Couple of things: The non-removable antenna rule from the FCC only applies to GMRS radios that perform digital transmissions, not analog. This is an analog radio. If you’re going to spend $200 for a GMRS radio, I’d suggest looking at the Rocky Talkie GMRS radio. It’s more compact, comes with both a swappable compact and also separate long range antenna, charges off of usb-c with no cradle, has repeater access, has NOAA weather channels and NOAA alerts, is IP-67 rated, has longer battery life (measured in days not hours) and a replaceable battery, has a protective rubberized case that seems very durable, has an unbreakable display, has a carabiner and coiled retention cable so the radio won’t fall down a cliff if you lose your grip, has an integrated metal belt clip, and costs $20 less. Oh, and it’s very easy to program. This appears to be a rugged beast of a radio and at least somewhat justifies the high price tag, albeit $180 is more typical of a good entry level Yaesu ham radio, but this has durability and weatherproofing that the Yaesu does not have.
I appreciate the content. The best part is when you talk about your personal experience with this radio. Those insights are gold. I would prefer to see some testing and analysis of results around spectral purity, desense, sensitivity, etc rather than speculative claims about hardware superirity over less expensive options. You might be correct, but demonstrating or measuring the differences would be way more interesting and entertaining. Looking forward to more!
Thank you! I may not get the review out as quick as others but that's always because I'm really trying to test the gear and find its limits, I never want to recommend something I haven't fully tested. And if my opinion changes over time I will always update y'all! So pumped you liked it! Don't hesitate to reach out if you ever have questions or want more info!
I agree with your opinion of this radio. I have both my GMRS and Amateur license and these are great for those in the family who need a radio that does not want to experiment but communicate and maybe use a repeater. I have many portable GMRS and 2 Meter / 70 CM radios and at least from my perspective, Midland quality is excellent. The local GMRS repeater club is where I spend most of my time while in the car because it is very friendly and casual. The audio from a Midland MXT 275 and 575 is amazing (especially when matched with an UPGRADED Midland Antenna and mount) as well as loud (2 speakers) compared to the less expensive Chinese junkers sitting on my shelf. The cradled 12v car adapter is better than USBC in my opinion because it really holds tight where a USBC cable might easily come loose if you are driving while holding the radio. Having this as a cased kit fits very well under the seat when it is time to hand a family member the radio for their car or while hiking. The two misses I have found with this radio is that it does not come with a programming cable (you have to purchase it separately to use their software and it is currently unavailable) and that for some reason, Midland does not allow the use of ALL of the standard CTCSS codes that some repeaters might be using. For example, a local repeater by me uses an input CTCSS of 206.5 and this is not an option on ANY Midland radio like it is on ALL other brands. I purchased 2 of these and plan to keep them. The price as you have stated is worth the quality difference for me. Comparing this to a cheap Chinese radio is like comparing a Yaesu, Kenwood, or Icom portable to a Baofeng or Tidradio. You get what you pay for and when you need the radio for an emergency, you want something that you can depend on. My experience with having all of the above has proven that to me time and again. Lastly, while this radio is designed in the US it is assembled in China so I am not trashing all things made in China. I am just saying that there is a big difference in components used and overall quality.
I love the nonremovable antenna because I do not need to remove it, it already performs better than any 5watt I own, I have all the Chinese radios, but they are trash as far as core radio internals, the Midland far outperforms. my Chinese radios have more features but they do not do one thing well lol I'll take the GXT67 when I need to connect. audio is crystal clear over any radio i own including past Midland radios
@@radiohobbyist13 it's good to have options! For us and our use case, we don't see a need for that option! But you might need it! Also I'd be willing to bet Midland is probably paying attention to these critiques!
Yeah some slight misunderstanding in there somewhere because it's definitely legal/compliant to have GMRS radios with removeable antennas, I forget what the catch is, something about digital... doesn't matter. A fixed antenna will hold up to more abuse and they can tune that antenna perfectly for that particular radio to be the best it can be, so I'm OK with it. I think a bigger issue is making claims that the receiver is cleaner and more sensitive than cheaper competition without backing that up with evidence, no audio tests of the active noise canceling, etc. I watched the vid hoping to see those things in-action rather than you regurgitating the mfr claims and suggesting that you probably confirmed them with personal experience. Not ragging on you because it's still a good video I thumbs-upped, but I would have liked to have seen more testing or comparisons. Also a legit opinion on the value for the price, all though I think all I need to know about that is the fact that not a single youtuber anywhere has posted a video yet with *two* of these radios...
Honestly, this is a decent addition to Midland 's line up. I think this would be great for the not so tech savvy new GMRS user, or someone who doesn't care about specs as long as it works. And the best part is it has a super heterodyne receiver, meaning in a RF noisy are, you're gonna get a best received signal!
I too heard the rumor that the receiver is superhet, emailed Midland to try to get confirmation, if true that is the only thing that somewhat makes the price make any sense so they should be leaning on it proudly. First person to demonstrate that alleged advantage in a head-to-head with a boomfang will be a hero.
The pricing is a valid concern. Comparing this to a $35 Baofeng isn’t what people are talking about. It compares very similarly to a Wouxun KG-S88G, which is also a high quality superheterodyne receiver, with removable battery and antenna for around $140. You do get some extra goodies in this package with the case and things, but it seems a bit steep with more limitations.
@@Bacnow thank you so much! It's really hard to say, I have not ever used the Rocky Talkie radio, however it looks like a great option. I think it would come down to application and intended use. The other thing I would consider is customer support and service. I know Midland is fantastic, I don't know anything about Rocky, they might be just as good, I just honestly don't know! I'd lead towards Midland personally because it's proven in my specific use scenarios, however, based on specs, they look extremely similar and just as capable! Hope that helps!
@@Overlanderoos - Yes, they are very similar on paper! The Rocky Talkie does have the advantage of a removable battery, removable antenna and allowing direct charging via USB-C. I’m new to this field yet, i don’t plan to become a radio hobbyist. I will probably only utilize a set of radios for Overlanding and hiking. Thus, i am seeking simplicity, quality and durability! An interesting side note, fellow RUclipsr and enthusiast (NotaRubicon) uploaded a comparison video featuring these two devices! His impressions: both were great but the Rocky Talkie 5W had a slight edge in perceived durability and sound clarity during long distance field testing and water immersion sessions! The results: he ended up replacing his go-to radio (a $2k unit) with the Rocky Talkie 5W as his new daily carry!
BCA2 Belt clips is compatible with this radio I have it on mine. I didn’t like the one it came with but the ones for the gxt 1000 are compatible. 4$ on midland.
Question, what digital data is transmitted with this radio? It looks like the FCC part 95 you are showing is for radios that transmit digital data. I would guess that to maintain IP 67 integrity they opted for a non-removable antenna, good decision on their part.
@@John-ke2jm honestly, seems minor to me and how I intend to integrate them into my kit, I say that knowing full well we all rank features differently. Built in battery is just lower on my list personally so it's hard to see the uproar, but I assure you, Midland is taking note of the feedback!
The lighting in your studio is terrible. The information you are giving about the product is great but I can't see the product to know what you are describing.
@@MatthewLEdwards really appreciate the feedback, I am trying to learn the lighting and have since made adjustments which should help! Let me know if you need photos or videos of anything and I can send them along to you!!
I don't know about their drug usage, however I do know that the internal chipset to the radio is much higher quality than some of the lesser priced competitors in the space.
Couple of things:
The non-removable antenna rule from the FCC only applies to GMRS radios that perform digital transmissions, not analog. This is an analog radio.
If you’re going to spend $200 for a GMRS radio, I’d suggest looking at the Rocky Talkie GMRS radio. It’s more compact, comes with both a swappable compact and also separate long range antenna, charges off of usb-c with no cradle, has repeater access, has NOAA weather channels and NOAA alerts, is IP-67 rated, has longer battery life (measured in days not hours) and a replaceable battery, has a protective rubberized case that seems very durable, has an unbreakable display, has a carabiner and coiled retention cable so the radio won’t fall down a cliff if you lose your grip, has an integrated metal belt clip, and costs $20 less. Oh, and it’s very easy to program. This appears to be a rugged beast of a radio and at least somewhat justifies the high price tag, albeit $180 is more typical of a good entry level Yaesu ham radio, but this has durability and weatherproofing that the Yaesu does not have.
I have three radio's and none of the antenna's come off stock and F C C rules
I appreciate the content. The best part is when you talk about your personal experience with this radio. Those insights are gold. I would prefer to see some testing and analysis of results around spectral purity, desense, sensitivity, etc rather than speculative claims about hardware superirity over less expensive options. You might be correct, but demonstrating or measuring the differences would be way more interesting and entertaining. Looking forward to more!
Thank you! I may not get the review out as quick as others but that's always because I'm really trying to test the gear and find its limits, I never want to recommend something I haven't fully tested. And if my opinion changes over time I will always update y'all! So pumped you liked it! Don't hesitate to reach out if you ever have questions or want more info!
You can usually find some of that info on the product's FCC report. They don't just test PEP wattage.
I agree with your opinion of this radio. I have both my GMRS and Amateur license and these are great for those in the family who need a radio that does not want to experiment but communicate and maybe use a repeater. I have many portable GMRS and 2 Meter / 70 CM radios and at least from my perspective, Midland quality is excellent. The local GMRS repeater club is where I spend most of my time while in the car because it is very friendly and casual. The audio from a Midland MXT 275 and 575 is amazing (especially when matched with an UPGRADED Midland Antenna and mount) as well as loud (2 speakers) compared to the less expensive Chinese junkers sitting on my shelf. The cradled 12v car adapter is better than USBC in my opinion because it really holds tight where a USBC cable might easily come loose if you are driving while holding the radio. Having this as a cased kit fits very well under the seat when it is time to hand a family member the radio for their car or while hiking. The two misses I have found with this radio is that it does not come with a programming cable (you have to purchase it separately to use their software and it is currently unavailable) and that for some reason, Midland does not allow the use of ALL of the standard CTCSS codes that some repeaters might be using. For example, a local repeater by me uses an input CTCSS of 206.5 and this is not an option on ANY Midland radio like it is on ALL other brands.
I purchased 2 of these and plan to keep them. The price as you have stated is worth the quality difference for me. Comparing this to a cheap Chinese radio is like comparing a Yaesu, Kenwood, or Icom portable to a Baofeng or Tidradio. You get what you pay for and when you need the radio for an emergency, you want something that you can depend on. My experience with having all of the above has proven that to me time and again. Lastly, while this radio is designed in the US it is assembled in China so I am not trashing all things made in China. I am just saying that there is a big difference in components used and overall quality.
Couldn't have said it better myself! Thanks for taking the time to write all this out!!!
I love the nonremovable antenna because I do not need to remove it, it already performs better than any 5watt I own, I have all the Chinese radios, but they are trash as far as core radio internals, the Midland far outperforms. my Chinese radios have more features but they do not do one thing well lol I'll take the GXT67 when I need to connect. audio is crystal clear over any radio i own including past Midland radios
Perfectly stated! I agree with all of this! Thanks so much for watching!!!
Do you have any that are super heterodyne, like Wouxon? This kind of receiver is in the Midland, and is great in a high RF environment.
All of the Wouxun GMRS handheld radios that I've seen have removable antennas.
@@radiohobbyist13 it's good to have options! For us and our use case, we don't see a need for that option! But you might need it! Also I'd be willing to bet Midland is probably paying attention to these critiques!
Gmrs can have removable antenna. The section of the rule you showed was rules that apply to gmrs radio that sends data transmissions.
Good catch! Thank you!
Love it!
Thanks dude!
Yeah some slight misunderstanding in there somewhere because it's definitely legal/compliant to have GMRS radios with removeable antennas, I forget what the catch is, something about digital... doesn't matter. A fixed antenna will hold up to more abuse and they can tune that antenna perfectly for that particular radio to be the best it can be, so I'm OK with it. I think a bigger issue is making claims that the receiver is cleaner and more sensitive than cheaper competition without backing that up with evidence, no audio tests of the active noise canceling, etc. I watched the vid hoping to see those things in-action rather than you regurgitating the mfr claims and suggesting that you probably confirmed them with personal experience. Not ragging on you because it's still a good video I thumbs-upped, but I would have liked to have seen more testing or comparisons. Also a legit opinion on the value for the price, all though I think all I need to know about that is the fact that not a single youtuber anywhere has posted a video yet with *two* of these radios...
Mine works good. Because I own and operate a repeater, not having a numbered keypad is the only negative.
I've been looking into getting a repeater myself! I agree a numbered keypad would be a great feature!
Might find a DTMF keypad.
@@RKingis Naaa I'm good.
@@robertd5421 You could try blue boxing in a pinch. Seams tone dialers aren't made much anymore!
Honestly, this is a decent addition to Midland 's line up. I think this would be great for the not so tech savvy new GMRS user, or someone who doesn't care about specs as long as it works. And the best part is it has a super heterodyne receiver, meaning in a RF noisy are, you're gonna get a best received signal!
I too heard the rumor that the receiver is superhet, emailed Midland to try to get confirmation, if true that is the only thing that somewhat makes the price make any sense so they should be leaning on it proudly. First person to demonstrate that alleged advantage in a head-to-head with a boomfang will be a hero.
The pricing is a valid concern. Comparing this to a $35 Baofeng isn’t what people are talking about. It compares very similarly to a Wouxun KG-S88G, which is also a high quality superheterodyne receiver, with removable battery and antenna for around $140. You do get some extra goodies in this package with the case and things, but it seems a bit steep with more limitations.
I payed $ 150 each for three and a 45 watt back up base station
@@donalderickson-si8wwhow did you manage that?
Great review! Which would you choose between the Midland GXT67 Pro and the Rocky Talkie GMRS 5W? Thanks in advance!
@@Bacnow thank you so much! It's really hard to say, I have not ever used the Rocky Talkie radio, however it looks like a great option. I think it would come down to application and intended use.
The other thing I would consider is customer support and service. I know Midland is fantastic, I don't know anything about Rocky, they might be just as good, I just honestly don't know!
I'd lead towards Midland personally because it's proven in my specific use scenarios, however, based on specs, they look extremely similar and just as capable!
Hope that helps!
@@Overlanderoos - Yes, they are very similar on paper! The Rocky Talkie does have the advantage of a removable battery, removable antenna and allowing direct charging via USB-C. I’m new to this field yet, i don’t plan to become a radio hobbyist. I will probably only utilize a set of radios for Overlanding and hiking. Thus, i am seeking simplicity, quality and durability!
An interesting side note, fellow RUclipsr and enthusiast (NotaRubicon) uploaded a comparison video featuring these two devices!
His impressions: both were great but the Rocky Talkie 5W had a slight edge in perceived durability and sound clarity during long distance field testing and water immersion sessions!
The results: he ended up replacing his go-to radio (a $2k unit) with the Rocky Talkie 5W as his new daily carry!
@Bacnow well there you go! That dudes an expert in radios!
BCA2 Belt clips is compatible with this radio I have it on mine. I didn’t like the one it came with but the ones for the gxt 1000 are compatible. 4$ on midland.
Question, what digital data is transmitted with this radio? It looks like the FCC part 95 you are showing is for radios that transmit digital data. I would guess that to maintain IP 67 integrity they opted for a non-removable antenna, good decision on their part.
Non replaceable battery and you are shocked there is hate for the radio?
@@John-ke2jm honestly, seems minor to me and how I intend to integrate them into my kit, I say that knowing full well we all rank features differently. Built in battery is just lower on my list personally so it's hard to see the uproar, but I assure you, Midland is taking note of the feedback!
95% of folks buying this could care less about antennas, or radio specs. All they care about is if it eorks.
The permanent antenna requirement he stated only applies to radios that transmit digital data, not voice transmissions.
Good catch! Thanks for pointing that out!
take the belt clip from the GXT1000 and install it , you'll thank me :)
You are a genius!!!!
@@Overlanderoos I knew you’d like it 🤣🤣🤣
And Midland sells parts on their site. I'll have yo try that in a few years.
Retevis Ailunce HA1G GMRS Radio is a good cheaper option
Thank you!!
True, however 95% of people buying this radio don't care about antennas, or USBC, all they care about that it works. And it's superheterodyne!
@@RKingis agreed!
you go through a 60 watt repeater and your 20 miles down the road
The lighting in your studio is terrible. The information you are giving about the product is great but I can't see the product to know what you are describing.
@@MatthewLEdwards really appreciate the feedback, I am trying to learn the lighting and have since made adjustments which should help! Let me know if you need photos or videos of anything and I can send them along to you!!
200 for non removable radio, no isb type c direct, non removable antenna. Yaaa, okay foe a 20 dollar radio, charging 199.
Midland be smoking crack
I don't know about their drug usage, however I do know that the internal chipset to the radio is much higher quality than some of the lesser priced competitors in the space.
It does have a super heterodyne receiver!