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I saw the midland unit, and may try it with one of my bubble pack radios to see how it works. But since that is not my goal I was inclined to hold off on trying it until I heard about others experiences. Thanks for the cardo info. Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

Similar problem I have with my MXT275. Apparently, they upgraded the MXT115 and 275 to now accept split tones recently. I emailed Midland about it, and there response was to buy the upgraded version of the 275, as they cannot upgrade my current version of the radio. I'm betting they can, but just want me to spend more monies. I like most everything about the radio except not being able to program split tones, and of course the narrow/wide band thing.

Not exactly an answer to your question, but rather personal experience. I have Sena SMH10 that I use with the phone and as intercom with pillion and other riders in the group. It's bluetooth, not wired. Mounted inside the helmet under the earpads. I moved it between several helmets, starting with Suomi Gunwind (rather noisy helmet) to my current Bell RS1 (rather quiet helmet). Sound is very weak, the setup is barely usable at speeds above 65mph. At 80mph and up - forget it. I installed bigger speakers, also from Sena, it helped somewhat. I attempted to use a self-made bluetooth contraption to connect to the radio (FT-1XD), and this was not usable at all. With a lot of static and bad voice quality on Ham FM, I cannot discern the speech at 30mph and up. I decided that I closed this page and do not want to use radio when riding. Cruising on a boulevards, or riding backroads - (big) maybe. Freeway commuting (where I spend most of my saddle time) - no. I see how it can be useful on dirtbike, though.

Well that is not how it was presented to me back in the early days of D*Star, but a quick "google" indicates that your presentation is correct. Thank you.

AS Ive said for multiple years you get what you pay for. This is just another example of cheap china stuff that everyone wants to use that does not work well

You both must be having a slow day: Have no fear: I never made any statement that the 50w 462 frequencies are restricted to repeater use only. But keep trying, I am sure you can trigger a dispute with me about something real, if you keep trying! ?

So for reference; I just got done tuning up our portable repeater's duplexer for a campout next week with the local GMRS crew - this is a Celwave 633-6A-2N mobile duplexer, measurement device is an Anritsu MT8212B. This is measured through a couple extra fittings that are part of the normal install; so this adds a few tenths of a dB for insertion loss. For 462.700 Mhz (TX side) - insertion loss is -1.52dB, with a high notch (nothing RX) at -81.72dB For 467.700 Mhz (RX side) - insertion loss is -1.25dB, with a low notch (notching TX) at -87.97dB Below are comparative measurements I took a while ago of a similar Celwave unit (left) vs. the chinesium Jesai/Fumei unit (right); you can see the difference - the cheap stuff is unfortunately garbage at the 5mhz split:

As others have said.....Check your antenna SWR with just a foot or two of coax if you can. Minimal loss coax will show the true SWR of the antenna but higher loss coax will hide a bad SWR. It can make a bad antenna "look" good (but not work good) If the SWR looks worse with longer or higher loss coax you probably have a connector problem... or the coax is not 50 ohms. Vince

While that could be true, since that same piece of coax is still being used in part of the circuit the items added are the probable candidates. Cases like this are what make a portable antenna analyzer so, so beneficial. Regardless, still takes trial and error measurements until the culprit(s) are found. Regards Michael WRHS965 KE8PLM

The nice thing about both GMRS and HAM is you can put as much effort into it as you want and enjoy radio. I got a HAM license years and years ago and upgraded to General. I recently got into GMRS because my family can get involved and don't have to take the test. There is not much traffic on GMRS where I live. I still listen to 2m and 70cm via local repeaters. I also still listen to SW. Enjoy whatever part of the radio world you choose to use. These days there are a lot of good resources on the web. Sean

In the Midland MXT400 programing software, on individual channel setups, there is a checkbox in upper right of the channel edit window labeled Scan Skip. Exactly what you are looking for I think.

Good question... I'm a Part 95 guy following the FCC current (not past Part 90) equipment as my first GMRS radio was a KG-805G which I was looking for a Part 95 radio as my number one criteria. Now I really like the KG-905G for the channel grouping. Jack P.S. Sorry for delay, it is Spring time and been working on landscaping at home.

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.

FRS is a Family Radio Service. As in: you buy the (part 95) radios, you blabber on them, no restrictions. Families use them on camping, fishing, hiking trips, on playgrounds, on county fairs, in shopping malls. Business can use FRS if it suites the needs, like if you are a construction guy on the top of the 5-story building tired of yelling silly at your crew below. Or you are an employee at the valet parking lot. Proper certified FRS radios have fixed antennas. Anyone can monitor and listen on FRS frequencies. Anyone can perfectly transmit on FRS frequencies using FRS radio, including HAM operators. Illegal radios exist and will always exist, just like illegal guns and illegal drugs. And illegal speeding. And illegal fishing. To require to end FRS or pay for FRS license because your operations are inconvenienced, is very wrong, even if you paid $70 for 10 years. Amateur operators (HAMs) are not vital for the national security. It's a hobby, just like knitting or cat grooming. Nuclear subs, healthy economy, transportation network, energy independence, free press, sane leadership are vital for national security. You know what else is vital - a clear head on top of every citizen's shoulders.