Wouxun KG-UV6D V2 Dual-Band Radio Review

First up, the radio is almost exactly the same size as the UV3D and UVD1p, which is just slightly bigger than a UV-5R. Like the other two, the Wouxun KG-UV6D fits well into a large hand, especially with that, ever so slight, curve to the side with the PTT on it. Unlike the UVD1P, the battery latch does not dig into your index finger when you press the PTT button.

The case seems well-made and is probably pretty durable. Other people have mentioned that the Wouxun KG-UV6D is sturdier, made out of better material than the UV3D, but I don’t see it. Tapping on the side of the UV3D sounds solid, tapping on the side of the UV6D sounds hollow. I am not saying the UV6D is not made well, it seems to be, but I just don’t see any “upgrade” in that regard from the UV3D.

Buttons on the keypad are now curved a little bit, but are approximately the same size. They work well and provide good tactile and audible feedback when clicked. The buttons above the screen do not have that same nice feel but they appear to work well.

Knobs on top of the Wouxun KG-UV6D are pretty nice. In the center is a dial you can use to change frequencies or scroll through the menu and its options quickly, which I really like, and it includes little detents so you get a feel for how far you are moving. Those detents are firm enough without getting in the way. The volume/power knob has a good detent for power, and then moves nice and smooth through its range.

When looking at the LCD, I can not see a difference between the UV6D and the UV3d. Both are your standard monochrome LCD, although they have a better backlight than your typical Baofeng radio. The text is slightly smaller than a UV-5R, but perfectly readable.

Pressing the menu button on the Wouxun KG-UV6D presents a typical Baofeng style menu. No surprises, which I typically see as a good thing. Don’t mess with something that works well and is familiar.

There are three buttons above the LCD which are; RPT which changes the repeater shift, A/B which changes the VFO from the top to the bottom and back again, and the S/D which switches between single VFO and dual VFO displays. Of course, you have to have the A/B, and the RPT is a nice addition, but I am not sure I would ever actually use the S/D.

There is nothing new with the battery and belt clip, which is a very good thing. I like the way the battery attaches by grabbing the latches on the top left and right, pulling down and back and the battery will just pop right loose. I also like the battery as it is one of the very few batteries I have tested that produces more mAh than it is rated for.

No USB-C charging option exists, you have to use the drop-in charger. Fortunately, the drop-in charger that comes with most of these style Wouxun radios is a really nice dual-port model which can charge a radio with a battery in the front port, and a battery by itself in the back port.

Aside from the typical menu programming on the Wouxun KG-UV6D, you can use the ubiquitous Boafeng programming cable and CHIRP to program the radio from a computer. I used the cable that I bought with my first UV-5R many years ago and it worked just fine.

Performance:

Here is where things get a little interesting. The UV-3D came with a pretty good antenna. Much better on 2m than 70cm, but for a factory antenna, pretty dang good. The antenna that came with the Wouxun KG-UV6D, on the other hand, is a pretty good antenna on 70cm, and pretty horrid on 2m. I find it really interesting that these two are so diametrically opposite. If you plan on using this radio primarily on 70cm, you can get by with the factory antenna, if not, get a new antenna immediately.

Power output of the Wouxun KG-UV6D measures 2.5 watts on 2m and 2.9 watts on 70cm. This is quite a bit lower than the 4 and 3 watts respectively that I measured on the UV3D. However, if you look at the spectrum analysis of that power coming out you will clearly see the UV6D has a much more concentrated signal right on frequency, which is also a lot more stable.

The transmitted audio is also better on the UV6D than the UV3D, being a little fuller and clearer with a lower noise floor. I attribute this to the much better signal output of the UV6D.

Images:

Radio Specifics:

Test Images:

• 199 Memory Channels
• Dual Band
• 136-174MHz VHF Frequencies (RX only) / 144-148MHz (TX only)
• 420-520MHz UHF Frequencies (RX only) / 420-450MHz (TX only)
• Repeater Capable
• 4W/5W Transmit Power
• Battery Charger
• FM Radio
• SOS Feature
• Memory Channel
• Channel Scan
• Priority Scan
• Skip Channel
• Dual Watch
• Busy Channel Lockout
• Reverse Frequency Function
• CTCSS/DCS Tones
• CTCSS/DCS Tone Scan
• Backlit LCD Display
• Backlit Keypad
• Customizable Power-On Display Message
• Channel Name Edit and Display
• Power Saver
• Auto Power Off
• Timeout Timer
• VOX
• Keypad Lock
• Audible Button Beeps
• Drop-In Charge Capable
• Audio Accessory Connector
• Cloning Capable
• PC Programmable (Requires Optional Cable)
• IP55 Water Resistant
• LED Flashlight

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Conclusions

I am not going to recommend this radio simply because there are other radios from this same manufacturer that I like better. It is not a bad radio, and the signal coming out is pretty good, as is the audio. I just think the UV3D is a better radio for the money.

However, if you like the radio and want one new, you will certainly get a radio that performs well even if a little overpriced. If you pick one up used, then it becomes a better value.

Here are some reviews of the Wouxun KG-UV6D V2!