Midland MXT500 GMRS Radio - Unboxing, install and first impressions

Рет қаралды 30,170

Күн бұрын

The Midland MXT500 GMRS radio is the most powerful GMRS Micromobile radio you can get for off road and overlanding communications.
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Пікірлер: 103

@BartlettTFD 2 жыл бұрын

I have had the MXT400 for maybe a couple of years. Outstanding well built radio. Just got the MXT500 a few days ago. It has a narrow band, wide band option. The narrow band is the default setting. It is strongly recommended to change that to wide band to improve audio quality, AND because many other GMRS radios in the marketplace are fixed at wide band. On the MXT500, the wide band option must be selected on EVERY channel.

@trekster9269 2 жыл бұрын

It doesnt support split tones. That kind of makes it garbage. Midland is years behind "cheap chinese junk"

@MrAkatango25 8 күн бұрын

The mxt 500 and 575 both support slit tones.

@scottwiseman8015 4 ай бұрын

The new 50 watt unit needs to have the band width configured. The older radios are NARROW FM while the new MXT-50 is a WIDE FM band. In the menu there is a way to turn off the WIDE FM banding to NARROW FM banding. This should help you hear and talk to the older GMRS radios. Hope that helps

@footprintstothemoon 2 жыл бұрын

Got our tickets to the Expo and thanks for the discount. Looking forward to it and attending your GAIA Class.

@ravendon 8 ай бұрын

The main thing dissuading most people will be installation, hooking it up to power, guiding the antenna wire through the vehicle, etc.

@OzarkOverlandAdventures 8 ай бұрын

Yeah but it’s not hard at all.

@prerunner1982 2 жыл бұрын

Matt, go back in and turn the USB to off, On is for programming. Just an FYI since you specifically mentioned potentially using the USB for charging.

@maxmoore4315 2 жыл бұрын

I really like our Midland GMRS Radios and walkies got one in the TJ and JK going to add one to the side x side soon.

@brentwentfishing 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the overview! Just what I needed. 😀

@Bruce2518 Жыл бұрын

Well I just ordered the MXT400 and your discount code worked on it. I’m new to off-road and don’t need to be long range from my group yet anyway. I figure if you trust your wife’s safety to it it must be pretty good. Ty

@OzarkOverlandAdventures Жыл бұрын

Awesome!!

@robertwicker196 2 жыл бұрын

As soon as they put the controls on the handset...I'm in!

@garywheeler2055 Жыл бұрын

Love your video persona…. Straight shooter and not a phoney bullshxxxer . Keep doin what ya do 🍻🇨🇦

@OzarkOverlandAdventures Жыл бұрын

THANKS!

@joeschnell544 2 жыл бұрын

The “comp” setting is for the voice companding function on that radio. Read up on that in the manual.

@bigbird19780 2 жыл бұрын

Just got my expo ticket cant wait to go!!!!!

@Justin_JTR 2 жыл бұрын

Love your channel, great video! We're moving to the area this summer and have a Gladiator on order so the Ozarks and Mark Twain Nat'l Forest will be our primary overlanding area. We're looking forward to the MXT575 coming soon as well (50W version of the MXT275). The spark at 18:52 😆.

@redneckwithajeep5001 2 жыл бұрын

Well guess I know what I’ll be buying. Just applied for my license a few hours ago

@donalderickson-si8ww 4 ай бұрын

it should be in your mail box in three days or so

@brsnow225 Жыл бұрын

The hood hinge bolts are magnetic, I’ve got the 275 and used the little toothpick antenna for a bit stuck right to my hood hinge bolt and it stuck tight before I got my ghost antenna fully fished in

@cooperationvenustas8239 2 жыл бұрын

A very good review video, well done.👍

@LowPriceEdition 2 ай бұрын

What is the max power draw on the mtx500

@CharlesM-dp4xe 2 жыл бұрын

You really should consider getting and using a meter ! After owning many mobile radios including commercially licensed vhf I have noticed many of the radios they sell as 50 watt radios really only put out 40 watts yet cost way more so they load you up with features most will never use . When you call to complain they just tell you, you'll never notice the difference, it's nominal, oh that's normal, etc ... that's a lie ! You paid for 50 watts, you should get 50 watts .With out a meter you will never know if your antenna is matched, your SWR is safe or how much power you're really getting. Another issue they won't tell you is that cable you get in those cheap kits, is just that "Cheap" ! It's a high-loss cable and its too long, in time it will shorten the life of your finals, get a meter and use it, especially on your first install and set up, after that its up to you. You paid for it maybe you're rich and don't care. I live on a farm and every penny counts. WQXK742 clear !

@davidrucci 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Matt, great video as always. About how much range in feet or miles do these get generally? What about the 150 and 275 range? Was initially going to go HAM, but the broader use of GMRS has me thinking these might be more practical. Cheers from Cloudcroft, NM. Loved watching you cruise through last year on the channel. Wish I knew! Happy to show you some trails next time…

@AnglinTexas 2 жыл бұрын

I’m no expert, but I’ve done some research. GMRS is limited by tress, buildings, mountains etc. If you have a open area or are up on a mountain you can transmit many miles, if your in deep woods will hills it may only be a mile or two. Repeaters are also available, but very limited so far, but GMRS is growing.

@donalderickson-si8ww 4 ай бұрын

I run an off brand at 45 watts and do 20 miles off 6 towers

@donalderickson-si8ww 4 ай бұрын

and I am licensed

@CavemanOutdoorsMissouri 2 жыл бұрын

I'm so glad you made this video because it made my decision easy. I'm waiting for the next version with the controls on the mic. I want to hide the unit.

@TigerNgtMare 2 жыл бұрын

Great video!!

@shammock112 2 жыл бұрын

You mentioned the antennas you use but did not go into detail. Do you have a video with your antenna setup? If not can you put your antenna information in the "Show More" or maybe you can create a new video with your antenna set up?

@Lee784447 2 жыл бұрын

Have you thought of the MXT575 MICROMOBILE? Still 50 watts.

@coloradojt 2 жыл бұрын

How hot does this get? Want to put one in the center console on a 2015 Silverado.

@bobdillashaw4360 9 ай бұрын

This is radio, not sure where you got the idea you don’t need to tune the antenna, but you should get an swr meter for uhf and check that antenna, especially running that much power through it, just because it’s a gmrs radio doesn’t mean the antenna doesn’t need to be tuned and that’s a highly expensive radio, would hate to see you burn it up while on the trail.

@OzarkOverlandAdventures 9 ай бұрын

Well the antenna literally can't be tuned.... so there's that.

@joeschnell5695 9 ай бұрын

Ozark is using Midland’s 3db ghost antenna, which is already pre tuned for gmrs.

@bobdillashaw4360 9 ай бұрын

@@joeschnell5695 yeah there’s a couple on the market that don’t need to be tuned, cb has the 102 in. Whip that doesn’t need to be tuned, but you still need to be sure it’s coax and ends are working good, in my particular case, bought everything brand new and my swr were over 3, I knew it wasn’t the 102 in.whip as that’s the best mobile antenna you could possibly get. Thing is most people buy antennas that aren’t pre-tuned and want the performance that a ghost antenna just won’t give you, in which case it needs to be tuned.

@eprohoda 2 жыл бұрын

How r u?! man. you creaed great vlog~ see you on my side.

@jeffreyb2838 2 жыл бұрын

How did you hardwire it? If you tapped into a fuse in your gladiator, what fuse was it? I’ve never hardwired one and am not sure where to tap into. Thank you for your help!

@twohandsandaradio Жыл бұрын

a 50W transmitter will consume between 8-12A. I would wire it direct to the battery but look for something probably 20a or so.

@bobdillashaw4360 9 ай бұрын

That’s a high powered radio, you have to hardwire it, best to go to the battery.

@donalderickson-si8ww 4 ай бұрын

I would go strate to the battery

@OhDatsHarrison2732 2 ай бұрын

can i just wire this up to a 12v car battery and have the battery stored in my toolbox in the back of the truck

@OzarkOverlandAdventures 2 ай бұрын

That's what you have to do.

@OhDatsHarrison2732 2 ай бұрын

@@OzarkOverlandAdventures oh thanks

@brutallyhonestmf5578 2 жыл бұрын

Funny I was looking into radios yesterday. Video came just in time 🙂

@PogiPR 2 жыл бұрын

Hey Matt, love all your videos. My brother and I will be going to the Moore Expo and hope to see you there. I have a question, the website to purchase the tickets, it's not clear if I purchase a ticket it's for 1 day or all three days? Can you please kindly let me know? Thanks.

@OzarkOverlandAdventures 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! The ticket is good for all weekend.

@PogiPR 2 жыл бұрын

@@OzarkOverlandAdventures haha that’s awesome!!!!! Thanks for the replied. Great Rig btw

@jeffjamroz Жыл бұрын

I really enjoyed this video, thank you. But. I am curious about what appears to be the gmrs antenna on the windshield pillar. Is that something you made?

@OzarkOverlandAdventures Жыл бұрын

It's a Midland Ghost antenna.

@jeffjamroz Жыл бұрын

@@OzarkOverlandAdventures Thank you, if you have video on it ,I would love to watch it

@msubulldogdotcom 2 жыл бұрын

Ham guy here, but agree gmrs makes so much sense for trail comms for the masses. Comms are only good if you have someone to talk to. Also that 400 might make a good basecamp radio for Frank the Tank!

@OzarkOverlandAdventures 2 жыл бұрын

I think that's where it's going. Thanks!

@woodystubb686 Жыл бұрын

Aswome information 👍,question so you can use the ghost antenna that comes on the 40 on the 50 ? You still getting full range ?

@OzarkOverlandAdventures Жыл бұрын

Yea the antennas are interchangeable

@woodystubb686 Жыл бұрын

@@OzarkOverlandAdventures sweet,I have a 21 Rubicon so we have the same top issues, keep up the great work 👍

@Djs13va 2 жыл бұрын

I never recommend using a mag-mount. They are known (personal experience) to fail in high winds or when fighting other solid objects (trees). Drilling a hole near the center of a metal vehicle roof is always best, with a bracket attached mechanically or a clamp on mount elsewhere above the midline of the vehicle a good option. Remember, the better and higher the mount, the more effective the antenna.

@Picturedave 2 жыл бұрын

Besides that a mag-mount will leave 3" ruined paint where it sits.

@donnyt2012 2 жыл бұрын

Did you run the antenna and the power through the same hole on the firewall?

@OzarkOverlandAdventures 2 жыл бұрын

Yes.

@donalderickson-si8ww 4 ай бұрын

use sepert holes through the fire wall and go strate to the battery

@Lee784447 2 жыл бұрын

Full disclosure, I’m a General Class Ham Operator. That said I’m all for all types of radio, I never liked GRMS do to the pice of the license, it was around $135 for 5 years. Ham was $15 for 5 years! The ham test was good after they got rid of the code requirement. Now for communication with my wife (she has no interest to take the test) so GRMS would be great, plus I could buy the GRMS license and it’s good for the whole family.

@bootmender 2 жыл бұрын

I am curious about the watch you were wearing in this video? Does it have altimeter or any nav features?

@nathant78 2 жыл бұрын

He has a apple watch

@OzarkOverlandAdventures 2 жыл бұрын

It's an apple watch with a different band.

@robertgarcia6385 2 жыл бұрын

Can we sign up for the cold water run

@OzarkOverlandAdventures 2 жыл бұрын

Sorry, that is not a trip that's open.

@robertgarcia6385 2 жыл бұрын

@@OzarkOverlandAdventures 🥲

@davidcurl1645 2 жыл бұрын

Looking forward to your review...

@Picturedave 2 жыл бұрын

What channel do you hang out on?

@OzarkOverlandAdventures 2 жыл бұрын

It varies by the trip and if we get any outside chatter. We usually start on 20 or 16 and move around if needed.

@ryanshane6873 2 жыл бұрын

I just passed ya on the interstate

@gmantw 2 жыл бұрын

Matt, Umm....That wire cutter/stripper/crimper...🤔 HMU if you are looking for a home for the old MTX400. 🤓

@markallan4849 2 жыл бұрын

This xt 500 doesn't put out a true 50 watts. When bench tested by a technician through all channels it's highest out put was around 42 watts. The truth is important.

@nbeardo78 2 жыл бұрын

Does that antenna base that comes with that radio also work for the 3db antenna. I'm just getting ready to put comms in my truck so I think I'm going to go with this now.

@prerunner1982 2 жыл бұрын

That does appear to be a NMO moumt so it would work with other GMRS antennas.

@OzarkOverlandAdventures 2 жыл бұрын

Yes it does.

@nbeardo78 2 жыл бұрын

Sweet. Thanks

@thecatch83 2 жыл бұрын

Great video, but we can’t see your matching blue hair with a hat on!

@OzarkOverlandAdventures 2 жыл бұрын

I didn’t feel like showering today. 😂

@jk_wrangler13 2 жыл бұрын

Would you be willing to sell your 45w gmrs?

@OzarkOverlandAdventures 2 жыл бұрын

It's missing the power cord and antenna.

@jk_wrangler13 2 жыл бұрын

@@OzarkOverlandAdventures ok thanks

@ThatCleanMT 2 жыл бұрын

Ham radio is a dying “hobby” ruined by crusty old geezers who gatekeep.

@Pops_607 2 жыл бұрын

Nothing about getting a license?

@OzarkOverlandAdventures 2 жыл бұрын

Yes you need a license with GMRS

@Pops_607 2 жыл бұрын

@@OzarkOverlandAdventures I know that but you did not mention that one time.

@OzarkOverlandAdventures 2 жыл бұрын

@@Pops_607 nope. I didn’t.

@cattivo217 2 жыл бұрын

rat

@donalderickson-si8ww 4 ай бұрын

it will cost you 35.00 dollars and I did mine on the phone he gave me my call sign and said you good and three day's had the paper to put on the wall.