WSAA635
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Posts posted by WSAA635
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I finally had one of my returns come through so I had some funds in my Amazon account. Been going back and forth between the 805g and the 905g and it looks like the 905g won out so I'll be getting my first actual GMRS radio. I've had a lot of other radios(most returned for one reason or another)but this'll be the first one that's actually Part 95E approved.
I've already got the factory CPS installed on my Linux Box via WINE so I'll be ready to set it up when it gets here Saturday. I'm going to test fit a Nagoya 701c antenna to see if it has a small enough O.D. to work and if it does I'll order a GMRS tuned Nagoya for it. Anyway, just wanted to share the good news.
PS. Also ordered a KG-805g too.
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2 hours ago, WRPG818 said:
The Firmware can be a bit tricking. I like it but I won't be updating it again with any newer firmware. You can brick it if not done right.
The issue was that in factory installed firmware didn't allow proper side button programing. The upgrade was suppose to fix that but it wouldn't finish properly so it ended up bricking the radio.
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The KG-905G has USB-C charging now on the battery. That's a plus. I can get a 2600Ah battery for the KG-805G so it'd have the same battery capacity as the 905 but it'd not be USB-C capable.
Still not gotten my refund on one of the radios that was delivered back to the seller on the 7th. Hopefully later today with any luck. 805, 905, maybe both, maybe 2 of the 805's, IDK, this isn't an easy choice. LOL
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17 minutes ago, WRUU653 said:
Does Amazon not refund to your credit card? The Antenna that comes with the radio is hard to beat and I have a drawer full of antennas.
I use my Amazon Card so I'll get 5% back and normally(but not this time)and I can take my returns to Khol's and drop them off and I'll get the refund in a couple hours. I had to ship some of the stuff back UPS(on their dime so I didn't have to pay shipping) and I'm still waiting on the refund to hit my Gift Card balance on Amazon.
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I didn't have any LUCK with the 5/8 Rubber DUCK. I was actually getting better Tx with a stock Wouxun antenna that I got from BuyTwoWayRadio for $8 bucks. I ended up sending it back. Nagoya works well IF it'll fit down into the recess where the antenna goes. I had one radio(think it was a Wouxun) where the Nagoya didn't seat all the way and Rx and Tx were not that great. My current Talkpod A36 Plus suffers from the same issue, the channel for the antenna to screw down into is too narrow so the stock antenna for it works better than the Nagoya does. I really wish they'd standardize this stuff so that all the OD's of the antennas and ID's of the radios would match up.
- WRQJ559 and Webslinger
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2 hours ago, WRYZ926 said:
You can download the Wouxun software from the BTWR website. I find the Wouxun software easier to use. It will only run on Windoze though.
I have both the KG-805G and KG-905G software running on my Linux Box under WINE so it'll run on more than Windoze if you know what to do.
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If I could get the KG-935G Plus on Amazon I would but it's not listed as one of the radios for sale. I'm going to have almost $210 refund credit on Amazon that I'd like to use. I also have to factor in antennas, extra batteries, and anything else I might want to pick up.
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32 minutes ago, BoxCar said:
You are suffering from "analysis paralysis" in that you are so wrapped in your comparisons that you've lost sight of your original objective.
That's what those of us with ASD do, we over analyze things because the logical side of our brain is in control. Being Neurodivergent can be both a blessing and a curse.
I do think that I need to stop over thinking things and just focus on a GMRS radio and not worry about the other stuff but try to tell my brain that, LOL.
I'll probably just go with the 805g since it's less expensive and has FM radio but dang I wish it had NOAA too. I'm sure we'll figure it out by the time my refunds on Amazon hit.
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I have a UV-5R, 2/UV-82's and a Talkpod A36 Plus so really, all my bases are covered. I'd just like one nice radio to have.
I still don't understand why the cheaper 805g has FM radio but the "better" 905g doesn't. They're both suppose to be UHF only. Also since there's a MURS version of the 805 are they using a different chip set? If not why couldn't the 805g be "hacked" to do VHF too?
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On 2/1/2024 at 7:53 AM, Extreme said:
Why not use the free wouxun software?
Update. I have installed WINE on my Linux system so I can use the Wouxun software.
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I really prefer the versatility of an actual transceiver vs just a scanner since I scan so few channels.
Also, if I'm going to be limited to UHF only then maybe the KG-805g would work just as well as the 905g, Plus it'd be $20 bucks cheaper.
It's odd though that the 805g has an FM Radio but the 905g doesn't and neither have NOAA Weather Radio.
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Both are at or just under $100 so price isn't a factor.
KG-905g:
Negatives:
GMRS/UHF only, Not CHIRP compatible, not NOAA Weather compatible, no FM radio function.
Positives:
Superhetrodyne, Amazon(so I can use my refund money).
FT-65r:
Negitives:
HAM radio so it'll need to be unlocked. System on a Chip. Would have to buy it with debit card.
Positives
VHF/UHF, NOAA Weather, can transmit on MURS if needed. Easy to unlock. CHIRP compatible.
So which one and why.
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Ok, so I tested my usb connection in VirtualBox with the CHIRP install and my UV-5R and it was a "no go" so I installed the expansion pack and still nothing. It seems like VB doesn't want to play well with my usb connections(and yes, I set them up in VB so they were suppose to be active) so I just went back to my WINE version of the KG-905g software since I can't change the size of the window in either.
Also, I think I figured out why they have the different channels split up with space in between them. They're Scan Groups in the 905g so you can pick which Scan Group you want to scan. You have G1-1 through G1-16 all the way to G16-1 through G16-16 so there's 16 Scan Groups each with 16 channels for a total of 256 memory spots. This is nice because if you have say Public Safety channels in Scan Group G6 you can move to Group 6 and only scan those channels but it also leaves you free to move to any other group you'd like to scan without having to add "skip" in the program to stop them from scanning like I have to do now. I have all my GMRS/MURS channels set to "skip" so when I hit "scan" I'll only scan the 4 Public Safety channels. The way I'm understanding it I can scan them in their group with the KG-905g or I can move to a different group and only scan those channels. I really think I'm going to get the KG-905g and give it a try.
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I have the FEANTEEK FTDI chip cable and it works pretty well too. IIRC it was around $15 bucks.
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33 minutes ago, WSBQ451 said:
Ok sounds good. But I guess my question would be how do I get the software to list the changes that I have made? Everytime I open the software, it listes the default DIY channels. Thanks.
I simply rename the file to what I've done to it. You can see in the above pic that I have the "Factory" UV-5R" program and then I renamed it to "Baofeng_UV-5R_GMRS_MURS_DPS_and then the date you modified it." so I know it from the factory downloaded file.
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I created a folder in my Home folder called "GMRS" and I have folders inside of that like the pic shows. It's kind of a "Russian Doll" kind of thing where there's folders inside of folders. I also save them all off to a USB stick in case of a computer mishap or if I'd like to share them with someone.
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I also noticed that the programming window for the Wouxun CPS doesn't resize in Win10 VirtualBox either same as in WINE so it must be set at a predetermined size.
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I know in CHIRP I set the bandwidth and power manually. I also skip all the channels except for the ones I want to scan and set the transmit to "off" so I won't accidentally transmit on those channels.
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My main reasons for getting into radio is comms while dove hunting and/or shooting in the desert for truck to truck communication and scanning the 4 DPS/Highway Patrol channels and on a second Airband capable radio scanning the 3 nearby airports.
I'd mentioned this in another thread.
I'm not doing anything "urgent" right now but in a Grid Down, SHTF situation I'm sure my radios would be pressed into that role.
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But is there Suppose to be that big gap between the channel groups? When I've programed my other radios it's 1 thru 39, no gaps.
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11 hours ago, MikeyZo said:
After your review I seriously considered grabbing one of the GMRS TD-H8 models, or even the 10 watt model and use it in unlock mode… but then read a bunch of reviews about firmware issues, overheating, and programming issues. Just curious if you’ve noticed any issues with yours since the review. Where did you purchase yours from? Is is the V2 model, and have you tried the firmware update? Any issues since to report? Thanks!
Ditto on firmware issues. The firmware that shipped with the radio was out of date and had issues with programing the PF1 and PF2 keys along with a number of other problems. I tried to do the update and ended up bricking the radio. Same thing happened with one of the H3's I had so I sent all 4 of them back. Tidradio HTs have been having a lot of issues and until they get fixed it's best to look else where.
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On a similar note I did get Win 10 installed in VirtualBox and got both CHIRP Next and the programming software for the Wouxun KG-905g installed so I can run it under WINE in Linux or "native" in VBox. One question, is there suppose to be that much space between channels? All the radios I've programmed in CHIRP had all the channels next to each other without gaps between them. Why would the factor program for the KG-905g have gaps and would it hurt anything to move all the channels up to get rid of the gaps?
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I don't have a HAM License and I don't plan on transmitting on any HAM Frequencies either. For me the Radio I use is irrelevant as long as I only transmit on GMRS Frequencies (Which I'm Licensed for) or MURS Frequencies for which you don't need a License. I know the Prisons are full of of folks who transmitted on GMRS Frequencies with a HAM radio...................Oh wait.............there NOT. As Randy(Notarubicon) has said time and time again(watch some of his YouTubes videos and you might learn something) the FCCs don't really enforce these Rules/Regulations(they're NOT Laws by the way) unless you do something nefarious like talk about drug deals, terrorist stuff or otherwise mess with other peoples transmissions. If you're out in the desert taking to a couple buddies I really don't think it matters much which radio you use or if you're at the proper power limits. All this talk makes me think we've got a few "sad hams" in the making here, LOL.
Just ordered a Wouxun KG-905g.(and an 805g too)
in General Discussion
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Ok, I looked up what PL and DPL are and I don't think I'll ever need or use them. As long as I can get CTCSS tones for repeaters I'm good.