RadioRanked verdict
Wouxun
Wouxun KG-S74A
Strong value as a rugged airband handheld, with IP67 and USB-C at a price avionics brands do not reach. It is aviation only, cannot transmit on the ham bands, and has no VOR or ILS.
Decision helper
Is this radio right for you?
Yes, if you're…
- ✓Pilots wanting a rugged airband backup
- ✓Ramp and airfield monitoring in poor weather
- ✓Air-to-air and ground-to-air on a budget
- ✓Anyone who needs IP67 in a flight bag
Skip it, if you're…
- ✕Amateur radio use: it cannot transmit on the ham bands
- ✕Anyone wanting repeater or simplex FM operation
- ✕Pilots who need VOR or ILS navigation
- ✕Digital mode operators
Tradeoffs
The good and the bad
What we like
- Excellent value for air-to-air comms
- IP67 waterproof rating is reliable
- 400 channel memory capacity
- Respectable 6W TX power output
What we don't
- Lacks modern digital modes (DMR, APRS)
- Programming interface is confusing
- Transmit function is limited
- Battery saver impacts transmission
Proprietary RR score
How we scored it
Scores combine specs, Amazon buyer sentiment, and our testing framework. How we score →
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6.00W
TX Power
2000mAh
Battery
400
Channels
236g
Weight
Extracted from the top buyer reviews we analysed
Themes from top buyer reviews
Airband performance
Users found the air-to-air range impressive and reliable.
Ease of use
Setup and programming require significant effort and patience.
Value and features
Offers solid core functionality for the low price.
Operational limitations
The lack of digital modes limits its utility.
Overview
The Wouxun KG-S74A is an aviation radio, not a ham radio. It transmits AM on the 118 to 137 MHz aircraft band at up to 6 watts PEP, and it does not transmit on 2 metres or 70 centimetres. If you hold an amateur licence and want a handheld for repeaters, this will not do that job no matter how it is programmed.
Taken on its own terms it is a lot of airband radio for $159.99. The IP67 rating means submersible rather than splash-resistant, which is unusual at this price and genuinely useful on a ramp in bad weather. The 2,000 mAh pack is rated for around 26 hours, it charges over USB-C rather than a proprietary cradle, and there are 400 memory channels plus NOAA weather receive with alerting.
The compromises are the ones you would expect from Wouxun rather than from an avionics brand. It has no VOR or ILS navigation, which the Yaesu FTA550 does have, so if you want NAV features this is not the radio. Documentation is thin and the menu system will feel familiar to anyone who has used a Chinese handheld, for better and for worse.
Buy it as a second radio for the flight bag or as a rugged airband monitor. Do not buy it expecting a dual-band ham HT with airband bolted on, because that product is not what this is.
Specifications
| Price | $159.99 |
| TX Power (High) | 6.00W |
| Memory Channels | 400 |
| Weight | 236g |
| Battery | 2000 mAh |
| Display | LCD |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| FCC Authorization | Covers aviation only (Part 87) |
| FCC ID | 2A6DTET001 |
| FCC Rule Parts | Part 87 |
| FCC Grant Date | 2023-08-16 |
| size | Compact |
| color | black |
| unitCount | 1 |
| Color | black |
| Voltage | 3.7 Volts |
| Tuner Type | VHF |
| Model Number | KG-S74A |
| Built-In Media | a removable antenna, belt clip, hand strap, Li-ion battery pack, rapid charger, AC adapter, owner's manual, and a one-year manufacturer warranty from Wouxun |
| Frequency Range | 118-137 MHz |
| Mfr Part Number | KG-S74A |
| Waterproof Rating | IP67 |
| Compatible Devices | [VARIOUS] aviation devices operating within 118-137 MHz AM frequencies |
| Additional Features | Weather Alert |
| Battery Average Life | 26 Hours |
| Warranty Description | 1 YEAR |
Key Features
- IP67-rated sealing; submersible to 1 meter, suitable for field use in wet conditions
- Covers 118-137 MHz AM airband; listen to and communicate with aircraft ground-to-air
- 6W max TX output on VHF/UHF FM; no DMR, D-STAR, or other digital modes
- 400 programmable memory channels; CHIRP compatibility should be confirmed before purchase
- NOAA weather channel reception with 5-alert weather alert monitoring built in
- VOX operation supported; useful for aviation headset integration in cockpit environments
- Backlit LCD display and keypad; functional for low-light and nighttime operation
Recommended Antenna Upgrades
A better antenna is the cheapest way to extend your range. These fit the SMA-Female jack on the Wouxun KG-S74A.
What Customers Say
For the low price this costs, I was concerned it would not be a good radio, but I was pleasantly surprised. Once you get past the confusing manner in which you program the channels and frequencies (they could do MUCH better with their manual) it actually is a very nice radio. The range is quite impr...
Receives traffic ok but very limited transmit function. Not good enough to trust the radio for your link to your solo student in the pattern after signing them off as a CFI.