The Wouxun KG-S88G Plus is an update to the popular and now retired KG-S88G. Like its predecessor, the KG-S88G Plus is a GMRS radio designed specifically for operators who need a very rugged and durable portable handheld with maximum flexibility and functionality. This radio is part of the KG-S series, which are built to be ultra compact and rugged. It is rated IP67 submersible.
The KG-S88G Plus inherits all of the features of the original, and adds new features and upgrades to the mix. The items in bold on the list below highlight these new features.
KG-S88G Plus Key Features
- 22 Simplex GMRS Channels
- 8 GMRS Repeater Channels
- 400-479.995 (70cm) MHz (Receive Only)
- FM Radio
- Superheterodyne Receiver
- 5W Maximum Transmit Power
- IP67 Waterproof (Submersible)
- USB-C Charging Port
- High/Low Transmit Power Levels
- 400 Total Custom Memory Channels
- Backlit LCD Display
- Channel Name, Number or Frequency Display
- Standard and Non-Standard CTCSS/DCS
- Split CTCSS/DCS Tone Support
- Tune Specific Frequencies Directly (Frequency Mode)
- CTCSS/DCS Tone Scan
- Channel Scan
- Priority Channel Scanning
- Tone Save
- Favorite Channels
- Descrambler
- Full Backlit DTMF Keypad
- Incoming Caller ID Display
- Reverse Frequency
- DTMF Encoding and Decoding
- Group Calls, All Call and Selective Call
- Talk Around
- Monitor Function
- Frequency Counter
- Wide/Narrow Bandwidth Selectable
- Busy Channel Lockout
- Timeout Timer
- Stopwatch Timer
- English Voice Prompts
- Roger Beep Enable/Disable
- Transmit Overtime Alarm
- Audible Button Beep
- Single Tone Pulse Frequency
- 2 Programmable Function Keys
- Programmable Top Key
- Keypad Hotkeys
- Channel Knob
- Volume Knob
- VOX
- Alarm
- SOS
- Keypad Lock
- Auto Lock
- Custom Power-On Message
- Built-in Flashlight
- Bluetooth Audio
- Audio Accessory Connector
- PC Programmable
- Reset
Programming the KG-S88G Plus
As with all the other Wouxun GMRS radios, the KG-S88G Plus is fully programmable, either from a PC using the Wouxun KG-S88G Plus programming software or directly from the keypad of the radio itself. In fact, customizing the S88G Plus from the keypad is surprisingly simple and straightforward, even for the novice.
Direct from the radio
If you already know how to program frequencies into the original Wouxun KG-S88G or other Wouxun radio, programming the KG-S88G Plus directly from the radio itself is pretty much standard procedure. The only real differences are the channels, frequencies and menu options themselves.
If you are new to Wouxun handheld radios or programming a two way radio in general, the KG-S88G Plus owners manual will get you up to speed fast. Unlike many other import GMRS radios, this manual is carefully written in plain, simple English with clear instructions that are easy to understand, even when explaining some of the advanced features of the radio.
The KG-S88G Plus menu consists of 56 items. Default settings are bold.
| Menu # | Menu Item | Description | Option |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | SQUELCH | Squelch settings | 1 to 9|5 |
| 02 | TX-POWER | Output power | HIGH (5W)|LOW (0.5W)|Varies |
| 03 | W/N | Wide/Narrow bandwidth settings | NARR (12.5k)|WIDE (25k)|Varies |
| 04* | REPEATER | Repeater | OFF|ON |
| 05 | WORKMODE | Work Mode settings | CH-NAME|CH-NUM|FREQ|CH-FREQ |
| 06 | BACK-LT | Backlight Timeout | OFF|1-30S|10S|ALWAYS |
| 07* | STEP | Step frequency settings | 2.5K to 100.0K|12.5K |
| 08 | BAT-SAVE | Battery Saver | ON|OFF |
| 09 | RX-CTCSS | Receive CTCSS Tone | OFF|1-50 |
| 10 | RX-DCS | Receive DCS Code | OFF|1-105 +/- |
| 11 | TX-CTCSS | Transmit CTCSS Tone | OFF|1-50 |
| 12 | TX-DCS | Transmit DCS Code | OFF|1-105 +/- |
| 13 | SCANMODE | Scan Mode | TO|CO|SE |
| 14 | SCAN-QT | Tone Scan Compatibility | ON|OFF |
| 15 | SCAN-ADD | Scan Add/Delete | ADD|DEL |
| 16 | PRI-SCAN | Priority Scan | ON|OFF |
| 17 | PRI-CH | Priority Channel | 400 Channels|CH01 |
| 18 | TONESCAN | CTCSS/DCS Scanning | NONE|CTCSS|DCS |
| 19 | TONESAVE | CTCSS/DCS Tone Save Options | BOTH|RX|TX |
| 20 | VOX | Voice Activated Transmit | OFF|1-9 (Level) |
| 21 | VOX-DLY | VOX Delay | OFF|1S|1-5 (seconds) |
| 22 | TOT | Transmit Overtime Timer | 15-900 sec (15 second increments)|60 |
| 23 | TOA | Transmit Overtime Alarm | OFF|1-10 seconds|5 |
| 24 | ROGER | Roger Beep | OFF|BOT|EOT|BOTH |
| 25 | BEEP | Button Beeps | ON|OFF |
| 26 | VOICE | Voice Guide | OFF|ON |
| 27 | BUSYLOCK | Busy Channel Lockout | ON|OFF |
| 28 | DESCRAMB | Descrambler | OFF|SCRAM 1-8 |
| 29 | CALL-ID | Select Call ID | 1-20 Groups|1 |
| 30** | CH-NAME | Edit a channel name | Name*** |
| 31 | CH-FAV | Favorite Channel | YES|NO |
| 32 | CH-ADD | Add Memory Channel | 400 channels |
| 33 | DEL-CH | Deleting a channel | 400 channels |
| 34 | SP-MUTE | Speaker Mute | QT|QT+DT|QT*DT |
| 35 | SIDETONE | DTMF sidetone settings | OFF|DTMF|ANI|DTMF+ANI |
| 36 | ALERT | Tone Alert | 1750Hz|2100Hz|1000Hz|1450Hz |
| 37 | ANI-EDIT | Sets caller ID | 100-999999|101 |
| 38 | ID-DLY | ID Delay | 100~3000ms|1300ms |
| 39 | PTT-ID | Caller ID TX mode | OFF|BOT|EOT|BOTH |
| 40 | RING | Ring Time | OFF|1-10 seconds|5 |
| 41 | STARTUP | Power On Message | MESSAGE|VOLTAGE |
| 42 | ST-MSG | Custom Power On Message | 8 Characters |
| 43 | TIMER | Stopwatch Timer | ON|OFF |
| 44 | RPT-TONE | Squelch Tone | OFF|ON |
| 45 | AUTOLOCK | Keypad Auto Lock | OFF|10-60S |
| 46 | LOCKMODE | Lock Mode | KEY|KEY+PTT|KEY+ENC|ALL |
| 47 | PF1-SHRT | Side Key PF1 Short Press Assignment | OFF|SCAN|BACK-LT|VOX|TX POWER|CALL|TALK-A|FLASHLT|MONITOR|REVERSE|WORK-MODE|ALARM|SOS|FAVORITE|FM-RADIO|FREQ-CNT |
| 48 | PF1-LONG | Side Key PF1 Long Press Assignment | OFF|SCAN|BACK-LT|VOX|TX POWER|CALL|TALK-A|FLASHLT|MONITOR|REVERSE|WORK-MODE|ALARM|SOS|FAVORITE|FM-RADIO|FREQ-CNT |
| 49 | PF2-SHRT | Side Key PF2 Short Press Assignment | OFF|SCAN|BACK-LT|VOX|TX POWER|CALL|TALK-A|FLASHLT|MONITOR|REVERSE|WORK-MODE|ALARM|SOS|FAVORITE|FM-RADIO|FREQ-CNT |
| 50 | PF2-LONG | Side Key PF2 Long Press Assignment | OFF|SCAN|BACK-LT|VOX|TX POWER|CALL|TALK-A|FLASHLT|MONITOR|REVERSE|WORKMODE|ALARM|SOS|FAVORITE|FM-RADIO|FREQ-CNT |
| 51 | TOP-SHRT | Side Key PF1 Short Press Assignment | OFF|SCAN|BACK-LT|VOX|TX POWER|CALL|TALK-A|FLASHLT|MONITOR|REVERSE|WORK-MODE|ALARM|SOS|FAVORITE|FM-RADIO|FREQ-CNT |
| 52 | TOP-LONG | Side Key PF1 Long Press Assignment | OFF|SCAN|BACK-LT|VOX|TX POWER|CALL|TALK-A|FLASHLT|MONITOR|REVERSE|WORK-MODE|ALARM|SOS|FAVORITE|FM-RADIO|FREQ-CNT |
| 53 | VOLTAGE | Displays Battery Voltage | None |
| 54 | FM-RADIO | FM Radio | RECALL|MEMORY |
| 55 | BLUETOOTH | Bluetooth Audio | ON|OFF |
| 56 | RESET | Reset | VFO|ALL |
Note: *The menu items in yellow are available in Frequency mode only.
**The menu item in green is available in Channel mode only.
Programming with software
The KG-S88G Plus uses the Wouxun PCO-001 USB programming cable that works with nearly all of the other Wouxun analog radios. Refer to the cable driver installation video for more information.
As with other Wouxun models, the Wouxun KG-S88G Plus programming software is specific to this radio and is currently available for Windows PCs only. The programming software is located under the Downloads tab on the Wouxun KG-S88G Plus product page at Buy Two Way Radios Due to the feature addtions and changes in this radio, it is not compatible with the original KG-S88G programming software.
KG-S88G Operation
The KG-S88G Plus is very similar in function to most of the other Wouxun GMRS handheld radios with full keypads, displays and access to radio menus. If you already have an original KG-S88G or other Wouxun radio that is field configurable, working the S88G Plus is essentially the same. Even if you are not familiar with the operation of a Wouxun radio, it's not difficult to master, once you know how to navigate the keypad.
The keys on the keypad and their primary functions are the same as the original KG-S88g and are listed below:
| Button | Operation |
|---|---|
| MENU | Enter program menu|choose/set menu option |
| UP Key | Select previous channel/frequency|Select menu option |
| DOWN Key | Select next channel/frequency|Select menu option |
| EXIT | Exit menu/cancel |
| 1-SQL | Squelch menu hotkey |
| 2-PWR | Power menu hotkey |
| 3-W/N | Bandwidth menu hotkey |
| 4-RPT | Repeater menu hotkey |
| 5-MODE | Work Mode menu hotkey |
| 6-BKLT | Backlight menu hotkey |
| 7-STEP | Frequency Step menu hotkey |
| 8-SAVE | Battery Saver menu hotkey |
| 9-CTCSS | RX CTCSS menu hotkey |
| 0-(None) | No hotkey function |
| *-SCAN | Scan/Reverse Frequency key |
| #-LOCK | Keypad lock key |
The Wouxun KG-S88G Plus is the same compact, powerful and rugged KG-S88G GMRS radio with some nice upgrades. It offers a lot of flexibility, programmability and ease of use and throws in Bluetooth functionality, and at an even more reasonable price. This makes the Plus an even better value.