Midland GXT950VP4 5-Watt 42-Channel 30-Mile Waterproof GMRS Radio Pair with NOAA All Hazard/Weather Alert
From Midland
Midland GXT950VP4 5 Watt 42 Channel Waterproof Mossy Oak Break Out Camo GMRS Radios with NOAA Weather/All Hazard Alert. Includes Rechargeable Batteries, Dual Desktop Charger, Headsets, and 12 Volt Vehicle Adapter, Pair Packed. The GXT950VP4 features the standard 22 GMRS Channels and an extra 20 Channels. The GXT950 meets the JIS4 Standard of exposure to water for 30 minutes and features the Maximum Power allowed for GMRS Handheld Radios of 5 Watts, for up to a 30 Mile Range. The Weather Scan feature finds the nearest NOAA broadcast to stay up to date with the latest weather and hazard information. In addition to important weather announcements, All Hazards Alert means the GXT950VP4 will receive other emergency announcements such as Child Abduction (Amber Alert), Nuclear Power Plant warnings, Biological Hazard, Fire, and Landslide Warnings. The GXT950VP4 features Voice Scramble to add security to conversations and Direct Call which allows you to reach one person in your group without alerting the others. A Vibrating Alert for silent notification, 9 Level E Vox for Hands Free operation, 142 Privacy Codes, Scan of the 42 Channels, Hi/Med/Low Power Settings, 10 Call Alerts with an additional 5 Animal Call Alerts, Keypad Lock, and Battery Save Circuit. Unlike other GMRS radios on the market that use lithium batteries, Midland's Dual Power Option allows the use of the included rechargeable batteries or 4 "AA" batteries (Not included).
- Amazon Sales Rank: #11324 in Consumer Electronics
- Color: Camo
- Brand: Midland
- Model: GXT950VP4
- Released on: 2008-06-15
- Dimensions: 4.00" h x 2.00" w x 1.00" l, 2.10 pounds
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!)
Impressed so far
Just picked up a set of the GXT950's today, and expected to have to charge for 24 hours before use, but the batteries were fully charged out of the package. This was an upgrade from some cheaper smaller radios and I refused to buy a new set until these were released. They feel very good in the hand, have easy controls, plenty of volume (except the animal call tones)! The voice quality is very good and clear with and without the included headsets. I have not had a chance to range test them in a rural area yet, but will be soon. The belt clip is also a spring clip, rather than a cheaper non-hinged clip. They are a little bulky, but are still relatively light.
The instructions are easy to follow, but the menu items don't make sense without looking up the abbreviations in the manual. You can set up groups, set up ID's within the group for handhelds, do direct calls and communication to specific handhelds, and assign your own caller ID so other people know who is calling within the group. It does indeed have 42 channels, but the manual only lists the frequencies for the first 22 channels. Some of the upper channels can be used in Hi power and some only in Low (Hi power assuming you have a GMRS license that is - I am legal). The channel scan feature is kind of slow - about 2 or 3 channels a second - surprising since the small cheap ones of other brands have fast channel scanning. However, if using these for what they are meant to be used for, you won't be scanning for other peoples conversations anyways.
Decent Radio
Midland Outfitter Series GXT950VP4 5 Watt 42 Channel 30-Mile Waterproof GMRS with NOAA All Hazard /Weather Alert and Direct Call, Mossy Oak Break Up Camo, Pair
These radios outperform the old ones I replaced. Even in the low power setting they operated better then I expected. I haven't had the opportunity to use the high power setting for long distance but I am sure they wont get near the advertised 30 miles that is claimed. Not that I think any of these types of radios get what is advertised. A simple google search of reviews will back up this statement time and time again. I researched 2 way radios for several hours before deciding on this set. I'm glad I bought them and my complaints or only minor things I think could be corrected. One of the cons would be that no lanyard attachment is designed into this unit. If this is important you might look elsewhere or consider altering the radio case. The scan feature is very slow. The animal call signs are a little whimsical if you ask me. I have never used the "group" settings but I can see where this would be really useful if the radios were being used on a cruise ship or large hunting party. All in all I like this radio and I am totally satisfied. The instruction manual must be read in order to get the full use of all the features. I hope you find this information useful. : ) TL
