Building a Repeater with Two KG-1000G+ Radios

The Wouxun KG-1000G Plus is one of the few GMRS mobile radios with a built-in repeater mode. Two KG-1000G+ units connected with a single data cable can function as a complete GMRS repeater - no separate controller needed. This guide walks through the entire build using a single antenna and duplexer, from planning to going live.

What you need

• Two Wouxun KG-1000G Plus radios - one will be the receiver (RPT-RX), the other the transmitter (RPT-TX)
• Wouxun SCO-002 data cable - an RJ45-to-RJ45 cable that connects the two radios via the 8-pin interface ports on the left side panel (the port under the rubber cover marked "PC"). Each KG-1000G+ ships with a free SCO-002 cable, so you only need one. This is NOT the USB programming cable - that's a USB-A to RJ45 cable for connecting to a computer and will not work here
• A duplexer rated for 50W - allows both radios to share a single antenna. Must be tuned for your chosen GMRS repeater frequency pair. See Duplexers Explained for background
• One base station antenna - a quality UHF antenna mounted as high as possible. The antenna and its location determine your repeater's coverage more than anything else. See Antenna Basics
• A 30A continuous power supply - 13.8V DC. Two radios at 50W draw significant current, especially during simultaneous TX/RX - a 30A supply gives you headroom. See Power Supply Basics
• Coax cable - LMR-400 or equivalent from the duplexer to the antenna, plus short jumpers from each radio to the duplexer. The radios use SO-239 connectors (PL-259 on the cable side)
• A lightning arrestor - installs inline on the coax where it enters the building. Protects your radios and duplexer from lightning strikes and static buildup. See Grounding

Choosing your frequency pair

GMRS repeaters operate on channels 15R through 22R. Each channel has an output frequency (what users listen on) and an input frequency 5 MHz higher (what users transmit on). Pick a channel pair that isn't already in heavy use in your area - check myGMRS.com and our license search to see what's active nearby.

Channel	Output (RX listens)	Input (TX retransmits from)
RPT-15	462.5500 MHz	467.5500 MHz
RPT-16	462.5750 MHz	467.5750 MHz
RPT-17	462.6000 MHz	467.6000 MHz
RPT-18	462.6250 MHz	467.6250 MHz
RPT-19	462.6500 MHz	467.6500 MHz
RPT-20	462.6750 MHz	467.6750 MHz
RPT-21	462.7000 MHz	467.7000 MHz
RPT-22	462.7250 MHz	467.7250 MHz

The following example sets up a repeater on channel 16 (output 462.5750 MHz, input 467.5750 MHz) with CTCSS tone 229.1 Hz. Adjust the frequency and tone for your chosen channel.

Step 1: Set frequencies on each radio

On the RECEIVER radio (this radio listens for users transmitting on the input frequency):

1. Press the [#6] key to switch to Frequency mode (VFO)
2. Press the [#2] key to enable manual frequency entry
3. Type in 467.5750 on the keypad - this is the repeater input frequency (where users transmit)

On the TRANSMITTER radio (this radio retransmits on the output frequency):

1. Press the [#6] key to switch to Frequency mode (VFO)
2. Press the [#2] key to enable manual frequency entry
3. Type in 462.5750 on the keypad - this is the repeater output frequency (what users listen on)

Step 2: Enable repeater mode on each radio

On the RECEIVER radio:

1. Press [MENU] + [5] + [4] to access RPT-MODE
2. Press [MENU], then use [UP]/[DOWN] to select RPT-RX
3. Press [MENU] to confirm, then [EXIT]

On the TRANSMITTER radio:

1. Press [MENU] + [5] + [4] to access RPT-MODE
2. Press [MENU], then use [UP]/[DOWN] to select RPT-TX
3. Press [MENU] to confirm, then [EXIT]

Both radios will display a repeater icon on screen when in repeater mode.

Step 3: Set CTCSS tones

CTCSS tones control access to the repeater and filter what users hear. In this example we'll use 229.1 Hz.

On the RECEIVER radio (set the RX tone - the tone users must send to open the repeater):

1. Press [MENU] + [0] + [9] to access RX-CTCSS
2. Press [MENU], then use [UP]/[DOWN] to scroll to 229.1
3. Press [MENU] to confirm, then [EXIT]

On the TRANSMITTER radio (set both TX and RX tones):

1. Press [MENU] + [1] + [0] to access TX-CTCSS. Scroll to 229.1, press [MENU] to confirm, then [EXIT] - this is the tone the repeater sends so users' radios open squelch
2. Press [MENU] + [0] + [9] to access RX-CTCSS. Scroll to 229.1, press [MENU] to confirm, then [EXIT] - this filters the TX radio's local speaker so it only opens for signals with your tone, not every transmission on the output frequency

Step 4: Set power and timeout

1. On the TRANSMITTER radio, press [MENU] + [0] + [5] to access TX-POWER. Select your desired output power (High = 50W, Med = 20W, Low = 10W). Press [MENU] to confirm, then [EXIT]
2. On both radios, press [MENU] + [2] + [5] to access TOT (Transmit Overtime Timer). Set to 180 seconds (3 minutes) to prevent stuck transmissions. Press [MENU] to confirm, then [EXIT]

Step 5: Connect the data cable

Plug the Wouxun SCO-002 (or a straight-through RJ45 ethernet cable) into the 8-pin interface port on the left side of each radio - the port under the rubber cover marked "PC." The cable carries audio and control signals between the two units - the receiver passes incoming audio to the transmitter, which retransmits it.

Step 6: Connect the duplexer, antenna, and power

Standard GMRS duplexers have ports labeled LOW and HIGH (referring to frequency), plus an antenna port:

1. Connect the RPT-TX radio (462 MHz output) to the duplexer's LOW port with a short coax jumper
2. Connect the RPT-RX radio (467 MHz input) to the duplexer's HIGH port with a short coax jumper
3. Connect the duplexer's antenna port to your base station antenna via LMR-400 coax
4. Connect both radios to the power supply

The repeater is now operational. When someone transmits on the input frequency with the correct CTCSS tone, the RX radio receives it and passes the audio to the TX radio, which retransmits it on the output frequency.

Step 7: Configure optional settings

The KG-1000G+ has several repeater-specific settings worth configuring:

• RPT-SPK (Repeater Speaker) [Menu 55]: When ON, the radio's speaker plays repeater audio so you can monitor traffic at the repeater site. Default is OFF. Useful during setup and testing, but you may want it off for a remote unattended site to save power
• RPT-PTT (Repeater PTT) [Menu 56]: When ON, you can use the hand microphone's PTT button to transmit through the repeater while it's in repeater mode. Default is OFF. Useful if you want to make announcements or talk through your own repeater from the site
• RPT-TONE (Squelch Tail Elimination) [Menu 53]: When ON, suppresses the squelch crash noise users hear at the end of each transmission. This is not a courtesy beep - it eliminates the burst of static that occurs when a signal drops. Recommended ON for a cleaner listening experience
• RPT-DLY (Repeater Hold Timer) [Menu 57]: Set this on the TX radio only. It prevents the transmitter from re-keying too quickly after a transmission ends, giving users time to respond before the repeater drops. A value of 1000-2000ms works well for most setups. Options range from 100ms to 5000ms
• ROGER (Roger Beep) [Menu 24]: To give users a courtesy beep confirming the repeater received their transmission, set this to EOT (End of Transmission) on the TX radio. This plays a short tone after each retransmission - the actual "beep" users hear to know the repeater is working
• BACK-LT (Backlight) [Menu 03]: Default is ALWAYS (screen always on). For a permanent headless install, set to 5 or 10 seconds to reduce power draw and display wear

Site selection

Your repeater's coverage depends almost entirely on antenna height and location. A few guidelines:

• Higher is always better. Every foot of additional height extends your coverage. A rooftop mount at 30 feet will dramatically outperform a ground-level setup
• Clear line of sight matters. Hills, buildings, and dense trees between your repeater and users will reduce coverage. Elevation above surrounding terrain is the single best advantage
• Start at home. Most KG-1000G+ repeaters start on the operator's roof or in their attic. This is free, easy to access for maintenance, and lets you test before investing in a remote site
• Power and weather protection. The radios need continuous 13.8V DC power and protection from rain, extreme heat, and condensation. An outdoor-rated enclosure with ventilation works for remote sites

FCC identification

If all users of the repeater properly identify themselves with their callsign, the repeater itself is exempt from the identification requirement per 47 CFR § 95.1751(c). However, many operators prefer to have an automatic ID as a backup - especially for unattended operation where you can't guarantee every user will identify. Your options:

• Manual ID: If you're at the site, use the RPT-PTT feature [Menu 56] to key up and identify verbally
• DTMF ID: Configure the radio's DTMF ID feature [Menu 37] to send your callsign digits automatically
• RepeaterID KG-1000 board (~$75): A purpose-built CW/voice ID board designed specifically for the KG-1000G+. It connects inline via the same RJ45 ports and comes with the correct cables. Handles automatic identification at configurable intervals - the most popular solution for unattended KG-1000G+ repeaters
• Generic CW ID board: Available from amateur radio suppliers for ~$30-50. Keys the transmitter and sends your callsign in Morse code at set intervals

What the KG-1000G+ repeater can and can't do

What it does well:

• Full 50W output - matches dedicated repeater hardware
• Built-in CTCSS/DCS tone access - no external controller needed for basic operation
• Squelch tail elimination (RPT-TONE) - clean end-of-transmission audio
• Courtesy beep via ROGER set to EOT on the TX radio
• Hold timer (RPT-DLY) - prevents rapid re-keying
• Timeout timer (TOT) - prevents stuck transmissions
• Simple setup - two radios, one cable, one duplexer, one antenna, power, done

What it lacks compared to a dedicated repeater:

• No built-in automatic CW ID - use a RepeaterID.com board or generic CW ID board for unattended operation
• No DTMF remote control of repeater functions (enable/disable, power change) - though the radio does support basic DTMF encoding
• No tail message or voice announcements
• No web interface or remote monitoring
• No linking capability to other repeaters

For most community or personal GMRS repeaters, the KG-1000G+ pair covers everything you need. If you outgrow it, the next step is a dedicated repeater with a full repeater controller.

Cost breakdown

Here's a realistic budget for a KG-1000G+ repeater build:

• Two KG-1000G+ radios: ~$780 ($389.99 each, includes free SCO-002 cable)
• Duplexer (50W, GMRS band): ~$100
• Base station antenna: ~$100
• Coax cable (LMR-400): ~$1-2/foot depending on quality and length, plus connectors and jumpers
• Power supply (30A continuous): ~$129
• Lightning arrestor: ~$17
• RepeaterID board (optional): ~$75
• Mounting hardware: ~$30-100 depending on your setup

Total: roughly $1,200-1,400 for a complete 50W GMRS repeater with automatic ID - and the radios can be repurposed as mobile radios if you ever take the repeater down.

Going live

1. Test thoroughly before announcing your repeater. Have someone drive around the coverage area and report signal quality from various locations
2. Register on myGMRS.com so other operators can find your repeater. Include the frequency, CTCSS tone, whether it's open or closed, and your coverage area
3. Monitor for interference during the first few weeks. If your repeater is triggering on noise or users report distortion, check your duplexer tuning and coax connections
4. Tell people about it. Post in local GMRS groups, mention it on the air, and consider running a weekly net to build a user base

Alternative: dual-antenna setup (no duplexer)

If you'd rather skip the duplexer, you can use two separate antennas - one for receive, one for transmit. The antennas must be physically separated enough to prevent the 50W transmitter from desensing (overloading) the receiver. Typically this means 10-20 feet of vertical separation on the same mast, or mounting on opposite sides of a structure. The higher antenna should be the transmit antenna since it benefits more from height.

This approach is cheaper (no duplexer cost) but requires more mounting hardware and space. It also means two coax runs instead of one. Test for desense by having someone transmit through the repeater while you monitor receive sensitivity - if weak signals that should get through are being missed, you need more separation.