27 June 2026 · Friedrichshafen, Germany

26 June marked the first day of Ham Radio 2026 here in Friedrichshafen. We are at Booth A1-242 in Hall A1. The doors opened at 9:00, and the booth stayed busy right through to closing.

Our own theme for this show is "Co-create the Unbroken Signal" — separate from the official event theme. For us, it means we are not just here to display products. We are here to listen. Your feedback goes straight back to our engineers and shapes our next firmware update, our next hardware revision, our next radio. That is the idea behind Your Voice + Our Engineering = Reliability.

What is on show

Our main focus this year is the Ailunce HA2.

The RETEVIS Ailunce HA2 is a UV dual-band analog handheld. Two features people keep asking about:

• Bluetooth APP programming — set up and program the radio straight from your phone, no cable required. Works across systems, easy to use on the go.
• IP67 waterproof and dustproof — built for real field use, whether you are on a SOTA activation or working an emergency net.

It also has Type-C charging, and we are doing live firmware updates for it right at the booth.

We also have other models on display — DMR digital options like the H1 and HD2 GPS, the RA89R/G, the A3 quad-band all-mode, and the MA1 mobile transceiver — plus a selection of antennas, speaker mics, and accessories.

One thing we heard more than once on Day 1: with so many models to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start. Fair point. If that sounds like you, come by the booth — tell us what you use a radio for, and we can point you to the right one.

A few things that happened on Day 1

The steady flow of visitors started the moment the doors opened. We spoke to a lot of people who had not come across our brand before, alongside a good number of long-time users. The mood was positive and engaged throughout the day.

DMR drew a lot of questions — many visitors came specifically asking about digital options. The HA2 also got strong interest, particularly from people looking for a solid analog workhorse.

A common thread from existing users: they rate the build quality, and they are happy with the accessories. The RT3S and RT90 came up repeatedly — people like the price point, and they really value the OpenGD77 open-source firmware support. More than one person asked when we might release a newer model that supports OpenGD77. That feedback is noted and going straight back to the team.

One operator mentioned that 10m band gear is hard to come by in Europe right now — another useful data point for our product planning.

DO4GME mentioned that 10m band gear is hard to come by in Europe right now — another useful data point for our product planning.

We also did a steady trade in firmware updates. Several H1 and HA2 owners brought their radios in for the latest version. One ham told us he had tried to update at home and could not get it to work — five minutes at the booth and he was sorted. That is exactly why we offer this on site.

Small moments from the day

A few things stuck with us:

• One operator turned up with an RT3S he has been using daily for years. It is still going strong. He just wanted to say thanks and see what is new. Those visits mean a lot.
• The custom bottle openers / keychains are popular. One person picked one up in the morning, then came back after lunch with two friends specifically to get more. We went through a good pile of them on Day 1.
• A visitor testing the HA2 managed to make a QSO with an operator in another country right from the booth. A small crowd gathered to watch. That is always a good moment.
• A few people who had spent the morning in the flea market wandered in with vintage rigs they had picked up, curious to compare them with what is on the market now. It was interesting to hear their thoughts on how far the tech has come — and what has not changed.

People we met

We caught up with several familiar faces on Day 1.

Tobias from AlpineRadioWaves and LabCa stopped by for a long chat, as did funkfiber. Good to see creators we have known online for a while in person.

We also met DO4GME, DO1HFS, and OE9MWI, all of whom spent time going through the gear and talking through their setups. Good conversations, good feedback. It is always nice to put a face to a callsign.

OE9BGI also stopped by to share some concerns about his experience with our after-sales support. We listened, we took notes, and we will be following up directly to get it sorted. That is the whole point of being here in person — to hear it straight and to fix it.

Several distributors and retailers from around Europe came through as well, with detailed questions about the range, supply, and support in the region. We had productive conversations and will be following up after the show.

Club representatives from a few different countries dropped in too. It is always interesting to hear what different groups are working on and how they use our equipment.

Activities — and the live stream today (27 June)

Our 4+1 promo is running all weekend. Do any one of these and get a free RETEVIS keychain / bottle opener:

• Take a photo with the booth and share it on social media (tag @retevis @ailunce)
• Fill out our feedback form
• Try the HA2
• Scan the QR code and browse our online store

The "+1" — join our live stream for a chance to win an HA2.

And a reminder: today, 27 June, we are live from the booth from 10:00 to 12:00 CEST.

We will be doing product demos, taking questions live, walking you through how to choose the right radio for your needs, and giving away an HA2 during the stream. Whether you are here in Friedrichshafen or watching from home, tune in. There will be more than one surprise.

Two days left

Day 1 was busy, productive, and good fun. Thank you to everyone who stopped by — for trying the radios, for asking sharp questions, for sharing your stories and your feedback. That is why we come to these shows.

The show runs until 28 June. If you are here over the weekend, come find us at A1-242. Try the HA2, grab a keychain, tell us what you need from a radio, or just say hello. We are here all weekend.

And if you cannot make it in person, catch the live stream today at 10:00 CEST.

73,

The RETEVIS Ailunce Team