Programming the Wouxun KG-916 GMRS from Better Safe Radio & Colorado Springs GMRS Repeater Update

[@AB2A]

Thanks! The software tutorial helped a lot. I ordered a programming cable so when it arrives I will know what I’m doing.

[@BakerBaker1-9]

im new to the gmrs world - thanks for sharing your knowledge

[@440pressurewashing]

Great video

[@Ham-Solo]

I hope it was detailed enough for you to navigate through programming your radio. Ham-Solo K0FYR

[@440pressurewashing]

Yes it was thank you

[@440pressurewashing]

Thank you for video

[@donwatkins9769]

I had had a radio ordered for months from Bettersaferadios. Still don't have but want to get familiar with how to use it before I get it if I ever do get it. Now I am a little intimidated.

[@billruttan117]

A big feature of GMRS Radios from BetterSafeRadio is the hundreds of pre-programmed “SHTF” receive-only channels that are included. Could you comment or do a separate video on use of those channels?

[@Ham-Solo]

I mentioned them in the video, did it not come out? Sometimes when I edit I accidentally cut out stuff I think is in there. I know this was a long video but I’m pretty sure it’s in there in the beginning when I first start to program the radio. Ham-Solo K0FYR WRMV759

[@billruttan117]

I am sure that the inclusion of hundreds of pre-programmed “SHTF” frequencies has been well mentioned in your videos of radios from BetterSafeRadio. I am just curious: -Have you scanned some, or all, of these channels? -How long did the process take? -Did the receiver detect many signals of interest in your area? Thanks in advance!

[@robertwoerner20]

What coax did you guys use on repeater and antenna? Ever get the distance up more?

[@Ham-Solo]

Coax was LMR 400 with N-connectors. The duplexer was bad I believe and they were getting it worked on. The antenna I gave them should have helped a lot but I don’t think the system is up and running yet. I have been traveling a bunch out of state and will be in Indiana tomorrow but will try and check when I return. Ham-Solo K0FYR WRMV759

[@jamesmcfarland2636]

Can this be manually program for local police fire?

[@Ham-Solo]

@@jamesmcfarland2636 Absolutely as long as they are on analog UHF. It can’t do VHF 136-174 MHz or trunking systems or 700/800 MHz. I use a Uniden Bearcat SDS100 for our local P25 trucked Police and Fire. I wish we still simulcast to UHF it would be way easier. Ham-Solo K0FYR

[@jamesmcfarland2636]

@Ham-Solo thanks, I was looking for a scanner that can be a grms , not sure I need the 999chl more expensive model 🤔

[@Ham-Solo]

@@jamesmcfarland2636 no problem. It does scan but unfortunately it is a UHF model that is relegated to 400-480 MHz. A lot of good scanning is lower VHF frequencies which you would need a different unit. The other radios even though very good as a superheterodyne transmitter have screen displays that don’t work very well in the sun and are almost twice the price. I do use another scanner that has great receive range from Uniden called the BC125AT and its range is awesome. You can’t transmit with it but it has exceptional listening capability for scanning. Ham-Solo K0FYR

[@jamesmcfarland2636]

@Ham-Solo yeah we are mostly along here one state pd is digital and I'm not investing in that as some are increpting now

[@YayaOrchid]

I just received my radio today and it did come pre-programmed. I emailed BettersafeRadio.

[@Ham-Solo]

Yes they all come with the SHTF programming. I was talking about programming additional channels or frequencies that you may want to monitor that aren’t normally included using the free software also provided by Better Safe Radio. That way you can go in and set up different banks of GMRS channels with didn’t codes if that is what is in your area. Ham-Solo K0FYR WRMV759

[@YayaOrchid]

@@Ham-Solo Mine did not come with the pre-programmed SHTF channels only the 30 channels that all GMRS radio come with. I emailed Better Safe Radio hopefully they will respond. WRVF441.

[@Ham-Solo]

@@YayaOrchid ok sorry your original comment said you received it today and it did come pre-programmed. Must have been a typo. Yes I agree please contact them and Mark should be able to take care of that for you. I might be able to send you the csv file of all the channels in case you need them after all else fails. Apologies for misunderstanding. Ham-Solo K0FYR WRMV759

[@YayaOrchid]

@@Ham-Solo Please send me the csv file if you can. I have been emailing back and forth with Mark and it seem like he does'nt believe that it arrived without the 400 SHTF. Thanks.WRVF441.

[@Ham-Solo]

@@YayaOrchid No problem. I don’t have a real email for you so if you could send me an email to [e-mail] I can then see about sending you the csv file. Ham-Solo K0FYR WRMV759

[@checkers9884]

Hi, question. at the 16:18 mark you said that anyone else who programs those exact codes into their radio can talk to me but we would hear no one else? On the fictional METRO550 program you added. So, does my encode have to match their decode? in other words do the codes need to be switched on the pair of radios? also, are we talking simplex communication here or still thru a repeater? Sorry to be dumb, but there is something I am not getting about the codes. My perception is that my send code has to be the other parties receive code,, and vice versa, Thanks,,

[@Ham-Solo]

No you’re fine that’s a good question. If it is a repeater then the codes actually operate the repeater. So your transmit code makes the repeater wake up and then retransmit your signal at a higher power. Sometimes repeater owners will also add a rebroadcast code on the repeater output and you can set your radio for that so you don’t hear interference. So as a written example let’s say that you want to talk on the Metro550 made up repeater. The repeater input tone or code is 107.2. So you key up your radio on 5 watts and it transmits on 467.550 with a tone of 107.2 the repeater hears that and they have it set up to rebroadcast that signal on the output listening frequency of 462.550 at 50 watts with a tone or code of DCS 251N. The people who are monitoring the Metro550 with the tone or code in their radio of DCS 251N will hear what you sent. Somebody on Metro550 with no receive code will also hear what you sent. But if a person accidentally set both the transmit code and the receive code to both do 107.2 then he will not hear anything because his radio is waiting to open the squelch only when it hears 107.2 on the repeater output frequency. On simplex you can’t really do split tones because the radios will never hear each other that way. It would need to be pretty much the same tone on transmit and receive because you are on a single frequency and not an input frequency and an output frequency like a repeater. Hope that helps and wasn’t too long. Ham-Solo K0FYR WRMV759

[@checkers9884]

@@Ham-Solo Yes, Thank you.

[@dont4450]

Would like some feedback on this question. I currently have the kg-935g. That has a SOC radio which is not as good as a superhetrodine. Will the kg916 outperform the 935g? Thanks.

[@Ham-Solo]

Well I’ve never used a KG-935G so it would be hard for me to compare. I can say that the KG-916 is easy to use, program, and see even it bright daylight. As far as the superheterodyne is concerned it does have a great receiver in it. The audio has a great depth and purity to it and doesn’t sound as digitized as my other software on a chip radios do. Hope this helps. Ham-Solo K0FYR WRMV759

[@outlaw80401]

I'll be genuinely shocked if he ever gets that repeater working right.

[@Ham-Solo]

Do you see a problem that may be being overlooked? Ham-Solo K0FYR