Midland GXT-900 Review

[BackBlast]

Originally Posted by jwilkers

Well, power output never tells the whole story. Antenna design, as well as terrain are major factors, especially with UHF. It is also summer, where all the trees have their leaves. This will be a factor in blocking UHF transmissions. I do my tests in an average suburban environment. At times very unforgiving. If I were in flat farmland, I'm sure my tests would yield far greater range.

Doesn't ERP include the antenna gain? Maybe I don't understand the mechanics right.

[BackBlast]

Originally Posted by Cklicker7239

I forgot to mention this in my previous post. Does anybody know how the hell you can charge the radio without docking it? In the manuel it mentions that you can, but it is a no-go. I also use rayovac hybrid aa batteries in my radios and they last forever. I used them last weekend with out turning them off and my batteries never dropped below 2/3's. AMAZING!!!

I'd imagine you have to pull the cells out and stick them in a charger...

Hybrids are good, but they don't hold up as well as eneloop cells in the long term, 150+ cycles (I run AA battery tests myself as a hobby...). The battery gauge is probably inaccurate, with the low self discharge batteries it will probably read 2 bars the majority of the discharge then relatively quickly go to one, zero, then dead.

[Cklicker7239]

I wish I could use the sanyo eneloops, they are just to tough to find around where I live. If you know of store that might stock them please let me know. Right now circuit city is selling the rayovac hybrids for 13 bucks, and they have an eneloop rack but it is never stocked. Actually they had one set of AAA's for 15 bucks so I baught them, looked at my receipt, and they only charged me 6.79. I immediately went over to an associate and asked if they had more, and of course they didn't.

On the topic of charging. In the midland manuel, it states that you can charge the walkie talkie via DC, via the MIC plug, except it doesn't fit. Any way my laCrosse charger does a fine job or charging the batteries if need be.
Other than that, I just tested the range of my GXT-900's again, and I hit a SOLID 2.5 miles (Google Earth measured). Clear on low, med, and high. I guess I'll just have to push it even more in my urban jungle.

[BackBlast]

You can find them online for reasonable prices.

You're trying to charge loose cells in the radio. I believe most manufactures intentionally prevent this. Someone throwing alkalines in the radio and recharging them is a large liability that they don't need.

I, for one, never liked the 'dumb' chargers companies usually have for items like this (and they are universally constant current 'dumb' chargers). External chargers are so much better anyway, your cells will probably last longer with a quality charger. I'd stick with your LaCrosse

[jwilkers]

Originally Posted by Cklicker7239

On to the topic of distance. I actually have modded my radios with bnc connectors and have attached one radio shack UHF/vhf antenna to one unit, and an old Uniden BearCat scanner antenna to the other. I will eventually buy tuneable matched antennas for them, but I have to order them at one place then pick them up at another place. So, that will tell you it's kind of annoying to find a place with proper antennas. The original max distance (urban Setting) was around 1.5 Miles. Now, with the antenna mod, I am getting around 2 miles, and actually haven't maxed them out.

You now need to understand you no longer can legally use these radios. Modifications are strictly forbidden by regulation. Since these radios also have FRS frequencies which forbid radios with external anrennas, your mods violate the type acceptance on ALL frequencies. You will need to throw them away, or send them to Midland for full legal repairs.

[Cklicker7239]

I get a feeling some of you guys take this stuff a little to seriously. It also seems like everybody wants some super radio to be released that all of a sudden just works as far as they want to. We know this this isn't going happen, the FCC knows exactly how to prevent this. I saw the solution and fixed my radio. I actually was able to hit a solid 2.5 miles (google earth, urban area) last night, and plan on seeing how much further I can go. With the stock radio, I had trouble reaching 1 mile.
What is a bigger crime? The bubble-pack companies claiming ridiculous ranges, or the FCC auctioning off sets of frequency bands for millions and sometimes billions of dollars and putting their own stipulations on them. A quick analogy. There is only so much land that can be sold until it runs out, but frequencies can go on and on, there is no cap, and no cap for profits. Not to fair. So, as an individual, i'm only be as fair as I can. Ultimately the responsibility comes down to the user, and I'm not out there causing trouble with these radios. I simply see the flaw in the rules, and chose negate them.
You cast your judgment prematurely. A bit of advice for you. You're to busy being the lamb try and be the shepherd. Your words don't offend me, so these words aren't out anger or frustration, but out positivity and hope and wantedness to be better. Please don't be offended. I only want my radios to do more of what is claimed on the package.

[sfink16]

If you want greater distance and stay legal, you can try MURS, see:

http://mursradio.googlepages.com/mur...ationforpart95

and

http://www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs/murs.htm

I bought a MURS Dakota handheld pair and will purchase a MURS Dakota base station when they are returned to stock. They are limited to 2 watts but are allowed antenna gain, Part 95 not Part 90.

Originally Posted by Cklicker7239

I wish I could use the sanyo eneloops, they are just to tough to find around where I live. If you know of store that might stock them please let me know. Right now circuit city is selling the rayovac hybrids for 13 bucks, and they have an eneloop rack but it is never stocked. Actually they had one set of AAA's for 15 bucks so I baught them, looked at my receipt, and they only charged me 6.79. I immediately went over to an associate and asked if they had more, and of course they didn't.

On the topic of charging. In the midland manuel, it states that you can charge the walkie talkie via DC, via the MIC plug, except it doesn't fit. Any way my laCrosse charger does a fine job or charging the batteries if need be.
Other than that, I just tested the range of my GXT-900's again, and I hit a SOLID 2.5 miles (Google Earth measured). Clear on low, med, and high. I guess I'll just have to push it even more in my urban jungle.

[jwilkers]

Originally Posted by Cklicker7239

I get a feeling some of you guys take this stuff a little to seriously. It also seems like everybody wants some super radio to be released that all of a sudden just works as far as they want to. We know this this isn't going happen, the FCC knows exactly how to prevent this. I saw the solution and fixed my radio. I actually was able to hit a solid 2.5 miles (google earth, urban area) last night, and plan on seeing how much further I can go. With the stock radio, I had trouble reaching 1 mile.
What is a bigger crime? The bubble-pack companies claiming ridiculous ranges, or the FCC auctioning off sets of frequency bands for millions and sometimes billions of dollars and putting their own stipulations on them. A quick analogy. There is only so much land that can be sold until it runs out, but frequencies can go on and on, there is no cap, and no cap for profits. Not to fair. So, as an individual, i'm only be as fair as I can. Ultimately the responsibility comes down to the user, and I'm not out there causing trouble with these radios. I simply see the flaw in the rules, and chose negate them.
You cast your judgment prematurely. A bit of advice for you. You're to busy being the lamb try and be the shepherd. Your words don't offend me, so these words aren't out anger or frustration, but out positivity and hope and wantedness to be better. Please don't be offended. I only want my radios to do more of what is claimed on the package.

You choose to negate rules? Ah.... you do not have that choice. following the regulations is mandatory.

Since I do not associate with criminal elements, I cannot communicae with you any more and will be locking out any messages from you via the ignore settings.

I am no lamb. I am a shepherd. I'm leading you to follow rules. You refuse this lead. As such you are a waste of time.

[Cklicker7239]

Originally Posted by jwilkers

You choose to negate rules? Ah.... you do not have that choice. following the regulations is mandatory.

Since I do not associate with criminal elements, I cannot communicae with you any more and will be locking out any messages from you via the ignore settings.

I am no lamb. I am a shepherd. I'm leading you to follow rules. You refuse this lead. As such you are a waste of time.

Jwilkers aaaahhhh you cut me deep. Being at the apex of the 'bell curve' curve must be amazing. Ignorance truly is your Bliss. One last thing, New products are the result of 1. breaking the rules and 2. finding loop-holes, or 3. the combination of both. I could keep going on, but creativity doesn't seem to suit you.

[smarer]

Originally Posted by Cklicker7239

I recently purchased a set of these and love them. If you want to get a great deal on these go to circuit city.com and print off the page with price and all the details. They actually just bumped up the price from 59.99 to 69.00, and I assume because they are now out of stock. Anyways take this print off to bass pro shop or any other large outlet where they will price-match. I did this and saved 21 bucks and a shipping fee.
On to the topic of distance. I actually have modded my radios with bnc connectors and have attached one radio shack UHF/vhf antenna to one unit, and an old Uniden BearCat scanner antenna to the other. I will eventually buy tuneable matched antennas for them, but I have to order them at one place then pick them up at another place. So, that will tell you it's kind of annoying to find a place with proper antennas. The original max distance (urban Setting) was around 1.5 Miles. Now, with the antenna mod, I am getting around 2 miles, and actually haven't maxed them out.
This may be irrelevant, but before the mod, I was only able to pick up 2 maybe 3 weather stations, now with the antenna mod, I can get 5 to 6 channels. I also do realize that the weather band is a completely different than uhf. I hope this info helps and I apologize for misspelled words. Also if anybody wants to know how I did the mod just post a response, and I hope I am not the only one who wants to max out their 5 watt ERP.

How did you mode the Midland GXT for bnc connectors?