Retevis for me after watching this! Thanks!

Great practical review and just in time as I was trying to decide which one to buy. The easier menu screen and extra range maks it a no brainer for me. Thanks again!

Very nice real world comparison. I started with two Midland MXT275 units a few years ago. They worked great. I got a little tired of having to translate the CTSS and DCS codes and the Narrowband only. I went with two different radios to replace them with Wideband and split tone capabilities for repeaters that use them. I like the Retevis in the review and it’s also lower price than the Midland for the same set up. If I had to buy either, I’d choose the Retevis as well. Again, great review.

Nice! I'm still using an older Baofeng BF-88 handheld. I don't go off-road enough to justify a car mounted radio just yet. Thanks for the real world usage test!

I've tried both radios. I like the midland mounting bracket better than retevis, also slightly prefer the channel grouping on Midland better. All the frs (5watt) channels grouped together and the high power channels together. Don't like the fact the 275 is 22 channels only. Cannot add 'custom' channels to preselect repeater settings while traveling cross country. And an even bigger issue is the 275 is narrowband only. As to the Retevis I would like it considerably better if the additional channels could be named in place of channel(31 or whatever). These things seem to be deficiencies on the remote mount radios. My expectation is for 'emergency' situations the operator does not need to have lots of settings to worry about as most will be dealing with other high stress problems and having a default channel (or several) easy to find and ready to go works better. Especially true for users not already familiar with handling a gmrs radio and all the various features. Not to imply someone is stupid but for emergency situations the KISS principle works better.

The MTX275 (I have one myself) does have both CTCSS and DCS, and the user’s manual explains how to set them up 👍🏼

Thanks for the comparison. I have had the MTX275 for a couple of years at least and recently moved to where there are different repeaters. I do not want to have to carry the manual in my car at all times to change settings if I travel. The MTX275 is going on eBay and I am getting the Retivis tomorrow so I can not have to worry about remembering how to program it in the future. I use a repeater directory and do not want to "Translate" all the time.

Thanks! I just got the Retevis RA-86 and so far i love it. Great video and review. Much appreciated. WRKH707

Thanks for the video. Researching a mobile radio for my wife's Gladiator. The MXT275 is currently $180.00 on the Midland site and the RA86 is $94.00 on the Retevis site. Midland does do pretty good with some of the different packages where you get the antenna and coax. FYI....another KZfaq video tested the power and it came in at about 15 watts. That is the same as the Midland.

Were the 2 Midland radios of the same age? I ask because last year Midland started enabling wide band on the MXT radios. If his radio had it enabled and yours didn't that would make a huge difference.

what the codes do is block another radio from talking to you or your group that is what it meanes

Thanks for reviewing!

Is the mic jack on the Retevis an rj45? Thinking of switching and have a first gen mxt275 now and I use an rj45 coupler to get the mic where I want it to be.

Put the antenna on top of the jeeps/cars. Why people put the antenna down low and block from the car makes no sense

His antenna should be on top of the veichle

ill take that Midland of your hands

Thanks for doing this so I don’t have to 😅. What’s the benefit of a radio? Is it to get into contact with other drivers in the backcountry? Any way I could get by without one in the short term?

Yea I’ll buy that radio

Does the Retevis use the cigarette lighter?

I don’t understand how you could hear him when he was tra among with the midland at the furthest point

Although your information is excellent and your presentation is very information rich,. the problem I have with your videos and why I cannot continue watching is the extremely annoying music over your voice. Give this a thought, during your next business or client presentation, when you begin talking have turn on background music to the volume of your voice or slightly below your voice. My guess, your intended audience will demand the music to be turned off. Why, they want clearly to hear you and fully understand you. With music playing over your voice, to hear your presentation they are required to fight the music as well. No, it is not at all cool playing music over your voice.