Rugged, Powerful and Features-laden, but...we were tricked!!!

electronics:

	• Midland Outfitter Series GXT950VP4 5 Watt 42 Channel 30-Mile Waterproof GMRS with NOAA All Hazard /Weather ... Midland Midland, 2008 average customer review:based on 8 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

highly recommended

Midland Outfitter Series

Great product. I have not tried the long distance out yet but very clear at the distances we have used it at. It has more "bells & whistles" than I will ever use. I have read where people have had issues with setting the channels, not sure why as everything is already set up for "basic" use. I would recommend this product to my friends.

Rugged, Powerful and Features-laden, but...we were tricked!!!

I contacted Midland customer service to find out what these additional 20 channels' frequencies were, as they're suspiciously absent from the list of radio frequencies in the back of the owner's manual. I wanted to listen to these mystery channels on my home scanner when not using the radios. I was told by a rep that the information I requested was "proprietary". Translated that means "Screw you". So I did a little experimenting of my own, and here now it can be revealed the identities of these extra channels:

They're mere COPIES of some of the first 22 channels that are standard on most FRS/GMRS 2-way radios in the first place! That's right. Some of us have been duped into believing that Midland created from whole cloth twenty additional FCC-approved channels for this model (and the model 900 radios) that other devices lack. When in fact they've really just doubled up on several of the old boring channels. Here's how they get away with it. Channels 23, 24, 25 and 26, for example, are just FRS channels (in Hi power) that coincide with channels 1, 3, 5, and 7 found on virtually any 2-way radio with FRS coverage. What prevents signal interference between these souped-up 950's and someone using the lower channels on some other radio is Midland's use of an astounding number of Privacy Codes, which these high-end radios are liberally endowed with. The four channels noted above are simply PRE-SET at the factory with specific privacy codes. It's as if you were to utilize channel 1 and let the manufacture choose the privacy code for you instead of using the common '0' settting.

Try this: program a second radio (not a 900 or 950) with privacy codes by manually tuning through the code spectrum and then hitting the transmit button on the King Camo radio (as I call mine) repeatedly until you get a clear receive signal on the lesser unit. Voila! You've discovered Midland's privacy code for that "hidden channel" on this system. Don't believe me? I found an exact code/channel combination on one of the ostensibly bonus channel frequencies. If someone with one of these top dollar radios is transmitting on channel 27, anyone with a cheaper radio can't communicate with him/her, right? Wrong! They can, if they tune their cheapo unit to Privacy Code #26 on channel 15. Of course, that's assuming their privacy code range goes as high as 26. Many don't. But if so, they're talking to Richie Rich across town who shelled out three quarters of a C Note for his system while they're coasting along on the $25 HT their mom got them for Xmas (albeit using much less transmit power than the fat cat!).

So there you have it. Endowed with the same old 22 standard channels after all, along with several mirrored frequencies from that same lineup disguised as special channels, only with privacy codes in place to act as those additional channels, the makers of this radio have succeeded in pulling one over on the consumer.

I know, you may be saying that with all the privacy code combinations out there, we really have hundreds of channels at our disposal. These radios just add a few hundred more to the menu, so why nitpick? Fine, but there's no excuse for the company's less-than-honest marketing gimmicks. Anyway, now you know how this manufacturer has gotten away with it...Till now! That's why I'm deducting a star from my ratings. Call me petty, but I've got their "proprietary information" right here!...

Truly, this IS one superb radio system. While $70 is a bit steep for handheld communications, the Voice Scramble feature makes it all worth while. I've never been much for the silly privacy codes anyway. They're cumbersome to utilize on the fly, and everyone tuned to that channel can hear everything you and your partner(s) are saying, you just can't hear them when they try to break in. Voice Scramble is like the Mute button on your phone; it kills the transmit and receive to third parties while putting out an obnoxious gibberish that will annoy anyone within thirty miles. That's one way to clear the frequency.

Seriously, I agree with others who've written that this comes with more features than most people could ever use. But who cares? It's an excellent radio and I highly recommend it. Midland's disingenuous tactics be damned!

So until the FCC approves base station FRS/GMRS units with more power than handhelds, and huge rooftop antenna access for those inevitably hopped-up super system "shacks" that harken back to the glory days of C.B. radio (God help us!), then the Midland 950vp4 stands tall as THE Cadillac of 2-way radio communications! (As long as you think that Cadillac comparisons signify a good thing!)

for more information click here

Great two way radios

We have used two way radios at our work. We just started using these Motorola radios and they so far have the range we need. Also they are waterproof. Great here in Alaska. Highly recommend.

Good Product!!!

Great product. Worth the money. Dont really care for the camo. I am not going to be hiding anywere, but the product is worth the money!! Appears to be well made product.

reviews: page 1, 2

MIDLAND GXT950VP4 42-CHANNEL GMRS RADIOS WITH BATTERIES and DROP-IN CHARGER (MOSSY OAK)42-CHANNEL GMRS RADIO PAIR PACK WITH CHARGER and BATTERIES;INSTANT WEATHER SCAN WITH NOAA WEATHER RADIO and ALERT;UP TO 30-MILE RANGE WITH EASY BUTTON ACCESS and 20 SPECIAL CHANNELS;142 PRIVACY CODES and UP TO 3144 CHANNEL OPTIONS FOR CLEAR TRANSMISSION;9 LEVELS OF VOX WITH CHANNEL SCAN;SILENT OPERATION TURNS OFF ALL TONES FOR QUIET OPERATION;DUAL-WATCH ALLOWS USER TO MONITOR 2 DIFFERENT CHANNELS;DIRECT CALL ALLOWS USER TO INSTANTLY CONTACT A MEMBER OF THE PARTY WITHOUT ALERTING THE OTHERS;DUAL POWERUSES 4 STANDARD AAA BATTERIES OR RECHARGEABLE; WATER RESISTANT; FEATURES HI/MED/LO POWER, 10 CALL ALERTS, BACKLIT LCD DISPLAY, VOICE SCRAMBLE, ROGER BEEP, AUTO SQUELCH, BATTERY LIFE EXTENDER and KEYPAD LOCK; INCLUDES MICROPHONE/HEADPHONE JACKS, BATTERIES and DROP-IN CHARGER;MOSSY OAK

for more information click here

hot