Midland GXT1000VP4 vs Motorola T600

Are you on the lookout for walkie-talkies that are packed with features? Looking through such walkie-talkies’ features and functions can be daunting and might make choosing a walkie-talkie more difficult and confusing rather than simplify it.

This review will compare the functions, prices, and other features of the Midland X-Tra Talk GXT1000VP4 and the Motorola Talkabout Two-Way Radio T600. Hopefully, this review will help you decide whether one or the other is the better choice for you.

Comparison – Midland GXT1000VP4 vs. Motorola T600

Setup

The Motorola T600 is not the easiest to set up among the Motorola Talkabout Two-way Radio Txxx series. However, compared to most radios in the market, it is still relatively easy to set up. Even more so, if you are used to operating walkie-talkies or have been using Motorola walkie-talkies for quite some time now. For novice walkie-talkies users, they can consult the user’s manual that comes with the package so they can successfully set up the Motorola T600 on their own. The manual is user-friendly, so they will not have a hard time following the instructions. The only challenging part of setting up the Motorola T600 is the initial setup. Once that is done, using this walkie-talkie is pretty straightforward: press the PTT button and start talking.

The Midland GXT1000VP4 is more challenging to set up compared to the Motorola T600. Even using the Midland GXT1000VP4 for the first time is not easy or intuitive. The Midland GXT1000VP4 is packed with features, so navigating through the model’s features can be a bit difficult. The numerous icons connected to the radio features that you will see on this walkie-talkie display are not that easy to identify. The user’s manual for this walkie-talkie is also not very user-friendly. The “quick reference chart” that serves as your guide for setting up the walkie-talkie can look confusing and complicated even to the trained eye.

 

Waterproof

The Midland GXT1000VP4 uses the Japan Industrial Standards (JIS) Scale to measure and rate the water-resistance level of the walkie-talkie. This walkie-talkie has a JIS-4 rating, which means it is splashproof. So, if the handset gets accidentally splashed with water, it will still function. However, putting in the way of a strong gush of water or plunging it in water will cause it to malfunction.

On the other hand, the Motorola T600 makes us of the Ingress Protection (IP) Code to measure and rate the walkie-talkie’s water-resistance level. With a rating of IP67, the Motorola T600 is waterproof and weatherproof. This means that even if you plunge this walkie-talkie in water, it will still work just fine when you fish it out. In fact, it can stay submerged for 30 minutes in up to 1 meter of water, and it will not suffer any malfunctions.

 

Power source

The Midland GXT1000VP4 has dual power options. This means that it can be powered by either rechargeable batteries or single-use alkaline batteries. When powered by NiMH rechargeable batteries, you can use this two-way radio for up to 9 hours on a single charge. You will be able to use this walkie-talkie for a longer period when you use AA alkaline batteries, making handset use last up to 23 hours. You will have to buy alkaline batteries separately because they are not included in the package.

Similarly, the Motorola T600 also lasts up to 9 hours when running on NiMH batteries on a single charge. And again, as with the Midland GXT1000VP4, the Motorola T600 can be used up to 23 hours when powered by AA alkaline batteries.

 

Range

The manufacturer for Midland GXT1000VP4 guarantees that the maximum range for this walkie-talkie can reach up to 36 miles if it is operated under ideal conditions. By comparison, the manufacturer’s promise for the maximum range for the Motorola T600 is around 35 miles.

However, expectations need to be managed when it comes to the walkie-talkie range. Hardly any walkie-talkie reaches those projected range numbers because ideal conditions are rarely met when operating walkie-talkies. These “ideal conditions” include a clear line of vision between communicating handsets and the best weather conditions.

However, the Motorola T600 still performed better between these two models than the Midland GXT1000VP4 in terms of range.

 

Frequencies

Both the Midland GXT1000VP4 and the Motorola T600 can be used within the 462 to 467 MHz frequency range, which covers both Family Radio Service (FRS) and General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) channels. The difference is that the Midland GXT1000VP4 can transmit over 50 channels: 22 of these are primary channels, and the other 28 are privacy code channels. It also boasts over 142 privacy codes for these channels. On the other hand, the Motorola T600 can transmit over 22 channels, each of which has 121 privacy codes.

As per the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) guidelines, radios that transmit over GMRS channels are not license-free. So, unless you plan on transmitting only over FRS channels, you will have to apply for a license before using the GMRS channels for transmission. This applies to the operation of both the Midland GXT1000VP4 and the Motorola T600.

 

Features

The Midland GXT1000VP4 and the Motorola T600 share some basic features such as the keypad lock, auto-squelch, and channel scanning and communication monitoring functions. Both two-way radio models also have backlit LCD, making it convenient for you to use even in places that are dark or dimly-lit. However, some of the icons displayed on the LCD of the Midland GXT1000VP4 are in the form of abbreviations that are quite hard to figure out at first look. The icons displayed on the LCD of the Motorola T600 are easier to identify.

Both the Midland GXT1000VP4 and the Motorola T600 have to vibrate functions. Activating this mode allows you to disable the ring tone alert of the walkie-talkies. The walkie-talkies will vibrate instead to alert you for incoming calls. Both two-way radio models also have VOX functions. For the Midland GXT1000VP4, the function is called the eVOX (Easy Voice Operated Exchange) hands-free feature. For the Motorola T600, it is called the iVOX (interactive Voice Operated Exchange) or simply VOX. Despite the difference in name, these features serve the same function for both models: these allow you to operate the walkie-talkies using your voice instead of your hands. In addition to this, the Midland GXT1000VP4 has a “whisper function” that lets you speak softly into the walkie-talkie.

Both the Midland GXT1000VP4 and the Motorola T600 also have similar emergency features. Both of these two-way radio models have a built-in emergency alert button. Activating this button will transmit a distress signal that will alert others that you need urgent assistance and help them find your location. You can also access National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather channels so you can keep track of weather-related updates and alerts. Unlike some radios that boast of having this feature, the weather scanning feature for both the Midland GXT1000VP4 and the Motorola T600 works flawlessly. This makes either of these two models a good choice for a two-way radio that you can include in your emergency preparedness go-bag.

The Midland GXT1000VP4 and the Motorola T600 both have battery-saving features. When not being actively used, both models go on time-out mode to minimize power usage. The charging stand for the Midland GXT1000VP4 is easy to use and securely holds the units in place, preventing these from accidentally falling over. The charger for the Motorola T600 is less bulky because it is a USB charger. Because both walkie-talkies are packed with features, the battery life of both the Midland GXT1000VP4 and the Motorola T600 on a single-charge use are average at best.

The Midland GXT1000VP4 is a bit on the clunky side, so it gets uncomfortable in the hands when you have held these units for extended periods of time. However, the Motorola T600 is heavier by comparison. It weighs about 9 ounces, while the Midland GXT1000VP4 only weighs 4.8 ounces.

One major edge of the Midland GXT1000VP4 over the Motorola T600 is that it is great for group communication. It has a group call feature that allows you to create a group out of all the walkie-talkie units connected to your unit. After you have successfully configured this, you can transmit messages directly to the other units under that group.

One of the main pulls of the Motorola T600 is that it is fully waterproof and weatherproof owing to its waterproof features that are more sophisticated than those of other similar radios. Even if the Motorola T600 gets plunged in water, you can rest easy, knowing that it will still work just fine after retrieving it. By comparison, the Midland GXT1000VP4 is only splashproof and not waterproof.

 

Price

While both models are packed with a lot of features, the Midland GXT1000VP4 is more affordable compared to the Motorola T600. The price range for the Midland GXT1000VP4 is $70 to $90, while the Motorola T600 is within the price range of $83 to $120. The value you get out of your money in buying either of these models will depend on whether they fit your needs based on the nature of the activity you will use them for.

 

Conclusion – Midland GXT1000VP4 vs. Motorola T600

The Midland X-Tra Talk GXT1000VP4 and the Motorola Talkabout Two-Way Radio T600 share many similarities in their basic and emergency features. Both models also have to vibrate and hands-free features. The Motorola T600 is easier to set up and navigate compared to the Midland GXT1000VP4. The Motorola T600 is also heavier despite being designed to float on water. The Midland GXT1000VP4 is bulkier and a little less comfortable to hold, though.

The Midland X-Tra Talk GXT1000VP4 and the Motorola Talkabout Two-Way Radio T600 are both jampacked with features compared to many other two-way radios in the market. Ultimately, choosing one or the other boils down to the nature of the activities for which you will be using these walkie-talkies.

If you need a walkie-talkie that is fully waterproof and weatherproof, then the Motorola T600 is by far the better choice for you. However, if you will not have much use for a walkie-talkie with sophisticated waterproof features, then you are better off buying the Midland GXT1000VP4.

View the Midland GXT1000VP4 on Amazon* View the Motorola T600 on Amazon*