Anyone install a Midland MXT275 in a 5th gen?

rob_dixon

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I am thinking the head unit can fit perfectly in the dash space right above the front cup holder.

Photos of your setup?
 
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It can fit anywhere.

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Do you feel in hindsight now that this model was the correct one to buy? I am pretty close to making a decision but so many options and i want to reach FRS stations (FCC requires lower power) in case people have handheld cheapo 2 ways. Not sure this can do that.
 
i have used mine to pickup kids using cheapo walkie talkies a few neighborhoods away.

Out of the 10 people on our last trail run, everyone was using GMRS or FRS. Everyone but me had a handheld, two guys had midland hand held gmrs radios, 1 guys had a baofeng uv-r5. the remainder were on cheapo frs walkies.


Worked great.
 
BTW, coupon code: OVERLANDUSA will get you 20% off, and spend over $100 to get free shipping, no tax charges either.

The MXT275 ends up being $119 shipped.
 
i have used mine to pickup kids using cheapo walkie talkies a few neighborhoods away.

Out of the 10 people on our last trail run, everyone was using GMRS or FRS. Everyone but me had a handheld, two guys had midland hand held gmrs radios, 1 guys had a baofeng uv-r5. the remainder were on cheapo frs walkies.


Worked great.

Haven't installed mine yet but did you use the antenna it came with? if not, any recommendations for an aftermarket one?

Thanks
 
Haven't installed mine yet but did you use the antenna it came with? if not, any recommendations for an aftermarket one?

Thanks

I read a ton of reviews and talked to a few people that have the same radio, they all say the little 6" antenna with the magnetic base is pretty awesome out of the box. I stuck it on the roof near the shark fin antenna.

I have no issues, and may upgrade later purely because i cant leave anything alone, but there is no need to replace it unless you want the full 15 mile range out of the radio.
 
So basically to recap "YES", you can transmit and recieve to Walmart handhelds on this thing?

BTW, coupon code: OVERLANDUSA will get you 20% off, and spend over $100 to get free shipping, no tax charges either.

The MXT275 ends up being $119 shipped.


You da man! If the answer to that question is YES, Sold.
 
We installed our base unit under the center console. There's a complete install video over on our YouTube channel here: YouTube
 

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So basically to recap "YES", you can transmit and recieve to Walmart handhelds on this thing?




You da man! If the answer to that question is YES, Sold.

i dont know where people were buying their handhelds, but i do know they were not midland, and looked more like cheap toys than anything.
 
i have used mine to pickup kids using cheapo walkie talkies a few neighborhoods away.

Out of the 10 people on our last trail run, everyone was using GMRS or FRS. Everyone but me had a handheld, two guys had midland hand held gmrs radios, 1 guys had a baofeng uv-r5. the remainder were on cheapo frs walkies.


Worked great.

Can you recommend a quality handhelp GMRS radio?
 
We have Midland GXT1000s and they are pretty well built. Waterproof-ish and fairly compact. Great sound and easy to use.
 
We have Midland GXT1000s and they are pretty well built. Waterproof-ish and fairly compact. Great sound and easy to use.

I have also read great things about these handheld radios. However, the reason I was looking into the MXT275 was simply power. The handhelds have 5 Watts (although REI lists them only at 2 Watts) versus 15 watts. Apparently, from those way smarter than I on the subject 15 Watts does make a huge difference in range. Of course the ADVANTAGE of the handhelds is you can bring them with you while hiking.

The ideal set up for that reason of course would be to get both.

And yes, before anyone pipes in on FCC rules, I did apply for and pay my $70 for the GMRS license. ;-)
 
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I have also read great things about these handheld radios. However, the reason I was looking into the MXT275 was simply power. The handhelds have 5 Watts (although REI lists them only at 2 Watts) versus 15 watts. Apparently, from those way smarter than I on the subject 15 Watts does make a huge difference in range. Of course the ADVANTAGE of the handhelds is you can bring them with you while hiking.

The ideal set up for that reason of course would be to get both.

And yes, before anyone pipes in on FCC rules, I did apply for and pay my $70 for the GMRS license. ;-)

I hear ya. I’m looking at putting the MXT275 into ours as well...would like to have a decent “base” radio that’s powerful and the handhelds first out of the vehicle excursions.

I found the handhelds at Walmart for $65, so pretty reasonable.
 
We installed our base unit under the center console. There's a complete install video over on our YouTube channel here: YouTube

I was actually impressed and inspired by your video. That's probably where I'll put mine. Not sure I'm going to worry about the extra USB port. I'm not above using a cubby space if I need to (I used the ashtray area in a 2nd gen for the CB I installed in it) but your idea doesn't take any visible space. I love keeping the interior clear of extra stuff as much as possible!
 

I liked your installation, but I think I'm going to go more with the approach shown by @WanderlostOverland for the interior. However their antenna mount approach would not work for us yet (no steel rear bumper).

The top/roof-rack mount you used seemed like a good approach. Then I saw the price tag for the bracket.... Ouch... It seems odd to me that this bracket is only $18 less than the radio (after discount). Guess it's time to work on my metal fabrication skills :-).

Also, thanks to @GripT4R for his mention of the coupon code (usable directly with Midland). I hadn't run across that bit of info, and that was enough to get me to pull the trigger on this purchase.

(The 'mention' tags aren't behaving as I would expect.)
 

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