Midland GXT1030VP4 Review & Specs

In this day and age, technology has evolved to make many things easier, including communication. Among the many communication tools, walkie talkies are made functional and convenient in their design, just like the Midland GXT1030VP4. This specific radio is filled to the brim with features but is not too complicated to use. Read further to know why I recommend this particular Midland unit.

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Specs

Brand: Midland
Range: 36 miles
Power output: 2 watts
Frequency ranges: 462-467 MHz (FRS/GMRS)
Battery: NiMH rechargeable battery or 4 AA Alkaline batteries
Size: 2.5 x 9.8 x 1.8 inches
Weight: 0.3 lb
Waterproof: yes (JIS4)
License needed: yes, if GMRS channels will be used (FCC license)

Scope of Delivery

Each purchase includes two radios as well as two battery packs. It comes with two boom mic headsets and a pair of belt clips. It will also include an AC adaptor, a DC adaptor, and a 120V dual desktop charger. Of course, each package has an owner’s manual, which will tell you exactly how to use your walkie talkies.

Setup

Setting up your new walkie talkie is really easy with the Midland GXT1030VP4. Remove the belt clip for easy access with the back of the radio facing you. After, insert the batteries and replace the belt clip, making sure it’s locked in place. You can then rotate the Power/Volume knob clockwise to turn on the radio or increase the volume level. During the Power On process, the radio should beep twice with two different tones, and the LCD will display all of the icons for about a second.

Waterproof

Midland takes pride in its JIS4 Waterproof feature, and all for a good reason. This is because its JIS4 waterproof radios are protected from splashing water or light rain in all directions.

Power Source

Aside from being rechargeable by NiMH battery pack, your radio can also be charged using a desktop charger included in the purchase. For optimum battery life, the brand suggests charging the battery pack upon seeing the low battery icon.

To use the desktop charger, place the rechargeable batteries in the radio, connect the AC adaptor to an AC wall outlet, and then insert the AC adaptor plug into the charger jack. If you’re in a vehicle, use the DC Cigarette Lighter adaptor. Place the units into the charger slot for desktops and wait for the LED indicator to turn red. The initial charge time is 24 hours, but it is only 12 hours afterward.

Range

The entire GXT radio series was specifically designed to give users maximum range, under optimum conditions, of course, which include flat areas where you can clearly see the other radio holder, over water, and open rural areas with no obstructions. I recommend making sure you get maximum range by using fresh or fully-charged batteries. You can also make sure you are on a GMRS channel only and on Hi-power mode to get the best range out of your radio.

Frequencies

This particular Midland radio operates on General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) frequencies primarily. This means you need to make sure you acquire an FCC (Federal Communications Commission) license if you plan to buy this walkie talkie. The license itself complies with international standards as well as the ones currently in the United States. Furthermore, the Midland GXT1030VP4 has 22 GMRS channels and 28 Midland preset channels. There are also 142 different privacy codes; 38 are Continuous Tone-Coded Squelch System (CTCSS), and 104 are Digital-Coded Squelch (DCS).

Features

Aside from the already mentioned features, this Midland radio has a Monitor mode. Pressing and holding down the Monitor button for a second let you hear a noise so that you can adjust the radio volume when you’re not actually receiving a signal. This way, you can check the activity on your current channel before transmitting.

Your radio can also call all 50 channels for any activity. You can enter by simply pressing the scan button and exit the same way. The radio will scan every one of the 50 channels rapidly and stop on any active channel. Transmit on an active channel by pressing on the PTT button (the scanning function will stop and stay on the active channel for 10 seconds).

A call alert can be transmitted for a fixed length of time. After pressing the Call button, the TX icon should appear and transmit a call alert and tone, which you should hear on the speaker. Moreover, there are 10 call alert selections to choose from.

You can activate the SOS siren by holding the Down/SOS Siren button for five seconds in case of emergencies.

A great feature of this radio is Group Mode. This function enables you to make direct calls to others without actually alerting the entire group. Note that Group Mode only works on channels 1 through 22. Make sure to set a Group Code, ID, Caller ID, and Ring Tone after putting your radio on Group Mode.

Next up, hands-free transmission, a.k.a VOX. Your radio has nine different VOX settings. Note that VOX will be more sensitive the lower the settings are.

Another feature is the Silent Operation mode. True to its name, all sorts of tones and beeps are disabled.

Following Silent Operation mode is the Whisper function, where the user can transmit high sound levels even if they are only whispering into the mic.

Most importantly, the NOAA Weather Radio function. This enables you to receive weather reports from specific NOAA stations. The NOAA Weather Scan function lets your radio scan all 10 channels on the NOAA Weather Radio and stops on any active channel. You should also automatically receive weather alerts thanks to it.

Price

Midland radios are generally on the pricier end of the spectrum. This is because you get so many great features packed in a durable and reliable radio. Currently, the price for Midland GXT1030VP4 is $69.99 for the Black and Yellow pair. The Black and Silver duo cost $69.98, and the Black and Mossy Oak Camo pair cost $74.99. Single packs, three packs, and the Xtreme bundle range from $74.99 to $124.29.

Pros

Durable and high-quality
Waterproof or Splash Resistant
Has a variety of channels to choose from
Great range under optimum conditions
A lot of different features
Easy to charge

Cons

Charging does take time
Any physical obstructions greatly influence communication range
Cannot be completely submerged in water

Conclusion – Midland GXT1030VP4 Review

With all of the different walkie talkies to choose from, this is one I recommend getting. It’s a great investment to have for any trips or activities outdoors. This particular model can be bought on its own or in a pack of two or more. The range of features is absolutely worth the price. Plus, there are a bunch of designs to choose from, and it’s very user-friendly.

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