Leaderboard

While looking up something else today, I came across some information about the Midland MXT-275 that indicates it can be reprogrammed to change some the the default settings. Bad news first. This is only theoretically possible. The required software is not readily available. The good news. The radio can be programmed with OEM software and a special programming cable that plugs into the Microphone. This was discussed in a thread on reddit The thread was initially about the MXT-400, and includes a nice video showing the programming of that radio. However, 3 days ago a user named looks_good_on_paper posted some notes about his experience with the MXT-275 and an email exchange with Midland. He also included a link to an Australian video about programming the MXT-275. Unfortunately, his conversation with Midland hit a dead end. The challenge. The MXT-275 is, like everything else Midland sells, almost certainly manufactured by another company for Midland. So, like the MXT-400, software might be available for other versions of that hardware. It is also possible that the Midland software might be available somewhere out there on the web. The reddit article gives some information about other similar Midland models sold in Europe and Australia. So, perhaps that info might help track down other versions of the radio. In any case, it looks like the radio can be "fixed," and good luck to those who wish to pursue the challenge of getting the tools together.

I just got my 76Ps on Wednesday, and thanks to this thread was able to get them up and running. I upgraded the firmware first thing. The procedure is a little unorthodox in that you open the firmware zip file and there is an executable in there. I spent probably 15 minutes searching through the programming GUI trying to find out where to add the firmware and write it to the radio. Hopefully that tip is useful for someone. Has anyone had luck getting the NOAA channels to work? Several places say the firmware upgrade is supposed to fix it, but all 3 of mine still don't rx anything. I have 2 other devices that NOAA works just fine.

We motorhome. I've switched to GMRS from FRS recently and do not regret it at all. We started using them for backing in to a site or the storage unit and hiking in case we got separated. Occasionally, one of us will take the dog while the other stays in the motorhome and that's a little peace of mind. When we fish (poorly), we sometimes separate a ways to try different areas. In the last few months, I've built a GMRS base here at home, a Micromobile in the TOAD Jeep and soon in the motorhome. I don't know of any RV groups that exclusively use GMRS but Jeep Jamboree is going that way this year.

I tune for the lowest return loss at 50 Ohms. Which is never the same point where the lowest return loss actually is. G.

Well then, if a licensed GMRS operator is communicating with an licensed-by-rule FRS operator, s/he is doing so as an FRS operator, if we truly wish to be precisely accurate.

There's no need to write "every time" you "plug it in". You can save a configuration as a .dat file and open that, or you can read the current configuration from the radio. The CPS program is about as simple as it gets.

There is no password set on these radios as they come from the factory. Leave it blank. Do not use Chirp - use the CPS (RT76P.exe) provided by Retevis for these radios.

The 5.5 dB claim is, simply put, not true. (also, if you don't see dBd or dBi its probably fake as well) That TRAM1173 (or MXT26) antenna probably has less gain than a simple 1/4 wave NMO, given the cheap coils used, and being only 2 elements, with insufficient phasing element separation between them (gain in collinear antennas is achieved by increasing the distance between the phased elements) not a chance in he11 it has 5.5 dBd... well, unless decibels dBs overseas are measured differently than in the rest of the world... that is. For comparison, a real world 5.5dBd gain is what a 4-bay folded dipole has, which is a massive antenna, and coincidentally, it costs a lot of $$$$$... too. IMO, and in my experience, for a car install, a simple 6" inch NMO antenna cut to GMRS frequency will work absolutely great, as measured. G.

I think it is well accepted that POTS is equivalent to the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network). The clear intent of the FCC regulation is to prohibit phone patches. This was probably to avoid competition with the Phone companies and RCCs. DSL is a transport layer service. It is not per-se a service. DSL is generally used to transport Internet (*IP) services. However, it can also carry PSTN directly and/or you can also carry PSTN over IP (VoIP). Bottom line, connecting GMRS stations over the Internet is not prohibited. Connecting GMRS stations over the PSTN (regardless of how it is delivered) is prohibited. Also, I’d note, there is no such Constitutional principle. There is a common saying that there are two systems of law: those where anything not prohibited is allowed, and those where anything not allowed is prohibited. But, that is no more than an adage and has no real basis in fact.