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You put your two way radio or its battery pack in the charger at the end of the day, expecting it to be fully charged and ready to use again the next morning. But when you take it out of the charger and turn the radio on, either it doesn't power up at all or the battery dies out as soon as you press the PTT button to transmit. What do you do?

First, don't panic. There are a number of possible reasons why the battery isn't charged, and believe it or not, a few of them are quite common causes that are surprisingly simple to resolve. The other possibilities, well, they may require a different resolution. Either way, before you start bashing batteries, cursing chargers or talking to tech support, try these simple troubleshooting steps to find out what is really going on. It may save you a lot of time, expense and frustration.

Step 1. Check the connections.
It may seem improbable, but the stability of any power connection is limited by its weakest link. Check the contacts and terminals for dirt, oils, corrosion, excessive wear or anything that can hamper a good, stable connection. This includes the battery contacts on the radio, in the charger, and on the battery itself.

Step 2. Reseat the battery in the radio.
It seems unlikely, but it happens. Some radios require a tight fit with the battery and may seem attached when they are not fully locked in place. Make sure the battery is seated properly and the battery pack locks firmly in place when attaching it to the radio.

Step 3. Verify you are using the correct battery charger.
Yes, this happens too, particularly when using a mix of different radios from the same manufacturer, and it happens a lot more often than you might think. Using the wrong charger can not only prevent your radio and/or battery from charging properly, it could damage your equipment. It can also be potentially dangerous.

• If the charger you are using does not match your specific model radio and battery, find the charger that does and skip to Step 8.
• If you are using the correct charger, proceed to Step 4.

Step 4. Check to be sure the charger is plugged in and turned on.
Sound silly, doesn't it? Well, it isn't really, because it does happen. It's one of the easiest mistakes to make when charging a fleet of batteries and one of the simplest to resolve.

• If the charger is connected to an approved, working power source, proceed to Step 5.
• If the charger is plugged in and turned on, but there is no power, try it in another verified, working power source or outlet in another location and on a different circuit.
• If the charger still doesn't power on when connected to the other source, skip to Step 6.

Step 5. Reseat the radio or battery in the charger.
Sometimes a radio or battery seems like it's connected to the charger when it's not making contact at all. If it is a drop-in or desktop charger with a pocket or tray, the radio and/or battery may be able to sit in the tray without actually touching the contacts. If it is a plug-in type of charger, the plug may not be fully inserted. Be sure the radio/battery is properly seated or fully connected and the charging indicator light is on.

• If the radio/battery is in full contact with the charger and seems to be charging, skip to Step 8.
• if the radio/battery is in full contact with the charger and is not charging, go to Step 6.

Step 6. Charge another radio/battery of the same make and model in the charger.
Determine if the issue is really with the radio or battery pack.

• If another battery of the same type and model charges, the charger is working. Skip to Step 8.
• If another battery of the same type and model does not charge, go to Step 7.

Step 7. Swap out the charger.
Sometimes a dead battery is the result of a dead charger.

• Plug another charger into the same power source. If another charger powers on when connected to the power source, the charger you are troubleshooting may need to be replaced.
• If you don't have another charger, it will most likely need to be replaced. If it is still under warranty, contact the manufacturer. If not, contact us to find the correct replacement charger for your two way radio.

Step 8. Charge the radio/battery again.
Just to be sure, give it another chance.

• If the battery charges, the issue is resolved.
• If the battery charges, but charge is weak or the battery does not hold the charge, the battery has likely reached its EOL, or End of Life.
• If the battery does not charge, battery may be defective or has reached its End of Life.

Every battery has a limited life span determined by a number of different factors, including but not limited to how and where it is used, how much it is used and under what conditions. There is no set time table before a battery "kicks the bucket". As a general rule, the average lifespan can range from one to three years or more. If your battery has reached its End of Life, it's time to purchase a new one.

Better yet, to avoid the sudden surprise or next day discovery that your two way radio battery has reached the end of the road, and at the moment you need it the most, have a couple of spare battery packs charged and at the ready for a quick and easy swap. A spare charger may also be good to have on hand, just in case.

A key consideration in the purchase of any FRS or GMRS two way radios are available options for power. When choosing your radio, consider the types, sizes and quantities of batteries needed to operate your walkie talkies. Are they swappable with other models in the series? can you use both battery packs and alkalines in an emergency or a pinch? These are all important factors to consider.

This reference chart provides information on power options available for Midland FRS/GMRS two way radios. Buy Two Way Radios is an authorized Midland dealer.

The Wouxun KG-UV920P-A dual band mobile two way radio is a popular choice for ham radio operators who want to go mobile on the 2 meter (144-148MHz) or 70cm (420-450MHz) amateur radio bands without burning all the cash needed to get around town. But there's a lot more to this mobile than just the transceiver. The KG-UV920P-A also has cross band repeat capability, which means you can have a mobile repeater in your vehicle on demand. It can even become a base station radio when connected to an AC power source and mounted to a wall or desk, as depicted in this unboxing video. The typical mobile radio can cost hundreds, without premium features. Investing in the KG-UV920P-A for a low cost, low power cross-band repeater can save a lot of money on two way communications.

Key features

• Dual Band UHF/VHF transmit and receive
• 87.5-108MHz FM Radio (Receive Only)
• 40W (UHF)/50W (VHF) Transmit Power
• 999 Memory Channels
• Dual Display
• Remote Head Mounting Capability
• Full Duplex Cross Band
• CTCSS/DCS Encode/Decode
• Dual Speakers
• Backlit DTMF Speaker Microphone
• Incoming Message Display
• DTMF Encoding and Decoding
• Group Calls, All Calls and Selective Calls
• Optional 8 Group Scramble
• Priority Channel Scanning
• APO Power Management
• English Voice Prompts
• Minimum Operating Voltage Alarm
• Stun/Kill Function
• Single Tone Pulse Frequency
• Remote Control Settings
• Frequency/Channel Scanning with CTCSS/DCS Detection
• Cooling Fan
• Companding
• Selectable 3 Color Backlit LCD Display
• Timeout Timer
• PC Programmable
• Supports 2.5k Step
• Reset
• Roger Beep Enable/Disable
• Wideband/Narrowband operation

Programming the KG-UV920P-A
As with many mobile two way radios, the KG-UV920P-A can be programmed in one of two ways, either direct from the console on the front panel of the radio, or through a computer via programming software. Technically speaking, there is a third way. The radio can also be programmed directly from the DTMF keypad on the hand speaker mic.

Direct from the radio
While not impossible, programming direct from the radio can seem daunting, not so much because it is, but because of the sheer number of configuration options available. An evening with the owner's manual is helpful, but may not be particularly enlightening on the first read. However, it may be well worth the time and effort to learn, just in case you ever need to add a channel or two on the fly.

The menu consists of 45 items. Default settings are bold.

Programming with software
The Wouxun programming software isn't the greatest application, but it's really not too bad, considering the alternative, which is to program the radio directly from the keypad.

The USB programming cable connector is somewhat specific for this mobile radio, so it isn't something you can freely swap out with other mobile transceivers. The Wouxun programming software is also specific to this model and is currently available for Windows PCs only, but it is available as a free download from Buy Two Way Radios. While not particularly intuitive, the software isn't that complicated, either. If you have programmed a two way radio before, it is somewhat self-explanatory. The USB cable driver needs to be installed first, which can become a challenge if the Wouxun KG-UV920P-A cable driver installation instructions are not properly followed, but once it is set up and the cable is working, it is ready when you need it.

Operation
The detachable front panel of of the KG-UV920P-A can be mounted inside your vehicle almost anywhere you need it for instant access and ease of operation. The console on the front panel includes an LCD display with a selectable three color backlight, channel knobs, volume knob and the equivalent of a DTMF keypad spread out across the face of the console. In effect, every operation that can be performed from the keypad on the speaker mic can also be initiated from the front panel of the radio.

Once the power button is pressed on the console, The KG-UV920P-A can be configured and controlled directly from the built-in DTMF keypad on the hand speaker mic. This is quite convenient, especially when the mic is in hand and the console is slightly out of reach. The speaker mic even has a volume wheel to adjust the output of the speaker on the mic. It also includes a keypad lock to prevent accidental key presses of the keys on the hand mic. The keypad consists of 16 keys. The keys and their primary functions are outlined in the chart below:

The Wouxun KG-UV920P-A is a feature rich mobile radio at a value price. When you add in the cross-band repeat functionality, it's really quite a bargain.

Digital radios are becoming more commonplace in the business radio arena. There are several reasons for this, not the least of which is price. As these radios become more economical to purchase, the move to digital becomes more practical. To move things along, Icom recently released a digital version of its F1000/F2000 series. Called the F1000D/F2000D Series, they start well below the price point of the other digital radios in the company's product line.

Icom touts their new F1000D/F2000D series as slim, compact and lightweight, and they are. Although slightly thicker and wider and, depending on the battery pack, about 20g heavier than the F1000/F2000, they still weigh in considerably lighter than many other radios.

Like the analog models, the F1000D/F2000D has a large 36mm, 800mW speaker. It also has the built-in motion sensor with Man Down and Lone Worker emergency functions. The two series of radios also share other features, such as the channel announcement function and IP67 water and dust protection.

The real difference between the F1000/F2000 and F1000D/F2000D is, of course, digital functionality. The "D" series supports IDAS™ digital conventional and Type-D single-site trunking. The digital and analog modes can be programmed per channel. According to Icom, IDAS™ mode utilizes 4-level FSK modulation and the NXDN™ common air interface for true 6.25kHz spectrum efficiency. Programmable IDAS features include:

• PTT ID (TX)
• Individual/group calls
• Radio check (RX)
• Stun/Kill/Revive (RX)
• Remote monitor (RX)
• Emergency (TX)
• Call alert (RX)
• Digital voice scrambler (15-bit)
• Status Call (Power ON/OFF status and GPS request)
• Voting scan for multi-site conventional operation

At the time of this article only the base models are available. The F1000D is the 136-174MHz VHF version and the F2000D operates on 400-470MHz UHF.

Accessories

The F1000D/F2000D will accept almost all of the same accessories as the standard F1000/F2000 series radios, including earpieces, headsets, speaker microphones, antennas, the belt clip, power supply cable, multi-charger, and even the battery packs. The F1000D/F2000D will take the BP-278 and BP-279 as well as its own BP-280 battery pack.

One of the advantages of digital radios over their analog counterparts is their considerably lower rate of power consumption, and the F1000D/F2000D is no exception. the chart below instantly puts it all into perspective. Note: Data is based on 5:5:90 operation (TX:RX:Standy) with the power save function on.

As for what comes in the package, the Icom IC-F1000D / IC-F2000D has the basic essentials, including a Li-ion battery pack, belt clip and a removable antenna. It also comes with a two year warranty from Icom. The F1000D/F2000D are available from Buy Two Way Radios.

The Wouxun KG-UV9D and KG-UV9D Plus are very similar in operation, except the Plus has the added functionality of cross band repeat. To accommodate this new feature, the 9D Plus has an additional 6 items listed in its menu for a total of 61 items, in contrast to the 55 menu items in the regular 9D.

There is one catch. The KG-UV9D Plus does not currently ship with its own user manual. Instead, Wouxun put the regular 9D manual in the box. This means the six new menu items included with the 9D Plus are not listed or explained in the manual included with the radio.

When we first received the KG-UV9D Plus at Buy Two Way Radios, it threw us off a bit, and we knew this could be confusing for our customers as well. So, we contacted Wouxun and requested instructions for these additional items. They are listed in the chart below. Default values are bold.

The chart below lists the menu items of the KG-UV9D and the KG-UV9D Plus in order. To access the menu in each radio, press the MENU button nd use the UP and DOWN buttons to navigate to the desired menu option or enter the number of the corresponding menu item into the keypad.

Additional resources:
Announcing the new Wouxun KG-UV9D (Plus) Limited Edition!
TWRS-89 - The New Wouxun KG-UV9D Multi-Band Radio
Wouxun KG-UV9D Plus Limited Edition unboxing video
How to set up cross band repeat on the Wouxun KG-UV9D Plus

It's no big secret that the Icom F4011 has been a top selling business radio the last couple of years. Users seem to love the 4011 and its VHF counterpart, the F3011. Well, apparently Icom stepped up its game with the IC-F1000 (VHF) and the IC-F2000 (UHF) radios. As with the 4011, The F2000 could be another best selling Icom business radio, perhaps, at least in part, because it's priced very close to the 4011 and adds another level to its feature set.

This radio is rated IP67 waterproof and dust tight, which means it can be submersed in up to 1 meter for 30 minutes. In other words, it's completely waterproof. this is an improved rating over its predecessors. The F3011 and F4011 were rated IP54, so the increased IP67 rating on the F2000 is definitely a step up.

The F2000 is a smaller, thinner radio. It is also lightweight. The F2000 is definitely slimmer and lighter in weight than some of the other portable handheld Icom radios. In comparison to the F4011, which weighs in with battery at about 10.6 oz., the F2000 weighs only 8.47oz. with its battery.This is due in large part to the battery itself.

The battery is probably the only negative for this radio, but not by much. The F4011 has a BP-232N 2000mAh battery that's rated for about 16 hours of operation. In contrast, the F1000/F2000 uses the BP-279 1485 mAh battery pack, a smaller battery but still rated at about 14 hours of operation. So in order to lose a lot of size and a lot of weight, you're giving up two hours of operation, but fourteen hours is still plenty of operating time for many businesses.

Another item that factors into the overall weight of the radio is the built-in speaker. As a general rule, a more powerful speaker typically adds a little more weight to the radio. The F2000 has a large 36mm, 800mw speaker, compared to a 500mw speaker on the 4011. It's a lighter radio with a louder speaker. Now that's an interesting twist.

A louder radio is probably always better, anyway. After all, you do have a volume control. If you don't want to use maximum volume you don't have to, but the option to go with an extremely loud radio is usually a good thing, because there may be a time or place when you may actually need the added volume.

The F2000 looks slim and feels light, but is it really that durable? It's an interesting question, because for many radio operators it's often difficult to equate the idea of small size and light weight with durability at the same time. When one thinks of durability and ruggedness, it is easy to assume the radio has to be heavy, feel solid and have the general consistency of a brick. The term heavy duty tends to create an image of something that is large and heavy. Perhaps it's psychological, but it is a common conception, or to be more accurate, a misconception, because it isn't necessarily true.

Take the the older radios from the late 90's and early 2000's that were bricks (please, take them). They were heavy as can be, but as the years passed and technologies changed and advanced, new materials were developed and new components were invented that are smaller, lighter in weight, yet just as robust as the materials and components found in older radios. So, it's no stretch at all to think a newer radio such as the F2000 could be just as rugged and durable, and even more so, then an older, larger and heavier Icom, Kenwood or Motorola radio. In fact, it makes sense.

So the chassis quality of the Icom F1000/F2000 is pretty good, overall. What about some of the other specs on this radio? What kind of features are we looking at here?

For starters, there are several versions of this radio. The IC-F1000/S/T operates on 136-174 VHF frequencies at up to 5 watts. The IC-F2000/S/T is the UHF version, with 400-470MHz frequencies at up to 4 watts output power. The IC-F1000 and IC-F2000 models have 16 channels. The F1000S/T and F2000S/T models feature 128 channels.

The F1000 and F2000 are the base models. These are most similar to the F3011 and F4011, respectively. The F1000S and F2000S have a display and a simple keypad consisting of four programmable function keys on the front of the radio. F1000T and F2000T include the display, four programmable function keys and full DTMF numeric keypad.

The F1000/F2000 features built-in 2-Tone and 5-Tone, CTCSS and DCS signaling for group communications and selective calling. It has voice channel announcement, so you don't have to look down at the radio when you're switching channels. You can hear what channel you're on. You don't have to take your eyes off of whatever you're doing.

In addition, the F1000/F2000 radio has quiet stand-by and a built-in inversion voice scrambler. It's MDC 1200 compatible, providing for programmable features such as PTT ID, RX radio check and Stun/Revive. It also has a surveillance function, escalating alarm, and eight DTMF memories.

New to the F1000/F2000 is the built-in motion sensor. This is a very interesting feature with a lot of potential uses. With the built-in motion sensor, the F1000/F2000 series can detect its position, state of motion and non-motion, and can send an emergency signal. For example, the motion function detects if the transceiver is moving or shaking during a chase.

This radio has an integrated a Man Down or emergency button on top. The lone worker and Man Down functions are programmable. When the button is pressed during an emergency situation, it basically puts the radio in VOX mode so the radio can communicate to the other radios within range. The F4011 and F3011 series did not have that option.

Icom claims the F1000/F2000 is easy to hear in noisy areas. The combined Man Down feature, the emergency button and ability to hear the radio above louder noises could make this radio a good choice for use in warehouses or construction areas where potential hazardous situations could arise. This may also be useful in schools, particularly these days when there are heightened concerns about school security. Considering the fact that schools are kind of noisy places anyway, such emergency features may be needed on a two way radio.

When you're talking about 2 watt radios and less, most of the time they are not fully programmable. You're kind of stuck with the 50 to 100 frequencies that are already pre-programmed into them. This Icom is a fully programmable radio. If you have a business operation that needs a smaller, lighter radio but may need to expand in the future and go through a repeater, in many cases you would have to throw all those lower powered radios away and move to something else. But going with something like the F1000 or F2000, if you ever need a repeater, if you ever need to expand your system, this radio will support it. You can just program you radios instead of getting rid of them.

So it's not just a small, light radio, it's packed with some features, as well. But what about accessories?

The Icom F1000 and F2000 uses the same, standard two-pin Icom S6 connector, so if you have the F4011 or F3011 radios and want to add or upgrade to the F1000 or F2000 models, all of the audio accessories for your old radios will work with your new ones. Since the F1000/f2000 is also waterproof, there's a waterproof speaker mic available for it.

There is one thing to keep in mind with the accessories. When you're using an accessory with this radio, the F1000/F2000 may not be waterproof if your using a non-waterproof accessory. You're going to need a specific waterproof type connector to keep that seal over the connector port watertight. Most accessories, particularly aftermarket accessories built for non-waterproof radios, are probably not going to create a water tight seal when used with this model.

If you don't use an accessory with the F1000 or F2000, you must keep that port cover on the side. You need to have the cover on the side to make it waterproof. It requires two screws to hold it on and it has some sort of grommet on the inside of that side plate cover to keep the water out. A lot of folks don't want to have to put that thing on. If you don't do it, water will get into the radio if it gets very wet or submerged. If you are going to be using the radio without an accessory, it is highly recommended to have the port cover on there just to ensure that you have the full waterproof capabilities.

The F1000/F2000 series starts at $179, compared to $169 for the 4011, and for an extra $10 you get a lot more functionality. You also get waterproofing. When it comes to the price, the Icom F1000 and F2000 radios are a great value for the waterproof capability alone.

There is a lot to like about the Icom F1000 and F2000 radios. It's smaller, thinner, lighter, yet durable and fully waterproof. It's a 4 watt UHF/5 watt VHF radio that's fully programmable, can work with repeaters, compatible with a lot of radio systems using MDC1200, and will fit into many different environments and business types, including manufacturing facilities, warehouses, schools, restaurants, retail stores, casinos and hospitality.

With such flexibility, the F1000/F2000 Series radio has a lot to offer any business or industry. Icom seems to have stepped up their game and taken their radios to another level.

Hytera just released a new series of analog business radios that are compact, durable, and very price competitive. The Hytera HYT OBR Series Onsite Business Radios are specifically designed to compete with popular Motorola and Kenwood radios in its class. There are two basic models, the TC-310 and the TC-518.

Models

HYT TC-310 - This is the lower end model with 16 channels. It operates on UHF business frequencies with 1 watt of output power and can cover up to up to 200,000 square feet or 15 floors.

Features include channel scan, priority channel scan, scrambler, Voice-operated Transmit (VOX),compander, battery save feature, timeout timer, talk back, busy channel lockout and a mini-USB interface. It's also PC programmable with an optional programming cable and software for even greater versatility. The first 7 UHF Frequencies on HYT TC-310 will match the UHF radio factory default frequencies of the Motorola CLS, CLP and RMU series analog business radios. Price: $129.99.

HYT TC518 - This is the higher end model with 16 channels. There are four variations of this model. These include the 2 watt TC-518-U1-LP (UHF) and the TC-518V-LP (VHF), the 4 watt UHF TC-518-U1-HP and 5 watt VHF TC-518V-HP.

Features include channel scan, priority channel scan, Voice-operated Transmit (VOX),compander, battery save feature, timeout timer, talk back, scrambler, and busy channel lockout. It's also PC programmable with an optional programming cable and software. The 4 and 5 watt TC-518 models match well with the 4 watt Motorola RDU Series and Kenwood ProTalk radios. Price: $149.99 (2W), $169.99 (4W/5W).

Accessories

The TC-310 uses the Motorola single pin M6 connector and is compatible with Motorola audio accessories that use this connector.

The TC518 uses the two pin M1 connector and uses the same standard audio accessories as the Motorola CLS and RM Series radios., so there is an instant plethora of audio accessories to choose from.

Each model uses a different Hytera Lithium-Ion battery pack, charger, belt clip, and case specifically designed for that model.

This chart lists the radios in the Hytera OBR Series and highlights some of their key features. Click on the name or image of each model for details and more specifications on each radio. All models listed in the chart are available from Buy Two Way Radios.

	Model	Output	FRS/GMRS Channels	Band	Frequency	USB	VOX
	HYT TC-310	16	1W	UHF	400-470 MHz	✔
	HYT TC-518-U1-LP	16	2W	UHF	400-470 MHz		✔
	HYT TC-518-V-LP	16	2W	VHF	136-174 MHz		✔
	HYT TC-518-U1-HP	16	4W	UHF	400-470 MHz		✔
	HYT TC-518-V-HP	16	5W	VHF	136-174 MHz		✔

Additional resources:

TWRS-98 - New Hytera Business Radios

Updated September 21, 2021.
We often receive questions about the range limitations of consumer FRS and GMRS two way radios. In fact, it is probably one of the most commonly asked questions about them, and for many, it seems to be one of the most important considerations when shopping for a handheld radio. This is certainly understandable, of course. Everyone wants the ability to communicate with others across great distances, and certainly more than just across their front yard.

However, since radios communicate line-of-sight, and given the power and other limitations of the typical FRS/GMRS handheld walkie talkie, coupled with the uncertainty of weather conditions, location and terrain, the average range of direct radio-to-radio communications with the typical consumer radio may not meet some applications.

In such a scenario, one may need more than just a standard walkie-talkie. One may need a handheld radio with the ability to operate through a repeater.

Although the FCC does not allow the use of a repeater on FRS frequencies (and given the 1/2 watt limitation of channels 8-14 on the FRS and GMRS services, it isn't practical anyway), it does allow the use of repeaters on the GMRS. Yes, there are GMRS repeaters out there, not too many, but they do exist. But what about repeater ready GMRS radios?

Yes, they do exist as well. We receive frequent inquiries and requests from customers who are searching for GMRS radios with the ability to operate through GMRS repeaters. While they aren't common, they certainly are out there, and they aren't too hard to find.

This chart lists brand name portable handheld GMRS radios currently available with repeater capability. Click on the name or image of each model for details and more specifications on each radio. All models listed in the chart are available from Buy Two Way Radios.

FRS/GMRS Two Way Radio Comparison Chart

	Model	Interference Eliminator Codes	FRS/GMRS Channels	Weather Channels	Repeater Capable	Repeater Channels
	Motorola Talkabout MR355R	121	22	11	✔	8
	Motorola Talkabout MS350R	121	22	11	✔	8
	Motorola Talkabout MS355R	121	22	11	✔	8
	Olympia R500	121	50*	11	✔	8
	Wouxun KG-805G	155	30	-	✔	8
	Wouxun KG-905G	155	30	-	✔	8
	Wouxun KG-935G	155	30	7	✔	8

Additional resources:
TWRS-68 - An Introduction to Repeaters
Radio 101 - How To activate repeater channels on a Motorola Talkabout radio

*According to Olympia, the 50 channels consist of 22 FRS/GMRS and 28 "extra" channels.

Giant International manufactures FRS and GMRS two way radios under the Olympia brand. There are three models in the current line, and although they may vary in features, they all include three important attributes: durability, funtionality and value. As an Authorized Olympia Dealer, Buy Two Way Radios proudly carries them all.

This quick chart compares all three Olympia models and some commonly searched features. Of course, there are too many features to list them all in this chart, but you can click on the name or image of each radio for an entire list. In addition, we also have a Two Way Radio Product Comparison tool so you can choose between any two specific Olympia models (or any other two way radios on our site) for a full, comprehensive comparison.

Olympia FRS/GMRS Two Way Radio Comparison Chart

Olympia	Model	USB	Vibrate Alert	VOX	Call Tones	Display	Weather Channels	Repeater Capable
	R100				10	✔	✔
	R300	✔	✔	✔	20	✔	✔
	R500	✔	✔	✔	10	✔	✔	✔

The Wouxun KG-UV9D Plus is essentially a KG-UV9D with the added feature of cross-band repeat. However, the manual that comes with the KG-UV9D Plus Limited Edition is the same manual packed with the regular 9D, which doesn't support the feature. Therefore, the manual doesn't cover or even mention it. So, how do you enable cross-band repeater functionality on the KG-UV9D Plus?

Configuring the Plus for cross-band functionality will depend somewhat on whether you want to set it up as a directional cross band repeater or a two way cross band repeater. Once you have that sorted out, the rest is a matter of configuring the options in the menu. However, without the manual, some of the menu options may seem somewhat cryptic, and this particular one may be difficult to even find.

The process isn't really that complicated, once you know where to look in the menu. The key menu item is called TYPE-SET, listed as item number 43. Entering this menu item will take you to a sub-menu. The items in the sub-menu are:

• TALKIE
• DIR-RPT
• TW-RPT

TALKIE mode allows the radio to be used as a normal two way radio, or "handy talkie".
DIR-PRT mode sets the radio as a directional cross-band repeater. When this mode is enabled, a small "repeat" icon will appear in the upper left corner of the display and the speaker icon will have an "X" over it in the upper left portion of the B slot on the dual display.
TW-RPT mode sets the radio as a two way cross band repeater. When this mode is enabled, the "repeat" icon will appear in the upper left corner of the display and both speaker icons will show as enabled in the upper left portion of the A the B slots on the dual display.

To set up cross-band repeat:

• Turn on the radio
• Enter VFO (frequency) mode
• Press the MENU button
• Input the number 43 or scroll to TYPE-SET in the menu.
• Press MENU again
• Scroll through the menu and select either DIR-RPT (Directional Cross Band Repeater) or TW-RPT (Two Way Cross Band Repeater)
• Set the desired frequencies in the corresponding slots A and B

Your Wouxun KG-UV9D Plus radio is now set up as either a directional cross band repeater or a two way cross band repeater.