Really, you found the software accessible?
I am thinking about getting this radio.  Tell me more about the Icom
software as well, curious what Icom you programmed with it.

Thanks,
Jed 

-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Buddy Brannan
Sent: Monday, May 24, 2010 9:05 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Wouxun KG-UVD1P

Hi y'all,

Just got one of these Wouxun KG-UVd1P radios on Saturday. There's at = least
one distributor in the US that sells them; he doesn't have prices = posted
or an online shopping cart yet, but he takes Paypal and was very = prompt in
Emailing. Also very nice to deal with, and interested in how = the radio
works for blind hams. Yes, the radio is legal for the US = market, and is
Part 90 (commercial land mobile) type accepted, so it's = just fine to use
on the ham bands; no trouble with it, or getting it. = While it's a few
dollars more to buy from Ed at http://www.wouxun.us he = handles warranty
service (which means he deals with the factory in = China, so you don't have
to), which is worth something to me. Fewer = delays, one would suppose,
should warranty service be required, than = would be the case if ordering
from one of the many online places or eBay = sellers in Hong Kong, such as
409shop.com. Also, if ordering from Ed, = you won't have to worry that your
radio might get nabbed by customs and = help for extra brokerage fees, since
the HK places declare them at low = value and marked as "gift", to avoid
paying higher import taxes. Also = probably worth something.=20

Even at that ($107 for the radio, plus $13.50 shipping for radio plus = any
accessories you buy, and Ed doesn't trow in the PTT earphone), and =
$24 for the spare battery, other accessories are a little more from Ed =
than from 409shop, it's a real bargain. And I got it in two days, as =
opposed to two weeks. Even with buying a second battery, USB cable, AA =
battery holder, and DC cigarette lighter adapter, and even after paying =
the Paypal fees and shipping, I still spent less than $200. The battery =
was the most expensive accessory at $24.=20

This feels like a solid radio, and it has a nice loud speaker. It =
definitely packs a bit more of a whallop than the Kenwood TH-F6A, =
certainly more bass and less tinny. As Christian said, all menus can be =
programmed with numbers, which is good, because there is no beep at the =
beginnings or at the default positions. Not all the menus have voice = tags
either, so a cheat sheet is probably a good idea. (I need to get = the menu
listing.) It isn't too bad to program from the keyboard. And = the software
is fairly usable with a screen reader, though not so nice = as the Icom
programming software I used from RT Systems; it does require = some
navigation with the mouse keys to get to the channel programming, = and
sometimes the screen reader guesses at the control labels wrong, but = once
you get the hang of it, it's OK, but you'd better be familiar with = your
screen reader's mouse navigation. I used it with both Window-Eyes = and with
System Access, and Window-Eyes is a little bit easier to work = with.=20

I would recommend, if you get the software, to set a reset password, so =
you don't accidentally reset the radio. I did accidentally reset mine, = and
it came back up talking in Chinese. Fortunately, I'd saved the = programming
out, so restoring it was easy enough. Still, better not to = accidentally do
it in the first place.

One other thing. You will want to find an SMA gender changer if you want =
to use something besides the standard antenna the radio comes with. Its =
SMA connector is backwards from Icom/Kenwood/Yaesu, in that the threaded =
bit is on the antenna, while the bit with the center pin that you thread =
the connector into is on the radio. IMO this is probably a better =
arrangement than the other way, but it's still backwards from all the =
available aftermarket antennas.=20

I plan on working up a use document for blind hams for this thing. As =
radios go, it really is pretty accessible, even if as much stuff as we'd =
like doesn't talk. Most of what does is only marginally useful, but even =
so, it's more than the big three have done thus far.=20

Also, thanks to Christian, SM0UWV, for initially turning us onto this =
radio. If anyone still has his Word doc with the manual in it, I'd be = ever
so grateful if you'd send it; I've unfortunately lost my copy. = Between it,
what I've found out on my own and from others, and a nice = little getting
started PDF that Ed sent me, I should be able to put = together a nice
document for us.=20
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY