One of the major enhancements of the Wouxun KG-UV6D (which is a
spendy little radio compared to the KG-UV3D, UV2D, or UV1DP (which as
noted elsewhere are basically identical) is the support for 2.5 kHz
tuning steps. The bad news is that the KG-UV6D seems to be selling
for about $175 or so, versus $125 for the older models.
The one time I needed to tune something exotic from the keypad, I did
it by setting my tuning step to 6.25 kHz. But this is an extra step
(pun intended) and for the blind operator introduces one more thing
you may find yourself surprised to discover isn't how you expected.
The other major improvements are a third programmable button marked
"RPT", which is generally set to toggle simplex, duplex shift
direction, and reverse frequency. If this function does not speak
(and I do not know that it does—the company expressed some interest
when I offered them a set of concrete speech improvements I'd like to
see to the KG-UV2D, but that's not the same as actually taking blind
people into consideration!)
What is nice for blind guys is that you can lock the dual watch
button in the off position. This won't tell you whether you're on
the A or B VFO, but it does guarantee that you won't accidentally be
listening to both, which is a frustration for blind (and some
sighted) users.
The other difference is that there is some small variance in UV6D
models. The ones from Powerwerx REQUIRE the software be used at
least once to unlock the keypad. And some of them don't use the
recessed male SMA connector that Wouxon's other radios all do. The
Powerwerx site says it's a "standard" SMA on theirs (and the picture
tends to suggest a female SMA), and Ed Griffin's http://wouxon.us/
says that his do have the "Wouxun standard" male SMA, unlike those
sold by others. Ed's will also be keypad unlocked from the factory,
because Ed orders them direct.
The Powerwerx stuff can be gotten anywhere, but I prefer to shop with
Ed. First, the guy deserves props for his contribution to the Wouxun
radios' popularity. But more importantly since Wouxun accessories
often are not made to the same quality standards as the radios, Ed
takes care of his customers. If you get a dud, he'll fix it.
Of course the UV6D is a more expensive radio—but it probably has
nearly identical hardware to the older models, aside from the new
plastic enclosure and addition of the new button. It's quite likely
therefore that we'll begin to see the newer firmware on the older
models in a few months. Unfortunately, there isn't a way to upgrade
the firmware in an older radio. It just means that the Wouxuns will
become even more attractive for new users as time goes by.
Joseph - KF7QZC
On Sat, Dec 31, 2011 at 02:42:03PM -0500, Buddy Brannan wrote:
>Hi,
>
>Maybe, but I haven't seen any 440 repeaters on a 12.5 KHz channel =
>spacing. Doesn't mean that there aren't any, I just haven't seen them.=20=
>
>--
>Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
>Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY
>
>
>
>On Dec 31, 2011, at 2:32 PM, Gary Tillinghast wrote:
>
>> Hi Buddy,
>> Started to read your file on the Wouxun radio. At the beginning of =
>the=20
>> file, you mention about setting the menu so the last digit ends with a =
>5 or=20
>> 12.5. Some 70CM users are adding a 4th digit to the right of the =
>decimal.=20
>> If this is so, should the menu setting for the 70CM side be left at =
>12.5?=20
>> Gary KB2YAA
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