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BUT!!! No outlaws!

I guess that comment is directed to me since I seem to be the one most vocal about Midland's apparent refusal to be honest about this subject. Below is the FCC Grant (click thumbnail) for the MXT400. It is easily found on the FCC OET Equipment Certification database. The FCC grant is what matters. Regardless of what someone in Midland marketing has said, the MXT400 is certified as a narrow band radio. 10K5F3E is what the grant has as the modulation. That is somewhat worse than 11K3F3E which is what a narrow band is these days. A proper "wide band" radio complying fully with GMRS specs will have an emission designator of 16K0F3E or 20K0F3E. The rule sections 95.1771, 95.1773 and 95.1775 stipulate a 20 KHz BW and +/- 5.0 KHz deviation for the main (not interstitial) channels. If in fact the software distributed by Midland invokes a wide band emission from the MXT400 then it is doing so in conflict with the radios type certification. Something Midland could fix by having the lab Timco test the radio under that configuration, and if it passes, then apply for a permissive change. So far no one has produced any evidence that by setting the 25 KHz or 20 KHz bits in the software actually increases the modulation. If someone does this live on youtube with proper test equipment so no sleight of hand, then I will retract the part of my assertion that the radio does not do wide band. But it will remain un-certified. In the meantime the fact remains that folks buying a 40 or 50 watt Midland radio that delivers only 50% of the deviation permitted by GMRS rules, are getting an inferior product that has weak deviation and poor repeater CTCSS access. They might as well buy a cheaper, used, 25 watt Kenwood TK-840-1 which is certified for part 95, has wide band deviation and sounds better. I urge anyone shopping for a GMRS radio to look up the certification and grant on the FCC OET database for radios being considered. Most cheap Chinese radios also fail to deliver the modulation bandwidth permitted by FCC. Some have barely a 5 KHz BW. The FCC grant shows the power level as well as the emission bandwidth. I have no axe to grind with Midland other than this low deviation issue. I would love to buy their MXT275 micromobile remote radio for my wife's car. But instead she has a Kenwood.

Found the info on the website. Thanks.

Bandwidth is the amount of space allocated for a channel and all the GMRS channels are spaced 25 KHz apart. The modulation or intelligence must be contained within the limits of the channel and is limited to 20 KHz to leave a guard band or blank area of 2,5 KHz on each side of the intelligence. This explains the 20K0F3 designation. Narrowband channels are 12.5 KHz wide so their modulation is 11K0F3, 11K of modulation and 1.25 KHz of guard on each side.

I apologize, The 3 meters up above was a typo and has been corrected. I meant 6 meters. My calculation results were based on 6 meters and are accurate for that length. If the hard mount uses the same RG58/a/u cable then the results should be the same. Best, JAS WRKP245

That's a pretty good summation. FRS/GMRS might be all you need. Some get a taste, and move on to Amateur radio. I've been an Amateur since 1992, but I was/am excited to see the popularity of GMRS taking off. Once you're used to VHF/UFH FM, it's hard to accept crappy AM (CB) radio communications. Like I said, a wide spectrum of society likes "Jeeping" and off-roading. Midland's marketing to that niche group will expand the use of the band as they discover uses for GMRS off the trail. It's all good. I have the abilty to transmit and receive across the VHF/UHF spectrum here at home. I don't really mind hearing the kids playing around on there (except for that non-stop call "ring"). That's what the bubble packs are for. It's a good way to spark an interest in electronics and communications.

There are no equipment regulations for amateur radios like there are for Part 90 and 95 radios. While the radios may in fact be better in some cases, they are not FCC certified as better. No, the radios are not allowed to interfere with others outside the amateur space, but the amateur bands are miles wider that the GMRS band. If a GMRS radio splatters a little it is more likely to adversely affect commercial licensees or public service (bad). In an amateur radio splatters a little it is most likely only going to affect other amateurs (not as bad) Also two sets of rules for Amateur and GMRS. Just because you have an amateur license does not mean you know the GMRS rules and vice versus. Many out there choose to disregard the rules and do what you are asking about. Also, much amateur equipment on the market is not capable of limiting the power to the GMRS limits, particularly when it comes to the 467 interstitial frequencies. So there are a few reasons for you. There are others too. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

As a GMRS licensee they (and you) are required to use them. I live near Cincinnati. Around me, both repeater and simplex users alike seem to use them pretty religiously. There is even a local GMRS father that is teaching his 7 year old son to use GRMRs per the rules. Pretty cool seeing a father take his role seriously. Remember that GMRS shares 22 of 30 frequencies with FRS, and FRS users do not need to have a license and callsign, so one cannot always assume that those not giving there callsign are actual GMRS licensees. They could be simplex FRS users. Now, if you are hearing them truly from the repeater (not just simplex users using the main GMRS frequencies and code that you are), then yes they must have a license and must be using there callsign. Best way to get people to use their callsign is to lead by example. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

If it can't hear that good with a high gain antenna, it would seem like the 1000G lacks filtering and uses a direct conversion receiver, and its desensing. Just perform an ISO-tee on the radio.

If only for GMRS, I'd go with one of the second-hand commercial mobiles, like Kenwood TK-860, TK-880, TK-8180 or similar (like 8102), or with offerings from Motorola. Much much cheaper, and by a lot of circumstantial evidence, perform better.

That is correct, mbrun... thank you. Not giving up on GMRS.... why would I? I am selling a lot of my radios b/c I want to consolidate, so all the XPR7550e and SL7550 radios that I've recently acquired... those stay, aka the new Motorolian Imperial Fleet. Also, a lot of the radios I am selling aren't really the lowest of the barrel I own either. For example, the EVX-539 is not a CCR by any stretch of the imagination, but the XPR7550e won the contest, for several reasons other than just better performance. For example, I can't deal with having 10 different codeplugs anymore, nor 10 different CPS, 10 different battery chargers, 10 different prog cables... etc. So everything non Motorola XPR gen2 will have to go at some point or another. I debated whether to keep the XPR6550s Gen1 radios, but I figured I might just sell them as well... maybe these can help others see the light the way they helped me see the light... Oh, and there is also two more Alinco MD5 DMR/FM radios up for grabs as well. I just forgot to put them on the "yard sale" post... G.

The gist of his many posts was that he saw the light (so to speak) when he discovered that the premium brands of radios (e.g. Motorola and others) truly do substantially outperform all of the CCR he ever purchased and tested. He was trying to help all of us see the light also. It seems a logical decision to hold on to the high performing radios he found and sell the rest that don’t live up to expectations. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk