Communication Equipment [CB's, antennas, etc]

Guys, great thread here. I am new to this comms/radio stuff.....I am leaning towards the Midland brand but unsure which one I should get and what's the easiest way to mount it. Any thoughts or pictures would be greatly appreciated!

 

This is what I went with as a backup to the cell phone:

$93 Midland 75-822 40 Channel CB-Way Radio

Midland 75-822 40 Channel CB-Way Radio

Have the lighter jack & a magnetic antenna

One in the 4Runner and one in the RAV4. Everything fts in a child's tackle box

 

I use Midland MXT 275 GMRS radio - https://amzn.to/3vs1n3t

I use GMRS radio because it doesn't need any tuning of radio and what not like CB nor it require complicated exam like HAM radio. If you use FRS (family channels) no need any license and if you use high power channels you can purchase license for a small amount for 10years.

Here's the install and range test video. I just install a different antenna. Since its not tested yet I cannot say anything yet. If its good I will share that. For now hope these 2 might help anyone interested.

https://youtu.be/YDXOgqfC_Ws
https://youtu.be/GvWXJlJMhEg

 

I'm not a fan of the Midland GMRS radio because it's narrow band. The standard for GMRS is wide band. A narrow band radio talking to a wide band radio will have low volume and a wide band radio talking to a narrow band radio may sound distorted.

Also, the test as shown in the video is somewhat skewed in that you have a mobile radio with a moderately efficient antenna talking to a handheld, inside a structure, with a very inefficient antenna. As with anything radio, there a lot of variables.

 

I think I'm lucky everyone I know use Midland equipment. So I have clear communication.

Since our friends & family talk from 99.99% vehicle to vehicle and 0.01% rental house to vehicle we haven't had problems yet. (Really it was just one time my wife radio us from rental house to ask "where are you guys?!!!!!") . Atleast in the city test I did with hand held inside my house and MXT275 in my vehicle it was good at 5 miles mark. I thinks that's good enough for my needs.

I also have Garmin inreach, so I always have way to communicate.

 

Agreed. I will say the MXT575 from Midland is Wideband but it's pretty costly for what it is.

Also Midland radios are wicked easy and that's why they do so well imo. If you're a radio geek who wants to program a ton of repeaters Midland is maybe not the best choice imo. For the common man who just wants a simple system to work with a couple different vehicles in the convoy the MXT275 works great for the price.