radtel – CPS and Firmware downloads: https://www.radtels.com/pages/software-download
Latest CPS V1.08 for 880G: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0564/8855/8800/files/RT-880_CPS_V1_08_250618.zip?v=1750217723
After updating firmware, set up everything as much as possible on the CPS. This is including your zones, basic settings, frequencies and the extra’s such as GPS and ARPS. I have visited many Radtel 880/G groups to seen that there is still bugs and some things broken within the radio. The CPS is a standalone executable, not installable. Works in Linux as well but I have not fully tested this on my linux.
After turning on full tuning mode on the radio (hold down the down arrow while powering up the radio), I tested CB, SW, USB etc etc. Now ready for APRS. Setup PAT on linux, Winlink on Windows, apps on Android and Apple. Easy peasy. Few test packets, I am in the APRS. Tested APRS on the Radtel 880G. Not working! Confirmed with other owners my settings are correct. I am getting beacons but can not send out.
Day 2 I pinpointed the issue to be GPS. In the APRS mode, there is GPS and fixed. If I input my coordinates under the GPS settings manually and set APRS to Fixed. Worked just fine. A few options didnt work such as TX/RX data upload. Kept getting “can not send when in charging”.
By Day 3, I had found out that due to the bugs in v1.14, certain settings and time does not stick and save. I made sure the radio was not charging > went into settings > Extra > APRS > TX/RX data upload > IT IS ON! Switched APRS mode from fixed to GPS and set to one of my frequencies that I been testing on. Confirmed the GPS icon went green. APRS data packets sent!
I am still considered a very new amateur and even newer when it comes to APRS. It is possible the APRS needed this packets to be turned on but turned off once the radio is charging via USB. I confirmed the USB that came with the radio was the programming cable but according to firmware, it does not know the difference. These settings was on for the last two days but when the radio was turned on today, some of the APRS settings turned off? Giving this new radio the benefit of a doubt that it is a new radio which recently came out on the markets, there is going to be some bugs to work out. This is why you will be both in CPS and manually on radio for lots of fine tuning. For this radio, this is ok as the radio has lots of features and functions that needs to be interacted via the settings.