Pre-sale on the new 15-watt Midland MXT275 GMRS Radio

HAM licenses are actually pretty easy to get. They have apps that work on your smart phone to help you prep for a test.

Seriously, it's not that hard.

 

Maybe a handheld specific issue. I’m curious if your crew all had mobile base setups, with mounted antennas and the whole shibang if it would’ve been the same outcome.

My wife and I went on a 3 hr trip through some hilly terrain in separate vehicles and we both had good comms just with myself on mobile setup and her on a handheld.

 

It’s not the material that’s hard at all. Anyone can memorize the question bank and answers in a week. The issue is fitting a test date into your schedule.

 

Sound like a bunch of busybody snitches with nothing better to do.

 

New radio has shipped. I'll have it Friday!

It will be replacing my Cobra 75WXST. I'll keep a handheld CB unit in the truck in case others aren't running FRS/GMRS yet.

 

i've gotten close to 3-4miles out of CB in rolling terrain and trees no issues.

 

I've been looking into it and talked to a few locals that have it and very true it is not hard. It seems there's a misconception that its hard so no one even thinks of doing it. Or they're just lazy and don't want to take the time. If more would get on board with it locally I would definitely get it. But not many seem to care. Even talked to others with the license and others with amatuer license that can also do a test to grant you yours as well etc and they've said for a case of beer they'll do it.

 

Definitely possible with a solid CB setup, good tune, antenna, etc.

I feel like a lot of people slap together a kit and are surprised when they only get line-of-sight reception.

 

All handheld.

No one will buy GMRS here because
1. you need license technically
2. you need to pay for said license and GMRS mobile base setups cost more than most CBs
3. CB is cheaper, many have and use it (aside from one in our usual group), and its completely legal and free to use
4. works fine for our needs

I looked into this whole base mobile set up plenty of times too. and since it needs license and cost more no one wants to jump on with it. So just stick to CB.

 

Yeah, I’d find really the only main drawback to CB is people don’t do the install right and so you’ll go with a group and someone’s comms are fubar.

If more US companies put out mobile GMRS setups I think the prices would come down. But right now Midland is it. And their cheapest setup is around $100. Then it’s another 70 for license. Otherwise it’s shitty handhelds.

 

1.6:1 tune haha. No clue how I got that tune cause all previous times I was no where close to as good a tune.

I want to get another antenna. From what I've read depending on terrain you want different length antennas, so instead of having a one size fits all just get a second longer one for when I want more range in flatter conditions.
Right now I have a 3ft want to get a 4ft.

 

I keep saying the same thing to one buddy haha. He has issues with his CB and I keep telling him its because we need to finish tuning his antenna so it works right.

 

FWIW, this GMRS can also talk to any FRS radio.

 

So hand held CB’s are compatible with vehicle mounted CB’s?

 

Yes

 

They’re retired mostly, what did you expect? At least they’re active, I’m always impressed how well they can hike and do active things I hope I can still do in my 80’s and 90’s.

 

I mean I work 3rd shift and still took it. They offer a ton of them in weekends between the big 3 groups.



Fwiw I can hit a repeater 32 miles away with my mobile in New Hampshire. That's not always the case, but it's more common than not on trips that I become the relay guy on 70cm because cb guys can't the front of the convoy.

 

Its really in the antenna. I have a credit card sized 1/4watt 2-meter HT that can be heard over 20 miles away when it’s hooked up to a Yagi beam antenna. People with car mounted antennas often put them in places on the rack that can severely dampen their signals, so mounting and tuning are very important parts of rig installation, and they overpower non-ground plane antennas and wonder why their rigs get so hot

 

last year I had it mounted on the passenger side on the front bed rail and it had a shit tune. I since relocated it to the centre of that rail and got a way better tune.
Was surprised how much relocating it to a centre position and properly grounding the mount with a dedicated wire ran to the frame would help with getting a better tune.

 

^^^this^^^