Wouxun KG-UV8H

[WSFW950]

Good Morning All,

Is anyone still running the KG-UV8H? I did a quick search and found a thread from 2021. Although I'm as green as grass in the radio world with much to learn about GMRS, I do want to extend this newfound hobby to include ham radio. 

I've seen a lot of love for the KG-935G and Plus, but hardly anything on its ham sibling UV8H. Is this a good radio for a beginner? Have any improvements been made to this device since 2021 that you're aware of? I thought I read somewhere on here that the menu of the UV8H is clunky in comparison to the 935G.  Sorry if these are redundant questions but I just can't seem to find anything recent on this radio. Even the YouTube videos are mostly 3 years old with a couple being a little less than that but not really all that informative on all aspects of the radio. 

I have 4 UV-5Rs - all GMRS variants and a TD-H3 that was ordered as a GMRS. Pretty sure I can unlock the Fengs and the H3 is just a selection away upon power on. They all stay as GMRS units as I cannot transmit on 2m or 70cm anyway... yet. I've seen plenty on emergency comms for the GMRS radio and as I learn and become proficient with these, they will be a very useful tool should I ever need them in that capacity. There is more to radio than emergency comms so I want expand into ham as well. That is why I'm asking about a dual band transceiver as a new GMRS user. 

Thanks for your patience, advise, insight.

 

 

 

 

[Lscott]

55 minutes ago, WSFW950 said:

That is why I'm asking about a dual band transceiver as a new GMRS user. 

Are you looking for a dual band radio for Ham use on 2m/70cm, or for just GMRS? Most new Hams start off with one of the CCR's, Cheap Chinese Radios, until they figure out just what they like as features and their operating requirements. Portable Ham specific radios can run anywhere from $25 for the CCR's to $700+ for some tri-band analog/digital radios.

If you want to look at commercial grade radios, well that's a whole another topic. They are normally single band types. The multi band ones get rather spendy, even used.

[73blazer]

I run the UV8H. This is my main HT radio. Same exact radio as the 935 hardware-wise. Great radio! But it's not a GMRS radio, it's a HAM radio. You can use Chirp, if you were so inclined,  to unlock the 8H to transmit GMRS. In those bands it only transmits 5.5-5.6w (which is why the 935 is labeled a 5.5w radio)> it transmits over 8w on VHF and 6-7 on most HAM uhf bands.

The menu's are more or less the same as the 935 (I have those too I hand out to our hunting and off-road groups)  they are just labeled rather oddly. It may be missing one or two features of the "plus" model, I dunno I don't have those only the 935 non-plus.  Read thru the manual and you'll get a sense for it. And you can use it as a cross-band repeater, as in it receives VHF and re-transmits on UHF bands or vice-versa.

 

[WSFW950]

Hello, thank you for your reply Lscott.

I did start off with the CCRs... 4 of the UV-5R GMRS variants. I ordered my H-3 as a GMRS as well. Truth be told, I'm still learning how to use them. Yes I've seen how spendy these radios can get. From $16.00 for the venerable UV-5R to $750 for the top tier Kenwood handheld. 

I believe what I'd like is what so many people ask about... a ham radio that can, when needed, transmit on GMRS. Kind of an all-in-one unit as far as a dual band goes. The TD-H3 is a sub $50.00 radio and has that capability (just have to be sure to back everything up before switching modes).

For some reason, I'm partial to the UV8H. I like the size, the screen, the price, and from other reviews on their radios, Wouxun's antennas seem to work well (still have Signal Sticks on the way). I've read and watched videos on the 935G/Plus and it seems to have been received quite well.

If the UV8H is CHIRP *NEXT* compatible and I'm able to program the desired frequencies and power levels, I believe I'd be a happy camper. 

I've looked at offerings from TYT, Radioddity, VCG, Anytone, and Baofeng to name a few as well as other Wouxun radios; primarily the KG-UV9PX. I just keep coming back to the KG-UV8H.

The novelty hasn't worn off yet. I can't put these dang things down. Very interested in progressing further into the hobby. 

[WSFW950]

I thought I hit submit reply on this but...

73blazer, thanks for chiming in and your insight on this radio. That was exactly what I wanted to know. Safe to say you're happy with it! 

how long have you had it?

 

[73blazer]

I've had it just over a year. No problems whatsoever. I have a Diamond Dual band 70cm/2m SRJ77CA antenna on it which is just about as good as a 771G Nagoya in GMRS bands. One time it came unclipped from my side-by-side and fell off and was left outside on the ground being rained on for over a week, before I found it I actually drove over it with the sxs. No damage at all!

 

My HAM buddies sometimes rib me for running a "Chinese" radio. All I have to do is say, yeah, but it's dual band and only costs $160. And good luck finding a dual band HT that isn't Chinese and doesn't cost $1000+ and you don't need a $100/mo subscription to program it. I have one of the only other ones I know of a Yaesu FT65 (yes it says made in japan on it) while a decent radio a) it isn't chirp compatible and their software sucks , chirp says it works, and it takes the load but the chirp driver is broken as it adds a DCS code to every channel programed, in addition to any PL code which isn't even possible with it's menu's or software  b) it's audio quality on both TX and RX can't hold a candle to the Wouxun.

[WRYZ926]

1 minute ago, 73blazer said:

My HAM buddies sometimes rib me for running a "Chinese" radio. All I have to do is say, yeah, but it's dual band and only costs $160. And good luck finding a dual band HT that isn't Chinese and doesn't cost $1000+ and you don't need a $100/mo subscription to program it.

I get trouble about that too. One guys calls them Hop Sing radios. But the Wouxun radios work well. And just because a Radio says Icom on it doesn't mean it is a good radio. My Icom IC-T10 is no better than the UV-5R.

@WSFW950 I have zero experience with the Wouxun UV-8H but have used the UV-9D Mate and own the KG-Q10H. Both of those are good to go. I also have the KG-935G Plus and it has been good to go.

I know the menus are the same for the KG-935G and the KG-XS20G and easy to use.