New GMRS Specific HT

[Billy]

Because it is always good to have options I cam accross this new marketed HT.   It is made by Wouxum and is Part 95 FCC Certified. 

 

 

http://www.powerwerx.com/wouxun-radios/powerwerx-gu-16-gmrs-handheld-radio.html

 

 

[Guest spd641]

Billy,

Thanks for the info,I had looked at that one a few weeks ago and was going to post about it.I also found one some time last year with the Wouxun name on it that was part 95 also but I have not been able to find it again,it looks like the Powerwerx is a re-branded copy of that one except it has factory default set of pl tones.

 

I am betting if you find the original Wouxun branded radio with the software it will program the Powerwerx also,good find and if you try one out let us know how it works,we need more radios available that are Part 95 certified.It seems funny with the proposed rules changes of over 3 yrs ago that GMRS is gaining more steam and being used more since more info is now online for people to read about.

 

The only thing I still do not like is the people who refuse to buy the license  or say they can't justify the cost instead most say get a ham license.I look at it this way GMRS covers the whole family,a ham license covers only 1 person and not every family member wants to become a ham.As far as justifying the cost,eat one less meal at a fancy restaurant for one month that should about cover the cost...Have a good day

[PastorGary]

Just an observation, but the external speaker/mic looks to be identical to the one used on the model KG-UVD1P ----  IF that IS the case, then the programming cable for the dual band model might work with this one...  However, I'm just going by what I saw in the accessories list on the website - not with actual hands-on testing.

[Logan5]

Yep, looks like this is just a pre programmed prt90 radio,. removable antenna and everything as I have said all along. part 95 is mostly in the programing. 99 bucks though. I know. I know, I won't say it.

[Billy]

I bet that if an FCC check is done they are probably both Part 90/95 accepted.     I will do some research on that.   I am also sure that the generic Wouxum software would work.    The speaker mic and accessories use the Kenwood jack as do most of the Chinese radios.  I was just happy to see a new offering.  Shows that people have a renewed interest in radio lately and I bet Wouxum did the market research prior to offering this model.   I know that is the case locally.  There are quite a few emergency repeater groups forming, Ham and GMRS. 

[Billy]

Looked a bit further.   The standard business model GU-16 comes with software and cable.  The GMRS model does not but specifies that the dealer can reprogram different codes.  It would stand to reason that the same software would work for both.  That is the only problem that I see is the pre-programmed codes.  I checked the FCC website and the Part 95 acceptance is there for the GMRS model and the Part 90 is there for the standard model.   ERP as tested was 4.23 watts and .73 watts. 

[Logan5]

Looked a bit further.   The standard business model GU-16 comes with software and cable.  The GMRS model does not but specifies that the dealer can reprogram different codes.  It would stand to reason that the same software would work for both.  That is the only problem that I see is the pre-programmed codes.  I checked the FCC website and the Part 95 acceptance is there for the GMRS model and the Part 90 is there for the standard model.   ERP as tested was 4.23 watts and .73 watts. 

Thank you Billy,

[Guest spd641]

Yep, looks like this is just a pre programmed prt90 radio,. removable antenna and everything as I have said all along. part 95 is mostly in the programing. 99 bucks though. I know. I know, I won't say it.

Part 95 radios can have removable antennas it's the Part 95 FRS rules saying they can't have removable antenna and wattage restrictions, several name brand manufactures sell Part 95 radios.The rules for Part 95 cover several different radios including CB but FRS/GMRS are only part of the service and the rules differ from each including the FRS portion and GMRS portion.

[quarterwave]

Iv'e seen these too, so I am thinking a programming cable is available. Without it, only a new user sticking to a contained group will find them useful. You need to be able to setup your own programming. PL's , Etc. 

[SteveH]

I purchased one a few weeks ago from Powerwerx. The standard Wouxun cable works with it and the Powerwerx site has the GU-16 software. I did try CHIRP with it using the software for other Wouxun HTs but those did not work. However, I was also messing with the com ports (forgot which USB port I had used before) so that info might be bogus. Powerwerx programs it with the simplex channels but has PL tones for 2-8. The repeater channels likewise have PL tones. I modified all of these with ease.

 

Besides the "official" Part 95 cert, this radio is nice for people who don't know radios that well and tend to mess up the programming by hitting random keys. I recently programmed 3 Baofengs and within 2 days I had to reprogram two of them because the owners had hit keys they shouldn't have.

 

Steve

[PastorGary]

Not that I am recommending this, but as a tech experiment, it might be interesting to see if it is broadband enough to program into the ham 440 frequency range.  Depending upon how the software program is configured, the actual frequencies that are set at the factory  may not be able to be changed... only the PL's...????  Not much info out in net land about this yet.

 

Steve  - do you have any feedback on these possibilities?

[SteveH]

I programmed it for 446.000 MHz and it worked. I'm not sure how wideband the ducky is. Now for the Part 97 on a Part 95 radio debate!

 

Steve

[PastorGary]

Thanks, Steve... Now we know that it will also be operational on "IG" in an emergency (only) under - 47CFR90.407 and on "Ham" frequencies as needed.

 

No type acceptance necessary, as I understand it, in Part 97 operations, so that should be good to go.  I had just wondered if the frequencies in that radio could be programmed by the software or if the software menu didn't give you that option.  You answered that and I just may have to invest in one of those for a 'spare' during our post-natural disaster responses.

 

DO YOU KNOW - if the battery packs are the same as the KG-UVD1P   ??   Thanks ahead of time.

[Logan5]

Great thread. I have a couple BF888's, is very similar to this radios spec's. About 3.6 watts  When I got it I immediately programed it to GMRS only freq's and it works great with an MJF antenna. amazing range and works fine with the repeater, except that loud screech at the end of transmission. is also great for the dumb dumbs we have to share these radios with, as I have one of these radios all 14 channels are the same, so no accidentally changing channels by the user. 

[SteveH]

The battery of the GU-16 is interchangeable with the battery on my KG-UV6D. Part number is the same - 1A17KG-3.

 

As for Part 97/Part 95, we (hams) repurpose Part 15 WiFi gear all the time for Part 97 use (e.g. HSMM) where Part 15 routers, access points etc. are run on the ham 2.4 GHz channels with higher power than permitted with Part 15.

[PastorGary]

After a little research, it looks as if the battery for the KG-UVD1P and the rest of the Wouxun radios of that body size are the same. Makes interchangability in  the field a little easier.

[Guest spd641]

I will stress one thing on the Wouxun hand helds DO NOT try to program these radios with software other than the software that matches the model number of your radio.I have already saw a few who did this and turned their radios into a door stop or a brick as we call it.The cables are all interchangable as far as we can tell but trying the wrong software will kill it dead.....Have a good weekend William

[wqnb686]

Anyone tried using the CHIRP software for any of the radios discussed here ?

                        Thanks,

                          Jim

[Shriekmau]

I have used some of the CHIRP software, but not for the units listed here.

[scott37814]

It's good to see that the Powerwerx/Wouxun H/T can be functionally reprogrammed as needed for more active GMRS use.  Sonce I'm strongly considering a Wouxun H/T for Ham use, having the interchangable batteries is a definite plus.  However, a 1700 mAh battery is a drastic improvement over the 450 mAh ones my OLD Icom U-16 had, and the 700 mAh batteries my MT-1000 used.  By comparison, these will last a virutal eternity.  I'll definitely keep this radio in mind for when funds become available.