As a user of GMRS radio in off-road environments, I look for several different things when buying a mobile radio. Among them are ruggedness, power output and features that make them versatile for off-road communications. So far we’ve been fairly happy with most features of our old Midland MXT400 GMRS radio, but after trying the BTECH (Baofeng) GMRS 50X1, I think that the Midland is going to get the boot, and here’s why. (While this article may feature affiliate links or ads, we did not receive any compensation or free gear for this review.)
Does The Midland MXT400 Use Narrow Band FM?
One of the issues that has bugged me was hearing that Midland Micromobile GMRS radios use narrow band FM – (12.5 kHz maximum), when wide band (20 kHz maximum) is allowed on simplex and on GMRS repeater channels 15-22. Despite many claims out there that the MXT400 is only narrow band on these frequencies, this info is only partially correct – if you look at the radio’s specs filed with the FCC below. That being said, the radios apparently come factory set to narrow band resulting in “shallow” sounding audio. Many GMRS repeaters use wideband, and this issue with the MXT400 has been widely discussed online, with some users of the radio reporting no issues at all as others experience it. (Perhaps not all these radios are set the same at the factory?)
This problem, along with the inability to use split tones for repeaters that require them, can be fixed by using software and the DBR1 programming cable, available from Midland, however we haven’t tried it
The MXT-400 Compander Function –
Midland’s voice compression or “compander” circuit is supposed to enhance communications under difficult circumstances, by reducing noise, etc. I’ve personally never found this useful, and it’s recommended that you turn it off when using a wideband GMRS repeater. To disable this function, see page 20 of the MXT-400 user manual.
Why Narrowband FM Stinks
Unfortunately narrow band does not focus any more power into a narrower space, as SSB does, and only reduces audio quality and increases noise. The MXT400’s capabilities can be found in this spec sheet, filed with the FCC and show it capable of wideband, but perhaps the confusion arises from what the radio is capable of, and what it’s programmed for before leaving the factory. (The designation 10K5F3E is for 10.5 kHz narrow band FM, and 16K0F3E is for wideband).
As per the FCC:
“Main channels. The authorized bandwidth is 20 kHz for GMRS transmitters operating on any of the 462 MHz main channels (see § 95.1763(a)) or any of the 467 MHz main channels (see § 95.1763(c))”.
The BTECH GMRS-50X1 Looks Very Familiar – What Gives?
To make a radio that is part 95 accepted by the FCC, Baofeng basically took the amateur radio version – seen below – and limited its ability to transmit outside of GMRS channels. Aside from some cosmetic differences, the GMRS-50X1 seems to be made from the same production run as the ham version, the UV-50X, with just a few tweaks.
Look and Feel Of The GMRS-50X1
The large heat sink on the back of the BTECH GMRS-50X1 seems capable of keeping the final amplifier circuits cool. Shortly after installing and powering it up, we tried the radio at full power, on channel 16 simplex. After an extended conversation at full power, with another licensed GMRS user who was located 15 miles away, the heat sink was fairly warm to the touch – but not hot. This radio’s control knobs feel substantial, and have more than enough friction to resist moving from vehicle vibration. The BTECH’s buttons also feel like they’re well made, and the case seems rugged enough to handle a modest impact.
The only complaint we have is that the display could have been just a bit bigger, and perhaps have a cleaner, more modern looking font. These are minor issues, and we can live with them just fine.
The BTECH GMRS-50X1 Comes Out Ahead
In the spec sheet filed with the FCC the BTECH GMRS-50X1 transmits using 16K0F3E or 16.0 kHz “wide band”. I didn’t think there was much difference, until I tried the two radios side by side on simplex, where the BTECH had better audio. The GMRS-50X1 had much better audio quality through the repeater than the Midland unit. Also, I noticed that the MXT400’s test report only shows it to transmit 40 watts on channels 15-22, while the GMRS-50X1 was tested at 42.95 watts – which is lower than the 50 watts claimed, yet still better than the Midland.
Another feature of the BTECH GMRS-50X1 that I see as being very useful, is the ability to scan and see which privacy tone someone is using, that is, if you want to talk to them and they’ve enabled a “tone squelch” setting different from yours. This feature should be very handy for the off-road community, especially if the person you’re trying to talk to has accidentally input a different privacy tone than the rest of the group. Also helpful is the ability to set “split tones” which some repeaters use.
GMRS-50X1 Power Output May Drop Off
If you’re a long-winded talker, you may find that your GMRS-50X1 may have reduced power after a minute or so. Testing this radio on our bench – into a dummy load – we found actual output on high drops off from 42.2 watts to 35.5 watts after a minute and a half of constant transmission This is a well known issue with the ham version of this radio, but isn’t really a problem for us since we don’t use GMRS for long conversations.
A Big Plus Of The GMRS-50X1
One more big plus of the BTECH mobile radio is the ability to receive FM broadcast stations from 87.5-108 MHz, as well as VHF transmissions from 136-174 MHz, which includes marine VHF and NOAA weather channels. It’s also about $30 cheaper than the Midland, so there’s that.
Where The Midland MXT400 Comes Out Ahead
We can’t totally disrespect our trusty MXT400 though, and when it comes to the microphone on the Midland, it feels a bit more rugged than the BTECH. Midland’s user manual is easy to understand, and programming the radio for repeater channels is fairly straightforward. The Midland MXT400 has a nice clean interface, similar to commercial radios, while the BTECH has more of an “imported” look, even though both radios are made in China.
The Midland MTX400’s display is a bit easier to read than the BTECH, another plus, but we’re still going with BTECH because of all the features it packs, and the better audio quality on repeater channels.
What About The New Midland MXT500?
Feeling the heat of competition from BTECH no doubt, Midland has just come out with the MXT500, a 50 watt (actually 47.8 watt) radio which is capable of user selected wideband FM on repeater input and simplex channels, offers IP66 waterproofing and NOAA weather channels. All this comes at a high cost, of just under $400, which could buy you two GMRS-50X1’s, that you just keep dry.
Both Radios Feature A One Year Warranty
Both Midland and BTECH offer a one year limited warranty on their radios. According to Baofeng Tech’s website, “all radios purchased through the website or Amazon storefront may be returned up to 30 days after purchase.” If you’re the owner of a Midland Micromobile GMRS, and feel that its transmit and receive audio could be better, I suggest you simply try the BTECH GMRS-50X1, and if you don’t feel that it offers better performance, simply return it within the 30 day window.
- [ 50W GMRS 2-WAY RADIO & SCANNING RECEIVER]: The GMRS-50X1 is a 50 Watt GMRS...
- [LONG RANGE]: Requires an external antenna (the Nagoya NMO-200C is recommended:...
- [PRIVACY TONES]: The GMRS-50X1 is compatible with all CTCSS (PL Tone) and DCS...
- [OTHER FEATURES]: Wideband or Narrowband Switchable, FM Radio, Large LCD Display...
- [WHATS INCLUDED?]: BTECH GMRS-50X1, Speaker Mic, DC Cable, Radio & Mic Brackets,...
We’ll Keep You Posted
Our new BTECH GMRS-50X1 sits mounted in our truck now, next to our ham rig. The Midland MXT400 is probably going on eBay, sorry to say. So far so good, but there’s one last test that we’d like to put it to, which is some rough backroads in Utah and Arizona this fall. As a ham operator I’ve had good luck with Baofeng/BTECH products so far, and hopefully this little GMRS mobile won’t be an exception to that.
For more info on how to get the best performance from your GMRS radio – and most importantly, from damaging it – see our article “How To Set GMRS Radio SWR“.
Full Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. There’s no extra charge to our readers for using these.
