BTECH vs Midland (GMRS)

[OFC Ranger]

@Glocker @Msfitoy

Bout to order my radio and I am kind of torn between what to order;

Was kind of eye-balling this: https://www.amazon.com/BTECH-GMRS-50X1-Repeater-136-174-99MHz-400-520-99MHz/dp/B07RDM9LMM/ref=sr_1_6?crid=22URM00FI744T&keywords=gmrs+car+radio&qid=1650307893&sprefix=gmrs%20car%20radio,aps,64&sr=8-6

Midland just released their 50W version not to long ago, but it comes at the cost of about $200 more than BTECH. Their 40W version is also about $100 more than the 50W BTECH.

I have limited knowledge and experience with BTECH, I've had some of their hand held radios and they always worked fine.

User ratings for the BTECH mobile look good, so I don't know. Most of you know me, I am not going to pay extra because of the company sticker on the outside of the product given both function the same and similar quality.

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[Colo_Ranger]

I have the MXT275, so I can only speak to that, but its a great unit. Works without fail.

 

[Msfitoy]

@Glocker @Msfitoy

Bout to order my radio and I am kind of torn between what to order;

Was kind of eye-balling this: https://www.amazon.com/BTECH-GMRS-50X1-Repeater-136-174-99MHz-400-520-99MHz/dp/B07RDM9LMM/ref=sr_1_6?crid=22URM00FI744T&keywords=gmrs+car+radio&qid=1650307893&sprefix=gmrs%20car%20radio,aps,64&sr=8-6

Midland just released their 50W version not to long ago, but it comes at the cost of about $200 more than BTECH. Their 40W version is also about $100 more than the 50W BTECH.

I have limited knowledge and experience with BTECH, I've had some of their hand held radios and they always worked fine.

User ratings for the BTECH mobile look good, so I don't know. Most of you know me, I am not going to pay extra because of the company sticker on the outside of the product given both function the same and similar quality.

BTECH is Baofeng division...the folks who invented the famous UV-5R...If it were me, I'd go with them...

 

[FoD]

BTECH is Baofeng division...the folks who invented the famous UV-5R...If it were me, I'd go with them...

Crap!! and I've got a Midland...that's it...I'm selling the truck and buying a Dudge!!

 

[RVA Overland]

I have been thinking about the GMRS radios for a while and this is the one I think I have landed on. https://www.buytwowayradios.com/wouxun-kg-1000g.html?___SID=U
Definitely worth looking at as the price is right in line with what you are looking at anyway.

 

[9zero1790]

havent used either but, midland has been around a long time and seems to be reputable. im not knocking baofeng ( i call them Chinaflung) i have one of the uv5r plus around somewhere and it has always worked great. But it was cheap and i didnt feel like the price was that bad if it didnt last. since these cost a lot more than the lil 5r radios i would go midland just for the comfort of knowing that if it had a problem midland would likely make it right faster and easier than chinaflung.

 

[Msfitoy]

 

[OFC Ranger]

I ended up going with a cheaper 25 watt radioditty as a learning step.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09C7JBBVY/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_dl_VNVTZVCRQ68CDYMHAMMX

I'm going to cut the cigarette plug off and hardwire it to make sure it's getting maximum amperage. Once I tool around it I'll upgrade it and probably convert this to a base unit for my garage and install an antenna.

 

[Msfitoy]

I ended up going with a cheaper 25 watt radioditty as a learning step.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09C7JBBVY/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_dl_VNVTZVCRQ68CDYMHAMMX

I'm going to cut the cigarette plug off and hardwire it to make sure it's getting maximum amperage. Once I tool around it I'll upgrade it and probably convert this to a base unit for my garage and install an antenna.

Did you consider the QYT that I chose? It's smaller with 20watt...

 

[ControlNode]

I have been thinking about the GMRS radios for a while and this is the one I think I have landed on. https://www.buytwowayradios.com/wouxun-kg-1000g.html?___SID=U
Definitely worth looking at as the price is right in line with what you are looking at anyway.

I recently ordered this radio. My plan if it ends up in the truck would be to mount the radio behind the rear seat and then use the remote faceplate feature and have it down under the climate controls between the accessory ports. I have the Midland MXT275 (15W GMRS), it works ok, but most repeaters are setup as wide band, and this lower power Midland only does narrow band. But the Midland is working great, while I was in Floridia, I had the antenna on the top of the camper and reaching (assuming myGMRS has right location of the repeater I was hitting) about 18.75 miles to a repeater. At home I have the antenna on the rain gutter at the house and easily reaching the repeater about 10 miles out. My wife works closer to the repeater so she can hit it with a handset. I was thinking of waiting for the MXT575 from Midland, while it has wideband and custom channel names, I can only have one repeater configured per GMRS channel at a time. So, if I travel around and start getting several repeaters setup but find that some are using the same channel with different input/output CTCSS/DSCs I have reconfigure the radio to go between them. the KG-1000G appears to have tons of slots I can program for the various repeaters. Also, the KG-1000G can monitor a lot more than GMRS, but most importantly I can monitor GMRS/FRS 8-14 on the KG-1000G and if there is reason to reply I can just grab a handset.

 

[ControlNode]

Updates:

It appears Midland has very recently released a new config for the MXT275 (USB-C) to enable wide band on the repeater channels. I've sent my radio in for the update and will let you know once I get it back if it improves audio quality on the repeater or not.

The KG-1000G arrived today. I've put in on the power supply and connected it to the Midland MXTA13 antenna on the house and it sounds way better than the MXT275 has (hoping that improves after the update). I carried the faceplate out to the truck, it looks like it'll be a little more invasive to put the face plate where I want it, it's wide enough that I'll end up cutting out the right accessory port.

 

[VegasRanger]

I ended up going with a cheaper 25 watt radioditty as a learning step.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09C7JBBVY/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_dl_VNVTZVCRQ68CDYMHAMMX

I'm going to cut the cigarette plug off and hardwire it to make sure it's getting maximum amperage. Once I tool around it I'll upgrade it and probably convert this to a base unit for my garage and install an antenna.

Much better options for that price range. As far as BTECH or Midland, if you plan on using multiple repeaters with tones they both suck. Best mobile GMRS radio IMO is this: https://www.buytwowayradios.com/wouxun-kg-1000g.html

 

[Frenchy]

Yeah for my Pathfinder I see myself getting the new MTX575(it was released yesterday). Another new 50 watt and will do more then I ever need.

 

[RVA Overland]

I love the simplicity of the midland products and the design of the 575, I will be waiting for the KG-1000G to come back in stock though. The biggest advantage is the ability to program multiple repeaters with the same channel so as you travel around you can utilize all the repeaters that are available. Midland only allows one version of each channel so if you leave your normal area, you may not be able to pick up a repeater.

 

[ControlNode]

Yeah, because of that one repeater per repeater channel limitation to me the MXT575 is a good radio for a fixed location, home/base. But I already have the MXT275, and it reaches the only repeater I'm aware of nearby just fine. Yeah, the KG-1000G is more expensive once you add an antenna and a mount, but it is way more radio, and still not much more.

I'm using my KG-1000G as a base in the house while I get use to it and get it dialed in, don't want to be doing that while driving. I put my local government and airports (AM reception works on this thing!!) in channels 100-199 and have side A scan that group. I have GMRS and MURS channels/repeaters in the 001-99 range and side B is set to that scan group. Up in the 900-999 range I put Ham repeaters, there is only one publicly listed in my area.

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