Midland Advertising 42 FRS/GMRS Radios

[PCTEK]

Midland claims there GRX 7 Series FRS/GMRS have 42 & 52 channels. When I contacted Midland and asked what the extra 20 channels were comprised of, I was told that information was company private. Well, since I havent heard of the FCC adding any new frequencies to the FRS or GMRS services, I purchased a set of radio's and read the "extra channels". No surprise to find out that they just reused the standard FRS/GMRS frequencies and hard coded a PL or DPL code to them. As we all know, adding a CTCSS code does NOT make a radio channel. This type of "grey" advertising should be illegal and not supported by the purchasing public.

If you're curious as to what the "Extra 20" channels are, I've attached a Excel sheet with the break down. In my scanners, I don't add a CTCSS tone to these two services so I can hear everything an all 22 channels

 

[rescuecomm]

You would be surprised how many people can't set tone on a two way, program a TV, or their home security system. That is why you have "Geek" squads at the larger department stores. Midland just made life for mainstream Americans easier.

Bob

 

[N_Jay]

I think this was discussed about a year ago, and someone found a link to the manual that had the chart.

 

[conve36]

Midland claims there GRX 7 Series FRS/GMRS have 42 & 52 channels. When I contacted Midland and asked what the extra 20 channels were comprised of, I was told that information was company private. Well, since I havent heard of the FCC adding any new frequencies to the FRS or GMRS services, I purchased a set of radio's and read the "extra channels". No surprise to find out that they just reused the standard FRS/GMRS frequencies and hard coded a PL or DPL code to them. As we all know, adding a CTCSS code does NOT make a radio channel. This type of "grey" advertising should be illegal and not supported by the purchasing public.

If you're curious as to what the "Extra 20" channels are, I've attached a Excel sheet with the break down. In my scanners, I don't add a CTCSS tone to these two services so I can hear everything an all 22 channels

Technically, "channels" could be anything... Now if they specifically said 20 extra "frequencies", then they would be wrong in saying so. The bubble-pack FRS/GMRS manufactures are a total joke anyway. They make ridiculous claims to sell the product. Especially the range of the radios. Most people dont read the fine print that says "25-miles in optimal conditions, such as from mountain-top, to mountain-top".

 

[dwh367]

Midland just made life for mainstream Americans easier.

Until someone buys the same exact radio, with the same exact hard coded PL/DPL tones, and then gives them to their kids who happen to love to play with the call button and key it up just to listen to the roger beeps.

At that point, there's no getting away from them so a person would have been better off just buying the cheaper carrier squelched radio as the end result is going to be the same.

To me, it's worth the price to buy a commercial radio, that can utilize reverse DPL, just to get away from that kind of nonsense. Never had my code scanned out by a cheap toy yet and I've been licensed for a decade now.

 

[N_Jay]

. . .a commercial radio, that can utilize reverse DPL, . . .

??? You do know that "reverse DPL" codes are just other valid DPL codes, or are just invalid DPL codes, made invalid for a few very good reasons? Right?

 

[dwh367]

??? You do know that "reverse DPL" codes are just other valid DPL codes, or are just invalid DPL codes, made invalid for a few very good reasons? Right?

Sometimes what I'm trying to say gets lost in translation on its way the keyboard Even though a reverse DPL is indeed "valid", I haven't found a bubble pack radio yet that can decode which one I'm using (I've borrowed some to try it with). My Pro-2096 and my Pro-96 also will not decode it.

I don't know about the newer generation of scanners though as I've never had the chance to play with any of them yet. I guess what I'm saying is if they can't find it, they can't bother me and since I'm not aware of any non commercial radios that will transmit reverse, I don't have to put up with any of the nonsense.

Is that any better or did I just end up making things worse?

 

[brandon]

These are the same companies that plaster unrealistic talk ranges in HUGE lettering all over the packaging, so this dodgy advertising does not surprise me.

 

[rescuecomm]

I have a GMRS repeater on with split tones due to it actually being the old county wide GMRS repeater brought back from the dead. Nobody uses it (even I don't), so in a couple of months, it is going to get crystals in the 441.XXX mhz band and a retune.

Bob

 

[C138NC]

??? You do know that "reverse DPL" codes are just other valid DPL codes, or are just invalid DPL codes, made invalid for a few very good reasons? Right?

I did a little test yesterday with my VHF rigs, both were using Inverted DPL and weird when I was keying up one radio the other will RX and decode it but vice versa the other wouldnt until I keyed it and then it goes through like normal.

 

[KD8DVR]

Since no one gave the answer, I will.

These "extra channels" are still ALL in the 22 frequencies covered by the FRS and GMRS band.

What makes them "extra channels" is simply a hard coded PL tone. This is why no option is avalable to change the PL/DPL on these "extra channels".

For te rookie to radio... PL or DPL refers to the so-called "privacy codes" that are not really private at all.


You could do the same thing yourself on a "standard" 22 channel radio, by simply setting an apprpriate PL/DPL "privacy code"

This whole deal is simply a markrting ploy to make the public think they have a "better radio"