Worthy radios for new folks

[SteveShannon]

Although it’s not the least expensive handheld radio the Wouxun kg805 is a handheld that is both easy to use and performs very well, has an SMA connector antenna, which is standard for most GMRS radios and which allows easy connection to an external antenna. It’s not plagued by a too-busy user interface (in fact some people might want more display).  It’s nearly perfect to hand to someone who’s just learning.

[GMRSJohn]

10 minutes ago, SteveShannon said:

Although it’s not the least expensive handheld radio the Wouxun kg805 is a handheld that is both easy to use and performs very well, has an SMA connector antenna, which is standard for most GMRS radios and which allows easy connection to an external antenna. It’s not plagued by a too-busy user interface (in fact some people might want more display).  It’s nearly perfect to hand to someone who’s just learning.

I appreciate this. 

While yea, price is a factor and no price can be too low, the more important factor is quality. I’d rather ask a lot of annoying questions and make a good purchase once than end up on a goose chase. I’m looking at Wouxuns. They seem to entry level to the better quality radios. And your recommendation is about the third so far. Their impression is really noteworthy.

[SteveShannon]

3 minutes ago, GMRSJohn said:

I appreciate this. 

While yea, price is a factor and no price can be too low, the more important factor is quality. I’d rather ask a lot of annoying questions and make a good purchase once than end up on a goose chase. I’m looking at Wouxuns. They seem to entry level to the better quality radios. And your recommendation is about the third so far. Their impression is really noteworthy.

Maybe this will help:

Or his earlier video about the 805:

 

[WRXB215]

Yep, I watched those two videos by @OffRoaderX just the other day and now I'm thinking about the 805. AGAIN! 

It would probably be a good one for my wife. She used to work for a company that sells, services, and rents Kenwood radios so she has held some real quality radios in her hand and my CCRs don't quite cut it for her. 

[Lscott]

On 10/24/2024 at 10:34 AM, WRXB215 said:

It would probably be a good one for my wife. She used to work for a company that sells, services, and rents Kenwood radios so she has held some real quality radios in her hand and my CCRs don't quite cut it for her. 

I was at a local Ham swap about a year ago. A local radio dealer was there. They weren't selling anything, but looking to hire a radio tech to do radio programming. They had some sample radios there as example what what one would be working on. One was a multi-mode EF Johnson - Kenwood, drool. 

https://www.efjohnson.com/viking-vp8000-portable-radio

These are a bit outside of my budget range, even used.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/156479419419?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=tvRZDxRVQp2&sssrc=2047675&ssuid=j_t98fioS_6&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[wayoverthere]

4 hours ago, SteveShannon said:

Although it’s not the least expensive handheld radio the Wouxun kg805 is a handheld that is both easy to use and performs very well, has an SMA connector antenna, which is standard for most GMRS radios and which allows easy connection to an external antenna. It’s not plagued by a too-busy user interface (in fact some people might want more display).  It’s nearly perfect to hand to someone who’s just learning.

I will second this recommendation; have the 805g, along with some ham versions of the uv5r series, and some commercial stuff.  The menu structure is reasonably simple for the new user, while also being flexible enough for the experienced user, and performance seems to be a step up from the uv5r, it's more durable (had the battery hook break off one of the baofengs from a 18" drop from the coffee table), and seems a bit more resistant to desense; this is one of those things that it's hard to predict when reading reviews...One user may have a massive FM or TV tower next door that blows away their receiver, while the glowing review may be a rural user with little to no competing signals anywhere nearby.

Software wise, while the software isn't the greatest, it's not the worst i've seen, and will keep you in bounds for GMRS.  they aren't officially supported by CHIRP, but it's possible to use profiles for a couple other radios to do so, but it's a "do at your own risk kind of thing"....if you go that route, it's EXTREMELY important to download a profile from the radio first, save a backup copy, then save a second working copy to program to.

That said, put side by side with the Motorola (i have a couple of XPRs) or Vertex (some vx and evx handhelds), it's definitely not quite on that level, and i do get some interference in my office on the wouxun that the vertex don't even notice (RFI from the work monitor).  Haven't gotten my hands on any of the high level Kenwood stuff, but I'd imagine it to be up there with Moto.

[Davichko5650]

20 hours ago, WRQI663 said:

Hey, I have 4 Fender Stratocasters, and all of them blow away any baofeng (or moto)

 

Damn right they do!  Especially with a tube amp!

[WSEZ]

I ordered 2 of the Wouxun kg-uv9gx radios yesterday.

I'm new to gmrs and found out the radios I first purchased for use, the baofeng uv-82 are ham radios and need all kinds of settings set for channels and not even sure if they would be legal to use on gmrs.

I've read the model is supposedly the current Flagship radio for GMRS.

If there is a better one on the market let me know!

[WRWE456]

20 minutes ago, WSEZ418 said:

I ordered 2 of the Wouxun kg-uv9gx radios yesterday.

I'm new to gmrs and found out the radios I first purchased for use, the baofeng uv-82 are ham radios and need all kinds of settings set for channels and not even sure if they would be legal to use on gmrs.

I've read the model is supposedly the current Flagship radio for GMRS.

If there is a better one on the market let me know!

I did a lot comparisons before settling on the Wouxun KG-935g+ I would say the KG-UV9GX is a close second to the 935G+.

Here is a review that may be helpful where he talks about both: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MmuHqzbXqc

[WSEZ]

Thank you,  I will order one of those as well to compare the two to pick the primary radio for my use. Keep the others as a backup radio.

 

[WRWE456]

Nice! I am thinking of picking up a KG-UV9GX as well. You can't go wrong with either one. Solid radios.

[WSFG777]

I would suggest you go with something cheap for now, especially if it’s GMRS only.  A Baofeng in the UV-5 ham family is not a deluxe radio, but it will work.  Once you get your ham license you will start hearing about things like digital radio (DMR/Fusion/DStar), hot spots, and GPS/APRS, and you may yearn for a new radio which is more expensive ($100-$500).  If/when that happens, you’ll feel better about not spending too much on the first radio.

good luck!
Joe K1VW

[WRDJ205]

Started with the GM-15Pro but using Baofeng GM-5RH more now.  The programming was a little easier.  

[WSEZ]

I already have ham radios I purchased by mistake and had already upgraded the antennas and batteries to 3200 mah critters. I'll just keep them for

"just in case the poo hits the isolating device"

I want to have radios that keep me compliant so I can't accidentally do what I'm not licensed to do.

Thank you though for the input, much appreciated.

[GMRSJohn]

I’m the proud owner of a nice set of Baofeng UV-5G plus radios. I put the included tall antennas on them and I am impressed! I don’t live in a mountainous area but wooded and hilly. And these really reach out there! 

I’m trying to learn them and it’s not coming easily. I can hear others, conversations and radio checks, but when I do a radio check, I get no response. So I’m reading the user manual which might as well be written in another language for me. I’ve reached out to some local ham clubs to see if they can help out on the GMRS side. Until then, I like tinkering with them! 

[TrikeRadio]

1 hour ago, GMRSJohn said:

... I can hear others, conversations and radio checks, but when I do a radio check, I get no response.

What (specific) frequencies or GMRS Channels are you hearing them on?

They may be using repeaters, and you are on a non-repeater channel and/or not setup with the proper tone to activate the repeater. or they might be using a tone to listen to only their own group and can't hear you because you are not on that tone either.

You can check the repeater map on this site to see if there are repeater systems near you... if they are open they might list the tones to activate them... or you might need to join their club to get access to them.

[WRXB215]

49 minutes ago, GMRSJohn said:

I can hear others, conversations and radio checks, but when I do a radio check, I get no response.

They may be on a repeater or just using tones simplex. Read up on repeaters and tones.

 

51 minutes ago, GMRSJohn said:

So I’m reading the user manual which might as well be written in another language for me

It's called Chinglesh and by the time you learn it you will already be an expert on your radio.

[GMRSJohn]

22 hours ago, TrikeRadio said:

What (specific) frequencies or GMRS Channels are you hearing them on?

They may be using repeaters, and you are on a non-repeater channel and/or not setup with the proper tone to activate the repeater. or they might be using a tone to listen to only their own group and can't hear you because you are not on that tone either.

You can check the repeater map on this site to see if there are repeater systems near you... if they are open they might list the tones to activate them... or you might need to join their club to get access to them.

Well I figured out how to find and request repeaters lol. I’ve asked for permission and I’m waiting on my yea or nay. So my next step is to learn how to connect to them if/when I get approval. 
 

I really appreciate the help! 

[LeeBo]

Just my $0.02, and probably not worth that.

I have a number of BooFwang HT radios. They're nice and perform quite well with the right antenna.

I decided to go with Tid Radio (in particular the H8) mainly because the screen shows the channel number, name and frequency. Now the H3 shows the same info, but on a smaller screen. The H8 just feels better to me and works great with a Diamond antenna.

While both models of Tid will do GMRS and amateur radio frequencies (if unlocked), I opted to keep the frequencies separate and have one GMRS H8 and one amateur radio H8 (with frequency specific antennas) and each are doing a great job.

[GMRSJohn]

4 hours ago, LeeBo said:

Just my $0.02, and probably not worth that.

I have a number of BooFwang HT radios. They're nice and perform quite well with the right antenna.

I decided to go with Tid Radio (in particular the H8) mainly because the screen shows the channel number, name and frequency. Now the H3 shows the same info, but on a smaller screen. The H8 just feels better to me and works great with a Diamond antenna.

While both models of Tid will do GMRS and amateur radio frequencies (if unlocked), I opted to keep the frequencies separate and have one GMRS H8 and one amateur radio H8 (with frequency specific antennas) and each are doing a great job.

I looked at those Tids and was pretty interested. But I read some reviews that (and forgive me I can’t remember everything exactly) but switching from ham to GMRS and vice versa erased everything formerly programmed in the radios? Unless they didn’t know what they were doing… but it was more than one review and it didn’t sit well with me. 

[SteveShannon]

1 hour ago, GMRSJohn said:

I looked at those Tids and was pretty interested. But I read some reviews that (and forgive me I can’t remember everything exactly) but switching from ham to GMRS and vice versa erased everything formerly programmed in the radios? Unless they didn’t know what they were doing… but it was more than one review and it didn’t sit well with me. 

No, that’s typical. When you reconfigure your radio from a GMRS radio to a ham radio it usually has to reset the memory which wipes out any saved channels. For many radios you can back up the memories before reconfiguring and then restore them to the new configuration, but not all. The DB20G will block restoring memories from a different configuration.