Midland MXT275 Transmit issue

[Slufooted]

I sure hope someone out there can help.

I have a midland mxt275, I can receive from super far distances all the time, but I cant seem to get a response while transmitting IE: Radio Check.

Things I have done, checked ect.

I have both ghost and whip antennas. SWR reads 1.1 - 1.5 on either. I have a 12" ground plane, solid 14V to the unit, I have reset to factory defaults, repeaters on and off, changed radios, changed cars, changed antennas/cables and get same results on both. I'm completely stumped here and could really use some advise.

Going down the freeway, I hear tons of clear chatter close and miles away but I guess no one can hear me. I have tested in close proximity with 2 identical radios and I can receive and transmit on both w/out issues while 30 feet apart.

Please, any advise would be greatly appreciated.

[piggin]

Just now, Slufooted said:

From what Im reading, the MTX275 does not support wideband. I sure feel like I made the wrong choice going with Midland.

 Some models do wideband. Like the 500. Return it if you can. Narrowband is so quiet to other users it sounds like speaking quietly 5 ft from the mic. I am sure its why you are being ignored even if you are into the repeater.

[dosw]

6 minutes ago, Slufooted said:

From what Im reading, the MTX275 does not support wideband. I sure feel like I made the wrong choice going with Midland.

Not true. It quietly switches to wideband on repeater channels. I confirmed this looking at an RTL-SDR waterfall, watching a TinySA spectrum analyzer, but first by observing that listening to 15R sounds just a little quieter than 15, which is a hard symptom of switching to wideband to explain, but expected.

Ultimately do what you want. But the problems you're facing have nothing to do with using the simplest 15w mobile radio made. There are fantastic alternatives, of course, but you're in analysis paralysis right now. Just use the thing.

[WRUQ357]

On Midlands web site, it says wide band while transmitting on repeater channels only. 

[SteveShannon]

@Slufooted,

If you don’t set the right tone for transmitting, nobody on the repeater will ever hear you. 

On 9/22/2024 at 5:23 PM, Slufooted said:

 

I sure hope someone out there can help.

I have a midland mxt275, I can receive from super far distances all the time, but I cant seem to get a response while transmitting IE: Radio Check.

Things I have done, checked ect.

I have both ghost and whip antennas. SWR reads 1.1 - 1.5 on either. I have a 12" ground plane, solid 14V to the unit, I have reset to factory defaults, repeaters on and off, changed radios, changed cars, changed antennas/cables and get same results on both. I'm completely stumped here and could really use some advise.

Going down the freeway, I hear tons of clear chatter close and miles away but I guess no one can hear me. I have tested in close proximity with 2 identical radios and I can receive and transmit on both w/out issues while 30 feet apart.

Please, any advise would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

[amaff]

1 hour ago, Slufooted said:

I wish I could send it back but my window has passed. Bought in May (USB-C) version 2 of them and same on both radios. So jokes aside, I haven't been able to actually use it since I got it.

Another thing just occurred to me: Is this one of the Midlands were you need to turn on the repeater-capable function? Just trying to think of something else easy to miss on these.

[WRUQ357]

The only thing I don't like about mine is that you have to switch to repeater on the mic. Most other gmrs radios, you just scroll up through the channels. I'm putting mine in my truck and will probably use it for simplex only while traveling. 

[Slufooted]

6 minutes ago, amaff said:

Another thing just occurred to me: Is this one of the Midlands were you need to turn on the repeater-capable function? Just trying to think of something else easy to miss on these.

Yup

i have to enable the RP channels if I want to use them. 
Im completely defeated with this thing. 
 

[Hoppyjr]

We really could go on an on, but your next move really should be to contact Midland Customer Service and explain the problem. It sounds like you are experiencing exactly what I did. I’m sure they’ll offer to update both radios. Ask them to provide the shipping label, which is the least they can do since they knew of the problem and didn’t handle before sale.

[piggin]

IF you have it set properly... can you "kerchunck" the repeaters? This website is a great resource for repeaters in the area you live in. Figure out which ones are close and set your transmit tones and then see if you are getting into them. If you are, then focus on holding the microphone the right way. Talking across the mic works better. Speak in a loud voice while being close to the mic. Speaking into it from right in the front of it does not work as well as speaking at an angle across the front of it does. This technique yields good results. It should also be said that if you are weak into the repeater with a low signal you may be so noisy no one will respond. If possible, drive closer to the repeater site and try again. Unless the signals you hear are very loud and clear, you may not be strong enough to talk to them.

 When I first got my ham license I was too poor to afford a HF radio. As a result I used an inexpensive 2M radio and ran amok trying for distant repeaters. I had a great time talking to people far away. Technique and experience really help. Don't give up! You can do it! Keep trying and you WILL succeed.

 I hope to see you post soon on your first radio contact. Good luck and be persistent. Try and try some more. Also...a better antenna with more gain will help out west.

 

 Stupid anecdotal story follows. I was into a machine on the coast of SC from my home in WNC one evening, and a local user of the repeater did not believe my location. The conditions were excellent for long distance due to an effect called ducting. It was hilarious because he was actually offended I was able to get into his repeater from where I was. It was an unforgettable experience and hilarious. Keep trying. You will get the hang of it and when you do you will forget all the things you needed to do to make it work. Practice makes perfect and don't give up!!!  

[WRYZ926]

Like others have said, contact Midland to see what they have to say. I'm not familiar with the MXT275, but one would think that it would keep repeater mode active once turned on. I know the MXT500 and MXT575 will keep repeater mode enabled.

Hopefully a firmware update will fix your radio. unfortunate the  radios with everything in the mic have to go Midland for that since they don't have a USB port for programming. My brother was disappointed when he found that out with his MXT575.

[WSEI509]

The current Midland MTX275 uses wideband on repeater channels.  I've tested this via repeater communicating with my son who was on a Rocky Talkie, which does allow you to select wide/narrow band.  I regularly communicate on repeater channels using the the MTX275 with others and never had any problems with people hearing me.

I purchased my MTX275 in August 2024 and also use Rocky Talkies for outdoor use and a Wouxun kg-1000g as a base station.  All said, I did go through the same, "What?!? This thing only does narrow band!" moment you're going through.  Realize that this only occurs in simplex mode (non-repeater).  Once you program repeater channels (see page 24 of the manual) and select the proper CTCSS or DTS tone (see page 28 of the manual), there's nothing inherent to the radio that will prevent you from making contacts.

[dosw]

2 minutes ago, WSEI509 said:

The current Midland MTX275 uses wideband on repeater channels.  I've tested this via repeater communicating with my son who was on a Rocky Talkie, which does allow you to select wide/narrow band.  I regularly communicate on repeater channels using the the MTX275 with others and never had any problems with people hearing me.

I purchased my MTX275 in August 2024 and also use Rocky Talkies for outdoor use and a Wouxun kg-1000g as a base station.  All said, I did go through the same, "What?!? This thing only does narrow band!" moment you're going through.  Realize that this only occurs in simplex mode (non-repeater).  Once you program repeater channels (see page 24 of the manual) and select the proper CTCSS or DTS tone (see page 28 of the manual), there's nothing inherent to the radio that will prevent you from making contacts.

This has been my experience, too.

I tested this four different ways using an RTL-SDR with SDR++ software to observe the waterfall, using the NanoVNA as an RF generator, using the TinySA to observe output, and so on. The USB-C version of the MXT275, which I've had since late 2021, uses wideband in the "R" channels.