Midland GXT710VP3 22-Channel 26-Mile GMRS 2-Way Radio (Pair)

I bought these radios thinking that they probably would probably end up being a toy, how wrong I was! We have NO cell coverage and I wanted to have some way to communicate when riding horse deep into the forest. These radios have a clear signal, even in tall pines for easily 3 miles. If you go to a high spot, the distance increases to about 12 miles(haven't gone any further). I was going to be happy if they only worked on our ranch(125 acres), which they do, but the added distance into the forest makes them invaluable.

For the price these are very good and do the job, even under hard
conditions.

These 2-way radios were a lifesaver for my wife and me as we traveled from Georgia to New Mexico in separate vehicles (UHAUL and car). The voice clarity and reliablity of this product allowed me to communicate with my wife along the journey with assurance and much more frequently than I anticipated!! We experienced car trouble along the way, so talking on the 2-way radios enabled us to make planned stops to recharge the car battery...despite tractor trailers whizzing by at high speeds throughout the day and night only a few feet away from us! The duration of the fully charged battery pack was about 16 hours (about 85% standby time). We remained within 1 mile of each other, so reception distance was never a concern. We both felt the quality of these radios saved us much grief and aggravation...and maybe even our marriage!...Hmmm...maybe I should reconsider...I mean getting a car charger for these fantastic radios!

Pros--

-If using NiMH rechargeable AA batteries, they will last several days
-Interface is simple to use once you have read the manual to understand what all of the menus do
-Adjustable transmit power to save battery when you are in close range
- 5 watt max so they probably go further than typical GMRS (since others seem to top out at 2 watts)
-Radios are smaller than other Motorola radios that also use 4 AA batteries
-Water resistant (although I would still be careful and try not to get them wet)
-The feature to scan through all of the channels has a dedicated button and is NOT buried deep in the menu!
-The belt clip seems pretty solid, unlike some of the Motorola GMRS radios


Cons--

-Battery charger is not automatic so it will not turn off when the batteries are full. I would recommend instead on using your own rechargeable AA NiMH batteries.
-The rechargeable battery that comes with them is only 700 mAH. You can get a ser of AA NiMH batteries that are 2700 mAH and will last much longer.
-If the batteries are removed from the radio, or they die completely, the settings (ie channel and privacy code, etc) get reset to the default.
-Audio quality is pretty good, although it is better on the Motorola T7400
-(minor) It is all plastic and does not have a non-slip grip. This may be more of an issue if your hands are wet.
-The privacy codes are separated into 'DCS' codes and 'CTCSS' codes. This is not a big deal if you are planning to only use Midland radios. But if you are trying to use say Midlands and Motorolas, then it may be hard to match the privacy codes on each one since the numbers likely will not match.

Overall I am very happy with these radios and do recommend them!

Works about 2.5 miles in the hills and mountains, very good for me. Does farther on the open road. Nice units.