A feature-packed analog handheld that puts receiver performance, flexible scanning, and emergency communications ahead of digital modes.
The Wouxun KG-UV9PX+ is not trying to be another inexpensive dual-band handheld with a long feature list and questionable receiver performance. It is positioned as the latest and most refined version of Wouxun’s UV9 platform a 2 meter and 70 centimeter amateur transceiver combined with a wide-coverage analog scanner.
My first impression is that this radio occupies an interesting place in the handheld market. It costs more than the typical entry-level Chinese radio, but it also offers capabilities that those radios usually do not: two independent receivers, simultaneous dual reception, broad multi-band coverage, full-duplex operation, cross-band repeat, 999 memory channels, and a double-conversion superheterodyne receiver design.
These are my early impressions rather than a laboratory review. I still want more operating time before making firm conclusions about battery endurance, real-world output power, sensitivity, selectivity, and long-term durability. Even so, the KG-UV9PX+ makes a strong opening argument for itself.
What Is New About the “Plus”?
The KG-UV9PX+ builds on the earlier KG-UV9PX rather than replacing it with a completely different radio. The most noticeable improvement is the brighter color display. BetterSafeRadio rates it at 1,000 nits, compared with 200 nits on earlier UV9-series models, and provides four screen modes: Day 1, Day 2, Covert, and Classic.
That display upgrade matters on a handheld intended for outdoor, mobile, emergency, and public-service use. A radio may have excellent features, but they are far less useful if the screen becomes difficult to read in daylight.
The other welcome change is the included 2,200 mAh USB-C rechargeable battery. Wouxun also appears to have addressed the parasitic battery-drain problem associated with previous UV9-series models. USB-C charging makes the radio considerably easier to live with while traveling or operating away from the shack because it reduces dependence on a proprietary charging cradle.
A Serious Analog Receiver
The feature that interests me most is not the advertised 10 watts of transmit power. It is the receiver architecture.
The KG-UV9PX+ uses two double-conversion superheterodyne receivers and supports true dual receive. The upper “A” receiver covers the radio’s extended receive ranges, while the lower “B” receiver covers the conventional 136-174 MHz and 400-512 MHz ranges. This lets the operator monitor two active frequencies at once instead of rapidly switching a single receiver between them.
That distinction can be valuable when monitoring a local repeater while scanning public-safety, aviation, weather, railroad, marine, or other analog activity such as satellite for ISS. The radio can also scan on both receivers simultaneously. Ten configurable scan groups help make its 999 memory channels manageable.
The wide receive coverage includes:
- 76-108 MHz FM broadcast
- 108-136 MHz AM aircraft
- 136-180 MHz VHF
- 219-250 MHz VHF
- 350-400 MHz UHF
- 400-512 MHz UHF
- 700-986 MHz UHF, excluding cellular frequencies
The important limitation is that this is an analog scanner, not a modern trunking or digital public-safety scanner. It will not decode P25, DMR, NXDN, or other digital voice systems. Its usefulness as a scanner therefore depends heavily on what remains analog in your area.
Transmit Capabilities
As shipped, the KG-UV9PX+ transmits on the U.S. 2-meter and 70-centimeter amateur bands. It offers three selectable power levels advertised at 10, 5, and 2 watts and is calibrated around U.S. amateur-band frequencies.
The extra power may help in some situations, but antenna quality, terrain, elevation, and repeater location will usually matter more than the difference between a typical 5 watt handheld and a 10 watt handheld. Higher power also consumes more battery and creates more heat, so I expect medium or low power to be the better everyday choice whenever it provides a reliable path.
The radio supports standard repeater operation, split CTCSS and DCS tones, nonstandard tones, repeater reverse, talk around, and front panel programming. “Full duplex” operation adds potential value for amateur satellite work, especially with a UHF uplink. Cross-band repeat “single direction” or “bidirectional” is another unusual capable feature for a handheld, although duty cycle and heat should be watched carefully during extended use.
Programming and Channel Management
The radio has 999 regular memory channels with eight haracter names, plus 20 FM broadcast memories. The BetterSafeRadio code plug offers 859 channels programmed for amateur, weather, emergency, and “receive only” monitoring use.
That extensive default programming can be helpful, but it can also feel like a lot to sort through. My recommendation is to save a copy of the factory code plug before making changes. A reset erases the large preprogrammed channel set and restores a much smaller default amateur configuration.
Programming options include Wouxun’s customer software, CHIRP using the UV9PX driver, and RT Systems software. A compatible programming cable is an extra purchase. Although the radio can be programmed from the keypad, software will be much easier for organizing hundreds of channels and the ten scan groups.
Build, Controls, and Everyday Use
The KG-UV9PX+ is rated IP55, meaning it offers meaningful protection against dust and water jets, but it is not a submersible radio. Its construction combines an ABS shell with an aluminum frame, and it uses the common Kenwood K1-style accessory connector. That opens the door to a large selection of speaker microphones, earpieces, audio interfaces, and other accessories.
The radio includes dual PTT capability, three programmable side keys, a backlit keypad, an LED flashlight, voice prompts, busy channel lockout, VOX, DTMF functions, and a 500 mW speaker. I also like the priority channel quick.jump and scan advance functions. Those are practical features that can make a complicated radio easier to operate when something important is happening.
The included package consists of the radio, 2,200 mAh USB-C battery, USB-C charger and cable, eight inch antenna, belt clip, wrist strap, and quick start manual. A desktop charger, programming cable, speaker microphone, larger batteries, and alternate antennas are available separately.
What the KG-UV9PX+ Does Not Include
This is not a digital voice handheld. There is no DMR, D-STAR, System Fusion, or digital trunking. It also does not replace a dedicated APRS radio such as my Kenwood TH-D75A, and it is not intended to provide the digital features found in radios such as the AnyTone AT-D878UVII Plus or AT-D890UV.
Instead, the Wouxun focuses on doing analog FM communications and wideband analog monitoring well. Whether that is a limitation or an advantage depends on what you need. An operator who wants one radio for DMR, APRS, GPS, Bluetooth, and analog FM should look elsewhere. Someone who wants a capable analog handheld with broad coverage and unusually flexible dual-receiver scanning may find the KG-UV9PX+ much more appealing.
A Note About Legal Operation
The wide receive range does not mean the radio may legally transmit everywhere it can receive. The radio ships with transmission restricted to the amateur bands, and normal amateur operation requires an amateur radio license. It is not type accepted for routine transmission on GMRS, FRS, MURS, marine, public-safety, business, or other non-amateur services.
Amateur operators should resist the idea that software unlocking automatically makes out-of-band transmission legal. The operator remains responsible for using the radio only where authorized and with equipment permitted for the service involved.
Early Verdict
My first impression of the Wouxun KG-UV9PX+ is positive. Its strongest qualities are the true dual-receiver design, wide analog coverage, flexible scanning, bright display, USB-C battery, generous memory capacity, and extensive analog operating features. It feels less like a basic dual-band handheld with scanner functions added and more like a serious analog monitoring radio that can also serve as a capable 2 meter and 70 centimeter transceiver.
The tradeoffs are equally clear. It lacks digital voice modes, built-in APRS, GPS, and Bluetooth, and its extensive programming may require some organization before the radio feels truly personal. The advertised 10 watt output should also be viewed as one tool rather than the main reason to buy it.
For amateur operators interested in EmComm, SKYWARN, travel, outdoor activity, analog scanning, satellite work, or simply monitoring two frequencies at the same time, the KG-UV9PX+ deserves serious consideration. I plan to spend more time evaluating its receiver performance, scan behavior, audio, battery life, programming workflow, and repeater performance before offering a full review.
For now, the KG-UV9PX+ looks like one of the more distinctive analog handhelds in its price range – and a radio built around features that are genuinely useful rather than merely impressive on a specification sheet.
Product information: Wouxun KG-UV9PX+ at BetterSafeRadio
Disclosure: This article contains first impressions, not a complete technical evaluation.