Midland MXT500 GMRS Radio - Unboxing, install and first impressions
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- Опубліковано 24 січ 2022
- The Midland MXT500 GMRS radio is the most powerful GMRS Micromobile radio you can get for off road and overlanding communications.
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The new 50 watt unit needs to have the band width configured. The older radios are NARROW FM while the new MXT-50 is a WIDE FM band. In the menu there is a way to turn off the WIDE FM banding to NARROW FM banding.
This should help you hear and talk to the older GMRS radios.
Hope that helps
I have had the MXT400 for maybe a couple of years. Outstanding well built radio. Just got the MXT500 a few days ago. It has a narrow band, wide band option. The narrow band is the default setting. It is strongly recommended to change that to wide band to improve audio quality, AND because many other GMRS radios in the marketplace are fixed at wide band. On the MXT500, the wide band option must be selected on EVERY channel.
It doesnt support split tones. That kind of makes it garbage. Midland is years behind "cheap chinese junk"
Got our tickets to the Expo and thanks for the discount. Looking forward to it and attending your GAIA Class.
The main thing dissuading most people will be installation, hooking it up to power, guiding the antenna wire through the vehicle, etc.
Yeah but it’s not hard at all.
Matt, go back in and turn the USB to off, On is for programming. Just an FYI since you specifically mentioned potentially using the USB for charging.
As soon as they put the controls on the handset...I'm in!
The “comp” setting is for the voice companding function on that radio. Read up on that in the manual.
Well I just ordered the MXT400 and your discount code worked on it. I’m new to off-road and don’t need to be long range from my group yet anyway. I figure if you trust your wife’s safety to it it must be pretty good. Ty
Awesome!!
Love your video persona…. Straight shooter and not a phoney bullshxxxer . Keep doin what ya do 🍻🇨🇦
THANKS!
I really like our Midland GMRS Radios and walkies got one in the TJ and JK going to add one to the side x side soon.
Thank you for the overview! Just what I needed. 😀
The hood hinge bolts are magnetic, I’ve got the 275 and used the little toothpick antenna for a bit stuck right to my hood hinge bolt and it stuck tight before I got my ghost antenna fully fished in
Love your channel, great video! We're moving to the area this summer and have a Gladiator on order so the Ozarks and Mark Twain Nat'l Forest will be our primary overlanding area. We're looking forward to the MXT575 coming soon as well (50W version of the MXT275). The spark at 18:52 😆.
Just got my expo ticket cant wait to go!!!!!
I'm so glad you made this video because it made my decision easy. I'm waiting for the next version with the controls on the mic. I want to hide the unit.
Well guess I know what I’ll be buying. Just applied for my license a few hours ago
it should be in your mail box in three days or so
You really should consider getting and using a meter ! After owning many mobile radios including commercially licensed vhf I have noticed many of the radios they sell as 50 watt radios really only put out 40 watts yet cost way more so they load you up with features most will never use . When you call to complain they just tell you, you'll never notice the difference, it's nominal, oh that's normal, etc ... that's a lie ! You paid for 50 watts, you should get 50 watts .With out a meter you will never know if your antenna is matched, your SWR is safe or how much power you're really getting. Another issue they won't tell you is that cable you get in those cheap kits, is just that "Cheap" ! It's a high-loss cable and its too long, in time it will shorten the life of your finals, get a meter and use it, especially on your first install and set up, after that its up to you. You paid for it maybe you're rich and don't care. I live on a farm and every penny counts. WQXK742 clear !
A very good review video, well done.👍
You mentioned the antennas you use but did not go into detail. Do you have a video with your antenna setup? If not can you put your antenna information in the "Show More" or maybe you can create a new video with your antenna set up?
Hey Matt, great video as always. About how much range in feet or miles do these get generally? What about the 150 and 275 range? Was initially going to go HAM, but the broader use of GMRS has me thinking these might be more practical.
Cheers from Cloudcroft, NM. Loved watching you cruise through last year on the channel. Wish I knew! Happy to show you some trails next time…
I’m no expert, but I’ve done some research. GMRS is limited by tress, buildings, mountains etc. If you have a open area or are up on a mountain you can transmit many miles, if your in deep woods will hills it may only be a mile or two. Repeaters are also available, but very limited so far, but GMRS is growing.
I run an off brand at 45 watts and do 20 miles off 6 towers
and I am licensed
How hot does this get? Want to put one in the center console on a 2015 Silverado.
Funny I was looking into radios yesterday. Video came just in time 🙂
What is the max power draw on the mtx500
This is radio, not sure where you got the idea you don’t need to tune the antenna, but you should get an swr meter for uhf and check that antenna, especially running that much power through it, just because it’s a gmrs radio doesn’t mean the antenna doesn’t need to be tuned and that’s a highly expensive radio, would hate to see you burn it up while on the trail.
Well the antenna literally can't be tuned.... so there's that.
Ozark is using Midland’s 3db ghost antenna, which is already pre tuned for gmrs.
@@joeschnell5695 yeah there’s a couple on the market that don’t need to be tuned, cb has the 102 in. Whip that doesn’t need to be tuned, but you still need to be sure it’s coax and ends are working good, in my particular case, bought everything brand new and my swr were over 3, I knew it wasn’t the 102 in.whip as that’s the best mobile antenna you could possibly get. Thing is most people buy antennas that aren’t pre-tuned and want the performance that a ghost antenna just won’t give you, in which case it needs to be tuned.
Have you thought of the MXT575 MICROMOBILE? Still 50 watts.
Ham guy here, but agree gmrs makes so much sense for trail comms for the masses. Comms are only good if you have someone to talk to.
Also that 400 might make a good basecamp radio for Frank the Tank!
I think that's where it's going. Thanks!
How did you hardwire it? If you tapped into a fuse in your gladiator, what fuse was it? I’ve never hardwired one and am not sure where to tap into. Thank you for your help!
a 50W transmitter will consume between 8-12A. I would wire it direct to the battery but look for something probably 20a or so.
That’s a high powered radio, you have to hardwire it, best to go to the battery.
I would go strate to the battery
Great video!!
I really enjoyed this video, thank you. But. I am curious about what appears to be the gmrs antenna on the windshield pillar. Is that something you made?
It's a Midland Ghost antenna.
@@OzarkOverlandAdventures Thank you, if you have video on it ,I would love to watch it
Aswome information 👍,question so you can use the ghost antenna that comes on the 40 on the 50 ? You still getting full range ?
Yea the antennas are interchangeable
@@OzarkOverlandAdventures sweet,I have a 21 Rubicon so we have the same top issues, keep up the great work 👍
can i just wire this up to a 12v car battery and have the battery stored in my toolbox in the back of the truck
That's what you have to do.
@@OzarkOverlandAdventures oh thanks
Full disclosure, I’m a General Class Ham Operator. That said I’m all for all types of radio, I never liked GRMS do to the pice of the license, it was around $135 for 5 years. Ham was $15 for 5 years! The ham test was good after they got rid of the code requirement. Now for communication with my wife (she has no interest to take the test) so GRMS would be great, plus I could buy the GRMS license and it’s good for the whole family.
Hey Matt, love all your videos. My brother and I will be going to the Moore Expo and hope to see you there. I have a question, the website to purchase the tickets, it's not clear if I purchase a ticket it's for 1 day or all three days? Can you please kindly let me know? Thanks.
Thanks! The ticket is good for all weekend.
@@OzarkOverlandAdventures haha that’s awesome!!!!! Thanks for the replied. Great Rig btw
I never recommend using a mag-mount. They are known (personal experience) to fail in high winds or when fighting other solid objects (trees). Drilling a hole near the center of a metal vehicle roof is always best, with a bracket attached mechanically or a clamp on mount elsewhere above the midline of the vehicle a good option. Remember, the better and higher the mount, the more effective the antenna.
Besides that a mag-mount will leave 3" ruined paint where it sits.
Did you run the antenna and the power through the same hole on the firewall?
Yes.
use sepert holes through the fire wall and go strate to the battery
How r u?! man. you creaed great vlog~ see you on my side.
I am curious about the watch you were wearing in this video? Does it have altimeter or any nav features?
He has a apple watch
It's an apple watch with a different band.
Looking forward to your review...
This xt 500 doesn't put out a true 50 watts. When bench tested by a technician through all channels it's highest out put was around 42 watts.
The truth is important.
Can we sign up for the cold water run
Sorry, that is not a trip that's open.
@@OzarkOverlandAdventures 🥲
Does that antenna base that comes with that radio also work for the 3db antenna. I'm just getting ready to put comms in my truck so I think I'm going to go with this now.
That does appear to be a NMO moumt so it would work with other GMRS antennas.
Yes it does.
Sweet. Thanks
I just passed ya on the interstate
What channel do you hang out on?
It varies by the trip and if we get any outside chatter. We usually start on 20 or 16 and move around if needed.
Matt, Umm....That wire cutter/stripper/crimper...🤔
HMU if you are looking for a home for the old MTX400. 🤓
Great video, but we can’t see your matching blue hair with a hat on!
I didn’t feel like showering today. 😂
Would you be willing to sell your 45w gmrs?
It's missing the power cord and antenna.
@@OzarkOverlandAdventures ok thanks
Ham radio is a dying “hobby” ruined by crusty old geezers who gatekeep.
Come on buddy admit it. it's ham radio operators attitude that bums people out.😆
haf of the guy's here in the twin city's are ham's and G M R S
Nothing about getting a license?
Yes you need a license with GMRS
@@OzarkOverlandAdventures I know that but you did not mention that one time.
@@Pops_607 nope. I didn’t.
rat
it will cost you 35.00 dollars and I did mine on the phone he gave me my call sign and said
you good and three day's had the paper to put on the wall.
How much does it cost for one of those radios?
$399
I payed 250 for mine not middlen and 150.00 each for three H T's
You forgot to tell everybody they need an FCC License to operate GMRS
No I didn’t.
@@OzarkOverlandAdventures sorry I missed sorry
is this ideal forf volunnterr /firefgtrt responder
vollinteers use v h f pagers in my town then go to 800 meg. at the station