New GMRS HT Pending - Wouxun KG-UV9G

[mbrun]

I recently purchased a Wouxun KG-UV9P radio as I am obtaining my Ham license. During my internet research for better information on programming it, I discovered that Wouxun has a GMRS version of this Radio that is reportedly in process of gaining FCC approval.

 

 

 

Information can be found here:

https://bettersaferadio.com/bsr-wouxun-kg-uv9g-gmrs-two-way-radio-scanner/

 

So far, I love the features of the KG-UV9P, but I sure wish the Chinese would hire a person that speaks English natively to write their manuals. Their manuals are awful.

 

In any regards, I like the feature set of the HAM version I obtained. Full-Time dual channel receive capable (radio has dual receivers). Each receiver can scan and receive simultaneously. You can designate primary channel on the unit so that when the unit is scanning it checks the primary channel most frequently. Unit has built in PL code scanner and supports non-standard codes. Built in support for running frequencies in 7 different bands.

 

The number 1 worst thing about the radio is the manual and a close second is the beautiful display. The display is looks nice indoors but is total useless outdoors where an HT should excel. This is true even with brightness turned up all the way. A backlight LCD would have been a far better choice.

 

 

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[menajemh]

congrats on your wouxun and your HAM ticket. i got the same HT last week and agree with u about the screen issue but i don't care, i like full duplex and cross band features it has. for instructions i looked for videos in youtube. i made one on how to use the fm radio.

The GMRS version is on sale on the twowayradio website, i think its a great option for gmrs being a 5 watt HT with great receiver. there's other options, like retevis or motorola, but this one wins in my opinion. 73 kd2ovm wqwc248 

[Lscott]

Looks like a nice radio. What I like about it is the receiver is a true superheterodyne design. I haven't been impressed with the performance of the cheaper "radio on a chip" types that all seem to use the ubiquitous RDA1846S, or some variant of it. You get what you pay for.

 

The D878-UV analog/DMR radio, which isn't cheap, I think uses the chip but seems to perform better than I would expect. I think the design uses a tracking filter on the receiver front end to help eliminate the nasty image responses you get with the radio on a chip design.

[mbrun]

Just thought I would clarify. The GMRS radio you reference at BuyTwoWayRadios.Com is the KG-805G which is a completely different animal. I purchased a couple of those two about a month back. Seems to be a nice radio.

 

I did see an FM broadcast radio on YouTube related to the KG-UV?, perhaps it was yours.

 

congrats on your wouxun and your HAM ticket. i got the same HT last week and agree with u about the screen issue but i don't care, i like full duplex and cross band features it has. for instructions i looked for videos in youtube. i made one on how to use the fm radio.

The GMRS version is on sale on the twowayradio website, i think its a great option for gmrs being a 5 watt HT with great receiver. there's other options, like retevis or motorola, but this one wins in my opinion. 73 kd2ovm wqwc248

 

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[MIKEROD67X]

I have 3 of the Wouxun KG-805G radios and they are a great little radio . Real sturdy. Nothing like the cheap radios you get on Amazon or Ebay . Easy to program. And I can hit a repeater  from 30 miles away  at 5 watts that's pretty good. Well worth $90 each 

[mbrun]

I own a couple of the 805G also and it is a nice radio. I am not ruling out at least one of the KG-UV9G in my arsenal because of the talk-around, reverse split, tone-scanning and NOAA support features that the 805G does not have. I currently own a KG-UV9P Ham version and regularly use it for scanning GMRS and HAM frequencies.

 

One clear thing the 805G has over the KG-UV9 series radios is a display that can be used outdoors. The display on KG-UV9 series is completely useless outdoors, except at night.

 

 

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[Shadow471]

Any updated status on the release date?

[mbrun]

BetterSafeRadio has changed their projected availability date to November (back from October). I don’t have any more information than that for this model. You can go to their website and get on the wait list if you like. You will be emailed when it is available.

 

There appears to be even more GMRS models on the horizon from Wouxun. An FCC application has recently been filed by BuyTwoWay radios to allow them to beta test some new product. I Presume this to be FRS, GMRS and MURS products based on the model numbers referenced in the application.

 

Any updated status on the release date?

 

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[AdmiralCochrane]

Sometimes the reason the manual sucks in English its because the original manual in the original language sucked because the engineer who wrote it was not a good technical writer.  I discovered this when I obtained a better translation of a refrigeration controller made in Italy.  I don't think the guy could write nontechnical Italian, much less technical.

[mbrun]

Sometimes the reason the manual sucks in English its because the original manual in the original language sucked because the engineer who wrote it was not a good technical writer. I discovered this when I obtained a better translation of a refrigeration controller made in Italy. I don't think the guy could write nontechnical Italian, much less technical.

I worked with a gentleman 50-60 years old, born and raised in China. His english, writing and communication skills were atrocious. You can image my surprise when I learned we had been officially trained in Chinese to English translation and practiced professionally translating technical writings for 10-15 years.

 

 

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[Shadow471]

Thanks for the info.

I went and ordered the KG-805G.

As the BTECH GMRS-V1 is just annoying me and it's still in the return policy.

 

I'll standby for the KG-UV9G.

[mbrun]

Shadow471, one thing I will tell you in advance about the KG-UV9 series of radios is that they have nice displays that are mostly useless outdoors during daylight hours, even at their highest brightness setting. The screen has a small fraction of the brightness of a smart phone. If you need to change a reading setting other than channel or volume outdoors you will be looking for well shadowed/dimly lit areas. The screen is a poor choice for a radio intended for outdoor use.

 

The KG-805G on the other hand is legible indoor and out, as it should be.

 

Michael

WRHS965

KE8PLM

 

Thanks for the info.

I went and ordered the KG-805G.

As the BTECH GMRS-V1 is just annoying me and it's still in the return policy.

 

I'll standby for the KG-UV9G.

 

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[CP650]

Email today from BSR stating the release date is pushed back even further, possibly 2 months due to issues with FCC certification. The 8 watt output couldn't pass SAR (radiation exposure) requirements and they are now pursuing it at 5w.

[mbrun]

Thanks. I received that email this morning also. That extra three watts is no big loss. Better safe than sorry. My KG-UV9P will output 10w on high setting but I do not operate at that power when carrying. The radio gets uncomfortably warm, the battery drains quickly, and when the skin on your hand touches the exposed battery terminals on the back while transmitting at 10w you will experience an RF burning sensation that will cause you to decrease the power anyway; it may even cause you to drop the radio to eliminate the discomfort. So for me the extra power is nice to know is available, but not something I need. It will be relegated to emergency use only in a mobile, external power and antenna scenario.

 

Michael

WRHS965

KE8PLM

 

Email today from BSR stating the release date is pushed back even further, possibly 2 months due to issues with FCC certification. The 8 watt output couldn't pass SAR (radiation exposure) requirements and they are now pursuing it at 5w.

 

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[Photoman5000]

Email today from BSR stating the release date is pushed back even further, possibly 2 months due to issues with FCC certification. The 8 watt output couldn't pass SAR (radiation exposure) requirements and they are now pursuing it at 5w.

If it was pushing 8w it would never be approved anyway. 5w limit on gmrs hand held and all that jazz.

 

 

Anyone hear anything new yet on this radio yet?

[mbrun]

If it was pushing 8w it would never be approved anyway. 5w limit on gmrs hand held and all that jazz.

 

Anyone hear anything new yet on this radio yet?

The FCC does not explicitly limit the power of the handheld to 5w across the board. The 5w limits in the GMRS rules apply to all radios permitted to use some of the itinerant frequencies. But while the rules do not expressly limit it, the power is implicitly limited because handheld radios must comply with RF radiation exposure limits called “Specific Absorption Rate” limits. If it were somehow possible to manufacturer a higher power unit and achieve SARs compliance I suspect you would see higher power units available. Don’t hold your breath.

 

https://www.fcc.gov/general/radio-frequency-safety-0

 

 

Michael

WRHS965

KE8PLM

[Extreme]

Still a wait list as of this morning.

 

Wondering if I this new one will have the same crap display discussed here?

[mbrun]

...

Wondering if I this new one will have the same crap display discussed here?

Yes. No doubt. They publicly assert that the radio is a firmware modified version of the KG-UV9P. That suggests that only the firmware is different.

 

The major complaint I have with the ham version KG-UV9P is the display. While I have no complaints with radio performance thus far in 6 months, I find it frustrating as all get-out not being able to view the display to see what channel, frequency, PL codes or signal level except when indoors. I use it nearly every day outside. That issue makes the radio less usable to me than the KG-805G. So unless its radio performance were to be substantially superior (which I doubt) I will stick with my KG-805G for GMRS usage and use my KG-UV9P when I want to listen to non-GMR frequencies.

[Extreme]

Email this morning says they're shooting for "early March".  In lieu of the concerns with crappy display I'll likely pass on this one.  That and the complications (for me) of multi-multi-band, dual monitoring, etc.  Just seems like a lot of B&W that I'd probably not find useful and that might be cumbersome.  One of the reasons I really like the 805G is the single band simplicity.

 

I did pickup a couple CCR Retevis 76P so I have weather monitoring on those at least.

[dwmitchell61]

 

Deleted due to redundancy...

[MLee]

I received an email this morning with a pre-sale coupon for $25 off and they said shipping to start in March.  Not sure what makes this particular model worth twice what the KG-805G is currently selling for.  There may be more bells and whistles but for just pure GMRS use, I'm not seeing it being worthwhile to me.  The KG-905G being water rated IP66 sounds good for those of us that will be around lakes and rivers.  It won't take a swim but should be good against splashes from kayak paddles, etc.

[Extreme]

Got the same email and feel about the same way as far as bells and whistles I don't need. 

 

I carry the 805 in my fishing kayak but inside a dry bag made just for that: 

https://www.nrs.com/product/28572/aquapac-small-vhf-classic-228

 

IP55 (per description) isn't enough for my comfort - splash yes, clumsy drop, no.  Also provides a tether and will float.  Not cheap but less than a new radio.  They have a large size but still not big enough for Nagoya antenna.. not a deal breaker.

I received an email this morning with a pre-sale coupon for $25 off and they said shipping to start in March.  Not sure what makes this particular model worth twice what the KG-805G is currently selling for.  There may be more bells and whistles but for just pure GMRS use, I'm not seeing it being worthwhile to me.  The KG-905G being water rated IP66 sounds good for those of us that will be around lakes and rivers.  It won't take a swim but should be good against splashes from kayak paddles, etc.

[MozartMan]

Not sure what makes this particular model worth twice what the KG-805G is currently selling for.

 

May be this one of the features that 805G does not have?

 

Two Dual-Band Double-Conversion Superheterodyne TDR (True Dual Receive) Receivers

[Extreme]

Per previous discussions of the 805G it does have Superhet (not on a chip) so that would leave the difference as the bells and whistles, aka "Dual-Band" that I don't need.

 

May be this one of the features that 805G does not have?

 

Two Dual-Band Double-Conversion Superheterodyne TDR (True Dual Receive) Receivers

[n4gix]

Per previous discussions of the 805G it does have Superhet (not on a chip) so that would leave the difference as the bells and whistles, aka "Dual-Band" that I don't need.

 

It's useful only if you have a real need to monitor two separate frequencies simultaneously, which I definitely must have.

 

With "dual watch" if one frequency is in use, it will stop the "dual watch" and you very well could miss any traffic on the other frequency.

 

With "dual band" on the other hand, you will never miss any traffic on either frequency, although you might need to quickly lower volume on the receiver you don't need to listen to!