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write your own review of the WOUXUN KG-UVD1P.
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VA7CRH
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 20, 2009 16:25
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Great audio, so-so menus
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Picked up the US version of the KG-UVD1P from eBay after researching the legality of using it in Canada. They are not cleared for sale here, but can be used as long as one doesn't TX out of band and is licensed to TX in band.
Price, delivery cost and time were very reasonable - from Hong Kong.
I got the 2M 220MHz version - make sure you specify because the model number doesn't distinguish between the other band-pairings available (ie. 2M - 440 MHz). Also note, these TX outside of North American bands.
The electronics of the rig are very good, comparable to the Icom 91A handheld I have. The commercial FM-band standard option (ie. 88 - 108 MHz RX) is where the unit shines in audio. It is remarkably easy on the ear.
The display shows two frequency options, alternating from an A/B button on the front. But this is what makes it perhaps not a "true" dual bander - it really is a monobander with one-VFO but with two frequencies on the display. Mine is more properly called a monobander from 136 - 280 MHz, with the 174 - 216 MHz portion missing, if you get the drift. All memories are accessable from both displays.
Proof that this is probably not a true dual bander - but a dual frequency display - is that one cannot have one display on VFO and the other in memory. The menu-switch determines both displays' status....
Except for setting offset, CTCSS tone and such, which DO seem to be specific to either upper or lower display. So it takes a bit of getting used to.
From very good "sound" and electronics from such a small unit, to the menu system... it's best to say that the menus system is simplistically awkward. Some of the menu sub-options here are available from a front-button from more conventional rigs, like CTCSS entry and some memory functions. In the KG-UVS1P one has to access the menu, then scroll through the one-deep layer to find each parameter. After a while it begins to make sense, and there is a lot of button pushing. However, there is an option to go directly to each by memorizing the menu-number for each - but it is still somewhat simplistically cumbersome. I mean, Reprogramming after a number of weeks and the shortcuts need to be re-remembered!
Have yet to get the optional programming cable, and surmise that computer programming will clear up all the awkwardness.
One of the side buttons can be set to engage the commercial FM-Band or other functions - an omission is that CTCSS tone or other common functions are could have been included on this side button and were not.
It is well built and feels good in the hand. The backlight could have a further setting deep in the menus allowing it to be always on, rather that the only two options of "off" or 3 second delay before turning off.
I could have used more memories, as well as the ability to scan through banks of memories - but for the price can live without such.
Also, the cigarette lighter "charger" only allows the cradle to be plugged in to the car, not the radio directly. Further - when the radio is receiving a sig, the buttons don't respond! Thess are major oversights really, but not enough to downgrade the rating.
Generally I agree with most of what other reviewers write. In the final analysis, I'd buy another in a heartbeat. I know what I'm getting (very good audio) and can live with these low cost shortcomings.
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TF3ARI
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 9, 2009 04:16
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Strong well made radio
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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This is my second Wouxun Handheld radio, first was 777 and is 1 years old and work great.
Now to KG-UVD1P
got 2 X KG-UVD1P on eBay, great box and l working 100% out of box, I have compare RX with Yaesu VX 3 and if there is different then Wouxun is the winner, on TX Wouxon is 5 Watt and VX-3 1 w so not easy to compare in real work but KG-UVD1P was much stronger as it should be.
Radio is easy to use , Strong nice flash light and FM radio can be manual or auto tune, you can listen to FM radio and traffic on 2m or 70cm will turn off the FM radio.
Menu on radio is much more easy to use than on the VX 3 from Yaesu.
Software to program the radio is free from www.wouxun homepage and really easy to use
Manual is good and good English
so end
Strong well build radio, work as good and Yaesu handheld and price nearly 25% of similar radio from other makers
Well done Wouxon, like to see HF radio coming out so price will go down
TF3ARI
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VK2KIT
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Rating: 4/5
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Nov 7, 2009 22:29
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Does a lot for the price
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Just received the latest vesrion with DTMF.
Bottom line first..
Cheap, disposable? dualband handheld - Just buy it and use it till it breaks!
For roughly AU$130 landed, this little radio is hard to beat!
Pros:
* Price!!
* Excellent RX audio quality and very loud.
* TX audio is good, maybe a little 'basey'.
* Desktop charger supplied with 240V AC charger (Austrlian configured plugpack) and 12V cig lighter lead (works well).
* Very cheap batteries and accessories.
* Good RX and TX performance right across the band.
* Nice clear LCD display (good blue/white backlighting).
* Reasonable number of memories. Enough for me anyway.
* Supplied with serial prog lead (free software).
* Lighter than my FT-60r.
* Fantastic CTCSS decode/counter function.
* Voice announcement of functions (if required).
* Narrow TX&RX FM for those 'other' frequencies.
* Good battery life.
* Good belt clip.
* Supplied rubber duck works surprisingly well.
Cons:
* Build qulaity is not quite on par with the Icoms and Yeasu's of the world.
* Dual Display can be confusing and may lead you to TX on the wrong freq if you are not very careful (be very careful when you have 'oher' channels in the second display (although the second display can be turned off to prevent this from occurring).
* Turning repeater shift on for the first time can be 'tricky'. Once learnt, it's not difficult (helps if you read the manual).
* The S meter reads full scale even on weak signals. Really doesn't work as an S meter.
* Does not do dual receive. It appears that the two displayed channels (V&U, V&V or U&U) are just dual watch. i.e When a signal is received on one, you will miss activity on the other.
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K0PD
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Rating: 3/5
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Nov 6, 2009 16:26
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OK for some!!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I bought one of these about 2-3 months ago and it is and amazing little radio if you can program it with the windows system Vista. But first off i did get some things programed with out the CD and usb cable.But then the number 6 stopped working so now to program it by hand is much more difficult.Then i went a head and ordered the CD and USB cable only to learn Vista does not recognize it and even tho there is a Vista site you can down load you have to buy a program to use.So i've since said the heck with it and there it sets in the charger and i'll be danged if i'll spend another nickel on it.If any one reading this has any ideas on what i can do i'll gladly listen or if some one wants it i'll sell it and just stick with my used and abused but still works Radio Shack HTX 245....
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ZL2UFI
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 6, 2009 15:36
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Just gets better...
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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Originally I had the previous version, non-DTMF and limited to 136-174MHz and 400-470 MHz range. When this new version came along, I had to have one, as the two features most hams here in ZL wanted was DTMF and a greater frequency range. DTMF for IRLP and Echolink; greater frequency range 136-174MHz and 400-480 MHz The extra 10 MHz in the UHF band means for us here in ZL (and also VK) is that the same radio can be used on the UHF CB band as well around the 477 MHz allocation - 40 channels worth. Another version has also now appeared on the market with an even greater UHF range - 136-174MHz and 420-520 MHz, so that might prove interesting as well.
I have noted some of the other reviews - especially around using this radio. I managed to work out how to use it without even reading the manual! So if you are having problems then read the manual or email me it isn't that hard.
The USB cable and programming software are a must have to load up the 128 channels, saves a lot of finger pressing to get the data in, but this is that same of any radio. The programming software is OK, but really needs a person whose first language is English to help them out, as some of the commands are not clear, but for free software it’s good.
For those reading this, the radios have been tested against the ETS 300 086 standards and passed, the factory has the test report and will send it to you if you ask. Perhaps not FCC approved but good enough to match both the AS/NZ standards in VK/ZL.
Recently I attended the Hong Kong Electronics Show in October 2009 - there I attended the Wouxun stand and met with Danny the main sales person. They were very keen to know what I liked and what I didn't, plus asked for any improvements I could suggest. Couldn't imagine the big three doing this!
This radio is less than half the price of the big three suppliers hand helds here in ZL, so you can afford to buy two, and if its stolen, lost or stops working just buy another one.
No problems with DTMF, easily gets into the local IRLP Node.
FM radio has a memory or two so if you "program" the radio to remember this, then it always returned to the last remembered frequency.
Finally, like any new radio this was easy to use and understand. Try matching this to the new Alinco DJ-G7 menu options without reading the manual first - this one is a breeze.
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K9EOC
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Rating: 4/5
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Nov 5, 2009 19:06
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Ok for a backup radio
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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While it took a couple of trys to get the USB drivers installed and then some trial and errors to program the radio via the computer, it seems to be an ok radio. Some of the settings in the software are a tad confusing, but worked thru this. The rating of 4 is because I just purchased the radio. As for the charger, this is straight forward, and it works both on AC and DC.
For the price, and because even the higher priced dual band radios have had problems, and not needing a Dual Band that much, I went with this radio. For what I use the radio, the extreme wide tx and rx, without having to make mod's is a good feature. I was surprised to see that this radio has a cast alum. frame, which seems to shield the radio from computer interference. So will see what happens when the radio is put in the field. I did make the side button as Scan. Programing by had would be a task, but then so are the high priced radios, even worse.
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N5PAF
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Rating: 2/5
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Oct 27, 2009 14:32
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I love it!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have the Wouxun KG-UVD1P, and I just need some help on programming it, how do I put in the tone? and offset? +/-, I love this radio if I can get it programed, HELP?
N5PAF
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KE7SAK
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 22, 2009 16:34
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Darn Good Deal!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I just bought one for the YL. She doesn't use an HT often and wanted something that if it sat on a shelf... it wouldn't be a $400 paper weight. I purchased from eBay type online store. $118 delivered. Paid a few extra $ to get the USB programming cable and software.
Pro's and Con's are exactly what everyone else stated before me. Sure it has quirks but nothing I consider a serious issue. Everyone comments on the manual but I understood everything easily. The TX and RX quality is good and I like the size. DMTF worked on the local IRLP node. Just a great little HT that's cheap to buy.
The only complaint is that the unit came with a cigarette lighter adapter, however, it is misleading. The cig adapter let's you plug in the battery charger and NOT the radio directly. Seems very odd as the box states it has a battery eliminator? Not really a big deal as the battery eliminator is $12 shipped.
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108ID184
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Rating: 3/5
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Oct 22, 2009 10:48
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Better than the original, but still not good
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Start by reading my review of the original model UVD-1.
The new 'P' model with DTMF (as Wouxun stated) sounded appealing, and at just £71 delivered (August 2009), a bargain.
So, it arrived, I plugged in the charger and the power adaptor blew up, taking my house's circuit breakers out. Not a good start.
Came with a car lighter adaptor for the charger (NOT a battery eliminator like it says on the box) so I charged it using that.
Replacement adaptor arrived (without response to email) about 7 days later.
Firstly, still no Dual RX. However, the hopping to the VFO that's recieving has stopped, which is a big improvement.
The rig has built in FM radio - with no tuning facility - search only, and it always defaults to the bottom of the Asian band when you switch to it (78MHz?) - really annoying.
It also has a really handy (and bright) LED torch built into the top - although the aerial always hangs into the beam making a shadow.
The real bugbear is that the buttons to enable/disable the radio and torch don't respond if there's a signal being recieved! So you can be stuck with the torch on until the repeater clears....
Programming is still a pain, but everything else is straightforward.
And finally, the reall killer - DTMF tones are USELESS. absolutely no good - the local repeater (or any other) can't recognise them because Wouxun made them so short. There is a new version available - but Wouxun offer nothing for those who bought their product the first time (twice).
This will be the LAST Wouxun I ever buy, most likely.
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K3VYY
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Rating: 1/5
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Oct 6, 2009 10:03
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You get what you pay for!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have owned my KG-UVD1P for 3 months. Last night I turned it on and it will not receive or transmit on two meters. Tried a total reset to no avail. Only reason I gave it a "1" was I was mostly pleased with it before it quit. The programming in complicated, not like any of the more common radios (ICOM, KENWOOD, etc.) The manual is difficult to understand at times, and could be much better.
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