pcradio

Thank you @gortex2 for raising the question. The dialog can be healthy. I think @labreja accurately describes the major reason why. What HAM was and what it has become are two different things. The way NotaRubicon for example, responds to them on his very popular channel is telling. Today, HAM represents itself to the public as an exclusive club of what behind the scenes (not everywhere) is in all actuality an archaic system of dated and unhelpful rules. This means that the people on those repeaters and frequencies are potentially unwelcome to newcomers that don't share their biases and beliefs. The general public feels this way. That is a problem whether it is true or not. GMRS is the polar opposite. It is welcoming, friendly, and encourages the free discourse of discussion over a really cool medium (aka radio) without having made everyone learn a bunch of totally irrelevant ideology just to use a frequency and talk on it. However, not every HAM is that way, of course. We need licensing over frequencies, not radios types, not how many radios you have in your truck, not how much money you have, not how big a bully you are, not how much of a school hall monitor nazi you are. Like real sensible reasons for why we do things. Its just so totally crazy what drives the HAM market ecosystem. However, I'm somewhat saddened to see GMRS become like HAM. We would all be better served if GMRS was for "groups" and HAM was for experimentation and the like. This means sharing of frequencies between the two. The only reason I have a HAM ticket was to gain access to the frequencies, not to become an enforcer of peevishness.

I'm looking at getting into 6M. What's the smallest most powerful configuration with a rollup style antenna that could be used for a backpacking setup?

APRS packet repeater, and hopefully one that will get you to an iGate. I'm researching this mode now. Looks really cool and you can use the Mobilinkd to do so from any style radio.

I have the UV9PX, same radio but firmware for HAM. My review. Its a nice radio. It takes a SMA male antenna.

The "G" in GMRS stands for "Groups" (not literally). But think of it that way. GMRS is for people doing something, together, and they have coms. It uses UHF which is a shorter range frequency too. You want to be on the HAM side, VFH and or HF for reaching out and chatting with others.

I'm also looking at the FT5D. How good is the screen outside in direct sunlight? I hike with my radios.

Have both parties stand on their respective roofs with 5w hand HTs to get a general idea.

Wouxun is the main brand taking GMRS seriously right now. Baofeng's are kinda a joke, but the UV-5R does works with Chirp and can be enabled to put the frequencies in them you are licensed for. But you need to be really techie to use this terribly designed stuff. If you need or enjoy radio, hang in there. No you don't need to spend $2k to get a radio that will work.

I may have missed it, but did you say where you got your cable? Might have to break down and buy a better cable, like this one. I have the cheop-o amazon cables, but you need to really know your way around windows drivers.

For now, I've decided to go with the Wouxun KG-UV9PX. My initial review here. I still want the APX 8000, but will need to strike oil first.

reserved

Longer term review I've had some time to use the UV9PX in real world settings. I have to say, this is a great analog radio. It just gets the job done and does radio well. It is simple, uncluttered and without unnecessary things in the way. The true dual receive is nice and I must say that having one audio level adjustment for both bands is preferred. On the Yaesu FT3D, the dual volume is annoying in practice except for when dedicated to APRS. Would like to see an option to synchronize volume levels. For me, the FT3D/FT5D was the comparison to the UV9PX. They belong on the table together. If you're looking for a great radio and don't want or need the features of the FT3D, the UV9PX should be on your list. I think the UV9PX should be everyone's first radio. An individual liked my audio output to them so much, they wanted to know what kind of HT I was using! It is super easy to change channels, get to where you need to go, quickly move between VFO's, check the frequency of a channel, change the name, and so on. You know, using your radio to move around and talk on! FT3D pros: • Super fast scanner • Integrated GPS & APRS FT3D cons: • Cluttered endless menus • Subpar audio (really?) • Dual memory names not displayed (really?) • Uncomfortable to hold (really?) I've already gone over the UV9PX in my first post. I still feel the same way. It is just a really well executed radio that focuses on the main reasons why you have a radio in the first place! I am sorry that I can not properly test the front end capabilities. I have no doubt the Yaesu is better. But the Motorola is better, maybe even the best. I'm not able to demonstrate this. If someone else can produce a video and testing format for us, regarding front end receiving, that would great. Below I have some videos and side by side images for comparison. You'll note the two battery size options for the UV9PX. Video1 demonstrating the scanner and Video2 demonstrating the audio. The UV9PX is not a perfect radio. But it is worth a look and maybe its the best radio for you.

Wouxun UV9PX short term review This radio has the potential to be a true off-grid comms device. Far out in the wilderness, there is no internet, no cell signal, and even if there was, you may need or prefer real-time audio with others using different radios and frequency bands. With two dual receivers built in, its a scanners delight too so you can monitor your main channel while keeping up with what might be transmitting nearby. That last point really brings home who this radio might appeal to. It is not a tactical radio, although it could be. In tactical comms, you only care about your team and maintaining comms with them. Same with business comms. You don't need multiple bands, you don't care to hear what else maybe going on. You are in concert with your team and maintaining your own personal awareness. You are probably even using an earpiece to maintain E&E. But if you want to know what is going on around you in a non-combative sense, and you don't care about digital, this radio delivers a very usable package for way under $500. The radio has a unique to me feature. It has the ability to monitor three different channels. When both the upper and lower receivers are set to a different frequency (but "not" scanning), you still have the option to "monitor" another 3rd priority memory "channel". It does a watch feature on that location every 3 seconds. This gives you the ability to monitor as it where, the potential for three incoming signal paths. Another nice to have feature is toggling between seeing the actual channel frequency itself and the Alpha Name. Sometimes I forget what frequency went with which name. On the UV9PX, you can hold down the TDR/VM button to cycle through options. Long Press for VFO mode, long press again for memory slot, again for frequency, and finally again to return to display name. Pros: • Very nice small carry size with optional 2000 mAh slim battery. • Excellent battery life with 3200 mAh battery. • Great case design. Comfortable to hold. Easy to stow. • Nice front panel button feel, response, and layout. Positive "clicky" short depth rubberized buttons. • True Dual analog receive. Can listen and scan simultaneously. Scan PL tones too. • Cross-Band Repeater capable. Useful for leaving at base camp and increasing range on the fly. • Wide 7-Band receive range with air band and 700-960 UHF. • Chirp Compatible. • Mars/cap mod-able. • 999 memory slots, 10 scan groups. Cons: • 8 Character Alpha Channel naming. Its 2022, give us 12. • Unpleasant "beep" tone when pressing buttons. Can be disabled. • Flashlight. I don't like a flashlight in a radio. LED is in the way, something to break. • Knobs are stiff, which is good, but they are tapered towards the top. Not usable with gloves. Too small. • Audio is loud, but could be more intelligible. • Screen is very difficult to read in sunshine. • Only IPX55 water rating. • No USB-C charging port. Clunky desk charger is not needed. Improvement Suggestions: • Better audio speaker clarity and tonality. • Knobs that are equally sized or larger at upper end. • Improved "beep" tone when accusing menus. Better tone hz. • Bluetooth capable to allow keeping it stowed away in a bag with a remote mic. • OLED screen or Transflective display. • More character support for Alpha Channel Names. • Larger knobs, they respond great, just change the shape and size. • Submersible water rating (IPX7, etc.). • Selectable power output options in 1w increments up to max. • Ruggized casing. Keep the same look and feel, well done, just increase drop ability. • 18650 battery case option. • Faster scanning. • Declutter the screen with unneeded lettering. It shows "Menu" and "Exit" unnecessarily on the screen. The physical buttons do this perfectly and its wasted screen space to have them duplicated digitally. I think with these updates, new screen design, and the associated cost to do so, would create a version of this radio that would be very compelling. A true sleeper in the CCR category. The only other radios in contention are at least $500. Conclusion: I can not comment on the RF front end quality just yet. But out in the woods, there is no RF to speak of. I do feel the audio speaker response can be improved, but this is subjective. If the only reason you're looking at other radios is because of the nebulous feeling of "quality" selectivity and sensitivity, then you're looking in the wrong place. You just need to go buy that $8,000 Motorola so that you are not compromising. Even a $1.5k mototrbo is going to win the radio quality argument. So, the only radios that compete with this working feature set, that I know of, are the Yaesu FT-5DR, VX-7R, iCom ID-52A, or the Motorola APX 8000 (and other public safety brands). Let me know other radios with two analog receivers that function like the UV9PX. I will follow up with a long term review. For now, I give this radio a solid buy if you will not be using the screen in direct sunlight.

What's the difference between the Wouxun cable and this FTDI cable?

That's quite the upgrade. How do you tolerate the single watch nature? I don't think I can give up watching two frequencies.

Would you clarify your point? Are you saying you've notice a difference between SOC and Superhetrodyne in your area?

Yeah, the August 8th, 2022 firmware update enables official 128 channel support. Another nice feature is clearing all CTCSS on power on. Hold PTT+9 to clear.

I have one of these on order from BSR. Looking forward to it after a lot of research. Was wanting a radio with true dual receive and scan. Anyone else have one and care to comment on your experience, things to look out for, things to get, etc. Have you enjoyed it? I was considering the KG-UV9D Mate but the dark screens and black shell won me over. The description of the KG-UV9PX states that it adds several improvements over the previous UV9P, UV9D Mate & UV9D (Plus): 3 New Dark Color Screen Modes, New Priority Channel Quick-Jump Feature, Extended 1.25m “220 HAM Band” RX Range, Scan Advance, Bright Flashlight & Stiff Knobs. I guess because the radio is so new, there is not a lot of articles online about it and such. My review here.

The new KG-UV9PX version has true dual receive. Does the KG-UV9P and KG-UV8H have true dual receive (simultaneous)?

I think @kb2ztx makes a great point. You use the radio that matches the group you are with. I've been doing a lot of research and realize that I don't need all the things I thought I did. Like dual band for example. @gman1971, you are correct, I personally don't need that. However, if I'm going to cover different groups with a radio, then burden falls to me to have that capacity. Hmmm ...

If you had an SDR, running on a computer, then some custom software, or maybe even the provided software, could make things more obvious.

I had a RT76P that I had them help me with. They were very responsive.

Well, that is kinda different. I might be inclined to notify them personally. Something similar is happening near me. A school is simplex on a GMRS repeater RX channel. However, the repeater is not frequently used. They mostly transmit from 3:15 to 3:30 to organize buses coming and going.

That's shameful. In a world where jobs, money, and common sense are in short supply, let these people alone. They are not willfully harming our hobby.

DTMF is used by the AllStarLink network of amateur radio repeaters. DTMF may sound familiar because it is from the touch tone dialing you do on your phone. AllStarLink uses a VoIP based backend server. To connect to remote nodes and do other things you issue it DTMF sequences, kinda like dialing in to check your voicemail you might say. There maybe other repeater systems that use this as well. So, what does that have to do with GMRS? Well, GMRS as an ecosystem, does not really stand on its own. It may someday. But manufacturers and software for GMRS radios are really repurposed from other business units. Not everything has been designed by a product manager for the vertical GMRS market. Maybe it shouldn't be. But whatever, it is what it is, so you have this mishmash of features. The manual won't say, "this feature does not apply to GMRS". If it did, you would be directed to question the segmentation.