WRKE629

Thanks all for the quick responses. Clarification to my original post. 1. The quiet/loud issue is worse when talking with widband radios, but it is still present when using our Midland handhelds (narrowband) to talk to the MXT275 and MXT275 to MXT275. The Narrowband handled 5W Midlands come through the MXT275 narrowband much louder/clearer than the MXT275 to MXT275, so that leads me to think there is some other fundamental issue in my setup that is made worse when communicating with a wide band radio. 2. The issue has been present since I initially installed the radios, we worked around by adding external speakers, which helps but is no longer practical as more powerful wide band radios have joined our little convoys. I do plan to upgrade to wideband radios and appreciate the suggestions above, I will check them out, but I am hesitant to do that without understanding root cause of my current problem. Thx for all the input.

Hi all I have two Midland MXT275 (USB A Narrow band only) radios hardwired into a Jeep and a Bronco with Laird BB4502N 1/2 wave (no ground plane) antennas. The Bronco antenna is mounted on the rear fender on a custom bracket and the Jeep antenna is attached to a swing gate mounted cargo basket. Both setups have a SWR of 1.2 according to my cheepo meter. My problem is that the TX from the Jeep is very quiet and the Bronco is somewhat quiet. Both RX loud and clear when receiving from our Midland GMRS handhelds or other radios. Recently we had to exclusively use the handhelds as the RX from a BTEC handheld in the group was "blow the speakers out" loud. I have tried swapping antennas for the small Midland magnetic antenna that came with the radios attached to a 12"x12" sheetmetal ground plane with no noticeable difference. We've had the radios for 6+ years and have never gotten typical GMRS range from them. At 0.75 to 1.0 mi on clear line of sight highway we start to get broken comms. I'd like to make these work, as a really like the small form factor of the MXT275 and I do not think I need the range of a full 50W radio. Next on my list is to pick up the newer USBC version of the MXT275 (wide band) bundled with the Midland MXTA26 antenna that others seem to be having great luck with, but before I spend another $$ on new radios that could have similar issue are there other things should I check/try? I am a mechanical engineer, meaning I know just enough to be dangerous. I'm definitely not a radio expert, but generally techy response will be understood. Thx.