Without using that specific set, but having programmed a KG-UV9K using the god awful wouxan software -
Exactly what ranges you can enter and subsequently manual tune to and subsequently program in via software or (in the case of the D and K variants) by keypad /menu and store depends on if it’s an export model.
The differences are outlined for each variant and sub-variant on the Wouxan site, so I’ll skip outlining the model specific UV-9 series variants and refer you the website and user guides (ironically, the UG’s are almost like the author actually spoke English).
As for not hearing anything on frequencies you have set /dialled in (variant dependent), there’s three main causes of absolute muted silence (assuming the volume isn’t at 0) -
- There’s either no traffic on the frequency that’s got a signal level and lack of noise above the current squelch threshold - on modern FM sets, it’s a true noise squelch where the threshold is set against noise level (white noise). So a very high setting mutes out most weak/noisy traffic (as in ‘not quietened’). To determine if it’s a squelch level, either try the monitor which bypasses the squelch and let’s you hear raw what traffic or empty frequency is there, or turn your squelch down progressively until you find stuff opens the squelch. If there’s no decernable traffic, apparently an empty frequency, you’ll more or less have to set squelch to 0 or bypass to hear.
Since, in the case notably of keypad frequency entry on applicable UV’s and most Wouxan sets, if you punch in an out of range frequency, it’ll reject and remain on the last setting. Likewise, on sets with extended/wide receive, it’ll inhibit TX if a set frequency falls outside of the versions set Tx frequency ranges (which depends on variant and sub-variant). That’s why it’s better to buy from a radio outlet in your country than (as many have) some random Amazon/eBay vendor, as proper radio outlets sell an applicable variant for the country they ship to, where on cheaper sources (eBay and Amazon etc) there’s no guarantee you’ll get the export model where applicable (in fact, many such sellers don’t realise there are sub-variants and have typical box-shifter product knowledge).
Assuming there’s traffic you know is on frequency via other means, silence that’s not due to squelch muting etc, or accidental setting of the tone squelch, points to a PLL unlock state (where you’ll hear nothing on the freq dialled on) or a deaf receiver or a dodgy antenna and/or antenna connection.
PLL unlock is why you can’t TX out of band, because the invalid frequency (TX wise) set translates to an invalid BCD code and causes an error condition at the PLL known as an unlock state and TX is automatically inhibited in such a state.
That’s why since PLL synthesised radios came about, it became harder to work your of band without trickery to force the PLL by electronic trickery. Good example of such trickery being how on 27mhz, you ended up with a daughter board with original and alternative variant PLL chips feeding the original socket to get dual band out of a single band PLL radio.
Anyhow, assuming there’s no fault, and it’s a matter of software/CPS programming of channels/memories, you need to ensure you code in valid combinations and the KG Commander software admittedly isn’t that great at giving you solid clear indicators to why something is invalid.
