GMRS

By March of 2020 it had become clear that the Wouxun KG-805G was becoming popular with the GMRS community, so we started working with Wouxun on a second model for those who wanted more than one option. It was important to us that the best features of the KG-805G remained intact, but we wanted a more contemporary look, better weather resistance and more features for power users. It's been a long year (maybe the longest year), but this weekend we received FCC approval for the new Wouxun KG-905G.

Before we get started on what is new with the KG-905G, let's cover what's current. We've heard from those of you within the GMRS community that we got a lot right with the KG-805G and we wanted to be careful not to shoot ourselves in the foot with a new model. We continue to get a lot of helpful feedback as well. You tell us that you like the power and sensitivity of the superheterodyne receiver. You also like that radio seems "designed for GMRS" with the simplicity of operations and the omission of useless buttons. We hear that the ability to set CTCSS and DSC tones directly from the menu is critical, and you love having the ability to use software to add additional GMRS simplex and repeater channels as well as listen-only frequencies outside of the GMRS. You'll be happy to hear that all of this is still possible on the KG-905G. Now, let's move on to what's new.

Modern Look, Better Display

As we said when we announced the KG-805G, high performance was our top priority. This led us to base the radio on a very well-proven design, so aesthetics weren't much of a concern. Of course, appearance is an "eye of the beholder" thing, but we think most will agree that the KG-905G is an upgrade in the looks department.

The display is larger and provides high resolution text. The backlight is bright and makes all areas of the screen uniformly visible. The channel name is bolder and easier to read than that of the KG-805G display.

Waterproof Case, Improved Durability

The KG-905G is IP66 waterproof and dustproof to the Ingress Protection rating standard. This means that it can withstand "powerful water jets" with no harmful effects. All connections are very tight on the KG-905G and the battery terminals are protected with a rubber seal. The accessory port cover is also protected with a seal and it screws on to ensure that it's water-tight. We've heard from many of you who have been searching for an all-weather GMRS radio, and we're confident the KG-905G will provide the peace of mind you're looking for.

The water resistant case has also resulted giving the radio an even more "solid" feel. This is a "business quality" radio in every way.

Standard 2600mAh Battery

The KG-905G comes standard with a 2600mAh lithium-ion battery pack. This is over 50% more battery capacity than the battery included with the KG-805G.

Channels and Group Mode

The KG-905G supports channel groups. This is a feature that some power users are going to absolutely love. Using the programming software, you can add up to 256 channels, divided up into 16 groups of 16 channels each. A Group Up and Group Down function can also be assigned to the side keys. For those of you who do a lot of traveling or like to configure lots of RX-only channels, the channel groups feature make it quick and easy for you to skip to the specific list of channels that you need.

To get it started, we've broken the 30 standard channels up into 4 logical groups, right out of the box. Group 1 includes channels 1-7, which support up to 5 watts of power. Group 2 includes the low power (0.5w) channels 8-14. Group 3 includes channels 15-22, the channels supporting up to 50 watts of power. Group 4 consists of the eight repeater channels. By default, the top side-key is the Group Up function and will jump from one group to another.

Many of you just want an easy to use GMRS radio and aren't going to care about adding extra channels or using channel groups. If you are in that category, you're in luck, because we took a lot of care to implement this feature in a way that makes it invisible unless you need it. You can use the arrow keys on the front panel or the channel knob on top of the radio to scroll through all channels sequentially, just as you would normally do.

Tone Scan

You can activate CTCSS/DCS scan mode on the KG-905G to scan an incoming signal for a tone. Once identified, the tone can be automatically assigned to your current channel. This is useful for identifying the tone used by a repeater or a radio you're communicating with in simplex.

Other Features

A few other features have been added as well, but I'm not sure they're important to most people. The KG-905G supports Talk Around. If you're on a repeater channel, talkaround essentially provides an additional PTT button that bypasses the repeater, transmitting on the same frequency on which you would receive.

You are also able to set the radio power and bandwidth directly through the radio menu, no software is required. The GMRS frequency rules are baked right into the firmware, so for example if you select high power or wide bandwidth on a channel that only allows low power or narrow bandwidth, the selection will change automatically during transmit.

The PC software allows you to configure an "Opening Message" that is displayed when the radio is powered on. This is "KG-905G" by default, but you can change it to whatever you like, including your callsign (8 character max).

A menu option to restore the KG-805G to factory defaults has been added. This restores everything to the way it was right out of the box, so if you've changed your channel list, be sure to have a backup!

Accessory Compatibility

The Wouxun KG-905G shares battery compatibility with the new Wouxun KG-UV8H amateur radio. This allows you to upgrade to the BLO-011 3200mAh battery if desired. It is not compatible with the battery accessories of the KG-805G.

The audio accessory port uses a standard "Kenwood" K1 style connector and will work with many audio accessories, including those designed for the KG-805G or even the Baofeng UV-5R.

The same Wouxun PCO-001 programming cable designed for the KG-805G will work with the KG-905G.

The antenna connector is the same between the KG-805G and the KG-905G, so popular aftermarket antennas such as the Nagoya NA-771G and NA-701G will work.

Should You Upgrade Your KG-805G?

First of all, the KG-805G isn't going away and I expect that it will continue to be the most popular Wouxun GMRS radio. If you don't already own a GMRS radio, the KG-905G may be worth the extra $20 or so dollars for the additional features that I've mentioned above. If you already own a KG-805G, honestly, I wouldn't consider upgrading unless you found the lack of a waterproof rating to be a limiting factor. The performance that you can expect from the KG-905G is going to be very similar to what you're used to with your KG-805G.

UPDATE March 19, 2020 - When will the new FCC license fees take effect? Read here for details.

The FCC has just approved new license fees for Amateur Radio and the GMRS. These fees are actually lower than the original fees proposed in August, which were highly contested by hams, but welcomed by GMRS licensees. While the new FCC license fees may alleviate some of the sticker shock from the original fees proposed by the Commission, it is welcome news for fans of the GMRS.

According to the FCC Report and Order released December 29, 2020, Amateur Radio license fees will now cost $35. This same fee will apply to new licenses, renewal licenses, and vanity call signs. Previously, no fees were collected for ham licenses or vanity call signs issued to amateur radio operators, so technically it is a significant change. However, it is considerably less than the $50 fees originally proposed by the Commission, so it should be of some comfort to hams.

On the brighter side, a GMRS license will now cost significantly less than before. Up to now the application fee for a GMRS license was $70. With this Report and Order, the new GMRS license fee will be only $35, which is $15 less than the proposed fee and half the cost of the fees previously charged by the FCC. The license is still valid for 10 years and covers an entire family.

The amendment to the proposed fees was largely due to the comments and feedback the Commission received in response to the proposal in August. While the FCC disagreed with many of the assertions from hams and the ARRL why the original proposed $50 fees should not be charged at all, it did acknowledge on important point brought up by many that the fees did not fairly represent the amount of effort required to process the license applications, ,which is largely automated.

As the FCC put it, "We agree that the applications for amateur licenses, and other personal licenses, are largely automated, and for that reason the cost-based fee we adopt is only $35. With respect to the amateur licenses, while review is highly automated, staff must maintain the processing system to ensure applicants are qualified, vanity call sign procedures are followed, and off-lined applications are individually reviewed. Therefore, we cannot conclude that there are no costs involved in processing the applications and we do not have the discretion to exempt this service from application fees."

Since the same is true with the processing of GMRS licenses, the Commission amended the proposed $50 fee for that as well, bringing the cost of a GMRS license down to $35.

The new fees will take affect after the Report and Order is published in the Federal Register and is sent to Congress.

A year ago we launched the Wouxun KG-805G GMRS radio. Its popularity confirmed for us that there is a market for high end, professional grade GMRS equipment. We're taking the next step and applying the principals that led to the KG-805G to a mobile radio. Today, we're announcing the Wouxun KG-1000G Professional Mobile GMRS Radio.

When we started the process that led to creating the KG-1000G, our goal was to end up with a GMRS mobile radio that didn't require any compromises. Looking at other GMRS mobiles that are available, it seemed that no matter what, choosing one feature means giving up another. We think that what we ended up with in the KG-1000G has it all, and we truly believe that it is now the best mobile GMRS radio in the world.

Let's take a look at some of the key features of the KG-1000G.

Power

Power is, of course, a key component of any radio as it directly contributes to the range of the radio. The FCC has set limits within the GMRS defining the maximum power for each channel, and it was important to us that the KG-1000G be able to deliver the maximum power allowed. Maximum power is also not always necessary, so the flexibility to switch to a lower power output when necessary is key.

The KG-1000G will transmit at up to 50 watts on high power and 5 watts on low power. Medium power is adjustable and can be set to either 10 or 20 watts.

Display and Installation Options

A current dilema with GMRS users seems to be, "Do I select a lower powered radio that is smaller and easier to install in a vehicle, or a full size high powered radio that's more difficult to mount?" No doubt vehicle installation options are a big concern, as newer vehicles in particular are leaving fewer options for clean installs.

The KG-1000G provides the best of both worlds. It's a high powered, full size radio but has a detachable faceplate. The faceplate can be removed from the radio and mounted in a remote location. This allows you to, for example, hide the radio body away in a trunk or under a seat while mounting the display within view of the driver. A remote display extension cable is used to connect the faceplate to the body and is included with the radio.

The flexibility of the KG-1000G display doesn't end there. The angle of the display can be adjusted even when attached to the radio by using the included adapters. By default the display is angled upward at around 30 degrees. This can be adjusted to have the display face straight ahead, or downward at 30 degrees.

Dual Display and Dual Watch

The display is divided into two separate areas, essentially making the KG-1000G two radios in one. Each side of the display can monitor a separate channel or frequency, with its own volume control and settings. Each side can also perform other functions, such as a channel scan, so you could monitor a channel on one side while scanning on the other. There are other radios that offer this feature, but the KG-1000G makes it simple and intuitive to use.

NOAA Mode

When we made the decision to offer NOAA weather channel support, we wanted it to be easy to use. Other radios may require weather channels be added as just another channel in the channel list. This is inconvenient, as you have to tune away from your primary channel. The KG-1000G has a NOAA weather mode. Simply hold the BAND key for a couple of seconds and weather mode is activated, instantly tuning your last weather channel. Hold BAND again and you're back where you started.

Wide RX Range and Frequency (VFO) Mode

As a GMRS radio, the KG-1000G is only allowed to transmit on the frequencies that are part of the GMRS. However, that does not limit the frequencies that can be received or monitored. The KG-1000G can receive on any frequency in the following ranges: 50-53.995, 108-179.995, 320-349.995, 400-479.995 and 700-985 MHz. Included in that range are airband frequencies where AM is often used, and the KG-1000G can even auto-detect and demodulate AM!

With such a wide receive range it would be a shame if non-GMRS frequencies had to be programmed in as channels before they could be accessed. The KG-1000G supports Frequency Mode to allow you to use the channel knob to tune a frequency directly. If you find a frequency that you want to save for later, a channel can be added and named directly through the menu. Up to 999 channels are supported.

Repeater Channels and Tone support

Of course the KG-1000G has the 8 GMRS repeater channels built-in, but if you use multiple repeaters with the same frequency and different tones you can add additional repeater channels. You can even do it directly through the radio without using programming software.

Full CTCSS and DCS support is provided, including custom tones. You can assign a different tone to receive and transmit, commonly referred to as "split tones". Even better, the KG-1000G supports CTCSS/DCS tone scan, allowing you to detect the tone of incoming transmissions and automatically set the tone on the current channel to match.

Repeater Mode

Two KG-1000G's can be paired to become a fully legal GMRS repeater! Link two radios using a repeater cable (included) and you're running your own 50 watt GMRS repeater! This is great for those who need an occasional repeater while on the go, or even for those looking for a more permanent repeater at a value price.

Full Featured Hand Microphone

The hand microphone that is included with the KG-1000G is backlit, includes a loud speaker with separate volume control, and provides quick access to many radio features.

Classic Circuit

Wouxun says the KG-1000G is built using a "classic radio circuit", but what they mean to do is differentiate their products from many lower quality radios being built today. Often radios are built using "radio-on-a-chip" technology that makes them inexpensive to produce, but often inferior in sound quality and receive sensitivity. The KG-1000G is a "real" radio, with a superheterodyne receiver, built in the same way as expensive professional radios made by large manufacturers.

Legal For GMRS

The Wouxun KG-1000G is FCC approved for both parts 95E (GMRS) and 15B (scanning). The FCC ID number is WVTWOUXUN20

Availability

The KG-1000G just received it's FCC approval last Friday (11/20) and we are expecting our initial shipment to arrive during the week of December 7-11. We are accepting pre-orders at this time. Our first shipment is limited in quantity. If our orders exceed the number of units that we are expecting in this shipment, we will stop taking orders until the date of our next shipment is more certain.

We recommend pairing the KG-1000G with a Nagoya NL-770G GMRS Antenna and a Nagoya RB-MJPL Strong Magnetic Mount Base, although there are other antenna options available that will work fine. The Wouxun KG-1000G is available for pre-order at $319.99. Click here for full details, or to place an order.

If you are interested in obtaining a General Mobile Service or GMRS radio license, but have put it off because of the gradually rising fees, good news may be on the horizon. The FCC recently proposed to amend the schedule of application fees on many of the radio services. While this could mean huge hikes in fees for amateur radio license, it may also bring about a considerable reduction in license fees for the GMRS!

In this short excerpt from Episode 151 of The Two Way Radio Show Podcast, Danny, Anthony and Rick discuss the proposal to lower the GMRS license fee and why this could be great for the GMRS in the future.

For details on the proposal, read the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, MD Docket No. 20-270.

We have a wide selection of FCC approved GMRS Two Way Radios available at Buy Two Way Radios.

What makes the Wouxun KG-805G and KG-805M professional grade? They are powerful, rugged and easy to program from a PC!

In this video tutorial, Rick from Buy Two Way Radios shows you how easy it is to program the Wouxun KG-805 from a computer using the Wouxun KG-805 programming software. These instructions work for the KG-805G GMRS and KG-805M MURS radios.

Want to learn how to program the KG-805 directly from the keypad of the radio? Watch here! Browse our video blog and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more great videos!

Many of our customers have longed for a true GMRS radio with the power, versatility and ruggedness of a business transceiver. Others wanted more options for a license-free MURS radio at a more reasonable price point. Now, they're here. Take a look at the Wouxun KG-805 Series two way radios!

In this video, Rick from Buy Two Way Radios introduces the new KG-805G and KG-805M radios, lists all of their exciting features and shows why this new radio series will change the game for users of the GMRS and MURS.

Want more videos about 2-way radios? Browse our video blog and subscribe to our YouTube channel!

The Wouxun KG-805 Series consists of high end, professional grade radios at a consumer level price. The KG-805G is the 5 watt GMRS version and the KG-805M is the 2 watt MURS model. Although they operate on different bands, frequencies and services, both radios share the same core features and functions. Both are also user programmable. Here is an overview of the Wouxun KG-805G and KG-805M programming and menu options.

The KG-805 radios share many of the same features as the popular and venerable KG-UVD1P, as well as many of the same physical characteristics. This is because the KG-805 series is directly based on that model.

KG-805 Key Features

• 22 GMRS Channels (GMRS Version)
• 8 GMRS Repeater Channels (GMRS Version)
• 5 MURS Channels (MURS Version)
• 5W Maximum Transmit Power (GMRS Version)
• 2W Maximum Transmit Power (MURS Version)
• 128 Memory Channels
• 155 CTCSS Tones/DCS Codes
• Selectable 3 Color Backlit LCD Display
• Multi-Display Modes
• Backlit Front Panel Keys
• 3 Scan Options
• English Voice Prompts
• VOX
• Timeout Timer
• Alarm Function
• Priority Scan Function
• FM Radio w/ Frequency Display
• Busy Channel Lockout
• Low Voltage Prompt
• Key Lock
• Power Save
• PC Programmable
• Reset
• Roger Beep Enable/Disable
• IP55 Waterproof

Programming the KG-805
Programming The Wouxun KG-805G and KG-805M is essentially the same. You can do it direct from the front panel keys of the radio or through a PC using the Wouxun KG-805 programming software.

Direct from the radio
Customizing the KG-805 directly from the radio itself is much like configuring most consumer grade FRS and GMRS walkie talkies, and is pretty straightforward. Press the MENU key on the radio, go through the various menu options, and choose the items you want to enable, change, disable or set. The only real difference is the feature set itself. There are the standard options you'll find on most other radios, and then there are a few fancier features that are unique to the 805 series.

The KG-805 menu consists of 23 menu options. Default settings are bold.

*Note: The menu item in red is available in the menu for display only. It can be modified through optional programming software.

Programming with software
The KG-805 uses the same standard USB programming cable used by many other popular Wouxun radios equipped with a Kenwood style (K1) connector port. In fact, if you already have a programming cable for an analog transciever such as a Baofeng UV-5R, TYT TH-UV88 or other Wouxun radio, chances are you're all set. If you don't, you will need the PCO-001 or XLT Painless Programming Cable. The XLT cable is highly recommended for ease of installation and peace of mind.

Unlike the programming cable, the Wouxun KG-805 programming software is specific to the KG-805 radio series and is currently available for Windows PCs only. In addition to the software, code plugs are available for each model. These are the KG-805G software defaults code plug and KG-805M software defaults code plug, respectively. The software and code plugs are available as free downloads from Buy Two Way Radios.

KG-805 Operation
Working the KG-805G and KG-805M is exactly same, as both are essentially the same radio, only using different radio services.

The audio accessory/programming cable jack is located on the right side of the radio on both models. The location of everything else is also the same, including the LCD display with a selectable three color backlight, channel knob, on/off volume knob and alarm button. The PTT (Push-To-Talk), PF1 and Monitor buttons are on the left side of the radio housing. Overall, all of the controls are where you would expect them to be.

The controls and their primary functions are listed in the chart below:

As a portable handheld radio alone, the Wouxun KG-805G Series is a great value. As a GMRS or MURS radio, it can provide more power and versatility to the user experience at a more reasonable price.

We tell you about a new series of radios from Wouxun that could change the landscape for power users of both GMRS and MURS. We’ll also take some of your comments and questions from our blog and our forum.

Intro :00
Billboard 1:19

Discussion Topic 1:39
We tell you about the new Wouxun KG-805G GMRS and KG-805M MURS two way radios. We’ll explain how these radios came to be, discuss the advantages these new radios have over the typical GMRS and MURS radios already on the market, and address some of the early feedback and criticisms we’ve received about these radios so far.

Questions and Answers 46:34
Comments and questions from readers of our Two Way Radio Blog and members of the Two Way Radio Forum. Check out and join the new and improved forum! It's free!

Wrap up and Close 49:41
Send in your comments and questions for Danny, Anthony and Rick to show[at]buytwowayradios.com. Feedback on this and other topics will be read by the hosts and included in future episodes of the show. If we read your comment about this episode on a future episode, we may send you a free Two Way Radio Show t-shirt! Visit us at www.twowayradioshow.com!

© 2019 Cricket Ventures, LLC. All rights reserved.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 51:46 — 47.5MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio | Email | TuneIn | RSS | More

We announce a new initiative by Kenwood to offer refurbished radios, talk about some new frequencies for business radios and a discuss a radio operator who was fined for impersonating first responders.

Intro :00
Billboard 1:24

Kenwood offers refurbished radios 1:44
Kenwood is a popular and respected manufacturer of two way radios, and their ProTalk line is used in many businesses and industries. Now, the company is offering an alternative to their brand new products – Kenwood refurbished radios.

New frequencies for business radios 21:30
We discuss a report and order by the FCC to open additional frequencies for business and industrial use that takes them closer to channels used for the GMRS.

Radio operator fined for unauthorized transmission 28:08
We’ll tell you about a radio operator who was fined by the FCC for impersonating first responders on a public safety frequency.

What happened with the FCC Enforcement Advisory 37:09
Did the FCC accomplish anything with their recent enforcement advisory on unauthorized UHF/VHF radios or did they simply drop a grenade and walk away?

Questions and Answers 48:13
Comments and questions from readers of our Two Way Radio Blog and members of the Two Way Radio Forum.

Wrap up and Close 55:05
Send in your comments and questions for Danny, Anthony and Rick to show[at]buytwowayradios.com. Feedback on this and other topics will be read by the hosts and included in future episodes of the show. Visit us at www.twowayradioshow.com!

© 2018 Cricket Ventures, LLC. All rights reserved.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download () | Embed

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio | Email | TuneIn | RSS | More

We put the new TYT MD-UV380 in a three way match up against the popular TYT MD-380 and the MD-2017. We'll also tell you about updates to the Wouxun KG-D901 DMR radio and give you an update on the status of the proposed tariffs on Chinese transceivers.

Intro :00
Billboard 1:38

Discussion Topic 1:56
We talk about the new TYT MD-UV380 Dual Band DMR digital two way radio and put it in a three way match up against the popular TYT MD-380 and what is widely considered the first dual band DMR handheld on the market, the MD-2017. We'll compare the features of these three radios, respond to some of your comments and questions about the UV380 and tell you which model we think offers the best value for the price.

Wouxun KG-D901 Update 17:58
Response to a question about updates to the Wouxun KG-D901 DMR radio

Status of Chinese tariffs on Transceivers 21:13
We give you an update on the status of the proposed tariffs on Chinese transceivers

Linking GMRS Repeaters 23:36
We talk about an article in National Communications Magazine about connecting GMRS repeaters across the Internet. Could this be the next big thing for GMRS?

Questions and Answers 30:53
Comments and questions from readers of our Two Way Radio Blog and members of the Two Way Radio Forum.

Wrap up and Close 38:52
Send in your comments and questions for Danny, Anthony and Rick to show[at]buytwowayradios.com. Feedback on this and other topics will be read by the hosts and included in future episodes of the show. Visit us at www.twowayradioshow.com!

© 2018 Cricket Ventures, LLC. All rights reserved.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download () | Embed

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio | Email | TuneIn | RSS | More