GMRS

In 2022, Melowave entered the two way radio accessory market for the first time. its initial product lineup consisted of two mobile antennas, the Overlander and Shadow. These premium quality antennas were designed and tuned specifically for the GMRS, and they quickly became renowned for their durable construction and reliable performance.

These antennas were a welcome addition to the GMRS community, yet something was missing from all this. There was no Melowave antenna for handheld radios.

That is, until now.

We're thrilled to announce the launch of a new product from Melowave – the Bandit-G antenna! This latest addition integrates seamlessly into Melowave’s stellar lineup. Designed specifically for handheld GMRS radios, the Bandit-G is engineered with precision and built for performance. It's an indispensable after-market upgrade for the GMRS user who needs portability and maximum range.

The Melowave Bandit-G is truly a high-performance antenna. It is optimized for the GMRS, encompassing the frequency range of 462-468 MHz on the UHF band. Measuring approximately 15.5 inches in length, the Bandit-G features a thin, flexible wire design that ensures both portability and resilience in various mobile environments. It offers significant improvements in performance over many stock handheld antennas, with a 2.15 dBi gain and a maximum power rating of 10 watts, providing clear and strong communications for users.

The Bandit-G is currently available with three different connectors: SMA Male, SMA Female, and BNC Male, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of portable handheld GMRS radios equipped with a removable antenna.

Whether you're a seasoned radio operator or new to the GMRS, the Melowave Bandit-G is made for you. It is engineered to deliver exceptional performance and reliability, continuing the legacy of Melowave's commitment to providing the highest quality and most reliable two-way radio accessories on the market. It's available exclusively from Buy Two Way Radios.​ Price: $17.99.

Stay tuned to our blog for more updates and product releases from Melowave. Follow us on social media and check out our website for the latest news, product reviews and promotions.

Midland introduced the venerable GXT1000 in 2009. Now the manufacturer is giving their iconic radio a makeover, with long requested updates and new functionality to bring it up to date with the needs of today's GMRS operator. Introducing the Midland GXT3000 GMRS Two Way Radio!

In this full video edition of the award nominated The Two Way Radio Show Podcast, Danny and Rick tell you about this new handheld GMRS radio from Midland and compare it with two previous models in that series. We’ll also take some of your comments and questions from our blog and our Two Way Radio Forum.

Listen to the audio only version of this episode and Subscribe to the show!

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As GMRS radios continue to grow in popularity, so does interest in expanding the range of the service for even greater coverage. The way to do this is through the use of repeaters.

Unfortunately, setting up a repeater can be time consuming, resource intensive and very expensive for many GMRS operators. To complicate matters further, there are not many repeaters out there that are specifically FCC approved for the GMRS.

Now, Midland is stepping up to the plate with a repeater of its own, and it may be a practical solution for all of those issues. It's the MXR10 Portable GMRS Repeater, a 10 watt repeater that can be set up in a home, a vehicle or just about any other clean and dry indoor location where such a radio range extender is needed.

The MXR10 is specifically tailored for repeater capable GMRS radios in three unique ways. First, it's a portable repeater, designed for use in a mobile or onsite environment where maneuverability is desired or needed. For instance, the MXT10 is ideal when setting up a base camp during a group hiking trip or other excursion in the wild. It is handy for extending communications during an offroading event. It can be used at in club activities and conventions. It's also great for use as a temporary range extender or backup repeater in case of a communications outage or other emergency. There are many practical applications for a mobile or portable repeater, and the MXR10 is made to fit those needs.

The MXR10 is also plug and play. It can be set up and taken down very quickly, with little effort and preparation. This is primarily due to the fact that the General Mobile Radio Service itself only has 8 sets of repeater frequencies, and these are generally pre-assigned to eight repeater channels. The MXR10 is pre-programmed with two sets of these eight channels, one in narrow band mode and a second set in wide band mode, for a total of 16 channels.

The channels can be easily customized further using PC programming software provided by Midland. This customization includes High and low transmit power selection, squelch level adjustment, repeater delay, and the selection of CTCSS tones and DCS codes. The Tones and codes can be programmed to transmit and receive independently, This feature is also known as split tones. Also, the programming software, if needed, is easy to setup up and use, and customizing the MXR10 repeater is fairly simple and straightforward. This alone makes the MXR10 a valuable asset in the field.

Most importantly, it's affordable. A traditional repeater alone can cost anywhere from $1800 on up. By the time you add the duplexer, antenna, cabling, power requirements and other expenses, the overall cost can be considerably higher. In contrast, the Midland MXR10 is only $459.99. Even factoring in the antenna, feed line, etc., the MXR10 is still a fraction of the cost of a full-fledged rack unit, and considerably less than the cost of a "home grown" GMRS repeater system.

But what about the wattage? A typical GMRS repeater is around 50 watts, the maximum allowed on the GMRS. The MXR10 is only 10 watts. Doesn't that make the MXR10 inferior?

Not at all.

While 50 watts is a significant power output compared to 10 watts, wattage alone does not determine the coverage or performance of a repeater. Location, elevation, antenna height, the feed line and reliable uptime all factor into the equation. Under the right circumstances, a 10 watt mobile repeater can conceivably match the performance of a 50 watt model. In fact, it can be an asset, as the lower wattage equates to a lower draw on power, which can potentially increase uptime, particularly when the power source may be limited or becomes compromised. Also, it's designed for mobility. The portability factor alone gives the MXR10 an advantage that the typical repeater station doesn't have. This can be especially useful in an emergency situation.

The MXR10 is compatible with all Midland GMRS two way radios with repeater capability. This includes the MXT Series mobile radios and the Midland GXT3000VP4 portable handheld GMRS radio. It will also work with any other repeater capable GMRS radio.

The Midland MXR10 includes the repeater, AC adapter, DC adapter, programming cable, owner’s manual, quick start guide, and a one year manufacturer warranty from Midland. All you need is an external antenna and a feed line (cable) to connect it to the unit.

After its introduction in 2009, the Midland GXT1000VP4 quickly became an icon in the world of GMRS walkie talkies, and it remains so today. Much has been written about the GXT1000, and there is a multitude of articles, videos and podcasts that cover nearly every aspect of it.

So it was no surprise that Midland would introduce another version of it, and in 2013 the company did so, with the GXT2000. It featured some notable improvements and was much anticipated by the GMRS community. Unfortunately, although the initial reviews were generally favorable, the product experienced delays due to production issues and was ultimately discontinued.

Yet the popularity of the GXT1000 never waned. Neither did the sales. With so much competition and innovation in the GMRS marketplace, the venerable GXT1000 is still holding its own. In fact, fifteen years later, it is still a top selling GMRS radio, and perhaps the most recognizable Midland product around. There's just one thing. It's showing its age.

Now Midland is giving their beloved flagship radio a makeover, with long requested updates and new functionality to bring it up to date with the needs of today's GMRS operator. Introducing the Midland GXT3000 GMRS Two Way Radio!

The first and natural inclination would be to draw comparisons between the GXT3000 and the original. After all, this radio is a new and improved version of the GXT1000, and many of the features included with each are the same. However, the 3000 actually has more in common with the now defunct GXT2000, especially in its overall design. Take a look at an image of the GXT2000VP4, compare it to an image of the GXT3000VP4, and you'll notice it right away. These two models look almost identical to one another.

Appearance
In a side by side comparison, The GXT2000 and GXT3000 are nearly indistinguishable, right down to the LCD display that is "split" on the lower end to separate some of the function icons. They both have the same 5-key keypad as well, although the Arrow Up key on the GXT3000 also controls the flashlight, something the GXT2000 and GXT1000 don't have. The PTT, front speaker grille, and side audio port are all identical. Even the on/off/volume knob looks the same. Overall, the GXT2000 and GXT3000 have almost the same shell, with the same shape and size. There are, however, two exceptions. The GXT3000 has the already mentioned flashlight, and one additional port on the side of the radio. It's USB-C!

Battery and Charging Options
Each of the three models use different types of rechargeable batteries. The GXT1000 uses a BATT-5R NiMH rechargeable battery pack. The GXT2000 used a lithium polymer battery. The GXT3000 operates on a Lithium-ion battery pack. According to Midland, the battery can power the new radio for up to 18 hours. All three radios can also operate on AA alkaline batteries, although this was somewhat problematic on the GXT2000, which is possibly one factor that may have contributed to its demise.

As with the previous models, the GXT3000 includes a dual pocket desktop charger, which is still considered a primary charging option. All three radios can be charged using an optional DC vehicle adapter designed for that purpose. What sets the GXT3000 apart from the others is that it also supports USB charging via the USB-C port built into the side of the radio.

It should be noted that the desktop chargers are NOT compatible between the GXT1000, GXT2000 and GXT3000. Although the radios are roughly the same size and have the same footprint, the technology required to charge the different types of rechargeable batteries for each radio is different. The power plugs on the back of the chargers are also different. The GXT3000 charger uses a USB-C plug, so it isn't possible to use the same wall or vehicle plug from the other models anyway.

Transmit Power
The GXT3000VP4 has its own FCC ID number. This typically means that there were some significant changes between all the previous models that Midland had to submit to the FCC for approval. Midland does not publish the actual wattage of its consumer radios on its site nor does it include this information on their spec sheets. This is where the FCC ID comes in handy. A simple lookup of the grant in the FCC database for the Part 95E certification reveals the actual wattage.

Based on the testing data submitted to the FCC, the GXT3000 has a maximum output power of 2.42 watts. In contrast, the wattage of the GXT1000 varies between 2.43, 2.5 and 5.33 watts, depending on which GXT1000 was tested. This is because there are several generations of the GXT1000 due to various updates and changes to it over time, each with its own FCC ID. The GXT2000 maxed out at 2.649 watts.

Receiver
Also, just in case anyone is interested, the GXT3000 has a superheterodyne receiver. While the advantages of a superhet receiver in a consumer transceiver might be debatable in this age of advanced chip technology, it may still serve to satiate the concerns and desires of a few GMRS radio enthusiasts nonetheless.

Core Functions
At its core, the GXT3000 is a bona fide GMRS radio. It can transmit and receive on all of the standard GMRS channels allocated to the service by the FCC, plus 38 "additional" channels that are pre-set with specific privacy tones. These are the same XTRA channels that the GXT1000 supports, although Midland apparently no longer calls them "XTRA". The GXT3000 also supports the same standard 38 CTCSS tones and 104 DCS codes as other Midland models, utilizing the same number code system to keep things copacetic across their product line. Nothing new there.

Repeater Capability
What is new in the GXT3000 is repeater support. Yes, that's right, by popular demand, the GXT3000 includes all 8 GMRS repeater channels for full, unfettered access to repeaters! This functionality has been available on the Midland mobiles for quite some time, but it is a new, refreshing and welcome addition to their GMRS portable handheld models.

Previously, those who relied primarily on GMRS repeaters but were loyal to the Midland brand were forced to settle for mixing their MXT series mobile radios with portable handhelds from other brands to make their system work. Not anymore. With the GXT3000, you can now have your repeater and transmit on it too, across your entire Midland branded fleet.

Weather Channels
Of course, it wouldn't be a top tier GXT Series radio without the weather channels and alerts, and the GXT3000 delivers. It features a built-in weather alert radio with 7 US NOAA weather channels plus 3 Canadian Marine frequencies, for a total of 10 weather related channels.

Features
The GXT3000 lists the same set of features as its predecessors. This includes 10 call tones, channel scan, dual channel watch, auto squelch, multiple power settings, battery saver, keypad lock, monitor function, silent operation, vibrate alert and VOX, for what that's worth. Like the other models, it is also JIS4 water resistant and has a three year manufacturer warranty.

To be unique, the GXT3000 also has an SOS siren, just in case you want or need one.

Group Mode
The GXT1000 has a direct call and a group mode feature, and Midland removed both of these in the GXT2000. Group Mode must have been sorely missed, because it has returned. The GXT3000 features Group Mode, which includes Group Caller ID and Group Ring Tones.

Wide and Narrow Band Support
There is one new feature aside from what was already covered that is definitely worth noting. Unlike the GXT1000 and GXT2000, which were fixed on narrowband, the GXT3000 does support both wide and narrow band and allows you to choose between the two modes. This is quite a departure from the previous models and can be quite beneficial, especially when trying to communicate with older Midland units and other makes and models of GMRS radios.

Conclusion
To summarize, the GXT3000 isn't as much an update of the ever popular GXT1000 as it is a redux of the Midland GXT2000. The difference is that the new radio uses a better battery, the choice of wide and narrow band options and, most notably, full support for GMRS repeaters. It also has the overall look and feel of the former, which is great, because we were fans of the GXT2000 and were sorry to see it go. But now it's back, apparently, and better than ever!

The GXT3000 is currently available in a GXT3000VP4 Value Pack that includes two radios, a dual pocket desktop charger, two rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, two belt clips, a 6 foot USB-C cable, an AC wall adapter and a 12V vehicle charging adapter. Price: $149.99.

Recently we posted an article in our blog in response to a discussion in the Two Way Radio Forum comparing the amateur radio service to the GMRS. The original poster in the forum provided a short but interesting take as to why he thought ham radio was the better option. The reasoning put forth was based simply on the fact that while both were governed by rules set forth by the FCC, ham radio had more spectrum allocated to it than GMRS.

In this full video edition of the award nominated The Two Way Radio Show Podcast, Danny and Rick discuss the pros and cons of both the Amateur and GMRS radio services and which one they think is better. We’ll also take some of your comments and questions from our blog and our Two Way Radio Forum.

Listen to the audio only version of this episode and Subscribe to the show!

Want more videos about 2-way radios? Browse our video blog and subscribe to our YouTube channel and Rumble channel!

If you need a UHF radio for general purpose use with greater power, range and versatility than FRS, consider the GMRS. But what is GMRS?

In this episode of Radio 101, Tommy explains what a GMRS two way radio is and the advantages of using one. Check out our complete selection of GMRS radios!

The Wouxun KG-1000G Plus is the most popular GMRS mobile radio we sell, so we receive a lot a technical questions related to it. Not surprisingly, one of them is about the microphone and data ports. What are the specific pin assignments of these ports or jacks?

There two RJ45 ports for the Wouxun KG-1000G. One is for the hand speaker microphone that plugs into the right side of the front display panel, and the other is for the data port on the left side of the unit that the PCO-003 programming cable plugs into.

Here are the microphone and data cable pinouts for the Wouxun KG-1000G and KG-1000G Plus The pinouts are the same for both models.

KG-1000G Series Speaker Microphone Pinout

KG-1000G Series Data Cable Pinout

Questions? Comments? Leave them in the comment box below!

We get this question from customers who receive their new Wouxun GMRS radio, open the box and presumably find two items missing from the package. They immediately call us to complain that these items are not included and want to know why. The items in question are a programming cable, and programming software. "Why is there no programming cable?", they ask. "Why is there no programming software included in the box with which to program the radio?" "How can I use it at all when it can't even be programmed?" Good questions.

The answer is simple. Although these radios are PC programmable, the programming software isn't needed to program them. These aren't ham radios. They are GMRS transceivers. The radios are already pre-programmed to operate on the GMRS right out of the box.

The need to program a GMRS radio from a computer is a myth
There is a myth that seems be growing with religious fervor among GMRS operators, particularly those who are brand new to the service, that a GMRS radio requires a lot of complicated configuration by the end user in order to get it to work on the air. We could speculate on the reasons for this. It could be due to the influx of amateur operators getting into GMRS who are accustomed to customizing their ham radios this way. This is because hams have numerous bands and frequencies available to them, which means the ham radios do need to be custom programmed to the specific frequencies that need to be used.

Another possibility is that GMRS newbies, hearing that hams have to program their radios to work, figure it's the same prerequisite with the GMRS. A third consideration is that they want to max out the capabilities of their radios right away, or before even inspecting the radio to find out if what they want it to do is already activated or configured into them by default. Yet another is the assumption that such customization is next to impossible to perform from the radio itself, at least without great difficulty and time.

This last assumption is very likely based on past experience with attempting to program a radio such as the legendary Baofeng UV-5R, and assumes that every radio is just as complicated. The UV-5R is a very poor example from which to make that assumption for two reasons. First, this cheaply priced little handheld is also cheaply designed, so it is kind of a confusing and convoluted piece of tech for field programming. Second, the UV-5R was not designed nor was it FCC type accepted for use as a GMRS radio in the first place, so there was nothing specific for that service programmed into it from the factory.

So, there are reasons why there is a myth that GMRS radios must be programmed by the end user before they will work at all. It doesn't matter the reason, really. It's just a myth. The fact is, none of those assumptions actually hinder or prevent the radio from transmitting or receiving on the GMRS at all. They only get in the way of the ease and enjoyment of its actual operation.

To fully appreciate why this whole argument of programming a GMRS radio is even a thing and why GMRS operators, particularly "hobbyists" (it's actually a utility service) are so adamant about having the cables and programming software to do it, we must first understand when, where and how it all began.

The history of the programmable GMRS radio
The truth is, this history is a short one. The phenomenon of the PC programmable GMRS radio only occurred within the last few years.

Until the Part 95 rule change in 2017, GMRS radios were nearly all hybrid FRS/GMRS models marketed and sold as pairs in "bubble packs". The antennas were non-removeable, they were fairly low wattage, and only a few of them supported repeaters, with no split tone capability, either. Although many of these simple radios were configurable from a menu accessed from the keys of the units themselves, that was the full extent of their customization. None of them were PC programmable by the end user.

There were less than a handful of radios that were FCC type accepted as GMRS alone, and the very few that were had both limitations on the service and a high price tag that kept them from wide distribution and adoption. Those were the only legitimate options for the hardcore GMRS power user.

In addition, although the GMRS service allowed for mobile and base station radios, no official Part 95 models for these categories actually existed. They were all commandeered from business models under the pretense that a Part 90 radio that met Part 95 requirements could technically be used for GMRS as well. This use of business radios for GMRS was a hotly debated topic at the time, and in some circles, it still is. In a nutshell, all the officially FCC approved GMRS radios were handhelds.

Then along came Midland.

Midland took the first of two big, bold moves to change that somewhat in April 2011, when the company launched the GXT5000 handheld radio, and Buy Two Way Radios was one of the first retailers to offer it. Although professional grade and a big step up from the hybrid bubble packs, There were still limitations. the antenna was permanently attached and it did not support repeaters. Nevertheless, the GXT5000 was met with great enthusiasm from the GMRS crowd, and the radio sold very well, that is, while it was available to buy. Unfortunately, due to long production delays after its initial release and a disaster at the manufacturing plant two years later, this iconic radio was put on a long hiatus and eventually discontinued altogether.

Then in 2015, Midland released the first bona fide GMRS mobile in the form of a micromobile, the Midland MXT100. We were the first to carry that one as well. Two years later came a second wave of Midland mobile radios, and this time there were three. The MXT105 was an upgrade to the original MXT100. The MXT115 and the MXT400 did support repeater operation. Both the MXT105 and MXT115 are still on the market today. Except for the MXT400, which provided for it later, None of them were originally intended to be PC programmable by the end user.

Aside from Midland, that was about it. All of the other big brand manufacturers of consumer radios, including Cobra, Motorola, Icom, and Uniden all but ignored GMRS as a stand alone service, completely shunning its full potential. Dedicated, licensed GMRS operators had no where else to go.

The FCC Part 95 rule change in 2017 changed all that. Once the FRS and GMRS hybrids were separated, and the rules redefined, the possibilities for creating a new wave of GMRS radios that maximized the service had finally arrived. But would manufacturers step up to the plate and take a chance?

At first, not so much. Realizing the full market potential of this change, and based on the interests of our customers at the time, we approached several manufacturers about the possibility of developing at least one portable handheld GMRS radio that would meet the desires and needs of our customers. It needed to be a full 5 watts, have a removeable antenna, be built rugged for professional use, and fully support repeaters.

And then, a company did it.

On December 12, 2019, Wouxun released the KG-805G Professional GMRS Two Way Radio. It checked off all those boxes, and in doing so, opened up to the door to new possibilities for both the business and family utilitarian, and the dedicated power user, known today as the hobbyist.

But there was one more advantage to this legal GMRS radio. The KG-805G was PC programmable by the end user.

The radio was a huge hit right off the bat. It was so popular that Wouxun followed up a year later with the KG-905G. It was also a big seller, and still is today. The competition quickly took notice, and it wasn't long before other manufacturers, almost all of them from overseas, began to manufacture and market GMRS radios of their own. And nearly all of them user programmable from a CPS.

But do they really need to be?

This is an interesting question, and one that many GMRS power users who now call themselves hobbyists may answer with a resounding cry of "Yes, of course (and what a stupid question)"!

The real answer is, not necessarily. The simple truth is that it depends on why you are using the GMRS service, and what you intend to do with your GMRS radio.

If you are using the GMRS service as a general purpose utility, which is what the FCC intended in the first place by naming it the General Mobile Radio Service, the answer is quite simply NO. If you are using an Wouxun GMRS radio for that purpose, the answer is an even more emphatic NO!

This doesn't just apply to Wouxun radios, either, but every radio made that is officially FCC type accepted to legally operate on The General Mobile Radio Service.

However, Wouxun has made their GMRS radios easy to program, so easy, in fact, that all of them - even the mobile radios - can be field programmed straight from the radio itself, without any programming cable or CPS app needed.

This is because every Wouxun GMRS radio we carry at Buy Two Way Radios is designed from the inside out to be Transceive Ready right out of the box, as soon as you turn it on. They are all intended to be easy to use, and very easy to customize right from the radio itself, with easy to navigate menus that are sensibly laid out in organized, logical structures, easy to read menu functions whose labels are easy to understand, and an owner's manual written in plain, native English with simple explanations and instructions that are easy to read and comprehend.

Of course, if you want to program it from a PC, Wouxun does provide both a programming cable and programming software for that purpose, and in a few instances, certain advanced functions may need to be configured that way. But it's not necessary for most customizations.

Sure, there are a few exceptions. Some advanced features on certain models, such as Scan Group assignments, customizable color display themes in the KG-935G Plus and KG-Q10G, and DTMF functions, do require access to programming software. Those features may well be of interest to the hobby user. But even then, based on our experience with customers so far, very few hobbyists go that deep into the color themes on the radios that support them, and even fewer do anything with DTMF.

Fine, you ask, but what about all those available channels? Some radios have 99, some have a few hundred, and a few have nearly a thousand channels to program. Don't they all need to be filled?

Do they? Really? Why?

How many channels must be programmed into the radio?
This is not ham radio we're talking about here, it's GMRS. Unlike the Amateur radio service, which covers a huge swath of frequencies across well over a dozen bands, GMRS is limited to only 22 simplex and 8 repeater channels in one narrow spectrum of the one UHF band. 30 channels. That's it. Technically speaking, those 30 channels that are already pre-programmed into the radio are all you really need to transmit anywhere on the GMRS in the USA. So what are all of the extra programmable channels for?

They are there for the convenience of customizing those existing 30 channels with CTCSS tones, DCS codes and other features that enhance the GMRS experience without having to constantly reconfigure the original channels with new customized settings every time a modification is needed.

Now, you could say that in the case of repeaters, you would want to be able to connect to a repeater that is using RPT channel 16 and a CTCSS tone of 67.0 in one locality and program a new channel with the same RPT 16 frequencies and a CTCSS tone of 254.1 to a repeater in a different locality.

Or perhaps you want to transmit on simplex channel 7 at five watts for certain activities and on the same frequency for that channel at a lower power for something else. Instead of constantly changing the settings every time you need to do so, you can customize these channels by assigning additional instances of them to a new channel. This is a practical way to go.

Where this gets a little over the top is when a user wants to program all the extra channels for every repeater in the country. While this can be very useful for someone on a cross-country road trip or a trucker going from one coastal city to the other, for most users, 400 channels is going to be overkill for everyday use of a GMRS radio. You don't have to fill the radio with channels you'll never use. But they're there, if you really need them.

And yes, some operators want to be able to scan any and all RX only frequencies that some radios may support, and add customized channels for them, as well.

Even so, Wouxun GMRS radios are designed to be field programmable, so you can quickly and easily add new channels right from the radio, without any programming software. Most models allow you to clone existing channels and assign them to new ones with full customization, including channel names. And two models have a revolutionary feature that allows you to program these new channels, directly from the radio, in mere seconds.

Channel Wizard
The KG-935G Plus and KG-Q10G have an amazing tool called Channel Wizard. Built right into the menu of the radio, the Channel Wizard walks you through the process of programming a channel in simple steps. There is no need to surf through the manual or, as is the case with the old, clunky (and not legal for GMRS) Baofeng UV-5R, watch a youtube video to figure out what to do next or how get there to do it. The Channel Wizard allows you to quickly and easily program a new channel or modify an existing channel directly from the keypad of the radio itself. With the Channel Wizard, you can add or clone new channels into the radio in mere seconds. You can also change the settings in any existing channel. The wizard lets you do all of this without scrolling through the menu to find and set each individual channel option, and without the need for any programming software.

Some users have reported the ability to program multiple channels at a time via the Channel Wizard to be faster than programming them through a CPS.

So, why don't Wouxun GMRS radios include the programming cable and software?
Even so, in spite of all the Transceive Ready capability and field programmability that Wouxun builds into their radios, you may still be adamant that these Wouxun radios must be programmed via computer in order for you to operate it. Well, even if that's true, and it isn't, there are two more compelling reasons why they don't come with the programming cable and software, nor should they. The first is a combination of practicality and cost.

Wouxun radios are high end, high quality products. With that comes a premium cost. The inclusion of a programming cable is part of that cost. We have found that too many of our customers who regularly buy GMRS radios from us don't actually need a cable because they already have one, either the famously standard Wouxun PCO-001/PCO-009 red cable, the XLT Painless Programming Cable, or some other brand. Why fill up your junk drawer with a dozen cables that you don't need? By not including a cable, we are able to keep the cost of the radio down. Save a cable, and save your wallet. There is no reason to inflate the price for everyone.

The second reason is to save frustration for both the customer and our techs. As mentioned several times already, Wouxun radios are carefully designed to be Transceive Ready. Unfortunately, too many customers who are new to GMRS radios and have been conditioned to believe The Myth will have a tendency to instinctively open the box, pull out the radio, plug in the programming cable, install (unnecessarily) the driver for it, and install the programming software - all without even opening the manual - and immediately render their cable and/or radio inoperable.

Then it's an angry call to tech support and a half hour or more on the phone to sort it all out and get the cable and/or the radio back to operating condition, with the tech often reciting instructions to the caller from the same manual included with the radio that the customer didn't read. The tragic irony is that 95% of the time, the radio needed little to no customization at all.

Ultimately, while the competition may or may not need it, Wouxun GMRS radios do not require programming from CPS to work as advertised. On the contrary, these radios are specifically designed to be used as soon as you turn them on without the need for any additional configuration, and without the need for any programming software. This includes CHIRP.

The ability to program a Wouxun GMRS radio using computer programming software isn't a requirement, it's an option. It's an optional choice for those who want to get into the weeds and further customize the radio beyond its standard capabilities. For this reason, a programming cable and programming software are considered optional accessories, and as such, are not included in the original box.

Here is a list of Wouxun PC programmable radios. Many require some or complete programming for general use.
Note: *The menu items in yellow are business radios that are programmable by the dealer only.
**The menu items in red are amateur radios and require programming software.
***The menu items in green are GMRS radios and do not require programming.
Also note that none of the models that require programming are GMRS.

In a previous video, we showed you how to connect two Wouxun KG-1000G radios together to create a create a basic repeater. The KG-1000G Plus introduced new menu items and features that were not included in the original KG-100G. Although the procedure is basically the same for both versions, some menu items have been updated and moved, which may cause some confusion for those who try to follow the instructions in the original video tutorial.

In this updated video tutorial, Steven from our tech department at Buy Two Way Radios takes it step by step and shows you how to configure two Wouxun KG-1000G Plus radios into a repeater using an XLT GMRS duplexer.

Want more videos about 2-way radios? Browse our video blog and subscribe to our YouTube channel!

NOTE: This promotion expired April 20, 2024 and is no longer available.
It's back for 2024, and only for 35 hours! Celebrate National GMRS Radio Day with specials on GMRS two way radios and accessories at Buy Two Way Radios with Promo Code: GMRS35!!

The GMRS Day Sale begins at 1 PM EDT Friday, April 19, 2024 and ends at midnight EDT Saturday April 20, 2024.

• Get $20 off a Wouxun KG-XS20G Plus Mobile GMRS radio (no promo code needed for this one- discount automatically added in cart)!
• 10% off Wouxun GMRS accessories!
• 10% off Melowave Overlander and Shadow Mobile GMRS antennas!
• Get 10% off all XLT audio accessories!
• Plus get 10% off a Superhet Apparel GMRS T-shirt!
• FREE FRS/GMRS Radio Reference Card with purchase of any Wouxun GMRS radio (no promo code needed - item automatically added in cart)!!

What is National GMRS Radio Day?
On April 19th 2022, the FCC officially lowered the GMRS license application fee from a ridiculous $70 to the current and much saner $35. This was certainly a cause for celebration, and since that day, tens of thousands of radio enthusiasts rushed to the FCC website to become newly licensed GMRS operators.

That same year, Buy Two Way Radios celebrated the new, lower GMRS license fee by declaring April 19 National GMRS Radio Day! We established this as an annual event to celebrate the new accessibility of the GMRS to the American public.

Why is the sale only 35 hours?
It represents the $35 cost of the license fee, which caused the sudden surge in GMRS license applications. It is estimated that during the first 35 hours after the introduction of the new fee in April 2022, the number of GMRS licenses granted by the FCC more than quadrupled over the same two day period in the previous year. For the entire week of April 19, 2021 there were 900 license grants. There were 3,875 in that same period in 2022. That's quite a surge.

Celebrate GMRS Radio Day 2024 with Promo Code GMRS35 at Buy Two Way Radios!