General class ham here. I have several Wouxun 2m HT and they work just fine. For the price, we have one for every adult at the BOL, along with a headset and AA battery case adapter.

 

I'm very happy with my Wouxun KG-UV2D. We have 2 and have had good service from them both.

Commander software adds significantly to my enjoyment of them too.

 

I have a Baofeng UV3R. A little difficult to program, but it's a great little radio! 2m and 440. It's the only HT I own. Got it to the door for a little over $50. I plan on buying several more!

 

Get the cable and software. It only took me about half and hour with the repeater directory to fill up all the memories.

They are my foul weather radios to keep the good ones high and dry. So far the UV3 has survived two deluges and a few monsoons.

 

Another Wouxun user here. Great little radio!

 

I like my Wouxun KG-UV2D. My next HT will probably be the Baofeng UV5R after I get another mobile radio.

 

I don't own one but the stations I know and those that I am acquinted with on the air are all happy with their purchases. How they hold up over time and under regular use remains to be seen.

Me: I'll stick to the big three for my HAM gear. Last thing any of us needs is for more American greenbacks to be directed to China. That's partially the reason that stateside unemployment is so high now. Just MHO.

 

Me: I'll stick to the big three for my HAM gear. Last thing any of us needs is for more American greenbacks to be directed to China. That's partially the reason that stateside unemployment is so high now. Just MHO.

Disagree but the economy and politics are not the point of this thread and besides the government is all ready borrowing from and giving them money.

I had my Wouxun for a year now and it has held up well. The Baofeng UV5R is suppose to have a better chassis but I read the antenna isn't that great on it.

 

But it is ok to send your money to the country who attacked us without warning or provocation killing and wounding a large number of your fellow citizens in the process.

 

My grandfather was in the US Navy in 1941 and served in the South Pacific through the end of the war. As he used to say, I think we pretty much settled the score for Pearl Harbor in 1945. Twice.

Anyway, all my ham gear is either Icom or Yaesu. The only stuff I like from China are eggrolls and kung pao chicken.

 

What we are being bloodletted by now is quite a different animal than what transpired on 7 Dec 41 during a worldwide war. On one hand, the Japanese government is a proven ally while the Chinese regime is an avowed enemy. One country is peaceful while the other is belligerent in the UN and in International waters against US allies. Further, China openly supports regimes that are killing civilians wholesale, such as the one that is being propped up in Syria. Besides, Japan isn't sucking up US dollars, artifically fixing their currency for a trade advantage to keep their poorly made products cheap and unresistably appealing to the US market to the detriment of the domestic labor market, engaging in goverrnmental and industrial espionage against the US at every possible chance, and attempting to breech our national security cyber apparatuses thousands of times a day, are they? Nor does Japan use their ownership of the lion's share of US debt to influence US internal affairs if I'm not mistaken. Comparing Japan to China isn't even an apple to oranges comparison.

C'mon now. Let's get real here.

 

Wouxun KG-UV6D V2 user here, bought the radio with USB programming cable and used Commander software, VERY SWEET! Radio works great, is now my PRIMARY woods radio, multiple VHF & UHF simple and repeaters feqs programmed, along with MURS, GMRS & FRS. If I can find someone to call for help, Ill just call it a day and catch some sleep.

I plan on buying several more over the course of time so I can outfit a small group for security patrols, maneuvers, etc.. etc..

Andrew

 

Thanks, didn't know the UV6D and 6X Commander software was available.

 

Yup, works wonderfully! Can be found with Google, if not PM me and Ill shoot you a link...

Andrew

 

Here is a quick review one of our members did on the baofengs
http://www.preparedham.com/forums/equipment-reviews/baofeng-uv3-r-mark-ii-mini-(tiny)-dualband-ht-for-about-$40-$60-depending/

 

Folks, I am new here and I must say I am overrwhelmed by the number of intelligent and helpful responses. Thanks to you all!

 

I have the baofeng uv3r mark II. I paid around $42 for it. I would define it as a $42 radio. It does have good audio and good transmit. However, two major issues is that it scans way too slow. It holds 100 channels. If you filled everyone of them, it would take around 1 minute to do it. The maximum I currently have is 10 programmed in. Even 10 channels takes a long time. I am an avid yaesu person. I have 3 yaesu HT's and a Yaesu HF. They are quality and worth the money.

If you are low on cash, fine, the uv3r will work short-term. It is a great beater radio and the batteries are real cheap.

I also forgot to note that there is no lockout feature. If you get a couple of chatty people, you cannot lock them out. THere is a work around by putting in a DCS code, but it is a pain. All in all, its not bad for 42 bucks.

 

Champ if you hold on I am going to do a prepper HAM video in a couple of weeks. My focus will be the Wouxun radios as they are becoming very popular in the prepper circles I travel. I don't take the HAM test till next weekend and after that I will have my call sign so I can do a video of the stuff I have learned in the last 2 months that I think will be very helpful to preppers interested in communications.

I wasn't too keen on having to add another skill set to my preparedness but I have found the EmComms stuff to be fairly enjoyable and have met some cool people in my local area during my research. I ran out and bought the Wouxun after a recommendation and once I got it I had no idea how to use it. I asked other preppers and they were either in the same boat as I or stated they had the Comms guy in their group set it up but they never used it because they were not licensed and would not use it till post SHTF.

 

Hey Heel, your going to learn a lot about radio and antenns over the course of time being a ham... Having ANY comms is a good thing! Say your group has 3 radios, thats enough for 1 at the "base" and 1 each for two teams.

Just think how hard it would be to manage two teams moving WITHOUT comms!!

BTW, Im working on a commsec software suite for preppers etc, so you can authenticate comms between units and base, encode messages (such as co-ordinates, etc), issue random challenge and password (for the parameter watch), AND even issue a "code name" to each radio frequency so you can change channels and everyone is on the same comms... it will cover ham 2m, ham 70cm, GMRS, FRS, MURS & C.B.! If your group is devoid of something, say C.B. units, you just ignore the code names and use the ones assigned for the radios you have.

Im going through an exhaustive dictionary word text file to simplify it right now, I have not gotten out of the letter "A" yet... so it will be a while. The text file with just words is 3 megs in size. Then, theres the software to be developed. I have a beta of the station authentication ready now, need to do some modification to it. Heres an example of the text file it generates:

Communications Authentication Generator
By Andrew Daniel - Version 1.0
Sheet Name: CAG-QJZI

Authentication Format: (Sign-Countersign)
At the start of your transmission, sign your comm with SIGN
The opposite party will confirm with COUNTERSIGN
Both parties are thus verified and can continue comms

Utilize Sign/Countersign in order of left to right and top to bottom
Avoid selecting S/CS at random

Once a S/CS has been used, mark it from the list as it is now invalid
If a party attempts to use a sign that has already been consumed,
Simply reply 'Invalid Sign' as the communicator cannot be confirmed

The number ZERO has intentionally been ommited. All 'O' characters are OSCAR

(9QE-DFF) (B7W-RE3) (L2G-1LY) (HH9-8TZ) (QNR-MUJ) (K3C-JKS) (22O-4XO)
(5C1-LXV) (TYL-9OP) (3IB-H96) (6N8-KDG) (1RN-D3C) (PM4-FP5) (SVU-W7I)
(BMG-E57) (B48-QJ6) (ZI9-QED) (FFB-7WR) (E3L-2G1) (LYH-H98) (TZQ-NRM)
(UJK-3CJ) (KS2-2O4) (XO5-C1L) (XVT-YL9) (OP3-IBH) (966-N8K) (DG1-RND)
(3CP-M4F) (P5S-VUW) (7IB-MGE) (57B-48Q) (J6Z-I9Q) (EDF-FB7) (WRE-3L2)
(G1L-YHH) (98T-ZQN) (RMU-JK3) (CJK-S22) (O4X-O5C) (1LX-VTY) (L9O-P3I)
(BH9-66N) (8KD-G1R) (ND3-CPM) (4FP-5SV) (UW7-IBM) (GE5-7B4) (8QJ-6ZI)
(9QE-DFF) (B7W-RE3) (L2G-1LY) (HH9-8TZ) (QNR-MUJ) (K3C-JKS) (22O-4XO)
(5C1-LXV) (TYL-9OP) (3IB-H96) (6N8-KDG) (1RN-D3C) (PM4-FP5) (SVU-W7I)
(BMG-E57) (B48-QJ6) (ZI9-QED) (FFB-7WR) (E3L-2G1) (LYH-H98) (TZQ-NRM)

Again, this is just an example, theres some finishing work to be done. The computer randomly generates the authentication groups so you do not have to.

You could generate say, 25 groups and print them out in advance, and recycle when you get to the last one if you wanted to.

This system/suite is a simplified spin-off of the military CEOI.

This is kinda a botch job at describing a CEOI, but you get the idea...
http://www.civiliandefenseforce.com/ceoi.html

Last thing you want to do is openly and freely discuss your business, without some way to encode sensitive data or authenticate who you are talking to!!


Cheers,
Andrew

 

Hey Heel, your going to learn a lot about radio and antenns over the course of time being a ham... Having ANY comms is a good thing! Say your group has 3 radios, thats enough for 1 at the "base" and 1 each for two teams.

Just think how hard it would be to manage two teams moving WITHOUT comms!!

BTW, Im working on a commsec software suite for preppers etc, so you can authenticate comms between units and base, encode messages (such as co-ordinates, etc), issue random challenge and password (for the parameter watch), AND even issue a "code name" to each radio frequency so you can change channels and everyone is on the same comms... it will cover ham 2m, ham 70cm, GMRS, FRS, MURS & C.B.! If your group is devoid of something, say C.B. units, you just ignore the code names and use the ones assigned for the radios you have.

Im going through an exhaustive dictionary word text file to simplify it right now, I have not gotten out of the letter "A" yet... so it will be a while. The text file with just words is 3 megs in size. Then, theres the software to be developed. I have a beta of the station authentication ready now, need to do some modification to it. Heres an example of the text file it generates:



Again, this is just an example, theres some finishing work to be done. The computer randomly generates the authentication groups so you do not have to.

You could generate say, 25 groups and print them out in advance, and recycle when you get to the last one if you wanted to.

This system/suite is a simplified spin-off of the military CEOI.

This is kinda a botch job at describing a CEOI, but you get the idea...
http://www.civiliandefenseforce.com/ceoi.html

Last thing you want to do is openly and freely discuss your business, without some way to encode sensitive data or authenticate who you are talking to!!


Cheers,
Andrew

Cheers Andrew,
Nice work.

A couple of thoughts. You could use a one-time pad generator instead of the DRYAD style challenge response matrix, like this :
http://one-time-pad.tripod.com/

And a Jefferson wheel for messages

http://www.cryptologicfoundation.org/content/A-Museum-Like-No-Other/COMSEC.shtml

 

I don't own one but the stations I know and those that I am acquinted with on the air are all happy with their purchases. How they hold up over time and under regular use remains to be seen.

Me: I'll stick to the big three for my HAM gear. Last thing any of us needs is for more American greenbacks to be directed to China. That's partially the reason that stateside unemployment is so high now. Just MHO.

I think that just about all amatuer radios are made there anyway. Except for the high end Motorola XTS line, all /\/\ radios are made in the far east too. Either Indonesia or China.

The new version of the Baofeng UV-5R with the 3800ma battery looks very inviting for about $65.00 each. I may spring for two of them soon. I can't decide whether to get the Nagoya extended antenna's. They are more of a manpack with that since for the antenna to be effective, it needs to be away from your body.

RS

 

I think that just about all amatuer radios are made there anyway. Except for the high end Motorola XTS line, all /\/\ radios are made in the far east too. Either Indonesia or China.
RS

He was referring to the big three Icom, Yaesu and Kenwood, all headquartered and mostly made in Japan. Some people have seen Yaesu radios that were made in China and Icom has a office in Bejing so... One in six people in Japan are station operators.

Also RS, I see you listed NW SC as your locale. There is a prepper conference in Charlotte tomorrow, Saturday July 14, 2012.
https://www.charlotteprepcon.com/

 

Andrew that is extremely ambitious endeavor you are undertaking. I think it will be much easier to just use call signs and a shorthand speak to keep radio security. Giving locations nicknames and using other tactics will easily allow you to communicate and distribute disinformation.

High Beam this is Scooter Alpha (Home Base this is Scout one) We saw 2 chickens by the pig pen
(Observed 2 scavengers by the waste pit) and signs of coyotes by the Little side creek (appears multiple people have tested our Left side perimeter) The well appears to be dry (We have no more canned food in the root cellar). Use a code phrase and everything after it is disinformation till a break. On the other matters (code phrase) we are increasing patrols to every 15 minutes and moving all our fuel to another location...Break. Goto MURS 2. With the ease of programing the HT's it may say MURS channel 2 but the freq is actually a FRS or a 2m channel. This will cause eavesdroppers to turn off their scan and go to the wrong channel.

 

You got the right idea, and a good train of thought. However with my software you will be able to really nail down your comms. If you wanted to ONLY use a PARTICULAR part of the system, you can do that and just use it to build on what you already have, etc..

Just thinking out loud, on how it can be adopted.

Andrew

 

Some of the /\/\ gear I setup or installed back in the mid to late 80's was made in mexico.

AFAIK, Tentec and Elacraft are the only 2 still made in USA. I have an OLDER TT rig I use for phone and CW, absolutely LOVE IT! Also, neither one of these have ANY interest in going overseas with there manufacturer, one of the key points (in addition to top notch quality) that many hams look at when buying. Most TT and Ecraft buyers are lifetime customers.

Andrew

 

Wouxun KG-UVD1P user here. Had it for a year. I built 2m/440 variety that I built an offset, center fed sleeve dipole for and I hit repeaters as far as 60 miles away on 5 watts. It's a great little handheld for the money. I purchased from a US reseller and use the Commander software for it.

I prefer the Wouxun to the Boefeng and the TYT simply for ergonomics and cosmetic reasons...just couldn't get my head around the TYT and the Boefeng was just...couldn't get my head around something, don't know what. Ed Greany had a great deal on his site so I went for it. Not going to get into politics on this one.

--DL

 

I would avoid the Wouxun KG-UV6D for a while as unlocker software is not yet available. There seem to be some issues with Wouxun not releasing it so that people in the American market can't open up the TX. Ironic that here we want it to LOCK our radios instead. With this in mind, think twice about purchasing one until the software is freely available.

 

Where do you get this at? I have had a UV6D/X for 3 months now and downloaded the software online from the distributor when I got it. Since then Commander software has become available for it. I know the software was available before that as I know people that already had the HT.

 

Downside of Wouxon and the newer baofeng radios here:
http://www.survivalistboards.com/showpost.php?p=4311098&postcount=10

 

IMO it's all about what you want, what you can afford and getting the biggest bang for your buck. Some times these cheap radios fill the niche for a good price. Other times the more pricier units are called for. For example if I intended to use an HT in a harsh environment I would get something else like a Kenwood, Icom or Motorola. For every day casual use, non digital coms I would go for one of these cheap radios.
I'm used to using commercial radios with the same or similar type antenna connections as these radios so that's not a big deal IMO. However I do understand your point about it. It would be nice if at least the antennas were interchangeable with other radios in the HAM market. For me I would be content with an adapter for the radios if the need should ever arrive.

 

I have a Wouxun KD-UV3D .IT was inexpensive and it works .I got the programing cable for it to make programing painless .get the external mike and the sma to uhf adapter to connect a better antenna

 

use both wouxun kg-uvd1p and baofeng uv-5r

I have a Wouxun KG-UVD1P purchased from Main Trading Company going on 2 years now. That rig is my workhorse since I do public safety and ham stuff sometimes together. The only thing I do not like about the 1P is no 2.5khz channel step so I cannot program Piscataquis County EMA and a couple of our local volly departments. I have part 90, part 95 and part 97 frequencies in this radio. Part 95 in this radio is not authorized for transmission.

I also own two Baofeng UV-5R radios. These are in my bug-out gear bags. I have purchased the AAA battery case plus there is now a AA battery case that is out for this little radio. The lithium batteries for the UV-5r stay charged longer than the ones for the 1P. Plus also like the fact of having 3600 and 3800 mah batteries for the UV-5r whereas the Wouxun does not have them.

I still have my first hand held which is a Radio Shack HTX-202 and my second handheld which is a Kenwood TH-78a. These two are kept in my commo gear box for use if needed, but the Wouxun is definately worth the money and the less programming aggravation and the Baofeng being about a 1/3 of the price of a Wouxun, well I will put up with its quirks and aggravations.

 

Might want to check on where your stuff was made. Yaecomwood all have manufacturing facilities in China and more of their stuff is made there every year.