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Midland MXT275 MicroMobile™ GMRS Radio – Full User Guide

Customer Experience
Updated

Congratulations on your purchase of the MXT275 MicroMobile™ GMRS Radio. This compact, high-powered radio is designed for reliable, long-lasting performance. With solid-state circuitry mounted on a durable printed circuit board, your MXT275 is built for years of trouble-free use.

Key Features

  • 15 GMRS Channels: For clear communication.

  • 10 NOAA Weather Channels: Stay informed about weather conditions.

  • 8 Repeater Channels: Extend communication range.

  • 142 Privacy Codes: 38 CTCSS / 104 DCS for secure conversations.

  • Monitor Function: Check for activity on a channel.

  • Keypad Lock: Prevent accidental changes.

  • High/Low Power Settings: Adjust transmission power as needed.

  • External Speaker Jack: Connect an optional speaker for enhanced audio.

FCC Notice

The MXT275 operates on GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) frequencies, which require a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) license. To apply for a license or for more information, visit www.fcc.gov or call 1-888-CALL FCC.

Exposure to Radio Frequency Energy

To ensure compliance with FCC RF exposure requirements:

  • Maintain a minimum distance of 8 inches (20 cm) between the antenna and all persons.

  • Do not operate the radio without a proper antenna attached.

Installing Your Radio

Preparation for Installation

  1. Vehicle Compatibility: Ensure your vehicle has a 12V negative ground system.

  2. Power Off: Turn off the vehicle and disconnect the battery before installation.

  3. Mounting Location: Choose a location that is secure, provides good ventilation, and allows easy access to controls.

Installing the Mounting Bracket

  1. Position Bracket: Place the mounting bracket in the desired location and mark the screw holes.

  2. Drill Holes: Carefully drill holes at the marked locations.

  3. Secure Bracket: Use the provided screws to attach the bracket firmly

About Range

Your MXT275 is designed to give you maximum operating range under optimum conditions:

"Optimum condition" examples for maximum operating range are:

  • Over water
  • In open rural areas without obstructions
  • On flat areas where you can see the other radio user

To ensure you get maximum range:

  • Be sure to mount the antenna as high as possible on your vehicle
  • Be sure to set your radio to use High power

Installing the Antenna

  1. Mount Antenna: Place the magnetic mount antenna on a flat, metallic surface on the vehicle's exterior.

  2. Route Cable: Run the antenna cable through a door or window gap, avoiding sharp edges and moving parts.

  3. Connect to Radio: Attach the antenna cable to the ANT jack on the back of the radio unit.

Electrical and Rear Panel Connections

  1. Power Connection: Plug the supplied 12V power cord into the vehicle's cigarette lighter socket.

  2. Antenna Connection: Connect the antenna cable to the ANT jack.

  3. External Speaker (Optional): If using an external speaker, connect it to the EXT SPKR jack.

Connecting the Microphone

  1. Plug In: Insert the RJ45 connector of the microphone into the MIC jack on the front panel.

  2. Mount Microphone: Use the provided microphone holder to secure the microphone within easy reach.

Controls and Indicators

Front Panel

  1. Microphone Jack
  2. USB-C Port

Back Panel Connections

  1. ANT Jack - SO-239 UHF connector for external antenna (included)
  2. EXT SPKR Jack - 3.5mm audio connector for optional external speaker (purchased separately) (see Using an External Speaker for specifications)
  3. 13.8V DC Cable - 2-wire DC connector for 12V DC nominal input power connection

Microphone Controls

  1. LCD Display
  2. Speaker/Microphone Jack
  3. MENU - Press to access the menu
  4. CALL - Press to send a call signal
  5. Volume Buttons - Press to adjust the volume of the radio
  6. Lock - Press and hold to lock the keypad
  7. Mic - Built-in microphone
  8. WX - Press and release the WX button to enter the Weather Radio Mode
  9. MON- Press and release the MON button to activate the Monitor function
  10. Scan - press and release the Scan Button to activate the Channel Scan Function
  11. Transmit/Receive Indicator - Light is red when you are transmitting a signal; the light is green when receiving a signal 

  1. Channel Down Button

  2. Power Button
  3. Channel Up Button

  4. Push-To-Talk (PTT) Button: Press and hold to transmit.

LCD Display Icons

  1. Channel Icon: Shows the selected transmit/receive channel

  2. RX Receiving Icon: Indicates the radio is receiving a transmission from another user

  3. RP Repeater Icon: Shows the selected transmit/receive repeater channel

  4. TX Transmitting Icon: Indicates the radio is transmitting to another user

  5. CTCSS Icon: Indicates a continuous tone coded squelch system

  6. HL Transmit Power Level Icon: Indicates the power level setting

  7. DCS Icon: Indicates a digitally coded squelch privacy code has been enabled for the currently selected channel

  8. Scan Icon: Indicates the "auto-scan" function is active

  9. Key Lock Icon: Indicates KEY LOCK mode is on

  10. NOAA Weather Band Icon: Indicates when the radio is in the Weather Band mode

  11. Monitor Icon: Indicates when the radio is in monitor mode 

  12. Signal Strength: Indicates the strength of the current transmit or receive signal

Operating Your Radio

About Range

Your MXT275 is designed to give you maximum operating range under optimum conditions:

"Optimum condition" examples for maximum operating range are:

  • Over water
  • In open rural areas without obstructions
  • On flat areas where you can see the other radio user

Powering On/Off

  • On: Turn the Volume/Power knob clockwise until the radio powers on and a startup tone is heard.

  • Off: Turn the knob counterclockwise until the radio powers off.

Selecting Channels

  • Use the Channel Up/Down buttons on the microphone to navigate through channels 1–22 and repeater channels 15–22 (labeled as 15RP–22RP)

    • The Channel icon on the LCD display will show the active channel
  • To communicate between two radios, both radios must be set to the same channel and Privacy code

Adjusting Volume

  • Turn the Volume/Power knob to adjust the audio level to your preference.

Transmitting and Receiving

  • To Transmit: Press and hold the PTT button on the microphone. Speak clearly into the microphone.

  • To Receive: Release the PTT button to listen for incoming transmissions.

Utility Functions

Keypad Lock

  • Activate/Deactivate: Press and hold the Call/Lock button for 3 seconds. When active, a lock icon appears on the display, and only the PTT and volume functions are operational.

Monitor Mode

To enter and exit Monitor mode:

    1. Ensure radio is turned on 
    2. Be sure you have selected the desired channel

    3. Press and hold the Monitor/Scan button to open squelch and listen for weak signals on the current channel.

    4. Press and release the Volume buttons to increase or decrease the volume
    5. Once the volume has been adjusted to the desired level, press and release the Monitor button to exit Monitor mode

Channel Scan

  • Start Scan: Press the Monitor/Scan button. The radio will scan all channels for activity.

  • Stop Scan: Press the Monitor/Scan button again to exit scan mode.

  • To transmit during "auto-scan" mode, press and hold the PTT button on the microphone while the radio is paused on the desired channel
    • The radio will remain on the active channel for three seconds after the PTT button is released

NOAA Weather Radio

Accessing Weather Channels

  • Enter Weather Mode: Press the Weather button. The radio will scan all 10 NOAA weather channels and lock onto the strongest signal.

  • Manual Selection: Use the Channel Up/Down buttons to manually select a specific weather channel.

Weather Alert

  • Activate Alert: While in Weather Mode, press and hold the Weather button to enable weather alerts. The weather icon will flash when alerts are active.

  • Exit Weather Mode: Press the PTT button to return to normal operation.

Menu Mode Functions

Access the menu by pressing the Menu button. Navigate through options using the Channel Up/Down buttons and confirm selections with the Monitor/Scan button.

Menu Options

  • Pt: Privacy Code – Select CTCSS or DCS codes.

  • tC/rC: TX/RX Privacy Codes – Set separate codes for transmit and receive.

  • Pr: Transmit Power – Choose between High (Hi) and Low (Lo) power settings.

  • Sq: Squelch Sensitivity – Adjust squelch level (0–9).

  • rb: Roger Beep – Enable/disable end-of-transmission tone.

  • CA: Call Alert Tone – Select call tone (1–5).

  • bP: Silent Operation – Mute keypad tones.

  • rP: Repeater Channels – Enable/disable repeater channels.

  • db: Display Backlight Color – Choose from 8 background colors.

Selecting a Privacy Code

Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System (CTCSS) and Digitally Coded Squelch (DCS) are systems that allow several users to share the same channel without disturbing each other. When CTCSS or DCS is enabled for a selected channel, the channel is muted to all incoming signals unless they carry the correct CTCSS or DCS tone

When a transmission with the correct tone is received, the mute is removed and the voice audio can be heard. When the transmission ends the channel is muted again. Transmissions that do not have the correct tone are not heard

The MXT275 has 142 Privacy Codes (38 CTCSS codes and 104 DCS codes), which can be applied to any channel. If desired, you can select a different Privacy Code for each channel. See CTCSS Privacy Codes Frequency Chart and DCS Privacy Codes Chart for lists of available Privacy Codes

IMPORTANT! To communicate between two radios, both radios must be set to the same channel (see Selecting the Active Channel) and Privacy Code selections

To Select a Privacy Code:

  1. Press and release the Menu button to a place the radio in “Menu” mode
  2. Use the Volume Up or Volume Down button to scroll through the menu options until the LCD display shows Pt, then press the Lock button
  3. Use the Volume Up or Volume Down button to select the privacy tone type you would like to use: oF, Ct, or dC
  4. Press the Lock button to confirm your selection
    1. The (for CTCSS) or (for DCS) icon will show on the LCD display, according to your selection.
  5. Use the Volume Up or Volume Down button to scroll forward or backward through the available Privacy Codes until the desired Privacy Code is shown on the LCD display
  6. When the desired Privacy Code is shown on the LCD display, press the Lock Button to confirm your selection. YOU MUST PRESS THE LOCK BUTTON TO CONFIRM YOUR SELECTION OR THE PRIVACY CODE WILL NOT BE CHANGED

NOTE: DCS Privacy Codes 100-104 are shown on the LCD display as A0-A4

NOTE: Selecting a Privacy Code of “oF” will disable the Privacy feature

NOTE: On repeater channels, the transmitter and receiver privacy codes are set independently using the tC and rC menus.

Adjusting Squelch Sensitivity

The MXT275 has adjustable squelch sensitivity. The minimum squelch level of 01 is the most sensitive, which allows the squelch to open on very weak signals. Setting the squelch to the maximum setting of 09 requires very strong signals to open the squelch.

To adjust the squelch sensitivity:

  1. Press the Menu button to place the radio in “Menu” mode
  2. Use the Volume Up or Volume Down button to scroll through the menu options until the LCD display shows Sq
  3. Press the Lock button to confirm your selection
  4. Use the Volume Up or Volume Down button to scroll forward or backward to select the desired squelch level, from 01 to 09
    1. The default squelch setting is 04, which generally provides reliable squelch operation for most applications
  5. When the desired squelch level is shown on the LCD display, press the Lock button to confirm your selection. YOU MUST PRESS THE LOCK BUTTON TO CONFIRM YOUR SELECTION OR THE SQUELCH SENSITIVITY WILL NOT BE CHANGED

Repeater Channels

Your MXT275 has the ability to access repeater channels. The use of a repeater can significantly increase a radio’s range and coverage area. Prior to using a repeater you must coordinate with the owner of the repeater to gain permission to use the repeater. Be sure to understand and follow the sharing and usage rules for each repeater system.

To Set the Repeater Channel:

  1. Press and release the Menu button to place the radio in "Menu" mode
  2. Use the Volume Up or Volume Down button to scroll through the menu options until the LCD display shows rP
  3. Press the Lock button to confirm your selection
  4. Use the Volume Up or Volume Down button to select the LCD Display background color (oF - 07)
  5. When the desired color has been selected, press the Lock button to confirm your selection. YOU MUST PRESS THE LOCK BUTTON TO CONFIRM YOUR SELECTION OR THE BACKGROUND COLOR WILL NOT BE CHANGED

Choosing your Output Speaker

You can choose which speaker you would like to use for your audio.

To change the primary speaker used by your radio:

  1. Press and release the Lock button
  2. Using the Volume Up and Volume Down buttons, you will be able to scroll through the below options:
  3. Press and release the Lock button to confirm your selection
    Display Options Description
    HF AO Handheld speaker is active. Radio base speaker is off.
    HO AF Radio base speaker is active. Handheld speaker is off.
    HO AO Both the handheld and the radio base speakers are active. 
           

Special Features

Roger Beep

  • Function: Sends a tone after transmitting to indicate end of message.

  • Toggle: Menu → rb → On/Off.

Call Alert

  • Function: Sends a selected tone to alert others before speaking.

  • Select Tone: Menu → CA → Choose tone (1–5).

Silent Operation

  • Function: Mutes all keypad tones for silent operation.

  • Toggle: Menu → bP → On/Off.

Repeater Mode

  • Function: Extends communication range via repeater channels.

  • Toggle: Menu → rP → On/Off.

Display Backlight Color

  • Function: Customize the LCD background color.

  • Select Color: Menu → db → Choose color (1–8).

Restoring Default Settings

  1. Power Off: Turn off the radio.

  2. Reset: Press and hold the PTT and Weather buttons simultaneously while turning the radio back on.

  3. Confirmation: The radio will reset to factory default settings.

Care and Maintenance

  • Cleaning: Use a soft, damp cloth to clean the radio. Avoid using alcohol or cleaning agents.

  • Water Exposure: Do not submerge the radio in water. It is not waterproof.

Troubleshooting Guide

Issue Solution
No power Check power connections and vehicle battery.
Cannot transmit/receive Verify antenna connection and channel settings.
Keys not responding Ensure keypad lock is not activated.
Dim display Adjust backlight settings in the menu.

Specifications

  • Channels: 15 GMRS, 10 NOAA Weather, 8 Repeater

  • Privacy Codes: 38 CTCSS, 104 DCS

  • Frequency Range: UHF 462.5500–462.725 MHz

  • Repeater TX Frequencies: 467.5500–467.725 MHz

  • Power Source: 13.8 VDC Nominal

  • Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.06" x 1.44" (with bracket)

Limited Warranty (U.S. Only)

  • Three-year warranty from date of purchase on radios.

  • 90-day warranty on accessories.

  • Does not cover misuse, water damage, or unauthorized repair.

  • Submit warranty claims in the Midland Returns and Claims Portal

Download the full owner's manual here.

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