WRYZ926

I used what ever the version is when clicking on the MXT500 Update firmware tool download button on Midland's website The spi file is: MXT500 V1_149_2021_5_11.spi

Well that didn't seem to work. I updated the firmware on my MXT500 and still only have 30 channel slots

I will have to look into that. I just bought mine a few weeks ago.

Use good antennas and get them as high as you can. Also remember that if you use a single antenna and a duplexer that your transmit power will be cut in half. Take the Retevis and Midland repeaters that are advertised at 10 watts. You are only getting 5 watts per RX and TX. Same goes with using two 50 watt radios with a duplexer and a single antenna, your RX and TX will only be 25 watts.

There really won't be much difference between 20 watts and 50 watts in flat/open terrain or if you are top of a hill. 50 watts can make a difference if you are in the woods or trying to picket fence off of obstacles. One thing I do not care about with the Midland radios is that you can't add a bunch of different repeater channels to them. You are limited to just a few where the FRS channels would normally be. The other thing is that Midland radios come from the factory set to narrow band and you have to go in and change each channel to wide band. It is hard to buy anything that is not made in or uses components that are made in Chine now days. That includes everyone's computers, tablets and cell phones no matter which brand they are. I will buy CCR's from US based companies knowing that I can get support from them and most of the money stays here.

Midland makes the MXT 500 and the MXT575. Both radios are 50 watts max. The MXT575 has everything built into the mic. I am running the MXT500 as my base station and a friend has the MXT575 in his truck. While I would really like to find the Wouxun 1000G in stock since it has a removable control, I'll probably go with the Midland MXT575 for my vehicle since I will have a 2m/70cm radio too.

Unfortunately there aren't a lot of GMRS mobile radios with removable control units. like there are for HAM radios. I am in the same situation looking for space in my 23 Ford Escape right now. Midland does make a couple of models where the screen and all controls are built into the mic which will make installation easier as you can stack the main body just about anywhere. There are a couple of cheap Chinese GMRS radios that are made the same way. the CCR's are only 20 watts while you can get a 15 was or 50 watt from Midland. There are also quite a few 20-25 watt GMRS mobiles that are pretty small too. So you do have options. I am concentrating on getting a HAM radio installed in my Escape first then see what direction to go with a mobile GMRS radio. I will be using a 2m/70cm radio with removable control unit. I currently have a Midland XTS500 as my GMRS base station and a Wouxun XS20G (20 watt) that I might see if I can find room for in the car after I get the HAM radio installed. Otherwise the XS20G will go in my SxS.

I found out at the last club meeting that quite a few of the members do have their GMRS license so I think it will be an easy push to get a GMRS repeater up. Being in rural central Missouri, there are no GMRS repeaters up and running. Our proposal was met with enthusiasm. As @WRXB215 said, there is no reason to limit yourself on the available communication tools out there. My local club does participate in emergency communications and having GMRS and all the amateur bands available is a plus.

I recently got my technician's license and also got my GRMS license while waiting for my amateur call sign. I treated studying for the technician test just like anything else. I read the book a couple of times then started taking practice exams' And when I would miss questions, I went back and reread the book. I did that until I could pass the practice exam with a 90% or better. I am currently doing the same as I study for the general test. A family member pushed me to get my tech license knowing that I have been considering it for a long time. He told me to stop procrastinating. He also got his GMRS license at the same time I did and we are now talking to the amateur radio club we belong to about GMRS. We presented the idea of getting a GMRS repeater going on the local 900 foot tower where our 2m and 70cm repeaters are located. We also told them that GMRS might be a good way to get people interested in getting licensed for GMRS and amateur radio. Plus we stated that using GMRS along with amateur radio frequencies could be beneficial during an actual emergency. The more frequencies available the better With the right approach both GMRS and amateur radio can work together to get new people interested in the hobby. And that is the approach we are using to get more amateur radio operators within the club to get into GMRS and also get new people into the hobby.

I need to get the old 10m radio and antenna setup so I can at least use 28.3 to 28.5 while studying for my general.

It depends on your location within the US. Guys on the west coast will pick up the far east better while the east coast will pick up Europe better. Guys have been getting Argentina really well here in the midwest.

The weather is definitely having something to do with it. I haven't noticed too much on 2m or GMRS but the guys on 10m are going crazy right now.

@Lscott I agree that it is just as easy to go with a mobile radio versus messing with an amp.

The BTech AMP-U25 is for 400 to 480 MHz so it will work fine with GMRS frequencies. And don't feel bad about being new. I am new to GMRS and amateur radio myself. Find guys around you that have been in amateur radio for a long time and ask questions. The old timers are normally more than happy to help new people out. A lot of stuff as far as antennas, radios and amps will be very similar between amateur radio and GMRS. The obvious differences are frequencies and allowed power output restrictions. I'll suggest again to consider just getting a mobile GMRS radio since you can get one for the same price as the amp.

Best is to charge the batteries all together at 48V. That is how every 24V, 36V, or 48V system I have worked with is set up for charging to include engine driven alternators and generators. Look at all the electric golf cart chargers for an example. They charge to the correct voltage for the system versus the individual batteries.

Looking at the specs for that amp, it is for 1.25m (220-225MHz). GMRS is between 426.5625 to 467.7250. I don't know if that would cause any issues or not. The BTech AMP-U25 might be a better choice. I will say that you can get a BTech GSMR-20V2 for the same price as that amp .https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B6DB3SCL/?coliid=INSG1QQ020V7H&colid=2A7BPH9LMGKQ&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it And from what I have seen from different videos, BTech and Radioddity have done a good job on their radios as far as spurious RF emissions. You could go with an amp or with a mobile radio for the same cost so the choice is yours.

I ended up buying a Midland MXT500 to use as a base station and put the included mag mount on my Escape. With the mount in the center of my roof, I was able to run the coax through the back hatch without any issues. That does leave the cable too short to put a radio on the dash. I might use that mount for a dual band radio with a detachable head unit and get another mag mount for my GMRS radio. There isn't a whole lot of space to mount radios in the Escape. I might go with the BTech GMRS-20V2. That way I only need to worry about the dual band head unit and two mic's.

As much as I would love to use a MXTA26 antenna, I just don't have the clearance between the top of my Ford Escape and the garage door. For those like me that have a SUV or truck and Parkin a garage, keep the antenna height in mind.

I have a couple of the cheap Baofeng mic's that I use on my GT-5R dual band and UV-5R GMRS radios. While they are not the best, they do work. And yes the MXTA26 will improve things even with a 5 watt hand held while in your vehicle.

Welcome to GMRS and the forum Zack.

The Abbree AR-771 antennas I have work fine. I'm using them on a pair of Baofeng UV-5R GMRS radios.

Good to know. I didn't even bother with the rubber duck antennas since I put the Abbree 771 antennas on right away.

I have a couple of Abree AR-771 antennas that came with my Baofeng UV-5R GMRS radios but I haven't tested them compared to the stock rubber duck antennas. I can say that an actual Nagoya 771 antenna is an improvement over the stock rubber duck on my Baofeng GT-5R dual band radio.

The rules can definitely seem convoluted at times. People having different opinions and interpretations of those rules don't help matters either.

I might have went overboard a little with my GRMS antenna. I have a Comet CA-712EFC mounted on a 40" J mount on top of the roof. I couldn't go any higher without chopping a tree down. I know the Comet and Tram antennas are popular here for a base antenna. I don't have my dual band antenna mounted yet so I am just using a magnet mount mobile antenna mounted to the side of my house with two shelf brackets and a cookie sheet. It working okay for 2m. I can hit a couple of repeaters that are within 30 miles of me.