Need advice

[rocketman7]

Hi, I am a complete novice and I am planning on buying 2 hand-helds (one for a side-kick) and I could use some advice.

This is what I am about to buy, here is my shopping cart, and if I am doing the right thing, I might add a second identical radio and a cloning cable.

This Radio, the high gain antenna

and all the accessories here the total is about 220 bucks for one radio and accessories.
accessories

or should I not be so cheap, and buy the Yeasu here...
Yeasu

since it has APRS and aircraft channel and public service channels etc.

Or should I buy one cheap one and one good one?

I basically just want to throw them into a bug out bag for emergency use.

I will get them and learn to use them but probably not use them at all.
Unless it is a an emergency like earthquake or disaster of some kind.

Any advice right now would sure be appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

 

[W5LZ]

The Wouxuns are decent radios. No 'extras', but it doesn't sound like you need any. I'm not so sure they would cover the aircraft bands though. There are several models of that particular line of radios, the 'UV1P' being the earlier model. This series of Wouxun radios are all Part-90 certified, meaning they are legal for use on the 'commercial' bands, not just the ham bands. To my knowledge, all of them can be reprogrammed to cover those non-ham bands. The Yaesu can't be. It isn't Part-90 certified. You can probably modify it to cover frequencies out of the ham bands but that would be sort of "iffy".
As for accessories, if you get two of them the cloning cable might be handy to have. The standard programing cable is very nice to have, along with the free software. A spare battery of two is also nice. After that, it's more or less up to you about what you want or don't want.
I have the KG-UV2PD model, it does what I expected it to do even better than I expected. Don't expect super performance, the thing is a hand-held radio. It's capable of doing most of anything most other radios can do within reason. Oh! I'd also recommend an SMA to SO-239 adapter for external antenna use! The furnished antenna isn't all that bad, but it definitely isn't all that good either.
This part is just speculation so take it that way. The 'Main Trading Co.' also is advertising another hand-held much like the Wouxuns. It's smaller, and definitely cheaper. If you think it would satisfy your needs, they amount to two for the price of one Wouxun. It appears to use the same programming software so I have to think it's a cheaper version of the Wouxun radios. It's also only capable of half the power of the Woouxuns. No idea how that would affect your requirements.
Oh well, choices, choices...
- 'Doc

 

[rocketman7]

The Wouxuns are decent radios. No 'extras', but it doesn't sound like you need any. I'm not so sure they would cover the aircraft bands though. There are several models of that particular line of radios, the 'UV1P' being the earlier model. This series of Wouxun radios are all Part-90 certified, meaning they are legal for use on the 'commercial' bands, not just the ham bands. To my knowledge, all of them can be reprogrammed to cover those non-ham bands. The Yaesu can't be. It isn't Part-90 certified. You can probably modify it to cover frequencies out of the ham bands but that would be sort of "iffy".
As for accessories, if you get two of them the cloning cable might be handy to have. The standard programing cable is very nice to have, along with the free software. A spare battery of two is also nice. After that, it's more or less up to you about what you want or don't want.
I have the KG-UV2PD model, it does what I expected it to do even better than I expected. Don't expect super performance, the thing is a hand-held radio. It's capable of doing most of anything most other radios can do within reason. Oh! I'd also recommend an SMA to SO-239 adapter for external antenna use! The furnished antenna isn't all that bad, but it definitely isn't all that good either.
This part is just speculation so take it that way. The 'Main Trading Co.' also is advertising another hand-held much like the Wouxuns. It's smaller, and definitely cheaper. If you think it would satisfy your needs, they amount to two for the price of one Wouxun. It appears to use the same programming software so I have to think it's a cheaper version of the Wouxun radios. It's also only capable of half the power of the Woouxuns. No idea how that would affect your requirements.
Oh well, choices, choices...
- 'Doc

Fantastic, thanks for the advice. That cheaper radio?

Its basically the same radio at half the price? That might be the way to go.

Whats the link or name?

Is this the one you mean?

yellow radio

Now I really feel cheap. lol

Choices choices is right.

I don't know, I guess if part 90 is important, then the Yeasu is not the best radio. I take it the commercial bands are for work related use in a city?
Do you need a license to use those bands?

 

[rocketman7]

Well I guess what I am going to do is get the KG-UVD1P extra batteries chargers cables software etc and one of the yellow radios for a sidekick.

And the antenna adapter.

So how far could I reach with the KG-UVD1P?

And if I bought a small portable antenna?

Will the clone cable still work between these two different radios?

 

[W5LZ]

"So how far could I reach with the KG-UVD1P?"
All VHF/UHF is 'line of sight'. That means that the horizon is the furthest you should expect for 'range'. That depends on where the horizon is from you or the antennas. If you or the antenna is higher, then the horizon is further way, so the -possible- range would be greater. As far as how far the thing will reach, I wouldn't make a guess, there's no good way of doing that. I know that my Wouxun with the supplied antenna is almost 'deaf' if I'm down town among taller buildings. Or rather, I can usually hear them, but they can't hear me.


"And if I bought a small portable antenna?"
It can't help but ... help. Bad way of putting it, but that 'duck' antenna is the first thing to change for any added 'range'. I use a 5/8 wave mobile antenna suspended by a string from a 'swing-hook' on my porch (when the weather is nicer). I can typically hit the local repeaters and one or two that are further away than 'local'. I also added a counterpoise (of sorts) to that thingy on a string to provide the 'other half' of the antenna. If I could get that antenna 10 - 20 feet higher it would perform much better. An after market 'rubber-duck' is still a 'rubber-duck', don't expect a huge improvement.


"Will the clone cable still work between these two different radios?"
I have no idea. Ask the seller before buying it, that's what I'd have to do too.

I also wouldn't limit my self to looking at just one dealer's deals. I don't have the URL, but the "US Wouxun" dealer has a site and those 'yellow' radios too. I would think that he would be able to say if this-r-that will work with those radios, or make other recommendations. I haven't bought from either of them so can't say anything about services. I've certainly thought about those 'yellow' radios (or the 'red' ones, or the 'black' ones too), but haven't decided if it would be a good deal for me or not. I don't use the Wouxun I have now very often, but I at least have one, you know?
Good luck.
- 'Doc

 

[Moleculo]

If you're really just buying these radios for use in a ditch bag, then I would buy two of the same model. If one breaks, you can salvage parts from the other.

 

[rocketman7]

If you're really just buying these radios for use in a ditch bag, then I would buy two of the same model. If one breaks, you can salvage parts from the other.

Good point.

I want to put it in the bag, but probably I will want to learn how to use it and you know how these things go, soon I am outside trying to erect a giant antenna and have mortgaged everything to buy equipment.

Hopefully not though. I don't want to get addicted. But the question I have is about packet radio.

Now is it possible to connect the radio to the lap top and use it as a modem?

And if so, are there such things as a Ham BBS that you can log into and chat or exchange files or whatever?

If the Internet ever went down, could Ham radio operators still network like that?

The reason I am asking is because the Yeasu has APRS and I was wondering if that is something for packet radio or what.

You know I am really torn between just buying the 55 dollar radio and buying one that might be fun to listen to as well. Or maybe more practical.

The Yeasu has aircraft band, it has public service and all these other extras.

If I just buy two cheap ones, then I won't get any of that I don't think.
Or maybe they can be used as modems. Do you know anything about that?

Here is the link to the Yeasu...$349
Yeasu VX-8GR

and here is the spec sheet...
spec sheet

Someone else suggested I get one HF instead of 2 of the 2M/UHF
So I could get better range.

Got any suggestions on an HF hand held?

Like the FT-817 ND?

Is there a wouxun equivalent for less money?

Is this a good deal? Kenwood mobile $159 and a Wouxun thrown in for another $79?

Kenwood/Wouxun