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When discussing antennas commenters often refer to their antenna as "working great." However, while I am sure the observation is subjectively true, it is a whole different question as to how "great" the antenna is in objective terms. In other words. Unless you test the antennas in a well equipped and controlled environment it is virtually impossible to draw any concrete conclusions. A big part of the difficulty in judging a UHF antenna's performance lies in the nature of how we observe them in use. It is pretty simple, do we get good connections to the stations we are communicating with? Given the nature of UHF, in most cases we are looking to contact stations relatively close to us and would probably succeed with a tuned coat-hanger. A secondary problem, especially for people coming from CB is that FM reception behaves quite differently than AM. AM tends to fade all the way to the point where the noise over-comes the signal. However, FM tends to go from intelligible to non-existent very quickly. Thus, if we receive the signal at all, it tends to be good enough for conversation. There are also a host of other issues, like bandwidth and propagation pattern that may be important in some applications and irrelevant in others. And, finally, there are the mechanical factors ((like corrosion) that are usually only observed after a period of a few months or years. All of which is to say, and this is strictly my own opinion: Unlike the ham low-bands where you can, and in some cased (low-power/QRP) must spend more on the antenna than the radio, for most GMRS uses, that is not the case. The perfect GMRS antenna is probably gong to be the lowest priced antenna that meets your basic communication needs* and is built by someone you trust to make quality products. Unfortunately, in GMRS there is no magic perfect antenna. * terrain (elevation changes), distance, mobil, fixed or portable, power, etc.

Sure... I have some saved on my PC. When I get home, I'll share a couple. I know Hackaday provides direction finding with a bunch of online SDR's. I don't remember the others. Edit- I just remembered... WebSDR has a whole list of services. Just pick a station that covers the frequency you want to use and be sure direction finding is one of the services.

Wow, pleasant, accurate and polite exchange of information? Am I still on the Internet? I would have asked the same question in a few days Scarleton. I'm new at this and would love to see a follow-up here on how your radio works with the repeater. And Mr. Jones, thank you for the polite and information-packed response. Happy Fourth of July everyone.

Thanks for the additional information and the link. It seems there is a lot unsaid here. First of all, is use of the software by consumers even authorized? If it would allow the customer to set the radio to operate in a manner inconsistent with Part-95E. In trying to answer this question, I returned to a post from @Hans in 2018 in a discussion which suggests the MXT400 is really a Luiton LT-590 with modified settings for GMRS certification. With the Midland software already installed, I then downloaded the Luiton software. And guess what, they seem to be essentially the same, with some functionality removed from the MXT400 version. One difference is the Luiton version includes help files. So, I was able to determine that the two settings of the most interest were defined as: STEP = For scanning purposes, the change in frequency between activity checks. (Many options between 5kHz and 50kHz) CHANNEL SPACING = occupied bandwidth (narrow or wide): 12.5, 20 & 25 kHz A few other observations: I noticed PL tone 69.3 is still missing, I did not check for other missing tones/codesThere is a compander option which might help when talking Wide to Narrow band.There is an option for voice scrambling, but it is disabled (and not allowed in GMRS)There is an Optional Signaling option that is also disabled (DTMF, 2TONE & 5Tone)So, all in all I say there are two significant learnings here: The major limitations of the MXT400 (bandwidth and split PL) can be overcome. Any doubt that the MXT400 is a Luiton LT-590 on Prosac have been removed.BTW, I have no way of testing to see if the Luiton software will work on the Midland radio. But, I doubt it. For those who want to pursue this topic, here are a few key links from the Facebook posts MXT400 Programming software: https://www.dropbox.com/s/0lre3ljgt4nopf6/MXT400_Setup_1.05.zip?dl=1 Programming Cables. Original from Midland: https://midlandusa.com/product/dbr1-dual-band-radio-programming-cable/?fbclid=IwAR1Z-VbLD401AXmbUuGRHVHQFGKjURlY-MC709t1deGnfTDUPZQUGbPpyxI and a general purpose cable is available from: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D6S2P59/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_tHfaFbXQ51QZK

If the reason that most people get the Midland is because they want an "out of the box, Part 95 legal radio" - then opening up the radio to a 25 kHz bandwidth (which the Midland isn't type accepted for) kind of kills the whole rational they started with. Might as well have gotten something like a part 90 radio that actually did 25 kHz right from the start, and saved the time & trouble. It would be just as legal (maybe more), half the price, and work twice as well.

OK I went to the link. From the discussion, it seems the RX bandwidth might be adjustable from the "Channel spacing" setting. However there is no indication that the TX modulation increases. It would be odd that Midland would be freely releasing software to violate the FCC type acceptance of this radio. If it works, then that is great. But Caveat Emptor". https://www.facebook.com/groups/1729729127079590/

If they turn it off when they arrive in port. I did advise them that this is likely to cause IX in every US port. Not related to the rogue "Baby Monitors"..... G

I found the information on the Facebook group. He is located on the Pasco County GMRS Radio Group. What I mean is the MXT-400 from the factory are at transmitting at 12.5khz, you can change them to a band within GMRS like 20khz. You can name each channel. Custom start message such as your call sign, Programming of split CTCSS/ DPL.

Technically it’s still over the air when you do radio to hotspot, que no? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I’ve had some interference mostly only on HF some from my router switch and from the tv I use for a monitor. Gotta love a 36” monitor lol.solved most of it by moving the radios to one side of the room and computer and associated cables to the other side. Most of the noise is gone. Tv,s are not as good in shielding as monitors are I have found. BUT a 36” monitor for the computer is fantastic almost don’t need the glasses!

1: Wifi works in the 2.4, 4.9, and 5 GHz band while GMRS is in the UHF (460-470 MHz) band so you shouldn't see any RF interference, however there may be electrical interference if using a cheap transformer. (This would be an audible hum over your voice as you transmit) 2: Midland and Baofengs are ok, (I have a Baofeng that I use as a loaner radio for family members) Personally I prefer Kenwood radios, using 380 portables and 880H mobiles. They are easy to program via computer and have a few features the baofengs and midland's don't have. Recently I started using an 8180H which has even more features on it. It all depends on what you plan to do with your radios. For me, being able to use work frequencies was the reason for upgrading to the 8180. 3: An antenna in the attic does work however just getting it to outside can result in a drastic increase of range. For the past two weeks my antenna was in the attic due to work being done on the roof, it got the signal out but not too far. When I returned it to outside I realized what a difference a sheet of plywood can make lol. 4: As Cleveland said, the traffic you are hearing could have a code or a mix of codes set up, they may also be using a repeater which could let you talk as far as 40 miles away. On top of that, GMRS repeater owners are now adding linking computers and software to their systems which can allow a user from NJ to talk via radio to a user in CA. Information about repeaters and which are linked can be found on the MyGMRS.com site 5: See Cleveland answer Even though I started out as a ham, this site, this community even, has helped teach me so much. When there's a problem I have never seen a group come together to try and figure it out then wait to see if their answer resolved that problem like they do here. This is a great group of guys and gals from all walks of life with experience from the amateur radio community, emergency radio community, and even professional radio techs, so there are no shortages of answers to your questions.

This forum has multiple reviews on both the Btech, and the Midland. PLEASE read them before you spend your money.