Wouxum KG-1000G Plus in Canada for Scanning/Monitoring Only

[mmckenna]

I used to think so.

Certainly nothing like it used to be.

 

[Snowhunter]

I'm going off track here on my own thread but everyone's been so helpful I'll just keep going.....

Got my GMRS....WSJY343, and like I said I signed up for classes and the Tech and General test. Now I've gone down a rabbit hole and I'm looking at ham radios in addition to the GMRS I originally was looking at. Keeping my lack of experience in mind and my interest in traveling from the northeast (Adirondacks and North Maine Woods) up to Labrador, Northern Ontario and Quebec and eventually the Northwest Territories....do either of these radios (Icom IC-2730B & ID5100A) make any sense for me?

 

[mmckenna]

I'm going off track here on my own thread but everyone's been so helpful I'll just keep going.....

Got my GMRS....WSJY343, and like I said I signed up for classes and the Tech and General test. Now I've gone down a rabbit hole and I'm looking at ham radios in addition to the GMRS I originally was looking at. Keeping my lack of experience in mind and my interest in traveling from the northeast (Adirondacks and North Maine Woods) up to Labrador, Northern Ontario and Quebec and eventually the Northwest Territories....do either of these radios (Icom IC-2730B & ID5100A) make any sense for me?

I'd skip the General test for now. The only benefit it gives you over the Tech license is more high frequency allocations. That won't do you any good unless you are going to buy an HF radio. HF + Mobile is a real challenge and I'd not jump into that just yet. Get your tech license, grow your skills, and figure out what the hobby is to you. If after a while you decide you want to get into HF radio, then get your general ticket.

As for the two Icom radios, the 2730 is (in my opinion), the better choice. The ID5100 gives you D*star capability, which is a digital mode. These digital modes are really all over the place.
D*Star hasn't been as well adopted as some of the other modes.
D*Star is not compatible with other modes.
Not a lot of D*Star repeaters out there, and even less when you get out in the boonies.

Analog is much more common. The 5100 will do analog, but spending more money for a digital mode you may never use may not be a good investment. Unless there is some other feature in the radio that is drawing you to it, I'd stick with the less expensive radio, and put the money you save into the bank. If you grow in the hobby, you'll want different radios. Often the new ham that blows a lot of money on their first radio is disappointed. Wait until you've been in the hobby for a while before making big investments. You'll find your interests change quickly.

 

[KF0NYL]

I will second what @mmckenna said. If you do not plan on using D-Star then go with the 2730. I own the 2730A with a white screen and a 2730B with the black screen. I suggest spending the extra money and getting the 2730B as its screen is so much easier to see in all light conditions.

 

[Snowhunter]

I'd skip the General test for now. The only benefit it gives you over the Tech license is more high frequency allocations. That won't do you any good unless you are going to buy an HF radio. HF + Mobile is a real challenge and I'd not jump into that just yet. Get your tech license, grow your skills, and figure out what the hobby is to you. If after a while you decide you want to get into HF radio, then get your general ticket.

As for the two Icom radios, the 2730 is (in my opinion), the better choice. The ID5100 gives you D*star capability, which is a digital mode. These digital modes are really all over the place.
D*Star hasn't been as well adopted as some of the other modes.
D*Star is not compatible with other modes.
Not a lot of D*Star repeaters out there, and even less when you get out in the boonies.

Analog is much more common. The 5100 will do analog, but spending more money for a digital mode you may never use may not be a good investment. Unless there is some other feature in the radio that is drawing you to it, I'd stick with the less expensive radio, and put the money you save into the bank. If you grow in the hobby, you'll want different radios. Often the new ham that blows a lot of money on their first radio is disappointed. Wait until you've been in the hobby for a while before making big investments. You'll find your interests change quickly.

More good advice, thank you. Makes sense what you are telling me about the radio. As to the General, I'm going to prep for the tech and if I have time I will review the material for the general. I can take one after the other if I want so I will probably try. If I pass, great, if not, oh well.

I said that I'm a noobie, and I am but I have been lurking around the radio world off and on for years and have always had some interest in it. At the same time I'm not really looking for another hobby right now (I have way too many interests as it is), if it becomes one, great but otherwise I'm looking for this to be another tool. Most of the travel that I hope to do will be solo and so multiple means of communication and sources of information are important to me. I'm now taking these steps as I get closer to actually doing it instead of just dreaming and planning. I like the 2730 but for now I will continue on track adding the KG-1000G+ to my handheld GMRSs that I can now legally use, I'm going to look at some handheld ham radios to play around with and then probably add the 2730 down the road. And of course I'll grab some sort of MURS before I work my way over to Maine.

 

[Snowhunter]

I will second what @mmckenna said. If you do not plan on using D-Star then go with the 2730. I own the 2730A with a white screen and a 2730B with the black screen. I suggest spending the extra money and getting the 2730B as its screen is so much easier to see in all light conditions.

Thanks! And thank you for the feedback on the screen. I liked the look of the 2730B but questioned the extra money. Now I know that I'm going to shell out the extra!

 

[mmckenna]

I'm looking for this to be another tool.

It's good to have multiple tools in your toolbox. Especially for what you are doing.
The InReach is your #1 safety communications tool. An excellent device. I used mine once in a non-emergency and it paid for itself. More people should have these.

Adding GMRS, CB and amateur radio to your kit is a good idea.

Just remember, with all these radios, it's ALL about the antenna. If you have to decide where your money goes, always put it into the antenna system.

 

[Snowhunter]

Just added a President George FCC to my kit.
So with this, eventually a KG-1000G+ (for GMRS in the states and to monitor in Canada) and MURS for Maine I think that I'm off to a good start. I have my InReach and will be adding Ham once I get my license.
This has been fun

 

[Snowhunter]

So I came here looking for advice on the Wouxun KG-1000G Plus. I learned a lot quickly and went on a little spending binge......Now I have a President George FCC, an Icom IC-2730B, a Wouxun KG-UV9D Mate and 2 Wouxun KG-935G Pluses on the way (a combination of found good deals and a little reckless spending). I also have a pair of Cobra ACXT 1035Rs floating around here somewhere. Between studying for my test and the new toys I've got myself plenty to keep busy with over the winter. Besides learning and experimenting I'm going to be focused on how to mount things all up in my truck.
Oh and I still don't have the Wouxun KG-1000G Plus. Yet.

Thanks again for all the help!

 

[Snowhunter]

Hi All
Just an update. Passed my Tech last week. I now have the Wouxun KG-1000G Plus, Icom IC-2730B, Wouxun KG-UV9D Mate, Cobra ACXT 1035Rs and President George FCC. Now that a very busy fall work season has passed it's time to learn how to use all these toys and figure out how to mount them in my truck. I joined my local Ham club and hope to get involved and learn from them.
Thanks again!

 

[KF0NYL]

The IC-2730B and KG-1000G Plus has served me well in my 2023 Ford Escape. I am limited on antenna height so am running a Comet SBB-1 dual band antenna to the 2730 and a tuned Tram 1174 to the KG-1000G

There are times that I wouldn't mind having 10m and CB capabilities in the Escape but room is very limited.

I tried my Icom IC-706MkIIG and my Xiegu G90 in my 2010 F 150. I could use either on 10m but there was just too much engine noise for any other bands.

 

[Snowhunter]

The IC-2730B and KG-1000G Plus has served me well in my 2023 Ford Escape. I am limited on antenna height so am running a Comet SBB-1 dual band antenna to the 2730 and a tuned Tram 1174 to the KG-1000G

There are times that I wouldn't mind having 10m and CB capabilities in the Escape but room is very limited.

I tried my Icom IC-706MkIIG and my Xiegu G90 in my 2010 F 150. I could use either on 10m but there was just too much engine noise for any other bands.

Thanks for the feedback. Height isn't an issue for me except for what will work on deep forest roads.
I have a Wouxum 24" spring mount GMRS antenna for the KG-1000G+ and a Pulse Larsen NM02/70SH for my IC-2730B. I haven't hooked anything up yet but I'm hoping that these serve me well.

 

[KF0NYL]

You're welcome.

I would love to use taller antennas, especially for 2m but I have 7 foot garage doors and a low ceiling height plus I use the parking garage all of the time at the VA. The SBB-1 just barely clears the garage door as it is.