Midland GMRS Power Settings?

[ThomasMcKean]

The talk of voice scramble in this forum has led to me finding online and purchasing a set of Midland GXT900 radios still sealed in the bubble pack...

I found a manual online but I can't find any reference to the power settings. I am guessing the following:

Lo = 0.5 watts (FRS and all that)

Hi = 5 watts (what the manual says it does, except channels 8-14, for obvious reasons)

Which leaves us with the mysterious Med setting, which I am guessing is likely either 1 or 2 watts.

Does anyone know?

 

[hhrj]

These radios were discontinued by Midland but I looked at the owners manual and there is no mention of the power for the "M" setting. My guess would be 2W which is usually the norm.

Everyone that buys radios always sets them to full blast!!! It says 5W and that what they use. The correct method is to use the least amount of power that you can sustain reliable contact. If that fails try the next power level. Besides does it really matter how many watts the "M" settin is? The bottom line for this answer is "Between .5W and 5W."

The radio automatically sets the power to "L" while tuned to the FRS channels and also decreases the power settings as the battery reaches minimum levels.

 

[ThomasMcKean]

These radios were discontinued by Midland but I looked at the owners manual and there is no mention of the power for the "M" setting. My guess would be 2W which is usually the norm.

Everyone that buys radios always sets them to full blast!!! It says 5W and that what they use. The correct method is to use the least amount of power that you can sustain reliable contact. If that fails try the next power level. Besides does it really matter how many watts the "M" settin is? The bottom line for this answer is "Between .5W and 5W."

The radio automatically sets the power to "L" while tuned to the FRS channels and also decreases the power settings as the battery reaches minimum levels.

That is correct. They were discontinued because the FCC whined about the voice scramble. I am a law abiding citizen and so I doubt I'll ever need it but I do want the option available. I have it on my 0.3 watts FRS Kenwoods, but they are only 0.3 watts. I was able to get 1.10 miles out of them the other day in a rural area.

Also true about the power. Setting it right away to high is a stupid thing to do. Not only is it not always necessary, but it also drains the battery a lot faster! I have heard there is not really much of a difference in distance between 2 watts and 5 watts on these handhelds. I look forward to testing that.

 

[hhrj]

Power is only as good as the antenna used to radiate it....
Since the FRS/GMRS radios are restricted to a built in antenna they are quite hobbled which goes a long way to negating any extra power.

I did read some good reviews on these radios though, I'd buy one if I were in the market.

 

[ThomasMcKean]

Power is only as good as the antenna used to radiate it....
Since the FRS/GMRS radios are restricted to a built in antenna they are quite hobbled which goes a long way to negating any extra power.

I did read some good reviews on these radios though, I'd buy one if I were in the market.

So then yew would agree that there is likely very little difference between medium and high settings? That would certainly save on battery!