Midland XT511 question, is it a gmrs or frs?

[Akuriko]

Hello I was watching Midland XT511 reviews on Youtube several people said it's an frs radio as the antenna doesn't come off and 2 is it has a ma power of .5 to 2 wt only, so my question is is it an FRS or GMRS Radio?

I was curious if anyone knew the answer to this question.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Direct from their website...

 

[sallen07]

Looking at the manual, it's pretty obvious that this radio was introduced well before the updated FRS and GMRS rules went into effect in 2017, since it talks about "FRS channels 8-14" and "You must be licensed prior to operating on channels 1-7 or 15-22" I searched for the FCC ID and it was granted in 2007. So this radio came out during the "FRS/GMRS bubblepack" era.

2 watts or less and fixed antenna? That is now classified as FRS.

 

[Akuriko]

Looking at the manual, it's pretty obvious that this radio was introduced well before the updated FRS and GMRS rules went into effect in 2017, since it talks about "FRS channels 8-14" and "You must be licensed prior to operating on channels 1-7 or 15-22" I searched for the FCC ID and it was granted in 2007. So this radio came out during the "FRS/GMRS bubblepack" era.

2 watts or less and fixed antenna? That is now classified as FRS.

So basically the youtube comments I saw was true it's not a true gsrm radio and therefore fixed antenna 2 watts of power or less makes it no license needed and 2 is its a false advertisement on the makers part.

 

[sallen07]

So basically the youtube comments I saw was true it's not a true gsrm radio and therefore fixed antenna 2 watts of power or less makes it no license needed and 2 is its a false advertisement on the makers part.

No, it was released (and no doubt the web page was created) before the rules for FRS and GMRS changed. When that radio came out, it WAS a GMRS radio, and a license was required to use it (except on channels 8-14).

When the rules were redone, radios like that one and all the "FRS/GMRS bubblepack" radios were reclassified as FRS. (There were a few that had maximum power more than 5w that were classified GMRS.)

It looks like that radio has been out-of-stock for a couple years. If they ever offer it for sale again they really ought to fix their web page.

 

[Akuriko]

Thanks that makes sense, lol

 

[iMONITOR]

Direct from their website...
View attachment 136503

Specs say GMRS/FRS

Factory Outlet Store

mid.factoryoutletstore.com

Midland XT511
Emergency Crank Base Camp

Emergency Radio
22 GMRS/FRS Channels
All 10 NOAA Weather Channels w/ Alert Function
AM/FM Radio Reception
VOX Automatic Voice-Activated Operation
Clock w/ Alarm Function & 3-LED Flashlight

 

[JethrowJohnson]

Specs say GMRS/FRS

Factory Outlet Store

mid.factoryoutletstore.com

Midland XT511
Emergency Crank Base Camp

Emergency Radio
22 GMRS/FRS Channels
All 10 NOAA Weather Channels w/ Alert Function
AM/FM Radio Reception
VOX Automatic Voice-Activated Operation
Clock w/ Alarm Function & 3-LED Flashlight

That must be old information. In 2017, all radios that had a TX power of 2W or less, had a non-removeable antenna, and had preprogrammed channels were reclassified as FRS radios only.

 

[sallen07]

Specs say GMRS/FRS

As I said two days ago, that was pre-2017.

When the FRS and GMRS rules were changed in 2017, "FRS/GMRS" radios went away. There is no such thing anymore. FRS or GMRS ... pick one.

This radio has a maximum power of 2 watts, fixed antenna, and no repeater channels. That makes it an FRS radio.