Anyone install a Midland MXT275 in a 5th gen?

[4xColt]

Firewall on driver or passenger side is your best option. Some of the antenna cables disconnect on the end to make running the wire a lot easier. I always do the coat hanger trick.

Thanks for the response. I didn't know that the end comes off the cable. I feel a little better now.

Colt

 

[Mudhorn]

Thanks for the response. I didn't know that the end comes off the cable. I feel a little better now.

Colt

My setup is a low profile antenna cable, ghost antenna, and roll bar mount (installed on Gobi rack). A few people have that setup.

 

[rob_dixon]

Okay, it took me a minute to figure out what you did. Simple and Brilliant!

Your solution works perfectly for me since I will keep the mic in my center console 95% of the time and just plug it in when I need it. The unit is tucked up and out of the way but easy to get at when needed.

Couple of questions:

1. Are those threaded washers?
2. Did you use washers on the other side as well?
3. Do you happen to have a parts list of the hardware you used?

Colt

No, they arent threaded. Just flat washers, but you need wide ones with a small hole. I did use washers on the other side i think it was a while ago. Sorry, i do not remember the parts list, all i did was take the screw to the ace hardware and use thier nuts and washer display.

My biggest issue is i simply cant find double stick tape strong enough to hold the mic on. I tried the top stuff and even that peels right off over time.

My other TIP for all of you is do not waste your money on a GMRS license. Yes, i am advising you to technically break the law, but its a $70, and NO ONE FOLLOWS THE RULES. 90% of the traffic is kids playing hide and seek or other child games LOl

 

[4xColt]

Stupid question - Be nice!!!

I will eventually pickup a antenna that can mount between the hood and windshield but until then...

Would it work if I put the antenna that comes with the unit in the rear passenger side panel? See picture. I am assuming that it should work better than a little hand held unit, right?

Also, would it be safe, health-wise? I am assuming 15 watts coming from the other side of the windshield vs the rear cargo area wouldn't make much of a difference?

Thanks ahead of time for all your help
Colt

 

[axel1]

I am using the ghost antenna

FYI, you're going to have a pretty big null in your antenna coverage because of the rack. With any antenna, metal in close proximity is going to absolutely kill the radiation pattern. I'd recommend getting the can completely above the rack rails, unless you prefer the "super stealth" look over improved performance.

 

[4xColt]

The other option for me is to just stick the magnet mount on the roof when I plan on hitting the trail.

For those of you that use the magnet mount antenna, what is the best way temporarily run the cable to the roof? Is there route that is better than others, like rear or front door jam, between the doors, rear hatch?

Thanks again guys
Colt

 

[itr1275]

We have Midland GXT1000s and they are pretty well built. Waterproof-ish and fairly compact. Great sound and easy to use.

If you are doing only FRS/GMRS I would highly recommend the Midland GXT100s. In expensive, high quality, compact, no extra holes in your truck and does not require an FCC license in the US. Canada is different.

Not that anyone checks it, but that particular mobile unit requires an FCC license and there are people out there with nothing to do. I think $75 will get you that, no test required. My advice is to be legit, pay the $$ and use your call sign.

I have the Midland GXT1000 and a Baofang BF-8HP. I use the midland in rural areas for group comms and only use the Baofang on licensed Ham frequencies, which not everyone has, but in a pinch I can usually get to someone somewhere if I have a repeater.

A mobile GMRS will have a better antenna with a tiny bit more elevation and does transmit at 15W vs 2W handheld. However, more transmit power means they might hear you, but you can't hear them. Also 100W doesn't go through a mountain, it's all relative line of sight at that frequency.

In the end mobile GMRS doesn't really buy you much. Receive will be exactly the same. But you have the ability to source more power and use repeaters that mostly don't exists.

If you buy a programmable radio, like the Baofang, they are not FCC certified for GRMS (back to people with nothing better to do) they don't sound any better even at higher power levels nor do they have better range (about .5-1 mile urban) than the Midland handhelds. Seriously. It's because the Baofang is inexpensive and has a crap speaker.

Best of luck and stay safe.

 

[4xColt]

Okay, so I will figure out how to temporarily get the cable to the roof out the back hatch.

I will be ordering a ghost antenna, cable and the MICROMOBILE®MXTA20 TOYOTA 4RUNNER BRACKET MOUNT when they are back in stock.

Do I need to "ground" the bracket? I thought I read somewhere that the Rago CB bracket needed to be grounded, is this true for the Midland GMRS bracket as well?

Thanks again,
Colt

 

[jawkdna]

I put mine in the rear behind a custom panel and created a splitter that goes to a rear plug and one up front, so this allows me access to either connection for when we are sitting at the tailgate and running trails.

Can I ask where you got that "UHF" plug for the front?
Want to replicate this!

 

[mo_mo]

Can I ask where you got that "UHF" plug for the front?
Want to replicate this!

I don't know about OP, but if you search Amazon with "UHF rj45 radio panel", you'll get a few hits.

 

[Tajji28]

Does anyone know how much amperage the usb ports put out? Im putting the unit in the glovebox and was thinking of running a charge cable for my navigation tablet while Ive got a bunch of the dash out. Thanks!

 

[Charlievee]

What are some good antenna mounts? Not a fan of magnet options or the "lip mount" types.

 

[jawkdna]

What are some good antenna mounts? Not a fan of magnet options or the "lip mount" types.

A Gobi Rack makes a great mount...

 

[Campndad]

I like where you mounted your ghost antenna, was the 12ft cable long enough or did you have to extend it? If you did extend it did that effect the performance? I was going to mount mine on the rear of the rack the route the wires back to the center console, but I don't think I can do that without extending the cable and I'm not sure that recommended.

Sorry reaper just saw this. The unit is actually in the rear so we used the 12ft and had a lot left over.
Here is a link to the article on it.

Custom Two Mic Installation of the MXT275 MicroMobile | Midland Radio


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[axel1]

What are some good antenna mounts? Not a fan of magnet options or the "lip mount" types.

I drilled three NMOs into the roof, but that's a pretty extreme option.

Like others have said, a roof rack offers a pretty good ground plane.

 

[Charlievee]

I drilled three NMOs into the roof, but that's a pretty extreme option.

Like others have said, a roof rack offers a pretty good ground plane.

Not getting a rack to mount an antenna.

 

[jawkdna]

Not getting a rack to mount an antenna.

So:
no magnet
no "lip mount" types
no roof rack

You're running out of options here...

you could try:

Rago's 5TH GEN TOYOTA 4RUNNER CB ANTENNA MOUNT - STAINLESS STEEL

or

Rago's HAM ANTENNA DITCH BRACKET EXTENSION

You could just mount a single ditch light bracket from any manufacturer and mount the antenna to that (with no light). I've seen a few people do that, but you're going to get a better signal the higher up on the rig you can get that antenna....

good luck

 

[Stabbi]

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.

Just bought the Btech GMRS 50x1...hope to be installing over the next few weeks (hasn't shipped yet).

 

[TanSolo]

Has anyone hardwired their MTX275 radio to the fuse box or the actual battery? The cables upfront are such an eyesore..

 

[jawkdna]

Has anyone hardwired their MTX275 radio to the fuse box or the actual battery? The cables upfront are such an eyesore..

Have mine wired to my Overland Equipped auxiliary power kit...

Less things running to the in cabin fuse box the better (in my humble opinion).