The Wouxun KG-XS20G is a compact mobile radio designed specifically for GMRS radio power user. Although significantly smaller, lighter and with lower wattage than the Wouxun KG-1000G, it boasts a feature set that sets it far apart from the typical GMRS mobile. This radio is configured to transmit on the 15 high powered GMRS simplex channels, as well as the 8 repeater channels right out of the box. Although channels 8-14 are only authorized for very low output power on portable handheld radios and are not authorized for transmit on mobile radios by the FCC, they are available on the XS20G, but as receive only channels.
The KG-XS20G can also function as a small, full featured base station. When connected to the Wouxun DWC30WIN or Samlex SEC-1235M and a Tram 1486 UHF Fiberglass Base Antenna tuned to GMRS frequencies, the KG-XS20G operates quite well without taking up a lot of space on the top of your desk.
KG-XS20G Key Features
- 22 Simplex GMRS Channels
- 8 GMRS Repeater Channels
- Built-in NOAA Weather Channels
- 136-174.995 MHz VHF (Receive Only)
- 400-479.995 (70cm) MHz (Receive Only)
- 87.5-108MHz FM Radio (Receive Only)
- 20W Maximum Transmit Power
- High/Low Transmit Power Levels
- 999 Total Custom Memory Channels
- Color Dual Channel/Frequency Display
- Channel Name, Number or Frequency Display
- Simultaneous Dual Channel Receive
- Repeater Capability
- 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
- Supports 10 Scan Groups
- Companding
- Backlit DTMF Speaker Microphone
- Incoming Caller ID Display
- Voltage Display
- Channel Name Edit and Display
- Group Calls, All Call and Selective Call
- 8 Group Descramble
- Companding
- Wide/Narrow Bandwidth Selectable
- Busy Channel Lockout
- Timeout Timer
- Stopwatch Timer
- English Voice Prompts
- Roger Beep Enable/Disable
- Minimum Operating Voltage Settings
- Audible Button Beep
- Single Tone Pulse Frequency
- 2 Programmable Keys
- Keypad Lock
- DTMF Encoding and Decoding
- Built-in Speaker
- 3.5mm External Speaker Port
- PC Programmable
- Reset
Programming the KG-XS20G
The Wouxun KG-XS20G looks and feels quite different from the Wouxun KG-1000G, so one would expect it to be a little bit different when it comes to programming the radio as well. In fact, it's easier. You can do it directly from the DTMF keypad on the speaker microphone or through a PC using the Wouxun KG-XS20G programming software.
Direct from the radio
If you already know how to program frequencies into the Wouxun KG-UV920P-A or other Wouxun mobile radios, programming the KG-XS20G directly from the radio itself is basically the same. The only real differences are the channels, frequencies and menu options themselves. If you haven't programmed a Wouxun mobile before or you are new to programming any two way radio, we've figured a lot of it out for you with the KGXS20G owners manual. This manual is carefully written in plain English and is easy to understand, even when explaining some of the advanced features of the radio.
The KG-XS20G 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 (20W)|LOW (5W)|Varies |
| 03 | W/N | Wide/Narrow bandwidth settings | NARR (12.5k)|WIDE (25k)|Varies |
| 04* | REPEATER | Repeater | OFF|ON |
| 05 | BRT-ACTV | Active Backlight settings | OFF|1-10|3 |
| 06 | BRT-STBY | Standby Backlight settings | OFF|1-10|3 |
| 07 | WX-ALERT | Weather Alert | ON|OFF |
| 08 | BAT-SAVE | Battery Saver | ON|OFF |
| 09 | RX-CTCSS | Receive CTCSS Tone | OFF|1-50 |
| 10 | TX-CTCSS | Transmit CTCSS Tone | OFF|1-50 |
| 11 | RX-DCS | Receive DCS Code | OFF|1-105 +/- |
| 12 | TX-DCS | Transmit DCS Code | OFF|1-105 +/- |
| 13 | BACK-LT | Backlight Timeout | OFF|ON|1-20 sec|8 |
| 14 | SCANMODE | Scan Mode | TO|CO|SE |
| 15 | SCANGP-A | Scan Group A | ALL|1-10 |
| 16 | SCANGP-B | Scan Group B | ALL|1-10 |
| 17 | PRI-SCAN | Priority Scan | ON|OFF |
| 18 | PRI-CH | Priority Channel | 999 Channels|CH:01 |
| 19** | SCAN-ADD | Scan Add/Delete | ON|OFF |
| 20 | TONESCAN | CTCSS/DCS Scanning | NONE|CTCSS|DCS |
| 21 | TONESAVE | CTCSS/DCS Tone Save Options | RX|TX|ALL |
| 22* | STEP | Step frequency settings | 2.5k to 100.0k|5k |
| 23 | ROGER | Roger Beep | OFF|BOT|EOT|BOTH |
| 24 | TOT | Transmit Overtime Timer | 15-900 sec (15 second increments)|60 |
| 25 | TOA | Transmit Overtime Alarm | OFF|1-10 seconds|5 |
| 26 | VOX | Voice Activated Transmit | OFF|1-10 (Level) |
| 27 | VOICE | Voice Guide | OFF|ON |
| 28 | BEEP | Button Beeps | ON|OFF |
| 29 | BUSYLOCK | Busy Channel Lockout | ON|OFF |
| 30 | PF1-SHRT | Side Key PF1 Short Press Assignment | UNDEF|BRT|DCS-SCAN|CTC-SCAN|REVERSE|TALK-A|WEATHER|MONI|FM-RADIO|SOS|ALARM|SCAN |
| 31 | PF1-LONG | Side Key PF1 Long Press Assignment | UNDEF|BRT|DCS-SCAN|CTC-SCAN|REVERSE|TALK-A|WEATHER|MONI|FM-RADIO|SOS|ALARM|SCAN|SELEC CALL|FRQ2-PTT |
| 32 | PF2-SHRT | Side Key PF2 Short Press Assignment | UNDEF|BRT|DCS-SCAN|CTC-SCAN|REVERSE|TALK-A|WEATHER|MONI|FM-RADIO|SOS|ALARM|SCAN |
| 33 | PF2-LONG | Side Key PF2 Long Press Assignment | UNDEF|BRT|DCS-SCAN|CTC-SCAN|REVERSE|TALK-A|WEATHER|MONI|FM-RADIO|SOS|ALARM|SCAN|SELEC CALL|FRQ2-PTT |
| 34 | SMUTESET | Secondary Area Mute Setting | OFF|TX|RX|TX+RX |
| 35 | A-MUTE | A Area Mute Setting | OFF|ON |
| 36 | B-MUTE | B Area Mute Setting | OFF|ON |
| 37 | WORKMODE | Work Mode | CH-NAME|FREQ|CH-NUM|CH-FREQ |
| 38** | CH-NAME | Edit a channel name | Name*** |
| 39 | CH-ADD | Add Memory Channel | 999 channels |
| 40 | DEL-CH | Deleting a channel | 999 channels |
| 41 | COMPAND | Compander | ON|OFF |
| 42 | SP-MUTE | Speaker Mute | QT|QT+DTMF|QT*DTMF |
| 43 | ANI-SW | Caller ID TX Settings | ON|OFF |
| 44 | ANI-EDIT | Sets caller ID | 100-999999|101 |
| 45 | SIDETONE | DTMF sidetone settings | OFF|DTMF|ANI|DTMF+ANI |
| 46 | ALERT | Tone Alert | 1750Hz|2100Hz|1000Hz|1450Hz |
| 47 | PTT-DLY | Caller ID Delay | 100~3000ms|300ms |
| 48 | PTT-ID | Caller ID TX mode | BOT|EOT|BOTH |
| 49 | RING | Ring Time | OFF|1-10 seconds|3 |
| 50 | CALLCODE | Call Code | None|1-20 Groups |
| 51 | RPT-TONE | Repeater Tone | OFF|ON |
| 52 | TIMER | Stopwatch Timer | ON|OFF |
| 53 | AUTOLOCK | Keypad Auto Lock | OFF|ON |
| 54 | SPK-SET | Speaker settings | SPK1|SPK2|SPK1+2 |
| 55*** | RADIOMEM | FM Radio Memory | MEMORY|RECALL |
| 56 | RESET | Reset | VFO|ALL |
*Note: *The menu items in yellow is available in Frequency mode only.
**The menu items in green is available in Channel mode only.
***The menu item in orange is available on Area "A" only.
Programming with software
The KG-XS20G uses the same Wouxun mobile PCO-003 USB programming cable that works with the KG-1000G, KG-1000M and KG-UV980P. Refer to the cable driver installation instructions for more information.
Unlike the cable, the Wouxun KG-XS20G programming software is specific to this model and is currently available for Windows PCs only. The programming software is located under the Downloads tab on the Wouxun KG-XS20G product page at Buy Two Way Radios.
KG-XS20G Operation
The KG-XS20G is a very different form factor from the KG-1000G, KG-1000M or KG-UV980P, so the console, display, and some key functions are somewhat unique as well. Unlike the previously mentioned Wouxun models, it uses a KG-UV11A hand speaker microphone with an 8-pin DIN style connector. The speaker microphone plugs into a jack located in lower right corner on the front of the radio and screws into the front panel securely.
The keys on the hand microphone and their primary functions are listed below:
| Button | Operation |
|---|---|
| UP ARROW | Select previous channel/frequency|Select menu option |
| DOWN ARROW | Select next channel/frequency|Select menu option |
| MAIN | Change master channel (A/B Area)|Change single/dual display |
| 1-SQL | Squelch menu hotkey |
| 2-PWR | Power menu hotkey |
| 3-W/N | Bandwidth menu hotkey |
| 4-RPT | Repeater menu hotkey |
| 5-BRT-A | Active backlight menu hotkey |
| 6-BRT-S | Standby backlight menu hotkey |
| 7-W-ALT | Weather alert menu hotkey |
| 8-SAVE | Power save menu hotkey |
| 9-CTCSS | RX CTCSS menu hotkey |
| 0-(None) | No hotkey function |
| *-SCAN | Scan key |
| #-LOCK | Keypad lock key |
| MENU | Enter program menu|choose/set menu option |
| EXIT | Exit menu/cancel |
As a GMRS radio alone, the Wouxun KG-XS20G is a great value. As a mobile/base station radio, it can add affordable, yet powerful versatility to any GMRS operation.
