Update: Received the replacement radio today and it had 2.5KHz frequency steps but only went to 480MHz and not 520. Downloaded some free software from Wouxun and now the radio operates from 400 to 520MHz continuous with good specs across the entire band.
The cross band repeat also works very well in this radio where the previous unit would desense the receive freq when the transmitter lit up and the replacement radio does not seem to have the problem, or at least not to the same annoying extent.
After playing with the KG-UV8D for a few hours, I can say this is a really, I mean really nice radio. The receive audio is very good and gets really loud without distorting. The transmit audio is also very good. Its easy to program from the front panel, unlike some of its predecessors and the display is better than most.
I had a lot of Motorola, Yaesu, Icom, Harris, Racal/Thales and other handhelds and this one is a winner so far with its features and performance. An extra 2600mah battery was only $27 shipped, so its not an expensive radio to keep running. I'm happy happy.
prcguy
The cross band repeat also works very well in this radio where the previous unit would desense the receive freq when the transmitter lit up and the replacement radio does not seem to have the problem, or at least not to the same annoying extent.
After playing with the KG-UV8D for a few hours, I can say this is a really, I mean really nice radio. The receive audio is very good and gets really loud without distorting. The transmit audio is also very good. Its easy to program from the front panel, unlike some of its predecessors and the display is better than most.
I had a lot of Motorola, Yaesu, Icom, Harris, Racal/Thales and other handhelds and this one is a winner so far with its features and performance. An extra 2600mah battery was only $27 shipped, so its not an expensive radio to keep running. I'm happy happy.
prcguy
I bought a KG-UV8D, supposedly a 520MHz 2.5KHz unit and a 480MHz 5Khz unit showed up. I had to return the radio but in the short time I had it I found it to have excellent transmit and receive audio, it was very sensitive and the Wouxun programming software loaded quickly and worked perfectly.
I was a little disappointing with the cross band repeat, which is my main reason for buying. The repeated audio is very good but it appears the internal diplexer may not have enough isolation or the transmitter is a bit too noisy. On weaker signals where you can hear just fine in normal mode, the same signal in repeat mode causes the repeat function to cycle over and over due to the transmitter interfering with the weak received signal. On stronger signals it works really well.
Can't wait for its 520MHz 2.5KHz replacement to arrive next week.
prcguy