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Sorry to have to be the one to break this news to you but bragging about not being a ham BUT how easy it would be to pass the examS "if you wanted to" is a strong indicator of being a latent sad-H.A.M. .. Your other posts already proved you also fall into the "some people" category.. And as the inventor of the term Sad-H.A.M., my declaration is final and cannot be disputed or overturned.

Two days ago you didn’t know how to waterproof your coax connectors and today you’re lecturing Marc Spaz on receiver sensitivity measurements. You posted a picture of a radio installation that looks like what Randy discarded last week. (Edited to remove mean-spirited attempt at humor.) In any case you’re just one more wannabe on the ignore list.

Being a sad-H.A.M. is a mental/emotional-defect, not a test score/status. And while there is a very high correlation of sad-H.A.M.s having H.A.M. licenses, this does not prove causation.

You're new to the Forum and you may be losing support in being nominated to the "Righteous Dude" list and you will end up only being recogized as one of those "Some People". It appears that you are questioning Marc's expertise in measuring the sensitivity of the two subject radios. Do you think Marc just pulled out the findings of his test out of the air and that he doesn't know what he is doing? Do you actually think anyone without that kind of education/experience could even come close and talk-the-talk? He clearly explained a typical test procedure in measuring the receiver's sensitivity and you responded with a different procedure that you said he should have used in place of his procedure. Was there something wrong with his test procedure? Since, you are new to the list, I think it would have been best for you to lurk for awhile so you have an idea who the players are and how they roll instead showing up and stepping on people's protruding body parts.

Just based on this post alone, I can confidently proclaim that the Midland is not the right radio-choice for you.

That depends on how you define "good"... Midland Micromobile radios are GREAT for someone that wants a decent quality, EASY TO USE, NO BELLS AND WHISTLES GMRS radio.. They are priced high but that price is worth it to many people willing to pay for that simplicity and the fact that the company is at least based in 'Murica. I have had several Midland radios (6 or 7?), with the power output ranging on them from 105% of its rated output to around only 75% .. But dont be fooled - although it's good to get what the box says, you will NEVER notice any difference between 35 watts and 50 watts in regular usage. Most of the mobile units do not have cooling fans but never once, ever, in all my usage of my Midlands, not once, has one ever over-heated, shut-down, or stuttered due to high-heat or over usage. According to the Midland Marketing Manager, the Midland Micromobile GMRS radios are a hybrid of Superheterodyne and HOMOdyne.. But I dont remember which half (RX or TX) is SUPERhet and which part was HOMOdyne... and most people buying this type of simple radio wouldn't care anyway. Anyone complaining about the lack of features on a Midland is obviously not who Midland is selling their radios to, and should therefore be ignored. Anyone slamming you over the air simply because your radio is chinese is a moron and should be ignored with extreme-prejudice.. Just tell them you're transmitting on a iCom radio and as long as your roger-beep is off i GUARANfuckingTEE you that they will never be able to tell the difference. For MY money, I would buy a KG-1000G, but only because I am a radio dork. However I have many friends that are regular-people that prefer the simplicity of the Midland radios and were more than happy to pay the $$ for that simplicity.

In addition to good connectors and coax, I also use "Strong 30mil Weatherproof Self-Fusing Silicone Rubber Sealing Tape" - that stuff works like magic.

Swap the antenna for a GMRS antenna.

Was there ever really a question with this thread or a point to it? Was it just an excuse to engage in argument? Question might as well have been “hey you like that crap radio you got there”? Thank goodness for the ignored user setting.

And only had your GMRS license for a couple months thus that makes you very new to this forum

Dude... I have no idea how you would even do what you wrote. That doesn't make sense. I performed a 12 dB SINAD sensitivity test using a signal generator, testing at 462.55 MHz and 462.725 MHz on both radios. I also performed SQ4 opening and closing tests. The Midland SQ4 opening was -120.7 and closing was -124.4, but the Yaesu SQ4 was at -116.7/-121.

Did it come like that new out of the box or did you have to do a firmware update? I had to do the firmware update before my MXT500 would have 128 programmable channels.

I completely agree with OffRoaderX. I am of the exact same opinions. I have owned just about every GMRS radio there is to own and my two favorite purpose built, OTC GMRS radios, are the KG-1000G and the MXT500. The KG-1000G is feature packed and is reliable. The MXT500 is simple to use, water/dust resistant (huge plus for Jeepers who offroad) and reliable. As far as Superhet v Homodyne, I wouldn't get too wrapped up in that at these price points. My Yaesu FTM-300DR double conversion superheterodyne receive sensitivity is -120.88 dBm, and my MXT500 (ROC/direct-conversion) receive sensitivity was -124.0 dBm... much better than the superhet Yaesu. Their handhelds do fall short with the lack of repeater capability.

That’s why i buy kits with multiple variations. So now I always have 48 that I’ll never need.

Have been reading this forum for a bit prior to joining up. The info provided has been helpful! Have a MX115 and DB-25G. The MX115 is going to be used as a base, do to the simplicity of the unit for family members to use. Needing to gather the needed items to bring the base online. Have a couple of handhelds that will be used when traveling with others or around were we are at. (easier than a cell phone!) Thanks for having a place to share ideas and help!

Chessy68, Randy (@OffRoaderX) has put together a metric buttload of videos about almost entirely GMRS radios. They’re available under the name “Notarubicon”. Not everyone appreciates his humor, so if they don’t appeal to there are many others. Welcome to the forum!

I have heard a few people mention that Youtube has some good videos going over every aspect of using GMRS and pretty much all GMRS radios.

I can verify that. https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/427-adapters-connectorsjpeg/?context=new

I'm not sure when Midland became Yaesu. I only remember that for the past 30 years they made what were considered the "cheapo" CB radios. Are the Midland GMRS radios superhet? I only ask because of a conversation between 4 guys on the repeater today. Slamming "the Chinese junk". As far as I know Wouxun is the only thing trying to do non homodyne radios for the GMRS space.

As an RF engineer who has designed receivers for over 10 years, I can say that SINAD is not a receiver metric. SINAD (Signal In Noise and Distortion) is a measurement parameter to which receiver performance is measured. dBm (dB-milliwatt) is far and away the most common receiver sensitivity metric in the RF design world. Sure FM broadcast receivers are measured in dBf, (dB FemtoWatt) but that is not typical elsewhere. Actually, in the receiver world, Noise Figure (F) is the best metric as that speaks to the RF front end without impacts from the audio circuitry, see below. To the person who posted dBm sensitivity measurements: Surely you used some proper RF service monitor to perform this measurement. May I ask what "weighting" you used on the audio? A or C weighted? it does make a subtle difference... Hope this helps.

@WSAK691 I have been sitting back reading and I've noticed that I don't have to share any pictures of anything because you have already shown us your ass. You are gravely mistaken in believing anyone here, especially me, has anything to prove to you. I don't care about your opinion. I'm fairly sure no one else here cares about your opinion. With the exception of providing some mild and waning entertainment as you continue to show us your ass, your incessant posting is doing nothing beyond solidifying your place in purgatory of the internet.

Someone who would actually buy two radios that no one would buy at once, and who would test them head to head. His knowledge and his testing are top notch. He knows what he is doing.

Hilarious, you obviously do not know anything about who you are talking to.

Oh boy... I guess this conversation is over.

It was a firmware update.

I bought it for the physical size of the radio to use it as a jerk and run plug it in to the cigarette lighter type radio and lay it on the seat type of radio. Last year I acquired a Kenwood for that purpose because it has a majority of the radio features I want like Zones, talkaround, and PL Defeat features where as the Midland does not. One of my cars will not accommodate a radio installation and if I end up driving my wife's grocery getter, the small radio is perfect. The Motorola XTL5000 dashmounts are just to big for that purpose.

I'd wouldn't have asked, otherwise. What are you saying is not real?

Did you not read my post? My MXT500 had measurably better performance than my FTM-300DR. Saying a receiver is "unquestionably superior" just because it's a superhet is foolish. Especially when I just shared measured proof that your statement is not correct. While superheterodyne receivers are traditionally better performers when compared to direct-conversion receivers, that is only a generalization. There are plenty of instances were DCRs are fantastic performers, and some superhet receivers are trash. You can say it isn't true or its anecdotal, but I have bench-tested hundreds of transceivers in my lifetime. There is definitely a correlation between similarly equipped DCRs and superhets at the same price point having similar performance.

My MXT500 has a capacity of 128 channels and can be custom programmed for repeaters from Ch. 23 all the way to Ch. 128 and with split tones. Also, I can program channels 8-14 with custom repeaters channels.

I might be wrong, but I think the cable grip's purpose in life is to hoist the coax up to you. You would use a different device to attach and support the coax on the mast.

That's what I suspected. I haven't owned a Midland GMRS radio, but I have owned their products in the past pre-GMRS. I didn't think much of it..

For the cost of a Midland MXT500 or MXT575, you will be better off buying the Wouxun KG-1000G or KG-1000G Plus. All are 50 watt radios and cost about the same price. The Wouxun KG-1000G is super heterodyne. I had a Midland MXT500 and never got more than about 35-38 watts out on high. The Wouxun KG-1000G puts out 45-48 watts on high. The KG-1000G sounds better on transmit and receive and is an all around better radio. Needless to say, I kept the Won and got rid of the Midland.

probably, but here is the direct link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K5GW67O/

I know a guy that can get me lots of these, for the right buyer. Unless you're a narc.

Here is the set up. I was able to TX and RX once I was closer to the repeater. I haven't yet tried swapping antennas. The UV-5R antenna does say, "AR-771 VHF/UHF" where the GM-5RH says "AR-771 GMRS".

@WRTC971 Welcome to GMRS.

Welcome!

It must just be you because "some people" continue to proclaim that I am the RF-antikhrist and have single-handedly destroyed both H.A.M. and GMRS.

Did you set the (probably) +5 offset to 462.675?

I just did a similar mapping a couple days ago. I don’t recall having to put in either the TX or RX frequencies. I think I just went to the appropriate repeater channel (23-30), put in the tone, and it was GTG. I’m not at my laptop right now but I can check later tonight or tomorrow morning.

However, you do get the straight poop instead of the soft and runny poop. You should note the T-Shirts he wears in the videos.

Do a search for "boofwang" on YouTube and check out the first link.

Aluminum will work, but your mag-mount wont stick to it as well as a cookie-sheet.. However the wife will probably complain less about using the foil vs the cookie-sheet. I'm sure that "some people" will leave a more detailed, 10-paragraph explanation complete with the molecular differences between steel and aluminum and the RF calculations, all just to say "it will work" ....

Also beware of "some people" that will chastise you for even thinking about using an XTL5000 on GMRS and watch out for the "experts" telling you that you will go to jail if you get a copy of the XTL5000 software..

The hardest part about programming the XTL5000 is getting the software.. As for programming the radio: I learned everything about how to program it by watching youtube videos - I have a friend that I could call for things that really confused me and he also learned everything from Youtube and various websites. For most/many things, the programming is the same/very similar to the XTS5000 - seems there is more info out there for the XTS, which also helped me a lot.

So when you said "-120dbm vs -124dbm" that sounds like you're on someone's receive and measuring that anecdotally. Am I right? Because that's not typical receive sensitivity metrics.

I take offense to that. I use a Surecom SW-102 and I'm not normal.