Wouxun KG-UVD1P
Voice Prompts
This article is for amateur radio operators interested in the voice prompt feature in Wouxun KG-UVD1P series handheld transceivers. These radios are a popular choice for blind and vision-impaired hams.
This review is about the function and usefulness of the speech synthesizer that is a standard feature in Wouxun radios.
Vision-impaired hams will welcome the voice prompts because the LCD screen measures only 0.5 by 1.5 inches. The main text is 0.1 inch high, and the tiny icons and text across the top and bottom of the screen can be a challenge to read with normal vision.
The voice prompts are delivered in a distinct, female voice. The radio volume control knob varies the level of the prompts and received audio together. Receiver audio is muted during announcements. A menu offers three voice settings: English, Chinese, and no prompts. "Beep prompts" are a helpful addition to the voice and can be turned on using a separate menu.
Audio Guides
Here is an example of the audio prompts during a listening session:
Step Keystrokes Audio Prompts
Power On "Channel Mode...Channel 3"
Go to Channel 12 0,1,2 3 beeps
Go to Channel 11 [Down Arrow] "Eleven"
Go to Channel 10 [Down Arrow] "Ten"
Start Scan [Side Key 1] "Scan begin"
Stop Scan [Side Key 1] "Scan stop...2"
Frequency Mode [Menu] "Function select"
[TDR] "Frequency Mode"
Enter a frequency 1,4,6,5,2,0 "1,4,6,5,2,0"
Voice prompts are delivered for all but one step in this example.
Using the Menus
There are 30 menus, accessed via the red Menu key in the upper left corner of the keypad. In Menu Mode voice prompts confirm some keystrokes, but it is necessary to read some information from the screen. For example, here are the audio prompts when the squelch level is changed to 5 (on a scale of 0 - 9):
Step Keystrokes Audio Prompts
Menu Mode [Menu] "Function select"
Enter Menu No. 2 2 beep
Selection Mode [Menu] "Squelch level"
View Options [Up Arrow] beeps
Stop at "5" (none)
Enter the selection [Menu] "Enter"
Exit Menu Mode [Exit] 3 beeps
In each of the 30 menus it is necessary to read information from the screen to make a selection or confirm that keypad entries are correct.
Programming Channels
Programming the channel memory using the keypad requires one or more menus, so it's necessary to read information from the screen.
Channels for repeaters with the same offset frequency, offset direction, and access tones are the easiest to program because you can enter those default settings in advance for each of the two bands. For example, to use the A Band on 2 meters you might set the default offset = 600 kHz, negative offset direction, and CTCSS tone = 103.5 Hz.
The following example assumes you have selected an unused channel. These can be found with the help of voice prompts in Channel Mode where only the programmed channel numbers are announced as you step through the list.
Here are the audio prompts when Channel 4 is programmed for a repeater on 146.82 MHz using your default settings for the A Band:
Steps Keystrokes Audio Prompts
Frequency Mode [Menu] "Function select"
[TDR] "Frequency Mode"
Turn radio off and on so A is active. "Frequency Mode"
Enter frequency 1,4,6,8,2,0 "1,4,5,8,2,0"
Menu Mode [Menu] "Function select"
Enter Menu No. 27 2,7 2 beeps
Selection Mode [Menu] "Channel Memory"
Enter Channel No. 4 0,0,4 3 beeps
Store the selection [Menu] "Transmitting memory"
Exit Menu Mode [Exit] 3 beeps
The selected channel number is displayed briefly during entry, but it is not announced. Then the display automatically switches back to Frequency Mode. Also, the active band (A or B) is never announced. Turning the radio off and on makes A active, and then you can switch between bands using the [A/B] key.
You can program channels for simplex operation and non-default repeater settings. This requires a different menu for each of the non-default settings (offset frequency, offset direction, and access tones). A channel memory can not be edited; it must be deleted (another menu) and re-entered.
Scanning for Repeater Access Tones
You can scan for unknown sub-audible access tones when the radio is receiving a signal. In Menu #30 specify the type of tone, CTCSS or DCS, and press the Menu key to start scanning. When the scan stops, the detected frequency is displayed. There is no audible beep or readout of the result. Press the Menu key again to save the tone, and press the Transmit button to use the repeater.
At this point the access tone from the scan is the default setting for this band. Before restoring the default, save the repeater settings in a memory channel: Press the Menu key, enter the Menu No. 27, and continue as described in the previous section.
The access tone from the scan is now also the default receiving access tone. In Frequency Mode, the radio will only receive signals sent with this specific sub-audible tone. To turn the default receiving access tone feature off, use Menu 15 for CTCSS or Menu 17 for DCS.
For More Information
A comparison between a Wouxun HT and a similar TYT Electronics HT is posted on eHam.net (dated July 23, 2011).
The TYT Electronics TH-UVF-series radio voice prompts are described in a separate article. The TYT prompts are more helpful (verbose) in Menu Mode than the Wouxun voice prompts.
Conclusions
The Wouxun KG-UVD1P handheld radio is a popular choice for blind and vision-impaired hams. The voice prompts are very helpful for operating the radio. In Menu Mode, voice prompts confirm some keystrokes, but they do not read out the options that are displayed or entries from the keypad.
Acknowledgment
Thanks to Wally Burress, KD7CO, for advice and help testing the radio.
Author Information
Peter DeNeef, AE7PD, is an Extra Class amateur radio operator in the USA. This website has no ads or conflicts of interest.
Email: HamRadioAndVision "at" gmail "dot" com.
rev. 10/1/2018
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