Brand new, NTC-approved, inexpensive handheld radios!

[Brad]

Brad -

My radio has the same issue as Joe's and most (all?) of the 6x's... it will program TX-WIDE *only* for ham frequencies. 

All frequencies other than amateur (including marine and GMRS) will indicate TX-WIDE in software - if set that way - but the radio itself apparently resets TX-WIDE to NARROW once the file is uploaded to the radio.  This setting can not be changed in radio menu #12.  This appears to be true regardless of which software is used (i.e. CHIRP, Commander, etc).

This is interesting.  If your radio truly allows TX-WIDE on a non-amateur frequency, I'd like to hear more about how you were able to do that.

John

I can adjust WN (option 8) and TX-WN (option 12) manually and make it save after putting the radio in dealer mode. (hold 8 when powering on then enter 268160) The radio shouldn't be making a difference between ham and non-ham frequencies, as the radio has one continuous TX and RX range, 136-174MHz, on the VHF side.

Edit: Ah ok, I was looking at a CAP channel. I just tried testing the TX on USCG ch 16 and it still transmits Narrowband even with TX-WN set to wide.

2nd Edit: Seems this is why: "The New lot of KGUV6D V2 radios post 2013 are locked to narrowband FM only in the commercial ranges per the new FCC narrowband laws. They will TX wideband in the amateur radio ranges only. You should be able to set HAM frequencies to wideband TX."

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/KGUV6D-KGUV6X/message/1165

[wuzafuzz]

"The New lot of KGUV6D V2 radios post 2013 are locked to narrowband FM only in the commercial ranges per the new FCC narrowband laws. They will TX wideband in the amateur radio ranges only. You should be able to set HAM frequencies to wideband TX."

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/KGUV6D-KGUV6X/message/1165

Apparently they forgot that some bands were not covered by the narrowband mandates.  Ugh.

[Brad]

"The New lot of KGUV6D V2 radios post 2013 are locked to narrowband FM only in the commercial ranges per the new FCC narrowband laws. They will TX wideband in the amateur radio ranges only. You should be able to set HAM frequencies to wideband TX."

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/KGUV6D-KGUV6X/message/1165

Apparently they forgot that some bands were not covered by the narrowband mandates.  Ugh.

Meh, scream into the mic and hope the Coasties hear you, lol!

[radioguy]

Brad -

Thanks for following up on this issue... even though my hopes were dashed  :-(

[blackrain]

So I may have missed it but has anyone tried this with the CAP radios and gotten a real life verdict?

On another note I saw reference to a wideband/narrowband programming issue with I believe a Vertex radio and as I understand it if they reset their computer clock to 2012 and supposedly it allowed the programming of formerly blocked wideband channels.

May be apples to oranges but I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try.

Now if I could just get an aviation headset adapter that was compatable I would  be in business (once I bought the radio)

[Brad]

Radio works fine with CAP, I use it to check into nets regularly. Just note it's an analog-only radio.

Also I highly recommend the high-gain antenna to go with it as opposed to the rubber duck stubby it comes with:

http://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-006297

[blackrain]

Similar to the antenna I have on my Yaesu FT-60. FT-60 has been a good little radio but the Wouxun KG-UV6X with the CAP capability just makes sense. Won't take up much space in my flightbag either.

I looked on the Wouxun website itself and they make that radio in several versions (freq ranges) and I hope they'll set up the band plan to allow wideband on spectrum not affected by the narrowband mandate.

What's the difference between the Wouxun KG-UV6X and KG-UV6D V2? The bandplan?

Too bad the military can't get something that small as opposed to those AN/PRC 148 MBITR "bricks" in use now. Granted the MBITRs do a lot more and compatable with most goverment systems but heavy as handheld radios go.

[a2capt]

[Brad]

What's the difference between the Wouxun KG-UV6X and KG-UV6D V2? The bandplan?

Type-acceptance. The KG-UV6D specs list a +/- 5 kHz freq deviation, whereas the KG-UV6X has a +/- 2.5 kHz freq deviation. With the new narrowband mandate requiring 2.5 kHz bandwidth, if you were over 2.5 kHz deviated, you'd be getting considerable signal loss on the 6D, perhaps even no signal at all, whereas the 6X ensures that any frequency deviation will still be within the bounds of the signal, so you'll still get SOMETHING.

Looks like with the 6D all they did was put narrowband bandwith control on a wideband radio. That why the 6X is listed for CAP use and the 6D isn't. Surprised the 6D even earned the part 90 listing, but I suppose that was before the FCC got done finalizing the narrowband things on their side of the house.

Of course, as I sit here flipping back and forth between the 6X manual in hand and the 6D manual online....which PowerWerx links to as the "6X manual" on their website even though it's a scan of the 6D one...I notice the Declaration of Conformity are dated the same on both. Either it's an Ancient Chinese Secret on the real answer, or they realized their mistake after they released it and released the 6X to fix the problem.

[blackrain]

Radio works fine with CAP, I use it to check into nets regularly. Just note it's an analog-only radio.

http://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-006297

Been  a while since I took BCUT but what callsign is used? Do you have an individual call sign assigned?

[SarDragon]

Radio works fine with CAP, I use it to check into nets regularly. Just note it's an analog-only radio.

http://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-006297

Been  a while since I took BCUT but what callsign is used? Do you have an individual call sign assigned?

Call sign used for what? Your Q is unclear.

They are assigned to individuals, units, vehicles, and aircraft. In my wing, you need to have a radio to get a call sign.

[JeffDG]

Radio works fine with CAP, I use it to check into nets regularly. Just note it's an analog-only radio.

http://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-006297

Been  a while since I took BCUT but what callsign is used? Do you have an individual call sign assigned?

Call sign used for what? Your Q is unclear.

They are assigned to individuals, units, vehicles, and aircraft. In my wing, you need to have a radio to get a call sign.

That depends on the situation.  I don't have a radio, but I have a call-sign.

[blackrain]

Our vehicles have them (air and ground) but I can't recall which individuals have their own. Guess I should ask the comms officer....

[radioguy]

On another note I saw reference to a wideband/narrowband programming issue with I believe a Vertex radio and as I understand it if they reset their computer clock to 2012 and supposedly it allowed the programming of formerly blocked wideband channels.

May be apples to oranges but I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try.

I haven't actually tried to change the pc clock, but my impression is that the bandwidth limitation is in the radio itself - not the software.  When I try to change the bandwidth setting in the menu manually, the radio will not honor the change.

John

[blackrain]

Well I just broke down and ordered one (and the USB cable). Is there a consensus on the best available software for programming? I noticed some sites are advertising a programming/software kit for 49.99 though I assume all I'll need is already available free for download?

Thanks

[wuzafuzz]

Blackrain, since you already have a cable you can simply download software for free. 
http://www.powerwerx.com/wouxun/usb.html

The free software will do the job, but is weird to use.  It will work with the cable you already have.  If you are likely to program the radio one time, the free software will be adequate.

Another option is the software and cable from RT Systems.
http://www.rtsystemsinc.com/KG-UV6-Programming-Software-and-USB-cable-p/rps-kguv6-usb.htm

I had RT Systems software for a few other ham radios, including a Wouxon UV-3D.  The RT Systems software and cable were vastly superior to the options from PowerWerx.  If you will continually change programming you will find RT Systems preferable.  Their product includes their own cable. I'm not sure if a PowerWerx cable will work with their software.

An added benefit to the RT software is integration with amateur radio directories and simple import/export options from other RT Systems products. Those features are quite nice if you use amateur radio in addition to CAP.

Do you have others nearby who can share code plugs with you?  Or already have a radio programmed up?  If yes, you can read their radio with either program them customize to suit your needs.  If you simply want to use their code plug files, get the same software they have. 

Of course we cannot share code plugs here.  Your communications officer or director may have some they can share.

[blackrain]

Blackrain, since you already have a cable you can simply download software for free. 
http://www.powerwerx.com/wouxun/usb.html

The free software will do the job, but is weird to use.  It will work with the cable you already have.  If you are likely to program the radio one time, the free software will be adequate.

Another option is the software and cable from RT Systems.
http://www.rtsystemsinc.com/KG-UV6-Programming-Software-and-USB-cable-p/rps-kguv6-usb.htm

I had RT Systems software for a few other ham radios, including a Wouxon UV-3D.  The RT Systems software and cable were vastly superior to the options from PowerWerx.  If you will continually change programming you will find RT Systems preferable.  Their product includes their own cable. I'm not sure if a PowerWerx cable will work with their software.

An added benefit to the RT software is integration with amateur radio directories and simple import/export options from other RT Systems products. Those features are quite nice if you use amateur radio in addition to CAP.

Do you have others nearby who can share code plugs with you?  Or already have a radio programmed up?  If yes, you can read their radio with either program them customize to suit your needs.  If you simply want to use their code plug files, get the same software they have. 

Of course we cannot share code plugs here.  Your communications officer or director may have some they can share.

Thanks for the input....I haven't actually laid hands on the radio yet but should before too long..I may end up dropping the 50 bucks for the RT as I will need amateur frequencies and the Wouxun will likely be used in place of my FT-60. Living in tornado alley means the Skywarn net amateur frequencies get programmed and the recent Moore OK tornado saw the Oklahoma wing called out to assist so one radio that covers both of those realms is a big plus.

On another note I found a NTIA paper from 1997 on a study conducted on the compatability of Wideband Marine Radios and Narrow Band Marine Radios if in fact Narrow Band became reality and they needed to communicate with one another. As I've said I'm not an electrical engineer and haven't stayed at a Holiday Inn Express in a long time but the study said they should be interoperable even with some degradation, though the design of the IF filter in a particular radio was a key player in  their compatability

http://www.ntia.doc.gov/legacy/osmhome/reports/tr97343/tr97343.html

I'll be interested in what others much smarter than I happen to think.

[JoeTomasone]

Chirp (http://chirp.danplanet.com/projects/chirp/wiki/Home) and KG-UV6 Commander (http://www.kc8unj.com/kguv6.html) are excellent and free.  No need to spend money on RT.  Chirp also works with and can convert from other radios as well, making it easy to migrate frequencies on one radio to another.   I used it to move ham frequencies from my ham HT to the Wouxun.

[blackrain]

Chirp (http://chirp.danplanet.com/projects/chirp/wiki/Home) and KG-UV6 Commander (http://www.kc8unj.com/kguv6.html) are excellent and free.  No need to spend money on RT.  Chirp also works with and can convert from other radios as well, making it easy to migrate frequencies on one radio to another.   I used it to move ham frequencies from my ham HT to the Wouxun.

Will the USB cable I have from Powerwerx work with Chirp?

[brent.teal]

Will the USB cable I have from Powerwerx work with Chirp?

yes, mine did. 

On another note, there is a new notation on the compatibility list for the Wouxon.

WARNING - A lab report was submitted stating that this model met NTIA receiver requirements, but we have received information that suggests it may not actually meet all of these specifications.

So unless you are a ham, I would not buy one just yet since they could yank the radio from the list.