Wouxun KG-UV3D: Inexpensive Dual Band Handheld

I recently purchased the very inexpensive ($119.95) new Chinese-made Wouxun (pronounced OH-shing) KG-UV3D radio and am quite delighted with it. However the user interface is drastically different from the Japanese equivalents. I put this presentation together for the Montrose Amateur Radio Club to relate my experience and opinions. The bottom line is that it’s a remarkably inexpensive dual-band 2-meters (144 MHz) / 70 cm (440 MHz) handheld. It’s solidly built and good value for the money. But forget trying to program memory channels using the keypad—spring for the programming cable and use the free software to set things up. Oh, and it also features a wide-band receiver including (of all things) the FM broadcast band. And a flashlight! (Actually, the uses for the flashlight feature are blindingly—forgive the pun—obvious: an extremely handy thing to have.) Do I recommend getting one? Sure! Would this be a good first radio for a newly-minted Technician licensee? Yep!