(888) 569-9499CONTACT US
0Item(s)

You have no items in your shopping cart.

Product was successfully added to your shopping cart.

Introducing the Wouxun KG-805 Professional GMRS and MURS Radios

Retailing consumer FRS and GMRS radios is how we got our start in this business. Over the years, we've heard more than our share of gripes from customers who are looking for something better than the typical "bubble pack" FRS/GMRS radios. Those radios get the job done for most people, but they often don't cut it for advanced users. Anyone that uses a GMRS radio frequently, or needs advanced features (like repeater support) is left frustrated: none of the major manufacturers offer a product that meets their needs, and the few import radios that have been modded for GMRS have considerable drawbacks. Well, after years of asking the major manufacturers to address this need, we've decided to take matters into our own hands.

We've been working directly with Wouxun to design a radio that considers all of the needs of advanced users. It's been a long process, but we're really proud of the result. We hope you like it.

Introducing the Wouxun KG-805G

Today, we're introducing the Wouxun KG-805G Professional GMRS Radio. The following is a list of goals that we had for our GMRS radio when we started this process, and thanks to Wouxun we were able to achieve all of this with the KG-805G.

  • Legal for GMRS. GMRS users looking for the best often resort to buying a business radio and reprogramming it for GMRS. This is pretty common, but it isn't legal. We needed a radio that was approved for GMRS use by the FCC (Part 95 type accepted).
  • Business Quality. The radio had to have a high level of durability and "feel" like a professional radio.
  • Repeater support. The GMRS allows for repeaters. If you're buying a professional GMRS radio, you should be able to use them. You should also be able to configure the radio to use a repeater without connecting it to a computer.
  • Ability to change common functions from the keypad. In particular, CTCSS/DCS codes should be adjustable via the menu.
  • High power. Almost all radios using FRS/GMRS frequencies are well under 2 watts. We wanted at least 4.
  • Single Band. There are a couple of dual band import radios that have been retrofitted for GMRS, and we felt like this was a compromise we didn't want to make. GMRS frequencies are all between 462 and 468 MHz. We felt like quality would be better if the radio and antenna were built specifically for this frequency range.
  • "Classic" Radio Circuitry. One of the big reasons that there are so many low priced radios available is that there single microchips available that control almost all radio features. This is great if you're looking to keep costs down, but there's a reason that popular business radio brands don't use them: they compromise quality for price. If we were going to call our radio "Business Quality" it needed to be built like a business radio - inside and out.
  • Good Accessory Selection. We didn't want anything proprietary or unusual when it came to accessories.
  • Optional PC Programming. PC programming should be available for advanced users, but absolutely not be a requirement to use the radio.
  • Priced below $100. We felt like the product needed to retail for less than $100, and we beat it by $10. Regular price for the KG-805 will be $89.99.

The KG-805G has 30 channels: 22 standard simplex channels and 8 repeater channels. It is compatible with any other 22 channel FRS or GMRS radio right out of the box. If you need to add a PL tone, you can do it directly from the keypad using the menu.

The KG-805G is built using the same "chassis" as the popular KG-UVD1P and KG-UV6D, which have been around for a long time. Replacement batteries for those models work with the KG-805G. The radio uses a standard "K1" style audio accessory connector, so two-pin audio accessories that work with a Kenwood, Wouxun, or Baofeng radio will work with this one.

The display supports three colors, and you can choose a different color for transmit, receive and standby. Channel scan is available by holding the A/B button for 2 seconds. An FM radio is built-in.

Optional programming software is available as a free download. The software allows you to add or remove channels and configure channel settings in an easier way than using the menu. You also have more options than the menu provides, as you can configure options like channel power and bandwidth. You can also add receive-only channels for frequencies outside of the GMRS band. Using the software requires a programming cable.

Why not build a MURS radio too?

While our focus was primarily on the GMRS product, we knew that there were customers also looking for a similar radio that operated on MURS. The Multi-Use Radio Service is a license-free service that allows for operation on 5 VHF frequencies at up to 2 watts of power. MURS is great for consumers that often use radios outdoors and don't want to get a license. It is also popular with businesses (even Walmart uses MURS frequencies).

MURS has a similar situation to GMRS, but with an even more limited selection of available products: current radios are either great quality and quite expensive, or they're cheap retrofitted Baofengs. We thought a high quality but reasonably priced radio was needed, so we helped design the Wouxun KG-805M Professional MURS Radio.

The KG-805M is essentially the same radio as the KG-805G, except it is designed to operate on VHF frequencies and we have customized the programming to the MURS service. The KG-805M also retails for $89.99.

Only need the basics?

Because things can't ever be simple, we also have a version of each radio with a simpler feature set for a few bucks less.

The Wouxun KG-805G Basic and Wouxun KG-805M Basic are available at a retail price of $69.99. The difference? These models don't support adjusting CTCSS/DCS codes via the keypad, so they're more appropriate for use in non-congested areas or when you're commonly using radios with the same group of people.

The CTCSS/DCS tones can be adjusted in the optional programming software, so if you're OK with using a PC for programming these Basic versions are a good way to save money!

Your feedback is important!

This is the most involved we've ever been in bringing a product to market and we definitely want this to be a success. We are very interested in hearing your thoughts on what we got right, or what we got wrong with the KG-805 series. Comment below, or send us a message!

26 thoughts on “Introducing the Wouxun KG-805 Professional GMRS and MURS Radios”

  • Kj7dmv

    I have a BTECH GMRS-V1 that was advertised as 5 watts. Later that specificationt changed to 2 watts. I believe the newer BTECH GMRS-V2 specification is 5 watts.

    A phase come to mind, which is "Baofeng watts". Older Baofengs often failed to deliver the official power spec. More recently released radios seem to be doing better. Given the large number of models, i can't really be sure any of this is all true.

    My personal observation is that I don't notice much difference between 2 watt and 5 watt radios. I do notice the difference between rubber duckies and some who antennas.

    Reply
  • Mel

    Doh!...no VHF recieve? Don't understand leaving out VHF RX unless it was a cost consideration. Just ship it with a GMRS tuned antenna for TX, whats the big deal? Was really hoping this would be a V-1 killer, but our public safety all uses non-trunked VHF so it is crucial. As a mono-band it's competing with dozens of commercial radios.

    Saving custom channels with same TX freq with diff PLs is a great plus, so I still may have to get one. But re-consider VHF recieve...especially if it is already there in the hardware.

    Reply
  • tj23p9q8s

    Why didn't you design a radio with IP67 or at least IP66 standards; it's a deal breaker that they aren't waterproof.

    Reply
  • Eric

    Does the KG-805G have the ability to scan the privacy tones to find the tone being used on a repeater or ht?

    Reply
  • Eric

    Does the KG 805G have ctcss/DVD scan to find the tone someone is transmitting?

    Reply
  • Mark

    This is a very interesting find. Sounds like you addressed all of my concerns about using cheap radios for GMRS. The cheap ones have a good price, but performance is blah. I really like going single band and then having an antenna that is GMRS specific as many dual-band antennas just try to resonate on UHF. I was looking into getting some used commercial gear but even those are $75-200 each and you have do some odd stuff to field change most any setting. I'm ordering one and will test it against the V-1 and really hope it does better.

    Reply
  • Gerald Wilson

    It’s gratifying to know that you have a working relationship with Wouxun. Thank you for engineering this project and getting quality GMRS and MURS radios to market. Would you work your magic and convince Wouxun to produce a GMRS unit with built in GPS topographical mapping. The only choice in the market is the Garmin Rino series. These Garmin’s are just too expensive, costing in excess of $600.00 each. The GMRS radio on the Rino’s need improvement to be seriously considered for hunting, camping, hiking or search and rescue. Thanks for all that you do to develop quality products for the masses.

    Reply
  • Doug

    Just received my KG-805, nice little radio and may be ideal for our City-wide neighborhood-to-neighborhood repeater network. Question--CHIRP doesn't yet list the KG-805 as an option. Which radio should be selected for programming, the KG-816 or ? Thanks.

    Reply
    • danny

      Hi Doug. I've never tested programming the KG-805G with CHIRP and I haven't heard that it is possible. The KG-805G was based on the KG-703E, so that is the only model that I would have any confidence in compatibility. Please note we do have the Wouxun programming software available on the Download tab on the product page.

      Reply
  • Joe Jamaica

    Will this radio do wide band 16K0F3E or 20K0F3E +/- 5 KHz deviation as GMRS is intended?

    Reply
    • Rick

      By default it is set up to meet FCC requirements on the channel bandwidth. You can customize the bandwidth via an optional programming cable and software.

      Reply
  • Jon L

    Are you planning on, it are these comparable with, a larger battery? These would benefit from having a larger battery available for extended use.

    Reply
  • Solomon Franklin

    The actual specifications for the receiver and the transmitter were not included on the user manual. Will you please share these specifications??

    Reply
  • Michael Barbre

    These radios are great highly recommended puts out good power very satisfied with product

    Reply
  • Greg

    Checking with the FCC certificate - the power output is 700mW, and the pictures do not match the application

    I have sent an email to the FCC to see if they haven't updated the information by chance; because this would be illegal to operate if it is not certified at the full 4W power.

    Reply
    • Rick

      Hi Greg, the KG-805G was re-certified with a new FCC ID WVTWOUXUN16 and is now type accepted at 5 watts. All the specs, images and documentation should match.

      Reply
  • Ryan

    The Baofeng GMRS-V1 is only 2 watts not 5. This Wouxon radio does twice as much power at 4 watts.

    Reply
  • Scott Haney

    Are these radios capable of being programmed with customized "channels" on the GMRS channels (such as naming a channel as "ALPHA" with PL 67.0 on 462.500 AND "Bravo" PL 100 on the same frequency? What I mean is can you create more "channels" than the standard bubblepack radios have"Not outside of GMRS frequencies

    Reply
    • danny

      Yes. By default the radios are pre-programmed with 30 channels: 22 GMRS frequencies and 8 GMRS repeater frequencies (CSQ). The tone can be chosen in the menu. We figure this setup will be perfect for most users. However, for those that need a little more customization we've got you covered.

      The PC programming software allows up to 128 channels, and you can customize (or remove) the default channels. The channel name can be customized for all channels, even the defaults. You can even program "receive only" channels for frequencies outside of the GMRS range.

      Reply
  • danny

    Hi @Tim, thanks for your comment. I checked out the radio that you mentioned, and it seems to be a Baofeng UV-82 with GMRS firmware (or a standard UV82 with GMRS frequencies programmed in). Don't misunderstand, I've got nothing against Baofeng or the UV-82 - we sell them. If you're looking for the best bang for your buck, you probably won't do any better. But it's a $28 radio.

    When we were choosing a supplier to work with on this GMRS project, we definitely could have chosen a super low priced radio or a dual band radio to start from. We intentionally didn't. We wanted the product to be a good value (our goal was under $100), but more importantly we wanted it to be high quality. We wanted loud, crisp and clear audio, high power, and excellent durability. We specifically chose the Wouxun KG-703E as the "base" radio to become our GMRS/MURS product because of its similarities to the KG-UVD1P. That's a radio that's been used by businesses and hams for years and has a great reputation.

    We also intentionally made the decision to base this product on a single band UHF radio. We know the ability to add NOAA weather channels can be convenient, and there would be some users who would like to add some RX-only VHF channels. But supporting VHF would have meant that the radio wasn't as optimized for GMRS. We would have had to ship the radio with a dual band antenna, which wouldn't have performed as well.

    We gambled a lot in making some of the decisions that we made with the KG-805. We aimed for power users (a small market), knowing that our price wouldn't be the lowest and we would be missing a couple of things. That said, I do think the KG-805 has a pretty great feature set, and any feature compromises that we made were to make quality as good as it could be.

    Reply
  • Tim

    First thing I notice is the Wouxun has only 4 watts to the V-1s full 5 watts , not a huge difference granted but $26 more than a V-1? As one who owns 2 V-1s I have to say they have a ways to go before convincing me to buy one of those. If it was meant to compete with the V-1 the price should be comparable not a third more. And the V-1 has at least a third more features ie an FM radio, flashlight and VHF scanning ability which of course includes weather channel.
    I'm sure they;ll sells some radios but don't think this is any competition for the V-1 at all. And I have my doubts they will be able to match the level of customer service and support I've experienced in dealing with Btech USA.

    Reply
  • Danny

    Edwin,

    Yes that FCCID is correct. The hardware for this radio is the Wouxun KG-703E, which was previously type accepted by Wouxun for Part 95.

    When we started this we had to select which base Wouxun radio we wanted to start from. The requirements were a single band model with a display, so we selected their KG-703E. We chose this one because it is similar to the popular dual band KG-UVD1P. We've been selling the KG-UVD1P for years and know it's a high quality radio, plus it was nice that all of the accessories are compatible between the models.

    Turns out, the KG-703E had already been Part 95 type accepted. We worked with Wouxun to customize the radio's firmware and programming software, but the hardware is unchanged. Wouxun said that since the hardware was unchanged it wasn't necessary to recertify, and this is consistent with what I've seen previously. As far as the wattage, we tested it to be right at 4 watts. Since the power can be adjusted without a hardware change I suppose a new FCC ID wasn't necessary.

    The KG-805M (MURS version) is based on different hardware (the VHF version of the KG-703E), so we have a new FCC ID for that model: WVTWOUXUN15.

    Reply
  • Edwin

    Is the FCCID on the product page accurate? The one listed (WVTWOUXUN08) brings up the Wouxun 08 which is only 95a certified at 741 mW.

    Reply

19 Item(s)

Leave a Reply