Midland GXT1050VP4 Review

Packed with incredible features at an affordable price, the Midland GXT1050VP4 Two-Way Radio is one of the best two-way radios for the outdoor enthusiast. With 50 channels and a 36-mile range, it provides clear and long-range communication. Whatever outdoor activities you’re engaged in, Midland GTX1050VO4 is a superb companion. 

This Midland GXT1050VP4 review takes a look at the amazing features of this device as well as some shortcomings it may have. If you’re looking for the best two-way radio under $100, the Midland GXT1050VP4 is the one to buy.

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What’s in the Box:

• Pair of radios
• Desktop charger 
• Rechargeable battery packs
• Belt clips
• Pair of boom mic headsets
• AC Adapter
• DC Adapter
• Owner’s manual 

Features

Design

The Midland GXT1050VP4 is available in three different colors: black, black with yellow, and Mossy Oak® Break-Up Country Camouflage. If you’re looking to use it for hunting, the camouflage design is the way to go. To be honest, it’s one of the good-looking two-way radios in the market. The design looks professional, the buttons are easy to press, and the interface is intuitive too. 

Another of its great characteristics is its water-resistance. It meets JIS4 standards and can withstand light rains and water splashes. And as you know, the outdoors can be unpredictable, but a light splash of water won’t harm your two-way radio.

Range 

Reaching a maximum of 36 miles in optimum condition, it provides a longer range than most of its competitors. Take note, however, that this lessens in thick forests, unpredictable terrain, or urban areas.

Communication

There are 22 channels plus extra 28 channels on the Midland GXT1050VP4. With 285 privacy codes, you have a total of 6,270 channel options. As such, it’s easy to communicate privately with your colleagues or team members. If you’re working with a group of people, there’s also a Direct Call option that allows you to call one person without alerting the other members. This is particularly useful in collaborative situations where you sometimes need private communication with your colleagues. 

Safety Features

• SOS Siren. The Midland GXT1050VP4 allows you to send out distress signals in case of emergency situations. This ensures your safety and alerts you of others’ conditions, too.
• Weather alert. Transmissions from the NOAA weather channels are caught by the device, alerting you of severe weather conditions. If you are outdoors, you’ll have time to find shelter before extreme weather hits. 

Whisper Feature

One of its outstanding attributes is its Whisper feature. This allows you to talk quietly and still be heard clearly by the person at the other end. This would be particularly handy if, for example, you’re near your prey during a hunt – further proof that the Midland GXT1050VP4 is made with the hunter in mind.

If you want total device silence, you can also set it in silent operation to mute all tones and activate the vibration notifications.

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Hands-free Mode

When you’re outdoors, you might not have your two-way radio in hand at all times. You can be biking, rock climbing, skiing, or otherwise engaged in other activities. Of course, you may need your two-way radio to communicate even when your hands are occupied. Not to worry, the two-way radio has 9 levels of hands-free communication options available. With voice activation, you can completely use the device without pressing any buttons. 

Power

This model has dual power options. The rechargeable battery packs can power the device for up to 11 hours. If that’s not enough, you can use 4 AA alkaline batteries in case the rechargeable batteries run out. A technique you can use with the Midland GXT1050VP4 is the adjustable power settings. You can choose to operate the radio in low, medium, or high settings. Using the low setting decreases the transmission range but conserves the battery. 

Auto-squelch

This is another feature that makes the Midland GXT1050VP4 a cut above the rest of its competitors within its price range. Auto-squelch is essentially a noise cancellation feature. It cuts off the extra noise in the background to ensure clear communication at all times. This is important especially if you’re in the outdoors where there are a lot of sounds coming from all directions. 

Call Alerts

Make use of the 10 different call alerts in the Midland GXT1050VP4. You can set different call tones for incoming call notifications. This makes it easy for you to know who’s calling even without glancing at the screen.

Animal Calls

As previously mentioned, the Midland GXT1050VP4 is made with the hunter in mind. There are 5 animal calls in this device, namely cougar, crow, duck, turkey, and wolf. You can effectively use these during the hunting season.

License

One of the downsides (but not necessarily deal-breakers) of buying this product is that you need to secure an FCC license to operate it. It is able to access frequencies that require a license, and it’s best to secure one for trouble-free use of this two-way radio. 

What can be improved?

With the features already discussed in this Midland GXT1050VP4 review, let’s talk about what could be improved. While the battery life on the device is short for some users, it’s still an upgrade compared to the Midland LXT630VP3 two-way radio which only has 6 hours of operation and fewer channels. Besides, you can bring alkaline batteries with you just in case. Also, it could’ve been better if it had a flashlight like the Cobra ACVT1035 FLT. Other than that, it’s a powerful and reliable model.

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Midland GXT1050VP4 Review Conclusion

Made for the outdoors, the Midland GXT1050VP4 is tough to beat. It offers one of the best long-range communication for two-way radios, whisper feature, auto-squelch, hands-free mode, and more functions. Your safety outdoors is prioritized with SOS siren and weather alerts. At $99.99, it outperforms its competitors and offers the best value for your money.

Here’s another review for an affordable two-way radio.

William

William Johnson is the owner and founder of RatedRadarDetector.org. He writes about car accessories, with his passion stemming from a deep enthusiasm for all things automotive. His website, RRD, focuses on in-depth reviews of car accessories to help people find the best and latest products in the market.