If you’re looking for a reliable and well made FRS and GMRS two way radio, that is great for using just about anywhere, then you really have to stick with the big names in the industry. The top-selling Midland GXT1000VP4 is one such radio, and after 50 years of development in two way radio technology, leading from the front, Midland are certainly one of the industry’s big players.
First Impressions
This top of the range 2 way radio certainly looks and feels solid enough, which is backed up when you first look at the handset and see that it is extremely well made.
As with all of Midland’s two way radios it comes with a long 3 year warranty, which reinforces the assurance of quality in their products.
The chunky appearance of the GXT1000VP4 may give an initial impression of it being a heavy handheld radio, but once in the hand it is surprisingly lightweight, weighing in at just under 5 ounces.
When you are using any handheld radio for a prolonged period of time it is surprising how important the ergonomics of a radio handset becomes, a handset definitely needs to feel comfortable in your grip and as with many of Midland’s previous radio handsets, the GXT 1000VP4 has a shape that is both comfortable to hold and easy to use.
All in all, our first impression was, we like what we see!
Midland GXT1000VP4 – Features
As mentioned in the introductory line of this review, the GXT1000VP4 is a FRS/GMRS hybrid radio. If you don’t know what FRS and GMRS are, then check out our post about what they are and how they are different here – ‘What is the Difference between FRS and GMRS Frequencies‘
You will be able to use the radio in both FRS and GMRS modes but only up to the power setting of 2 Watts, if you want to use GMRS frequencies on a power setting greater than 2W, you will need a license.
Note: Midland have stated on their website that because the radio can go up to 5 watts that an FCC license is required whether you use the high power setting or not.
You can access information and the application form you’ll need to do so here.
Features
- 50 Channels FRS/GMRS
- 142 Privacy Codes
- JIS4 Weatherproof against light rain or splashes (this radio is not waterproof)
- e-VOX Hands free operation
- NOAA Weather Radio, Alert, and Scan
- Whisper Mode
- Flexible power settings allow flexibility and improved battery life management
- Monitor function
- Silent function
- 10 Call Alerts
- SOS Siren
- Vibrate Alert
- Mic and headphone jacks
- Battery life extender
- Keypad lock
The first thing you will have noticed is there are a large number of functions with this radio, so our first piece of advice would be for anyone buying this radio is to make sure you study your manual and get to know your radio inside out before even considering hitting the backwoods with it!
This two way radio is certainly not a toy and will take quite a few hours of familiarization to achieve a good level of radio competence, but once you are a self-certified pro you’ll be really happy with your investment and the number of options it provides you with.
Range
If you have arrived at this Midland GXT1000VP4 review post after reading my post, ‘Which are the Best Long Range Two Way Radios?’ then you’ll know that the advertised range of a radio can be a little misleading. This is why I’ve delayed mentioning the range of the GXT1000VP4 up till now.
The Midland GXT1000VP4 is advertised as having a maximum range of 36 miles, which is really great!
However, if this is the first time you have considered buying consumer two way radios then you need to be aware that the maximum range advertised by any manufacturer will always be that which has been achieved under optimum conditions.
Unfortunately, it will be highly unlikely that you will ever use this consumer radio, or any other two way radio, under these optimal conditions so, if you haven’t done so already, I urge you to read the post I’ve linked to above.
Audio Quality
The GXT1000 offers very clear audio both in transmit and receive mode, use of a headset, particularly in noisier locations, is advisable as it improves reception dramatically. Whisper mode is excellent and is amplified when being received, again, better reception is achieved with a headset.
Battery Power and Life
When you first receive your radio you have to charge the batteries for 24 hours before using the radio handsets for the first time.
After this initial charge the batteries will require only 12 hours to reach full charge.
Batteries should last around 11 hours on average depending on level of usage and power settings used. However, heavy use at maximum power settings will seriously shorten battery life.
Our advice is always be to prepared and carry a fully charged back up battery pack and to test your radio on different power settings to gain a better knowledge of the battery limits for your particular radio.
Dimensions
- Height 7.91”
- Width 2.44”
- Depth 1.52”
Our Verdict
Fantastic two way radio! The GXT1000VP4 has so many features you’ll be playing with this radio for months!
Unfortunately, all these features are also potentially it’s biggest problem, as they can be a bit overwhelming for a radio novice to get his or her head around.
Still, everything you need to know is in the accompanying manual, so if you are a novice you need to start studying!
Midland GXT1000VP4 Review – Image Gallery
