Wouxun radios selling like hotcakes at Dayton Hamfest

[mancow]

Funny how some people are giving these things hell and complaining about the quality.
I found the internal FCC photographs. The construction is almost identical to the XTS-2500 series down to the way the side buttons are mounted, the RF amp block and block type circuitry layout.

https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/oetcf/eas...me=N&application_id=817433&fcc_id=\'X24-THUV\'

 

[Spankymedic7]

Take it easy guys...

Wow, sounds like some folks in here ought to relax. All the poor guy was saying that this particular radio is a decent radio and works well as a scanner...period. That's his opinion. He, nor anyone for that matter, doesn't deserve anyone else jumping in forcing their opinions about the radio "sucking as a scanner", etc.

I'm sorry, but I just don't like the attitude portrayed on some of these discussion threads. Relax...it's not your life nor carrers we're discussing...they're just radios.

 

[Spankymedic7]

"careers", not "carrers". Sorry.

 

[KD8DVR]

Wow, sounds like some folks in here ought to relax. All the poor guy was saying that this particular radio is a decent radio and works well as a scanner...period. That's his opinion. He, nor anyone for that matter, doesn't deserve anyone else jumping in forcing their opinions about the radio "sucking as a scanner", etc.

I'm sorry, but I just don't like the attitude portrayed on some of these discussion threads. Relax...it's not your life nor carrers we're discussing...they're just radios.

The radio *is* a decent radio... it also works well as a scanner. So what if it isn't lightning fast in this regard. It DOES work.. ok. Everyone needs to realize what it was designed for and its price point,

 

[mancow]

Been using this one all day. It's still going strong late into the evening.

 

[KD8DVR]

Been using this one all day. It's still going strong late into the evening.

Gotta love the battery life eh?

 

[mancow]

Gotta love the battery life eh?

Yes, it's amazing. I'm working on trying out the two tone paging now.

 

[carpetbone]

Going to a fire, take the quality waterproof Vertex. Going to play in the woods, or whatever, take a cheapie. Usually in life you get what you pay Radio equip is the same. its all in the pricing.

 

[N4JKD]

Going to a fire, take the quality waterproof Vertex. Going to play in the woods, or whatever, take a cheapie. Usually in life you get what you pay Radio equip is the same. its all in the pricing.

Not necessarily true. I have a Kenwood 2 meter HT, but the accessories for it are ridiculously priced. I also have the Wouxun, and very affordable, and the Wouxun receives and transmits better than my Kenwood. Many of the VFD around here are using these Wouxun's more and more. Several city and county police, EMT's and even the schools use the Wouxun radios. True, they are cheaper, but doesn't always mean they are bad or wont last. It is just as much as a shot in the dark with buying a name brand radio. I have nothing against any of the big name radios, and will likely buy some later on, but for the deal, you can't beat them. If you have an extra $50, than go ahead and get a FT-60R, which is an excellent radio. Whole thing is, what are you looking for and what are you willing to pay? Wouxuns are plain, dual band, dual receive radios. No bells and whistles. I am considering a FT-60R sometime soon though, just to try it.

 

[Chris45]

China Bias

Maybe some folks are just too biased against "Made in China" and I can understand this. However if American labelled commodities made in China are cheap, it is because the greedy out-sourcing maggots of Corporate America have instructed China to make things that way. Wouxon appears to be completely free of American Corporate greed and a reflection that China can manufacture nice items to their standards, and price the way they seem fit. They seem to have turned the table here. They did manage to eliminate the middle guys with their annoying markups.

 

[N4JKD]

Maybe some folks are just too biased against "Made in China" and I can understand this. However if American labelled commodities made in China are cheap, it is because the greedy out-sourcing maggots of Corporate America have instructed China to make things that way. Wouxon appears to be completely free of American Corporate greed and a reflection that China can manufacture nice items to their standards, and price the way they seem fit. They seem to have turned the table here. They did manage to eliminate the middle guys with their annoying markups.

I agree! I always say this...how does this hurt the American economy? Kenwood, Icom, Yaesu? All made in Japan, Singapore, Taiwan or China. The only American made radio is Ten-Tec, but you don't hear much about them anymore.

Kudos on your explanation!

 

[MTS2000des]

Maybe some folks are just too biased against "Made in China" and I can understand this. However if American labelled commodities made in China are cheap, it is because the greedy out-sourcing maggots of Corporate America have instructed China to make things that way. Wouxon appears to be completely free of American Corporate greed and a reflection that China can manufacture nice items to their standards, and price the way they seem fit. They seem to have turned the table here. They did manage to eliminate the middle guys with their annoying markups.

No argument there, but it isn't just Corporate America fueling this, it's also greedy consumers who DEMAND a superior product but "don't want to pay alot for this muffler" and expect 400 dollar flat screen TV's, 100 dollar dual band radios...you give up SOMETHING to get such a low price point.

At the cost of what? Quality products properly engineered to last, good support from a company with REAL US offices and factory service center, repair parts stock on hand- all that stuff costs MONEY.

Some of have been around long enough to remember when single band HT's were 300-400 dollars and this wasn't that long ago. But it's also indicative of their quality. How many Icom IC-02AT's made when Reagan was president are still out there? You know Icom STILL has parts stock for these? Accessories are still widely available.

Analog ham radio hasn't changed in decades, so this older equipment is still quite viable. Where will your WalMart Wouxun be in 2 years, let alone 10? Right in the landfill along with those off-brand Walmart flat screen TV's and BluRay players.

and that is what REALLY is wrong. and people don't want to pay for it anymore.

Real quality and craftsmanship cost. The Panasonic Toughbook I am typing this on has over 30,000 hours of use, and was made in JAPAN in 2004. It was used in the field by a PD for 3 years before I got it. Still useable in 2011, and still ORIGINAL parts (except for the battery). MSRP was around $4400. No broken hinges, keys, all ports and jacks work, and so does the touch screen.

Panasonic still supports the machine, stocks parts, and does repair on them. How many other 7 year old laptops do you know of are supported that long?

How many of the Chinese Acer turdtops are still running like that? Very few.

You get what you pay for. Or don't.

 

[N4JKD]

My main complaint would be is the menus....the menus are not easy or "field programmable" whereas my Kenwood, I can program it with my eyes closed. As I mentioned, the Wouxun is not going to be my "forever" radio, as most radios aren't. I got this one dirt cheap from a friend who had a dozen of them. Once I get money saved up for a FT-60 or something like that, I will start using it, and probably part with the Wouxun for a reasonable price to someone else. The main reason I use it more than my Kenwood is 2 reasons. 1, it is a dual band, whereas my Kenwood is strictly 2 meters. 2, the Wouxun charges in no time in the drop in charger. All I have for my Kenwood is a wall wart charger which takes 12 hours to charge. Other than that, no complaints with the Kenwood. Perhaps why I wont part with the Kenwood also is the WX alert on it. It has saved my tale a few times when severe weather has threatened.

Plus, if you talk to alot of these guys buying them, why do most of them buy them? Most I know, to resell them for profit. Sure, it is making a dent in the ham radio world, but I had said at one time also, OWouxun may do good now, but will they be as popular in say 2 years? Kenwood, Icom and Yaesu all constantly update their radios with new features, while most Wouxuns are the same 2m/440 radios, with the same programs, but just different external shells, and maybe more memory banks.....how long can that success last?

Bottom line, it is about what you can afford at that time. See, now the FT-60 is slightly more than a new Wouxun, but you can get a new Wouxun and some accessories for the same price of the Yaesu alone. Mind you, my Kenwood costed me $150 new, and is still $150 today, but would I pay it over today for the toughness and robustness of the radio? Absolutely. That radio has been to hell and bacj and still serves me good.

 

[km6yh]

New Wouxun KG-UV6D

Wouxun had now released a new dual band model that will now accept the 2.5 kHz channel step size so that you can program 154.5725 Mhz. It also has a 200 memory capability

Wouxun KG-UV6D Dual Band VHF/UHF 200 Channel Handheld Commercial Radio [KG-UV6D] - $174.99

 

[reedeb]

Ya know, this whole "You get what you pay for" saying is just plain crap [BS] I've bought stuff that is less expensive and it worked great a lot longer then someone else's who bought an expensive "NAME BRAND".

 

[DaveIN]

Wouxun had now released a new dual band model that will now accept the 2.5 kHz channel step size so that you can program 154.5725 Mhz. It also has a 200 memory capability

Wouxun KG-UV6D Dual Band VHF/UHF 200 Channel Handheld Commercial Radio [KG-UV6D] - $174.99

Any other changes besides step or memory?

 

[BrickOLore]

Andrews Communications lists the changes as:

Andrews Communications - Alinco Amateur Radio

- ALL repeater offset modes!
- New! RPT (repeater) key can also be programmed to select stopwatch function, operating (working) mode, FM BC band receive, lamp, SOS and OFF functions
- New! 199 memory channels
- New! SMA-F antenna socket fitted - same as Alinco, etc.
- TDR key can be software programmed for ON or OFF
- The channel selector works when the keyboard is locked
- The programming software is different to KG-UVD3P, etc.
- New! 2.5, 5, 6.25, 10, 12.5, 25, 50 and 100kHz selectable frequency steps, i.e. 8 steps!
- Includes Li-ion 1700mA/h @ 7.4V battery and AC charger

Brick
Brick O'Lore: KG-UV6D

 

[MTS2000des]

Ya know, this whole "You get what you pay for" saying is just plain crap [BS] I've bought stuff that is less expensive and it worked great a lot longer then someone else's who bought an expensive "NAME BRAND".

well why not call up Wouxun and ask if you can get a free upgrade to the new version so you can actually use your existing Wouxun on 2.5 steps...oh wait, you can't call them. Oh wait, you can't upgrade firmware...it's hard coded in ROM.

You buy cheap crap, you get cheap crap.

 

[reedeb]

well why not call up Wouxun and ask if you can get a free upgrade to the new version so you can actually use your existing Wouxun on 2.5 steps...oh wait, you can't call them. Oh wait, you can't upgrade firmware...it's hard coded in ROM.

You buy cheap crap, you get cheap crap.

I don't need 2.5 steps and could care less. IF and WHEN the time comes the I'll get another radio. You buy expensive crap ,you get the same crap only blowing away more money.