Midland MXT400

[PB92]

Anybody else running the MXT400............? Love the radio.....

[cateyetech]

Yes we do and yes we do   

I bought a lightly used one a few weeks ago and we installed it in my son's pick-up truck,

with a Browning WSPBR10353 magnet mount and a BR-176-S 450-470mhz 5/8 wave 3Dbd gain antenna.

He runs on Medium power and makes a great connection with our base/repeater.

It has a good clear Rx & Tx (even with our 5yr old granddaughter with the mic) and has a easy to use menu.

They only use the radio for talking to our family group, so it is kept keys locked on one freq set.

Hits our station like a hammer!!! anywhere around town and  it's hilly around here   

 

It provides clear and uninterrupted (12v truck power) conversations with my son on his way to work and evening conversations with my granddaughter 

after school (pre-K) on her ride home.   

 

So yes I love it!!!

And it is a great GMRS radio, but like all of the rebranded to 95 conformity GMRS only units it is very basic compared to unrestricted units.

 

I would recommend this as a good mobile unit.

 

How about you?   

[Soladaddy]

Interested ​in their mobile line up, esp the 115 due to price/repeater capability. Is it true they are all narrowband? Thought I read that somewhere... 

[pfactor]

I agree with cateyetech, it's a great GMRS radio and I recommend it as well. (Thumbs up)

[PB92]

Soladaddy, I understand the MXT400, 115 and 105 are narrow band. Cateyetech, I really like this radio. Performs outstanding. I installed this under my Cobra 29LX in my P71 Interceptor  with custom fabricated brackets........(I have to take a pic and post it here). It'seasy to use (if I can do it anybody can).........I run it on low power except for a couple channels that are active I run it on medium power.

 

The first antenna I used it with was the Midland MXT11A, a 6DB gain antenna. I mounted it on a NMO mount on the trunk lid (hole was already there) Gave great performance. I then ordered the DPD Productions GMRS double 5/8 wave 5.5DB gain in black....(Commsprepper highly recommended the DPD).

 

 So far it seems the radio receives a little better with the Midland antenna. I'm still testing on which antenna gives the best performance. The only and I mean only little fuss I have with the 400 is I would like the ability to change the screen color.

 

I would very much recommend the MXT400. I have the MXT100 as a backup radio.

[cateyetech]

Hey pfactor and PB92

 

Thanks for the info on narrowband, I did not realize this.

I did a little googling and could not find a spec sheet for the MXT400 on line, but it make since.

Even though the audio is VERY clear and the signal is strong there is a reduced audio level on our end (base/repeater)

and I just assumed they were not holding the mic close enough, like a cell phone on speaker.

Once I was talking to my granddaughter about their cats, she got all fired up and the audio was GREAT!!!    

I do find that when I talk to this unit on the base I turn the volume up, but through the repeater to a HT its normal.

 

I did also notice that ch 8-14 (467's) were left out as FRS only and I didn't see any info on Midland's web site

about a new/updated version as to the 2017 regulations, like Btech did with the GMRS V1.

I doesn't affect our use, but in some of the larger city's I'm sure the users would like access to those frequencies also.

 

But sill    it   

[PastorGary]

FCC Certification below.  Note the ONLY emission certified is  10K5F3E.    Unfortunate that it is not FULLY compatible with existing wideband equipment. 

 

https://fccid.io/MMAMXT400

[Soladaddy]

In layman's terms, how will this affect mixing use with wideband radios?

My thoughts are:

Tx narrow to Rx wide = will be quieter audio

Tx wide to Rx narrow = sound terrible

Tx narrow to Rx narrow = no isssues

Tx wide to Rx wide = no issues

 

I've heard arguments that both NB has little more range than WD and visa versa.

 

Maybe NB to NB has more range, like SSB? But WB to WB has more range over a mixed radio setup...?

[Soladaddy]

The first antenna I used it with was the Midland MXT11A, a 6DB gain antenna. I mounted it on a NMO mount on the trunk lid (hole was already there) Gave great performance. I then ordered the DPD Productions GMRS double 5/8 wave 5.5DB gain in black....(Commsprepper highly recommended the DPD).

 

Curios if there is a performance difference because they are similar electrically. I could see differences in SWR and quality.

[PB92]

Soladaddy, of the two the DPD "seems" to be of a better quality. The MXTA11 almost seems like it would be in a bubble pack hanging in the truck stop. Oddly enough, the MXT seems to perform slightly better.

 

Now the difference in DB gain is the DPD is 5.5, and the MXTA11 is 6DB gain. I can't say whether or not that 1/2 DB difference between the two antennas makes that much difference. I travel the same routes to and from work, same times, and I always have the MXT400 on scan mode.

 

I'll put the MXT antenna back on for tomorrow see what I get. Then I may put my swr meter between the radio and the antenna and see what I see.  

 

In Commspreppers review of the DPD antenna, he did say he felt the DPD was of "commercial quality"...........on the other side of that coin the Midland MXTA11 antenna may be a better "match" since they are from the same manufacturer.

[couger100101]

Soladaddy, of the two the DPD "seems" to be of a better quality. The MXTA11 almost seems like it would be in a bubble pack hanging in the truck stop. Oddly enough, the MXT seems to perform slightly better.

 

Now the difference in DB gain is the DPD is 5.5, and the MXTA11 is 6DB gain. I can't say whether or not that 1/2 DB difference between the two antennas makes that much difference. I travel the same routes to and from work, same times, and I always have the MXT400 on scan mode.

 

I'll put the MXT antenna back on for tomorrow see what I get. Then I may put my swr meter between the radio and the antenna and see what I see.

 

In Commspreppers review of the DPD antenna, he did say he felt the DPD was of "commercial quality"...........on the other side of that coin the Midland MXTA11 antenna may be a better "match" since they are from the same manufacturer.

Any noticable difference? Just curious. I have a Browning on my truck. 3bd gain. Seems to pick up just a smidge of engine noise or something. Trying to save a little without sacrificing my tx.

 

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[PB92]

Well, I can pickup these two guys talking in Suffolk County NY from East Haven, CT. Both antennas pick them up. So far, the Midland MXTA11 "seems" to perform just a tad better then the DPD antenna....(all though I like the all black DPD look). Could that be the 1/2 of DB in gain the Midland has over the DPD, I can't say.

 

Mostly all of my operation is while I'm driving, sometimes I will sit in front of my home. I don't have any hardcore data to back up my observations, just a small swr meter.

 

I did not set or adjust any swr's on either antenna. I may hook the meter up in the next few days and see...(weather has been miserable).

[couger100101]

Well, I can pickup these two guys talking in Suffolk County NY from East Haven, CT. Both antennas pick them up. So far, the Midland MXTA11 "seems" to perform just a tad better then the DPD antenna....(all though I like the all black DPD look). Could that be the 1/2 of DB in gain the Midland has over the DPD, I can't say.

 

Mostly all of my operation is while I'm driving, sometimes I will sit in front of my home. I don't have any hardcore data to back up my observations, just a small swr meter.

 

I did not set or adjust any swr's on either antenna. I may hook the meter up in the next few days and see...(weather has been miserable).

Oh I hear you on the weather! LOL. It has sucked up here in Maine as well. It is starting to look better though. I really need to get a 400 and set up a repeater here. or some place SE of my location. These hills are killing me! LOL. I do travel to RI and CT a couple times a year, family and friends. I'll pm you with my info, if thats alright. I might have to spring for the Midland antenna. I think the mag base shouldn't matter in this case.

[PB92]

Hooked up my Roadpro RPSWR-2C swr meter. No matter where I set the buttons, it pegged the needle all the way over to the right. So I don't think its working.

 

One thing I did notice though, with the Midland antenna, even with the power on low, when I keyed the mic the radios meter would always show all the way up like full power.

 

With the DPD

 antenna, the power meter actually showed the different power levels of the radio where I set it, on low the radios meter would only light 2 bars, on medium 3 bars, and radio on high power, all the bars would be lit.

 

So my testing continues.

[axorlov]

Seems that it is CB-frequency SWR meter. If so, it won't work on 462MHz

[PB92]

I never thought of that axorlov, good point. So, I need to buy a specific meter then?

[axorlov]

Something like MFJ-874 would cover ham bands, CB and GMRS. That's what I'm thinking to get for myself. Reviews are not too bad on eHam and amazon. On the other hand, I may save $120 and put it toward a proper antenna analyzer.

[timpate316]

I did not see spending $250 I believe on a radio that only works on 22 channels. I also use Murs and FRS . I spent a bit less and got more radio. My radio dose about 50 watts and it's really all i need. Not many active GMRS users. A lot of machines up and running here but most are all unlicensed gmrs. Just gonna get my tech license and call it a day.

[PB92]

Well the GMRS radio was another "layer" of comms for my prepping gear. I may add yet another, as I am a huge fan of redundancy. Besides so far I think I like the GMRS aspect...... I don't understand all there is to GMRS, but I didn't know everything about custom high-end CB's either 30 years ago. I like it, I'm having fun. 

 

I'm not at this time interested in getting my ham ticket for reasons I mentioned in another thread (yes I know ham is popular in the prepping community) I did quite a bit of research on which way to go...GMRS, FRS or MURS. I decided on GMRS.  

[keithress]

I have the MXT115, anyone having trouble talking to repeaters on it???  I have the 6DB gain antenna on it and here in the flat desert of AZ I get   6-8 miles from a handheld to the 115 is that ok??  I'm new to the GRMS world

 

Keith

WRAW599

[berkinet]

I have the MXT115, anyone having trouble talking to repeaters on it???...

Can you define “trouble.” Can you bring up the repeater at all or are you just having problems hearing or being heard?

 

Just taking a guess a guess here, but it may be an issue with your PL settings on transmit. Check that you have the channel programmed for repeater use and have the correct PL tone selected.

[PB92]

Don't feel bad keithress, I'm still trying to figure out how to program the PL tones in my 400. Can't say I see it anywhere in the manual for some reason. Maybe I need my decoder ring on or something.

[berkinet]

Don't feel bad keithress, I'm still trying to figure out how to program the PL tones in my 400. Can't say I see it anywhere in the manual for some reason.

Take a look at page 17 in the manual*: Selecting a Privacy Code, Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System (CTCSS)

 

PL is Motorola’s name for CTCSS. While the term PL (from Private Line) is widely used, it is actually trademarked by Motorola.

 

* https://midlandusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/MXT400-Owners-Manual.pdf

 

see also: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuous_Tone-Coded_Squelch_System

[keithress]

Well I solved my problems  LOL    I gave the MXT115 to my kid for her car and bought 2 Baofeng handhelds (BF-F9V2+)  and a  BTECH MINI UV-25X2 25 Watt  for the truck.  Now I just have to figure out CHIRP!!!!  LOL  thanks for the info

[jwilkers]

Well I solved my problems LOL I gave the MXT115 to my kid for her car and bought 2 Baofeng handhelds (BF-F9V2+) and a BTECH MINI UV-25X2 25 Watt for the truck. Now I just have to figure out CHIRP!!!! LOL thanks for the info

Bear in mind, both those radios mentioned are not part 95 certified and therefore are illegal to be used on gmrs.

 

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