How Midland's "Extra Channels" Work (Updated!)
When we first announced Midland's 2008 FRS/GMRS radios, we found it interesting that most new models were offering "extra channels" as a feature. Previously it was an industry standard that all dual service (FRS/GMRS) radios supported 22 channels, each channel representing one of the 22 FRS and/or GMRS frequencies. If they were to remain consistent, the new channels would use different frequencies than existing channels. Only 22 frequencies have been approved by the FCC for FRS/GMRS usage, however, and those 22 frequencies are already represented.
So how do these new channels work? It turns out that these new channels are not channels in the sense that we have been historically used to (where a channel represents a frequency). These "extra channels" use a frequency already used by a standard channel, but have a pre-set privacy code that cannot be changed. This provides the illusion of a new channel, but has some side effects that could cause confusion. For example, if you transmit on Midland channel 24 a typical radio left in scan mode would receive your transmission as if it were sent on channel 3.
While these "extra channels" may make it a little easier for a novice to find an interference free channel, I feel like this is more marketing hype than anything else. A standard 22 channel Motorola or Cobra radio is 100% compatible with every channel of a 42 channel Midland GXT900 (cross reference chart below). Midland makes great radios and there are plenty of reasons to buy their products, but "extra channels" shouldn't be one of them.
The following is a cross reference chart that lists Midland's "extra channels" and the standard channel / privacy code that it matches up with. We have now updated the chart to show all 42 of these channels.
| Midland Channel | Frequency | Actual Channel | CTCSS | DCS | Code |
| 23 | 462.5625 | 1 | 250.3 | n/a | 38 |
| 24 | 462.6125 | 3 | 225.7 | n/a | 35 |
| 25 | 462.6625 | 5 | 203.5 | n/a | 32 |
| 26 | 462.7125 | 7 | 179.5 | n/a | 29 |
| 27 | 462.5500 | 15 | 162.2 | n/a | 26 |
| 28 | 462.6000 | 17 | 146.2 | n/a | 23 |
| 29 | 462.6500 | 19 | 131.8 | n/a | 20 |
| 30 | 462.7000 | 21 | 118.8 | n/a | 25 |
| 31 | 462.5875 | 2 | n/a | 23 | 1 |
| 32 | 462.6375 | 4 | n/a | 32 | 4 |
| 33 | 462.6875 | 6 | n/a | 47 | 7 |
| 34 | 467.5625 | 8 | n/a | 65 | 10 |
| 35 | 467.6125 | 10 | n/a | 73 | 13 |
| 36 | 467.6625 | 12 | n/a | 115 | 16 |
| 37 | 467.7125 | 14 | n/a | 131 | 19 |
| 38 | 462.5750 | 16 | n/a | 143 | 22 |
| 39 | 462.6250 | 18 | n/a | 156 | 25 |
| 40 | 462.6750 | 20 | n/a | 172 | 28 |
| 41 | 462.7250 | 22 | n/a | 223 | 31 |
| 42 | 462.5625 | 1 | 107.2 | n/a | 14 |
With some radios such as the Motorola Talkabout you will need to add 38 to the code listed above. (Example: For channel 32, the code would be 4 + 38 = 42)
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Intersting to note that there would be NO legal way to operate one of these radios on any of the "special" channels because they lack a way to check to see if the frequency is clear before transmitting.
Of course, the fact that there is NO legal way to operate a radio has not stopped the FCC from approving even stillier designs in the past (for example, a remote controlled TRANSMIT-ONLY "FRS" radio that the maker markets as a remote alarm system - which the FCC technical staff have admitted is impossible to operate legally since it has absolutely no way to check to see that the frequency is clear - but the FCC administrative staff approved the radio because the manufacturer stated that it met all the technical specs for a transmitter.)
Posted by: Tom | June 25, 2008 11:25 PM
Thanks for posting this information. It was very hard to find anywhere, even on the web.
I'd wondered about the "extra" channels since I saw the radios in Staples. I don't use our two-ways as much as when the kids were younger, but they still come in handy when we're out and about.
So now I know that I don't have to run out and get the new, latest and greatest offerings from Midland.
Posted by: TominEastLongmeadowMA | February 23, 2009 7:19 PM
I haveMidland LXT110 model with Nooperator manual How do I get one?
Posted by: david | June 5, 2009 3:36 PM
TO ME, IT'S NIT ACTUALLY FAIR, NOT KNOWING ALL LEGALITIES, IN REFERENCE TO THE FRS/GMRS RADIOS.
SOME DEALERS SAY U DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A LICENCE, FCC SAYS U DO, NOT, THERE ARE 8 MORE CHANNELS TOTHE ORIGINAL 42 CHANNEL RADIO,
THAT'S GREAT I LOVE IT! MORE CHANNELS THAT THE REGULAR CB RADIO.
HOWEVER, HOW MANY ARE GMRS, AND, HOW MANY ARE FRS?
AND IF PART OF THE RADIO IS FRS, WHY NOT JUST HAV 50 CHANNELS
FRS(LICENCE FREE), AND 50 CHANNELS, W/ A LICENSE REQUIREMENT?
BETTER YET SOME OF THE FRS/GMRS RADIOS I'VE SEEN LATELY, COME OUT AS 5 WATT UNITS. WHY NOT MAKE'EM BOTH 5 WATTS, TO SAVE A HASSLE?
ANOTHER THIING, INCLUDE A BOOK AS TO WHERE THE FRS/GMRS RADIOS ARE LEGAL IN OTHER COUNTRIES, WHETHER LICENSED/
LICENCE FREE, AND, THE COUNTRY, NOT TO MAKE THE RADIOS THAT ARE
ALREADY LICENSED RADIOS LEGAL IN THEIR COUNTRY(LETTING THEM USE THERE RADIOS UNDER USA LICENSE), OR THE LICENSE FREE, TOBE USED AS THE SAME IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES, BUT CITIZENS THAT HAVE'EM IN THEIR COUNTRY MUST AQUIRE A LICENSE AS THEIR COUNTRY REGULATES.
DWIGHT, DELEON, TEXAS
Posted by: DWIGHT CLARK | July 30, 2009 8:37 AM