Wouxun

Wouxun mobile radios are known for delivering good performance at a fair price. Two models in particular stand out in this category, the popular UHF/VHF dual band KG-UV920P-A and its powerful quad band cousin, the KG-UV950P. A little while back, TYT responded with its own mobiles, the TH-7800 and TH-9800, and at very competitive prices. Now, Wouxun is firing back with the introduction of two new models with aggressively lower price points, the KG-UVR5 and KG-UV980H.

If these new models look and seem familiar, it's because they are. In fact, they are the same radios, but rebranded with the frequencies limited to only the amateur radio bands. Wouxun The KG-UVR5 is the lower priced dual band KG-UV920P and the KG-UV980H is the lower priced quad band KG-UV950P.

What Wouxun did was very simple. They took the dual band KG-UV920P, re-labeled it the KG-UVR5, limited the frequencies to the 2 meter (144-148MHz) VHF and 70cm (420-450MHz) UHF ham bands right out of the box, and dropped the price by thirty bucks.

Then they did the very same thing with the quad band model. They re-labeled it the KG-UV980H and limited it to the ham bands. It's the same radio as the KG-UV950P, but out of the box it's limited to the 2 meter, 6 meter, 10 meter and 70cm ham frequencies. They reduced the price accordingly.

Yeah, it seems odd, but considering the features, that's a huge deal for a thirty dollar price reduction. Thirty dollars? That's a twenty percent discount. It's a significant drop in price for merely locking down the transceivers to stay only within those frequencies the hams should be using anyway.

The KG-UV920P-A and KG-UV950P are popular models used by both amateurs and businesses worldwide. If you're a company in a country that uses either of these models for business use, it's business as usual with these radios. However, if you're a ham who needs one of these models but needs to save a few dollars more, the KG-UVR5 and KG-UV980H are made just for you.



Buy Two Way Radios is an authorized Wouxun dealer.

The Wouxun KG-UV9D is a multi-band portable handheld two way radio with Wouxun's iconic color LCD display, full DTMF keypad, and a lot of nice features, all at a great price. Such a powerful transceiver requires a bit of programming to utilize its options, and for the first time user, it can be intimidating. Looks can be deceiving, because it isn't as difficult as it seems. It's not that difficult at all, once you know how it's done.

The easiest way to Program the KG-UV9D is with a computer. When connected to an XLT Painless Programming Cable, the process is even easier, since the programming cable itself is so quick and easy to install. At present the only programming software for the UV9D is provided by Wouxun, however it is readily available from the manufacturer or from us if the radio was purchased from Buy Two Way Radios. The KG-UV9D is not yet supported by CHIRP, the popular open source programming software used to program a variety of other radios, such as the Wouxun KG-UV8D and Baofeng UV-5R.

Programming the KG-UV9D manually from the radio itself is much like programming other Wouxun radios, such as the KG-UV8D and its variants, the KG-UVD8 Plus and the tri-band KG-UV8E. In fact, the steps are almost exactly the same, with two exceptions. First, the A/B button was replaced with a TDR button, which is held down for two seconds to toggle between VFO and Channel modes. Second, the menu item numbers are different. For instance, on a KG-UV8D, 8D Plus or 8E, the menu option to assign a frequency to a channel (MEM-CH) is 28; on the KG-UV9D and 9D Plus, it is number 30.

Other than the TDR button and the numbering of the menu options, everything else is the same. If you know how to program the KG-UV8D, you have already mastered the KG-UV9D. If you haven't programmed a Wouxun radio before, follow the instructions below to program your Wouxun KG-UV9D or KG-UV9D Plus Limited Edition directly from the keypad of the radio and you will soon become the master of all these models.

How to manually program a simplex channel into the KG-UV9D

• Step 1. Press [BAND] and choose the A Side (upper display) as MAIN.
• Step 2. Press and hold [TDR] for two seconds and enter Frequency Mode.
  The radio should be in Frequency (VFO) Mode to program all settings to the channel.
• Step 3. Enter the frequency.
  Use the keypad to enter the frequency into the radio.
• Step 4. optional - Enter the transmit CTCSS/DCS code.
  • CTCSS - [MENU] 16 [MENU] [enter/choose code XXXX] [MENU] [EXIT]
  • DCS - [MENU] 18 [MENU] [choose code XXXXX] [MENU] [EXIT]

  Use the [Arrow Up/Down] keys or the channel selector knob to choose the codes from the menu.

• Step 5. Assign the frequency to a channel.
  [MENU] 30 [MENU] [enter channel number XXX] [MENU] [EXIT]
  If the Channel number is displayed in blue, it is already assigned. Choose another channel.
  If the channel number is red, the channel is available.

How to manually program a repeater channel into the KG-UV9D

• Step 1. Press [A/B] and choose the A Side (upper display) as MAIN.
• Step 2. Press and hold [TDR] for two seconds and enter Frequency Mode.
  Like the simplex channels, the radio should be in Frequency (VFO) Mode to program all settings to the channel.
• Step 3. Enter the frequency.
  Use the keypad to enter the frequency into the radio.
• Step 4. optional - Enter the transmit CTCSS/DCS code.
  • CTCSS - [MENU] 16 [MENU] [enter/choose code XXXX] [MENU] [EXIT]
  • DCS - [MENU] 18 [MENU] [choose code XXXXX] [MENU] [EXIT]

  Use the [Arrow Up/Down] keys or the channel selector knob to choose the codes from the menu.

• Step 5. Input the repeater frequency offset.
  Press [MENU] 28 [MENU] [enter the offset for 2 meter or 70 cm repeater] [MENU] [EXIT]
• Step 6. Enter the Transmit Frequency Shift.
  Press [MENU] 6 [MENU] [enter 1 for positive shift or 2 for negative shift] [MENU][EXIT]
  
  Note: There are three ways to enter the frequency shift.
  • Enter 1 for positive (+) and 2 for negative (-).
  • Press [Arrow Up/Down] to toggle + or -.
  • Turn the channel selector knob to choose + or -.
• Step 7. Assign the frequency to a channel.
  Press [MENU] 30 [MENU] [enter the channel number XXX] [MENU] [EXIT]
  If the Channel number is displayed in blue, it is already assigned. Choose another channel.
  If the channel number is red, the channel is available.

To add more channels, repeat the steps above. If these instructions are followed correctly step-by-step, you should be able to program all 999 memory channels in your Wouxun KG-UV9D. Note: These instructions will also work for KG-UV9D Plus.

The Wouxun KG-UV8D two way radio has a quick and easy reset. The only downside to the reset operation is it also clears out all the language settings and sets them to the default. English is its second language. The default is Chinese. The reset process clears all the language settings, both voice prompts and menu items shown on the display. If you speak and read Chinese, that's not an issue. If English is your first or only language, fear not, we're here to help. if you can read this, follow the instructions below and post-reset navigation should not be a challenge.

There are two reset options.

Functional Parameter Reset (VFO)
the VFO option resets the function settings to factory defaults without wiping out the channel settings.

Total Parameter Reset (ALL)
The ALL option performs a full reset back to factory defaults and clears the channel settings.

Follow the steps below to reset a Wouxun KG-UV8D, KG-UV8D Plus, or KG-UV8E two way radio from Buy Two Way Radios to its original factory settings and English prompts.

To perform a VFO Reset
1. Turn on the radio and press the MENU button.
2. Press the UP and DOWN arrow key to select RESET (Menu Item 51).
3. Press MENU to choose RESET.
4. Press the UP/DOWN arrow keys to choose VFO.
5. Press MENU. The radio will display RESET SURE?
6. Press MENU to confirm. The radio will display Waite please (yes, "wait" with an "e") for a few seconds, then shut down and restart.
7. The radio will revert to Chinese language mode. Reset is complete.

To perform a FULL Reset
1. Turn on the radio and press the MENU button.
2. Press the UP and DOWN arrow key to select RESET (Menu Item 51).
3. Press MENU to choose RESET.
4. Press the DOWN arrow key to choose ALL.
5. Press MENU. The radio will display RESET SURE?
6. Press MENU to confirm. The radio will display Waite please for a few seconds, then shut down and restart.
7. The radio will revert to Chinese language mode. Reset is complete.

To set language from Chinese to English
1. Press MENU.
2. Press the UP and DOWN arrow key to select LANGUAGE (Menu Item 12). Note: the menu will be in Chinese, so the next two steps are important if you cannot read Chinese characters.
3. Press MENU.
4. Press the DOWN arrow key once.
5. Press MENU.
6. Press EXIT.

A reset may resolve many issues or malfunctions, but may not work for every scenario. However, it is usually a recommended first step when troubleshooting a two way radio.

The Wouxun KG-UV8D is a popular dual band handheld two way radio for a reason. It has great performance, it's loaded with features, and it has a nice, large, color LCD display. It's also reasonably priced.

Then there is programming.

Programming the KG-UV8D isn't very difficult if you do it with a computer. Although the programming software provided by Wouxun isn't perfect, it's really not too bad, and it's not too difficult to figure out over time. Of course, if you have the open source programming software called CHIRP, it's even better, because it now supports the original KG-UV8D. CHIRP is freely available online.

For the most part, programming the KG-UV8D from a PC is relatively painless, especially when connected to an XLT Painless Programming Cable from Buy Two Way Radios. Programming it manually from the radio itself is another topic. To someone who is not familiar with the process, it can certainly be confusing or downright frustrating. Yet, there may come a time when you need to program your 8D and there is no computer or programming cable handy. There may be a time and place when you may need to do it manually. What do you do? How do you do it?

Follow the instructions below to manually program your Wouxun KG-UV8D, KG-UV8D Plus or KG-UV8E directly from the keypad of the radio.

How to manually program a simplex channel

• Step 1. Press [A/B] and choose the A Side (upper display) as MAIN.
• Step 2. Press [VFO/MR] and enter Frequency Mode.
  The radio should be in Frequency (VFO) Mode to program all settings to the channel.
• Step 3. Enter the frequency.
  Use the keypad to enter the frequency into the radio.
• Step 4. optional - Enter the transmit CTCSS/DCS code.
  • CTCSS - [MENU] 16 [MENU] [enter/choose code XXXX] [MENU] [EXIT]
  • DCS - [MENU] 18 [MENU] [choose code XXXXX] [MENU] [EXIT]

  Use the [Arrow Up/Down] keys or the channel selector knob to choose the codes from the menu.

• Step 5. Assign the frequency to a channel.
  [MENU] 27 [MENU] [enter channel number XXX] [MENU] [EXIT]
  If the Channel number is displayed in black, it is already assigned. Choose another channel.
  If the channel number is blue, the channel is available.

How to manually program a repeater channel

• Step 1. Press [A/B] and choose the A Side (upper display) as MAIN.
• Step 2. Press [VFO/MR] and enter Frequency Mode.
  Like the simplex channels, the radio should be in Frequency (VFO) Mode to program all settings to the channel.
• Step 3. Enter the frequency.
  Use the keypad to enter the frequency into the radio.
• Step 4. optional - Enter the transmit CTCSS/DCS code.
  • CTCSS - [MENU] 16 [MENU] [enter/choose code XXXX] [MENU] [EXIT]
  • DCS - [MENU] 18 [MENU] [choose code XXXXX] [MENU] [EXIT]

  Use the [Arrow Up/Down] keys or the channel selector knob to choose the codes from the menu.

• Step 5. Input the repeater frequency offset.
  Press [MENU] 23 [MENU] [enter the offset for 2 meter or 70 cm repeater] [MENU] [EXIT]
• Step 6. Enter the Transmit Frequency Shift.
  Press [MENU] 24 [MENU] [enter 1 for positive shift or 2 for negative shift] [MENU][EXIT]
  Note: There are three ways to enter the frequency shift.
  • Enter 1 for positive (+) and 2 for negative (-).
  • Press [Arrow Up/Down] to toggle + or -.
  • Turn the channel selector knob to choose + or -.
• Step 7. Assign the frequency to a channel.
  Press [MENU] 27 [MENU] [enter the channel number XXX] [MENU] [EXIT]
  If the Channel number is displayed in black, it is already assigned. Choose another channel.
  If the channel number is blue, the channel is available.

To add more channels, repeat the steps above. If these instructions are followed correctly step-by-step, you should be able to program all 999 memory channels in your Wouxun KG-UV8D. Note: These instructions will also work for KG-UV8D Plus and KG-UV8E radios.

Last year we broke the news about a new portable DMR radio, the KG-D901. We announced it on our blog, covered it in Episode 99 of the Two Way Radio Show Podcast, and gave the world a first look at it in our Wouxun KG-D901 preview video.

Yes, it was certainly news, but it wasn't just about the radio itself. What made this newsworthy was the fact it was the first DMR from Wouxun, and it was an announcement of their plan to enter the digital radio market. Now their entrance is official. The Wouxun KG-D901 DMR Digital Two Way Radio has arrived!

Since we've told you about the radio already, we won't repeat it all here. The info and specs on the Wouxun KG-D901 are available at Buy Two Way Radios, and now, so is the radio!

There is just one thing to note. At the time of this publication, the Wouxun KG-D901 is currently available in a very limited quantity, so if you want to be one of the first to have it, you may want to get it now.

The Wouxun KG-UV950P quad band mobile two way radio has all the great features of the popular KG-UV920P-A dual band mobile radio, and more, two bands more, to be precise. It transmits and receives on the 2 meter (144-148 MHz), 70cm (420-450 MHz), 6 meter (50.1-54 MHz) and 10 meter (28.3-29.7 MHz) amateur radio bands. This is a great transceiver for hams who want access to multiple bands without paying through the nose to get on the air.

Like the the KG-UV920P-A, the KG-UV950P has cross band repeat capability for even greater functionality. It also makes a nice base station radio when connected to the Wouxun SPS31WIN or similar power supply as shown in the Wouxun KG-UV950P Quad Band Amateur Radio Unboxing video.

KG-UV950P Key Features

• Quad Band 2m/6m/10m/70cm transmit and receive
• Eight band receive only
• 87.5-108MHz FM Radio (Receive Only)
• 50W/20W/10W/5W (VHF) Transmit Power
• 40W/20W/10W/5W (UHF) 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 Caller ID 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
• Simultaneous scanning on AB areas
• AIre band function
• AM Mode receive capability
• PC Programmable
• Supports 2.5k Step
• Reset
• Roger Beep Enable/Disable
• Wideband/Narrowband operation

Programming the KG-UV950P
Programming The Wouxun KG-UV950P is the same as programming the KG-UV920P-A. You can do it direct from the console on the front panel of the radio, from the DTMF keypad on the speaker microphone, or through a PC using the Wouxun KG-UV950P programming software.

Direct from the radio
If you know how to program frequencies into the KG-UV920P-A, the UV950P will be old hat. If you haven't programmed a UV920P-A, or you are new to programming a two way radio, you will need to read the manual carefully and keep it with you for reference until you get the hang of it. The manual is not very intuitive, especially when explaining some advanced features, but it sure beats reading the original manufacturer's user guide for the Baofeng UV-5R, which is widely regarded in the ham radio community as one of the worst operating manuals ever written for an amateur radio of this century. While this latter point is not particularly inspiring, it may be of some consolation if you have trouble getting through the Wouxun manual. Compared to Baofeng, the Wouxun owner's manual is a literary masterpiece.

The KG-UV950P menu consists of 50 items compared to the menu options of the KG-UV920P-A, which has 45 menu options. Default settings are bold.

Programming with software
The KG-UV950P uses the same USB programming cable as the KG-UV920P-A, so if you already have one, you are halfway there. If you don't, you will need the PCO-003, which includes the Wouxun cable driver and programming software CD when purchased from Buy Two Way Radios. Simply follow the Wouxun KG-UV920P-A cable driver installation instructions and the programming cable should be set to go.

Unlike the programming cable, the Wouxun KG-UV950P programming software is specific to the radio and is currently available for Windows PCs only. If you have the programming software for the KG-UV920P-A, it will not work with the KG-UV950P. If you purchased the programming cable from Buy Two Way Radios, the KG-UV950P software will be included on the cable driver and programming software CD. It is also available as a free download.

KG-UV950P Operation
Working the KG-UV950P is almost exactly same as operating KG-UV920P-A. The only real difference is the layout of the console and redesign of the speaker microphone. While the key layout is the same on the consoles for both models, the location of the speaker mic jack is not. The speaker microphone plugs into the front of the KG-UV920P-A; on the KG-UV950P, the jack is located on the side of the front panel. The location of everything else on the front panel is the same. The LCD display with a selectable three color backlight, channel knobs, volume knob and DTMF keys, they are all there.

As for the DTMF speaker mic, it is a noticeable redesign of the speaker mic for the KG-UV920P-A. The speaker microphone is shaped differently and a multi-function squelch open/remote control button is added below the PTT button on the left side. All the DTMF keys are there, and a MAIN key is added to change the master channel/frequency on the display. The keypad lock/unlock switch is resized and moved towards the top right of the keypad, and a second switch is added to turn the keypad backlight on and off. The 3 key assigned for CTCSS/DCS setup and scanning on the 920P-A is now assigned for band switching on the 950P. All other key assignments and operations are the same. The keys and their primary functions are listed in the chart below:

As a quad band radio alone, the Wouxun KG-UV950P is a great value. As a mobile/base station radio or cross-band repeater, it can add affordable versatility to any ham shack.

First there was the Wouxun KG-UV8D. Now, there is the KG-UV8D Plus! It looks and feels like the original 8D. What gives it a Plus?

In this video, Rick Savoia from Buy Two Way Radios opens the box, shows you what's inside, and tells you what the Plus is all about. For a full feature comparison, read Wouxun KG-UV8D and KG-UV8D Plus menu options and hear our review in Episode 101 of The Two Way Radio Show Podcast.

Fans of the 1.25 meter band rejoice! The Wouxun KG-UV8E Tri Band Radio is here! This variation of the KG-UV8D takes the advanced features of the KG-UV8D Plus and adds a third ham band for even greater versatility.

What's it all about? Watch as Rick Savoia from Buy Two Way Radios opens up the box and gives you an up close and personal look at this latest transceiver from Wouxun with the power and capabilties of 3X band excitement on RX and TX. For more on this tri-bander, read the our product announcement and hear our review in Episode 104 of The Two Way Radio Show Podcast.

Wouxun took the ham radio world by storm when it introduced the KG-UV8D. Since then, the company has gained a considerable foothold in the market with an entire line of handheld amateur radios based on variations of the 8D, such as the KG-UV8D Plus, KG-UV9D, KG-UV9D Plus, and more recently the KG-UV8E Tri Band Radio. Now they are about to enter all new territory with the introduction of their first digital radio, the KG-D901!

Watch as Danny Feemster from Buy Two Way Radios opens up the box and gives you both a brief overview and a sneak peek at Wouxun's first DMR radio and what may become their next best seller! For more details on this digital handheld radio from Wouxun, read the specs and hear our discussion on The Two Way Radio Show Podcast episode TWRS-99 - The New Wouxun KG-D901 DMR Digital Radio.

Late last year Wouxun announced plans to enter the digital radio market with a new portable handheld DMR radio. We obtained some early product specs and broke the news on Episode 99 of The Two Way Radio Show Podcast. At the time Wouxun hinted at a launch date sometime in early 2016. Well, the wait is almost over. We are excited to announce that we just received our demo models of the new Wouxun KG-D901 DMR Digital Two Way Radio!

At first glance, The KG-D901 looks almost identical to the analog KG-UV9D and KG-UV9D Plus multi-banders, with the large, color LCD display first introduced in popular KG-UV8D and now considered a standard fixture in the latest generation of Wouxun portable handheld transceivers. It has the same keypad layout found on both the 8D and 9D models and the same array of buttons on the side. It has the volume and channel knobs, TX/RX LEDs and flashlight typically found on the other Wouxun radios as well.

As soon as you turn it on, however, the similarities end. It may look and feel familiar on the outside, but this is not a typical analog Wouxun radio at all. It's digital. As a Wouxun product, the KG-D901 is something entirely new.

Key Features

Unlike the 8D and 9D, the D901 is a single band transceiver, in your choice of either a UHF or VHF version. Most of the primary features are expected, and compared to other DMR digital radios, they may not seem particularly unique. However, there is one item on the list that may give the D901 a little extra. It is noted in bold.

• 400-470MHz UHF frequencies (UHF Model)
• 136-174MHz VHF frequencies (VHF Model)
• Analog and Digital Modes
• Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) digital technology
• Direct and Repeater Modes
• 16 memory channel and 2 Zones
• Built-in CTCSS/DCS signaling in analog mode
• Text Messaging (Digital Mode)
• All Calls, Group Calls, Select Calls (Digital Mode)
• Scrambler Function (Analog Mode)
• Digital Encryption
• Microphone Modulation Setting
• IP57 Water Resistant

Full specs are available from the Wouxun KG-D901 product sheet.

Accessories

The KG-D901 has the same SMA Female antenna connector commonly used on other Wouxun handhelds, and there is a plethora of third party antennas available to choose from, so if you like to fine tune your antenna options, such customization is very easy. It also uses the Kenwood K1 audio connector that is so widely used on imported radios today, it is almost considered a standard. This opens up seemingly limitless options for audio accessories and add-ons.

More importantly, the KG-D901 uses the same battery pack as the KG-UV9D, which means other power accessories such as the desktop charger and battery eliminator are compatible as well. This cross-compatability adds greater functionality to both models and makes each a more practical compliment to the other when mixing and matching transceivers.

Programming

Here's more good news. Unlike some other digital radios, which may require a different programming cable than their analog counterparts, the KG-D901 is compatible with the existing Wouxun (or Baofeng) serial to USB cable equipped with the now standard Kenwood K1 connector. If you already have one of these cables for another Wouxun handheld, it should work with the KG-D901. If you have the XLT Painless Programming Cable, that's even better, because the KG-D901 has been tested to work with the it, as well (If you don't have the XLT Painless Programming Cable yet, you may want to consider one, especially if you just upgraded your computer to Windows 10).

Of course, the D901 requires its own programming software, and for obvious reasons. It's a different kind of radio, the first Wouxun DMR of its kind. The D901 is not currently compatible with CHIRP, so you will need the Wouxun software. It's a little more involved than most programming software for the analog models, and can be a challenge if you have never programmed a digital radio. It is tested to work in Windows 10 without using Compatibility Mode.

The KG-D901 package includes one KG-D901 single band UHF or VHF two way radio (depending on your version of choice), a 7.4v, 2000mAh battery pack, belt clip, antenna, desktop charger, AC power cord, and wrist strap. The demo models we received did not include a manual, but we expect one to be in the box when the final version of the radio ships from Wouxun.

Update: The Wouxun KG-D901 (UHF version) is FCC Part 90 type accepted for use on business frequencies, so companies and organizations can go digital with this radio as well!

The Wouxun KG-D901 is expected to arrive early summer 2016 now available. For the latest news and announcements on this and other new products, subscribe to our feed!