Midland MicroMobile 15W GMRS Two-Way Radio with Integrated Control Microphone (Bundle)

This base station radio was given to my husband and me as a gift, and we installed it in our Jeep Wrangler that had been modified for rock crawling. Initial thoughts: This small device was incredibly simple to set up and operate right out of the box. My husband is a huge fan of radios and communication devices, and his Jeep is equipped with a CB, Ham Radio, and now GMRS radio. He was able to easily fit the small, sleek device among his other devices without taking up too much room. The radio can be hardwired into the car or simply plugged into the cigarette lighter (12v power jack). We used the plug-in so that we could unplug it if we weren't going to use it for a while; it also has a USB port, which allows you to charge other devices (such as hand-held radios) while driving. It has 15 channels, half of which have a higher transmit power (due to the lack of a mic gain) to improve range, as well as a small magnetic antenna that can be placed anywhere in your vehicle. Given that it is a small, compact, and sleek device, it also feels extremely durable. We are hard on our gear, and we believe this unit will be able to withstand more abuse as time goes on. br>br>Impressions of Use: My husband was able to put this to the test in a number of different scenarios. He did some range testing with a friend who was at home (using a non-lethal weapon). Jeremy was driving and listening to Midland radio in Heber City, Utah. In this situation, he was able to travel about 10 miles with excellent sound and transmission. On the way to Moab, we also tested range between two moving vehicles while driving on Highway 6. The base station was clearly in the jeep, and I had an X-ray machine on my person. In my car, I have a talker. While both vehicles were moving and passing through the winding canyons/mountain passes, we were able to maintain a distance of at least 5 miles between them. We were also on higher channels, which amplifies transmission signals. The speaker's volume was an enormous plus. It was loud enough to be heard clearly over the increased road noise that comes with driving a lifted Jeep at highway speeds. On my handheld, he came through crystal clear, and I didn't pick up much of the background noise. br>br>Overall assessment: This small unit is fantastic. When we're out in the backcountry and cell service is spotty, it just gives us another way to communicate. We'll also use this station and hand out our handhelds while rock crawling in Moab in case our CBs fail and we need to communicate between vehicles. The sound quality is unbeatable and consistent whether you're using another Midland radio or a different brand. If you're looking for a non-commercial radio, this is the one to get. The MXT275 MicroMobile base station is an excellent choice for a handheld radio with excellent range, clarity, and durability at an affordable price.

Zaria Ramirez

| Jun 25, 2021

I like how all of the controls, a display, and a speaker are integrated into the very beefy-feeling handmic because it allows for a very clean custom installation. Breathe a sigh of relief if you're looking to do a custom setup and hide or mount the "guts box" somewhere where the Mic cable can't reach. My handsi system was mounted using a black plastic aftermarket Mic hanger (I also used my other two radios since I wanted the cables to match and look like less of an afterthought). And my cable extension was made with a standard double female rj45 socket. br>The bottom line is that this radio makes it simple to perform a clean custom install without "guts boxes" obstructing passenger space or being an eyesore in the cabin.

Elian Mosley

| Nov 19, 2021

br> Simple to store and use an RJ45 patch/extension cable to place the microphone wherever you wantbr> Standard UHF connector allows you to use any compatible antennabr> 15W of available power on channels 15- With the right antenna, the 22 will blow away any handheldbr> Includes a bracket for easy removal of the base unit or transfer to other vehiclesbr> Can be programmed for local repeater use, which can dramatically increase range beyond simplexbr> Communicates with FRS only radios on channels 1- 7 and 15- 22 for more versatilitybr> NOAA weather station channels are a nice bonusbr> Squelch, roger beep, call alert tone, silent mode, and display background color can all be customizedbr> CTCSS and DCS privacy tones can be used to tune out busy channels (note: br>br>Cons: Others in the same channel can turn on monitor mode or use the same privacy tone as you and hear you)br>br>
- The microphone/speaker on the handset is susceptible to alternator whine (but not the speaker on the base unit? )
- One-handed use of the handset controls is a little awkward, and they could be better organized. br>- The adhesive on the handset hanger is unlikely to withstand interior heat, so screw it in instead.
- Because of the limited screen space, the interface and menus are cryptic (keep the manual handy). br>- Channel 8 is unavailable for viewing. 14 are solely FRS (FCC's fault, not Midlands')br>- To transmit, you'll need a GMRS license from the FCC, which is purely for revenue purposes (especially if you want to use repeaters, as most of them require call sign identification). br>br>EDIT: br>br>Unfortunately, I have to lower my original rating because, not long after I purchased this mobile GMRS radio, it began to suffer from serious RF interference in addition to the usual alternator whine (which, by the way, was easily remedied with an inline power filter). br>br>Whenever my MXT275 is in motion, nearly 14 to 34% of the Rx signal strength vanishes instantly, and the jittery static popping noises get worse and worse as speed increases. Above 50 miles per hour, it becomes so distorted that communication is almost impossible. My transmissions are distorted to the point where even other people can hear it. I've tried different filters, changed out wiring, experimented with different antennas, and grounding, but nothing has solved this vexing problem. Only when I'm parked and idling does the distortion go away, rendering the radio useless as a "mobile" GMRS radio. br>br>I understand that radios can be finicky, but I found the virtually non-existent customer support, as well as the lack of any fixes or suggestions in their documentation, to be particularly infuriating. I couldn't get a response from their listed customer service email, so I had to dig around on Midland's website for an alternate address. The response I got was basically "call our warranty department and exchange the unit," so I did that and paid shipping to have my unit replaced. Thankfully, their warranty department was understanding and promptly sent out a brand new MXT275 in box, which, unfortunately, still had the same problem! I'm not sure how everyone else's units work so well; I've had two defective units now. It's a shame, because this radio is arguably one of the best-designed FCC-legal mobile GMRS radios on the market, but it's been nothing short of a letdown for me.

Egypt Rocha

| Oct 31, 2021