Midland MXT575 GMRS 2-Way Radio Install & Photos *SWR Report*

[vzqhsg]

Dave, the speakers are great and you have the option to run one or both. Very nice in noisy environments. At longer ranges and higher power, I think the whip would perform better.

Thank you Craig. Will get one ordered. Merry Christmas!!

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[Dom]

I was wonering how the ghost antenna would fare. I'm glad SWR is good.

 

[0321_Bronco]

Thank you Craig. Will get one ordered. Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas to you! Enjoy it.

 

[Dom]

What if I occasionally off road and want to try and get by with hand held GMRS what would you recommend?? Would hand held units work OK for a small ground of 3-5 Broncos? The few times I have been with a group someone has always let us use hand held and they seem fine.

Please educate me?

@F150rubyred I needed 3 radios for a road trip so I ordered 2 seta of 2 radios. I only really need two moving forward and was planning on selling the remaining 2. One has never been used, the other used for one trip. I was wanting to sell them for $60 shipped. Interested? DM me if so.

 

[0321_Bronco]

From the Midland site:

I think that's consistent with the advice here. Better you should measure it and find out for yourself. Working with the coax and a meter will yield the best results. That said, will it matter for general GMRS use, probably not.

 

[0321_Bronco]

One more question. How do I use this meter to get the most out of my GMRS? I have the MTX275 in the console and the 32 inch antenna mounted in the rear.

I'll send you a message.

 

[0321_Bronco]

Because they also operate outside of GMRS bands they are not permitted to transmit on GMRS frequencies per the FCC. I believe the FCC does allow them to be used for listening on those channels though.

That is correct. GMRS (transmissions) require the license while FRS does not. Radio certifications by the FCC are relative to transmissions in a given frequency band(s).

 

[Johnny Rebel]

'm a little fussier about 2M/70cm antennas. I'm going to start with a COMPACtenna 2M/220/440 on the passenger side ditch light bracket - but I'm not optimistic.

Let me start by saying that I’m not an expert radio tech and have very limited experience, but I understand the basic idea that an SWR <1.5 is generally considered good.

I installed a Yaesu FTM-400 in my Bronco a couple of weeks ago and also had high hopes for the CompacTenna 2M/440, but was really disappointed. SWR was something like 2.6-3.0 on both bands. Removed it and put a Comet SBB1 NMO dual band antenna on the same setup and was getting between 1.3-1.5. Both of those readings were taken with a Rig Expert Stick Pro analyzer, so I think it was a pretty accurate representation.

I’m actually re-wiring a few things tonight including the NMO mount for the radio, so will repeat the tests with both antennas to make sure it wasn’t a fluke.

 

[JediMcMuffin]

Let me start by saying that I’m not an expert radio tech and have very limited experience, but I understand the basic idea that an SWR <1.5 is generally considered good.

I installed a Yaesu FTM-400 in my Bronco a couple of weeks ago and also had high hopes for the CompacTenna 2M/440, but was really disappointed. SWR was something like 2.6-3.0 on both bands. Removed it and put a Comet SBB1 NMO dual band antenna on the same setup and was getting between 1.3-1.5. Both of those readings were taken with a Rig Expert Stick Pro analyzer, so I think it was a pretty accurate representation.

I’m actually re-wiring a few things tonight including the NMO mount for the radio, so will repeat the tests with both antennas to make sure it wasn’t a fluke.

Thanks for that, so my plan to use the compactenna around town and put the long on for adventure remains solid!

 

[Johnny Rebel]

Thanks for that, so my plan to use the compactenna around town and put the long on for adventure remains solid!

I think it’s a solid plan. I also just got the PCI Race Radios non-ground plane VHF whip in the mail, but haven’t had a chance to test it yet.

After a quick temp install to make sure I liked the radio & head unit placement, I’m now going back to do the permanent install. I just got the M2M mounting plate a couple of days ago, but based on how the OP’s 575 sits, I may end up leaving the FTM-400 on the plate I cobbled together from scrap. It’s in the same spot as OP’s, but I didn’t have to cut the glove box due to the way I mounted the plate. I’ll toy around with the M2M plate and see what ends up working best.

I also decided to install NMO mounts on both front pillars with the ditch lights to give me the option of running a dedicated antenna for each band through a duplexer. Not sure if that’s a good idea, but it gives me something to tinker around with.

 

[0321_Bronco]

Youd want handhelds like this. Technically they are FRS 5watt radios but you can talk to the GMRS radios on the lower channels which is a big benefit.

Midland 50 Channel Waterproof GMRS Two-Way Radio - Long Range Walkie Talkie with 142 Privacy Codes, SOS Siren, and NOAA Weather Alerts and Weather Scan (Black/Silver, Pair Pack) https://a.co/d/0pAsA6q

Guys, FRS is limited to 2W. Under the old rules it was 500 milliwats. There are no 5W FRS radios unless you modify a HAM or GMRS radio which is a bad idea.

 

[0321_Bronco]

Hope this clears up some confusion on power/frequency/bands:

Power limits are pretty straight forward.

 

[F150rubyred]

@F150rubyred I needed 3 radios for a road trip so I ordered 2 seta of 2 radios. I only really need two moving forward and was planning on selling the remaining 2. One has never been used, the other used for one trip. I was wanting to sell them for $60 shipped. Interested? DM me if so.

Thanks for the offer, let me think about it not sure what direction I am going yet. I want to have something for first week of May for Moab trip.

 

[Gnomad]

I would take a slighter higher SWR over the small radiating element of that stubby antenna. A dummy load has perfect 1:1 after all.
Nice install and I've been wondering about GMRS. I have an extra ticket but nobody else in my circle of friends do so it might be a thing anyways. I guess I should check the FCC website, I had heard the cost was going up to $75 from the $30 and now when I renew my ticket they are going to charge me. Haven't actually checked for myself though.

 

[ksdon]

IMHO a person can find GMRS and HAM ... specifically 2 meter and 70 cm fun and useful.
I know I'm repeating stuff available in other posts but on recent trips traveling by ourselves GRMS was dead. We could however reach 2-3 Ham repeaters everywhere we were.

If traveling with a group GRMS is a very easy and friendly way to go and it is growing at a faster rate than Ham radio is. So go get that GRMS.

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