Beginner Level GMSR Radio Recommendation

[LDYDRVN]

Looking for your recommendation for a GMSR Radio. I’ve been on 1 trail ride here in Southern Utah and would like to go out a few times a year. The local trail leaders and gunners strongly suggest GMSR Radios. I’m looking at is the Midland MXT275 MicoMobile Radio. This radio looks fairly simple to use. I’ve already applied and received my FCC License.

Thanks in advance on your help ?.

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[XxTormentorxX]

I wish I could help, I purchased the same one and plan to use it on my trip to Texas in November.
I plan to install it were I can remove it if needed so no permanent mount.
So far I have my antenna mounted on my tailgate and ran the cable to the passenger seat where I plan to mount the main body.
I am going to hook it up tomorrow to see how it works as a test.

 

[Lateapex]

Looking for your recommendation for a GMSR Radio. I’ve been on 1 trail ride here in Southern Utah and would like to go out a few times a year. The local trail leaders and gunners strongly suggest GMSR Radios. I’m looking at is the Midland MXT275 MicoMobile Radio. This radio looks fairly simple to use. I’ve already applied and received my FCC License.

Thanks in advance on your help ?.

As an alternative “beginner” GMRS, consider a handheld unit, such as the Baofeng GM-15 Pro. At only about 30 bucks, it offers a lot of functionality without the need to run cable and mount an antenna.

Also, if you decide to permanently mount a radio later on, you still have a handheld for spotting, hiking, or loaning to someone who shows up to a run without a radio.

I got mine on Amazon.

Edit: Loan to someone with a license.

 

[jbcrane]

I went with the Wouxun KG-935G GMRS Two Way Radio from buytwowayradios.com. It was about $150 plus another $25 shipping a year ago. I was starting from zero and this one came highly recommended by the GMRS radio nerds (of which I'm not one). I also have a pair of inexpensive Midland GXT's I picked up at the local outdoor shop. The Wouxun (pronounced Ocean, I think) is substantially better quality than the Midlands. If you held both in hand you'd see what I mean.

I also picked up the Nagoya UT-72G High Gain Magnet Mount GMRS Antenna (another $35) that screws into the Wouxun's antenna mount (you can unscrew the standard antenna from the Wouxun, but not the Midlands) for greater reach. I mount the magnet on my Mopar A-Pillar light (steel) light mount and snake the cord in through the gaps by the front driver door.

These are all (rechargeable) battery powered units that come with chargers. If I were to recommend one it would be the Wouxun. It's well made, has plenty of features/reach and is still simple to use - with a very good user manual, written by the English speaking guys at buytwowayradios.com. I'm not affiliated or connected in any way - just a happy customer. Any questions just ask. Good luck.

 

[LazyJL]

I have used the Midland MXT275 package for two years without issues, it’s small and almost invisible with the microphone disconnected and put away.

 

[John Benoit]

Looking for your recommendation for a GMSR Radio. I’ve been on 1 trail ride here in Southern Utah and would like to go out a few times a year. The local trail leaders and gunners strongly suggest GMSR Radios. I’m looking at is the Midland MXT275 MicoMobile Radio. This radio looks fairly simple to use. I’ve already applied and received my FCC License.

Thanks in advance on your help ?.

I would suggest you purchase the best quality radio you can afford. The higher the wattage the longer distance you can broadcast and receive. A 15 watt has a lot less range than a 25 watt and so on.

 

[Mx5red]

I’d start with a cheaper Gmrs handheld… (not just FRS frequencies)
I got the ubiquitous baofeng uv-5r (though that needed to be programmed via file I found online) and works fine in a group, also far enough to pick up other groups miles away and then everyone has to change channels (also why people should probably use FRS more). It is not the easiest radio to program or use, so there may be better “beginner” cheap Gmrs handhelds now.
I’ve held off getting a hard-wired radio since using a handheld, it does everything I need it to. I like being able to take it in and out of the Jeep for spotting.

If you were out in more remote areas you may need a more powerful radio and better antenna than the handheld. Though, if your were really far out I wouldn’t depend on it for possible rescue comms, I would get a satellite comm device like an inreach, zoleo, bivystick.

you will get a million opinions on this.
People who say get HAM, for example.
Edit: so it depends on how you plan to use it. I am running a trail in a group, OR I’m in BFE. An FRS handheld would do fine in my trail runs, and satellite reliable when I’m in the desert and have an emergency.
Running high power radios just causes more interference when there are a lot of people in a relatively small area, people should be using lower power there?

 

[SadRobot]

I have the Midland MXT275 and a set of Motorola T200 Talkabouts. I usually end up lending out one of the Talkabouts and like @Mx5red said it's nice to have a handheld if you need to jump out of the Jeep to spot.

 

[Jeep4Win]

Midland MXT275 is a solid choice. It’s nice that all the controls are on the microphone so you can hide the unit from sight.

 

[Aonar]

On the GMRS note, I went portable/waterproof. I run open from April-Halloween. Typically, the only time I use a "radio" is when on trips, so a permanent mount was not desired and a portable was a cost savings as well. Reception was fantastic on our Moab trip and on the passes in Colorado. I chose the BC LINK™ TWO-WAY RADIO 2.0 FAQs - BC Link™ Radios - Backcountry Access

 

[Jtaugner]

For what it's worth, I've got the Midland 275 like most here. Mine is mounted on-top of my Molle Panel between the front driver/passenger seats. I was insanely impressed when I got caught without the top on recently causing the entire unit to be soaked along with the handset. While it doesn't specify a IPX rating, I can speak from experience it can handle some water. I had about a half an inch of standing water in the footwells when said storm had passed.

 

[Friday2322]

I have the MXT275 and have used it while camping at the lake to communicate with the base camp who is using a $30 Beofang handheld. Granted it is fairly flat around the lake but it worked great in the roughly two mile radius I stayed in. The handheld worked great in the Ouray area while on the trails and in the mountains. It allowed us to stay in contact with others in the same valley, which is all we need. Food for thought, there are public repeaters available in some popular off-roading areas which will boost your range in the mountains, just get permission from the owner to get any code you may need to use it.​

 

[Chrisbayridge1]

Looking for your recommendation for a GMSR Radio. I’ve been on 1 trail ride here in Southern Utah and would like to go out a few times a year. The local trail leaders and gunners strongly suggest GMSR Radios. I’m looking at is the Midland MXT275 MicoMobile Radio. This radio looks fairly simple to use. I’ve already applied and received my FCC License.

Thanks in advance on your help ?.

I got the Midlands also they're great no complaints whatsoever

 

[MaximusW]

I like the Rugged Radio handheld.

 

[Mark75H]

Midland is the king of MARKETING, the Wouxon radios are substancailly better radios and worth the extra money.

On 65cm (GMRS) the difference in range with 15 watts vs 25 watts is negligable. There would be a MINOR difference in clarity. In that frequency range line of sight rules over power, even a minor obstruction can completely block reception regardless of transmitter power.

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