Wouxun dual band mobile KG-UV920R

corax

Explorer
This radio is finally getting closer to market. :D

kg-uv920b.jpg


Here's the product link for anyone interested: Wouxun KG-UV920R
and the email I just received this morning
Dear Customer,

Here is the latest news on Chinese dual-band mobile radios.

Wouxun Dual Band Mobile - KG-UV920R

On June 21 I was informed that Wouxun would supply a small number of these radios to selected dealers (max of 10). At that time they also quoted a dealer costs that I thought was outrageous. The dealer costs was almost what I have always considered the retail price would be. In an email I told them sternly that with any dealer markup at all, the radio would not sell in the US and I would decline to purchase samples.

Wouxun response was that when full production began, the dealer costs would be lower. Since I've invested hundreds of thousands of dollars building a market for this company over the past few years, I decided I would not let others bring this radio to market before I did. I reluctantly placed an order for 10 radios, figuring I would sell them at costs, to get them to market.

After my order was shipped, Wouxun informed me that these sample radios must NOT be sold for less than $320-$330. They went on to say "If we found you or your dealer's end price was lower this range without our permission in advance, then we will stop supplying this model to you."

For the past two years, I've repeatedly told Wouxun that this radio must sell for no more than $250-$275 for it to be competitive with the big three Japanese companies. It appears this advice has fallen on deaf ears.

These pre-production radios lack some of the features the full-production radios will have. These will not be FCC Certified for Part 90 use. They will have narrow band capability but will not have the 2.5 kHz tuning step required for Part 90 radios beginning in 2013. The frequency range will be RX:136-174 & 350-480 and TX: 136-174 & 400-480. They did not indicate if any wide-band receive, such as 118 MHz AM, would be available on these pre-production models.

Although these radios may lack some of the bells and whistles we've expected, I imagine they will still be good dual band radios for the ham market. BUT, I still don't feel they are worth $325.

Wouxun says I can't sell these for less than $325. They did not say that I can not include a FREE HT with the purchase. (Rest assured, they will raise holy crap about it, but I'm used to that) So here's my plan. I will place the limited number I have on sale for $350 and include a free KG-UV2D HT in the deal. I'll profit nothing at this but we'll see what happens.

Anytone Dual Band Mobile - AT-588UV

For the past two years, I have consulted with Anytone as they developed their dual band mobile radio. Anytone send a non-working model of the radio for me to show at the Dayton Hamvention (Wouxun would not send anything). Anytone is now sending a working model (for free!) and says full production will begin in early August. Anytone has quoted a price that lets me know this radio will retail in the $250-$275 range. It will be Part 90 Certified and will have some wide-band receive ranges, including AM aircraft. I look forward to working with this company and expect their mobile to be a big seller.

TYT Quad Band Mobile - TH-9800

This radio covers 10 meters, 6 meters, 2 meters and 440 (only FM mode). TYT sent a semi-working model for me to show at Dayton. It would light up with menus working and etc. Those who played with the display said it is a clone of the Yaesu FT-8900. I have a close contact at TYT and am told they are working hard to get this radio into production in October.

Conclusion

I will continue to do my best to bring quality made Chinese radios to the US market and will only send these emails when necessary.

This particular email is going to about 5,000 people so please don't expect a quick response if you send me a question.

Regards,
Ed Griffin

Wouxun.US & Import Communications
www.wouxun.us
www.importcommunications.com
 

HenryJ

Expedition Leader
Are you planning on getting one?
I am not sure I like the price gouging and lack of features. The free UV2 deal is very attractive though. Those are a great HT. Might just make the deal.
I am liking the Anytone and TYT better, I think?
I really don't need another mobile, but you never know.
 

corax

Explorer
I'll most likely get one once they're certified Part 90 narrow band compliant, the first 10 won't be though
 

gary in ohio

Explorer
Its not worth the price. YOu would better off with a yaesu 7900 or 8800... At $155 they would have been a great deal, At $325 they are just not worth it, especially the pre-prod units being sold.
 

corax

Explorer
Its not worth the price. YOu would better off with a yaesu 7900 or 8800... At $155 they would have been a great deal, At $325 they are just not worth it, especially the pre-prod units being sold.

You can't really say it's not worth the price until people start using and abusing it. So far Wouxun has pleasantly surprised a lot of people with the quality being produced. Many people in the search group that I'm part of (mainly a comms & 4x4 group) have bought the Wouxun HTs with no complaints that I've heard of.

I actually picked up a Yaesu FT-8800 a few months ago new in the box for $300 - it was won by a gentleman at the HamFest, but he had no use for it. I'm mainly interested in the Wouxun's Part 90 narrow band certification for public service use - there are ZERO ham radio mobiles that I know of currently carrying that certification, just commercial mobiles. The FCC has mandated narrow band to be implemented no later than Jan 1, 2013, but our area down here already started one month ago (public service, not general ham use, obviously). So, currently, the only legal public service radio that I own is my 5W Wouxun HT - not quite ideal in the woods and around Mt Hood. I was getting ready to pick up an Icom 520 mobile for narrowband use, and had already started making a new overhead console to accommodate it. This might let me keep a single radio in the 'runner instead of 2 and save me a bit of space.
 

AA1PR

Disabled Explorer
You are better off going with a Kenwood, Icom or Yeasu than one of these.

they are really not any cheaper, other then being cheaply constructed with a very broad front end like their HT's

there is a whole debate about these on QRZ
 
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brentbba

Explorer
I have to agree about your price point comments. You can pick up a Yaesu FT-8800 for $350 brand new with the detachable face plate kit last time I looked. Why spend the same $$ for an unproven Wouxun?
 

AlbanyTom

Adventurer
Also agree. They need to be half the price of a name brand radio. That's my price point for knock-off products. You're getting unknown everything, probably lousy documentation, support, warranty, etc. And my favorite - some parts just left out, or completely non-functional. (They copy a design almost exactly, but change a small thing, so that particular part doesn't work right, and they either don't notice or don't know why.) I'm sure the price will come down, either from that company or some other knock-off company. That's what they're there for - disposable product, disposable company. (I really don't mean to be harsh here...just that if you're selling knock offs, expect to compete with others doing the same. Live by the sword kind of thing, and hard for me to have any concern for a chinese company.)
 

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