Radio 101 - Troubleshooting keys on a Midland GXT two way radio

If your Midland GXT Series two way radio stops responding when you press the buttons, don't panic. It may be a simple fix. In this episode of Radio 101, Anthony from Buy Two Way Radios provides a few quick and easy troubleshooting tips that may resolve the problem and save you a call to customer service. These troubleshooting steps apply to most Midland GXT and LXT Series two way radios, including the Midland GXT860, Midland GXT895, Midland GXT1000, GXT1050, GXT2000 and GXT2050.

Categories: Midland & Radio 101

Posted On: June 3 2013

Posted By: rick

53 Comments

Lesley

August 1 2024 at 3:50 pm

Very disappointed with these. Bought for my son and his friend who lives 3.6 miles away. Tried them out today and they quit transmitting when he got to the end of our driveway. "optimal conditions - unobstructed view?" Tried on channel 7 with is a high range too. Will be returning.

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Steve gibson

December 8 2023 at 12:57 pm

T70 X talker 2 way radio. I have two. One transmits to other one but one doesn’t beep when pushing talk button on side of radio or on cord from ear to mouth. I changed cords and no difference. I unlocked radio and still same. New batteries and 10 ft apart from other one. Both radio screens show H and ch 15. On screen. When I push to talk tx comes on screen But still no beep or static nothing. Is there another lock.

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Larry

May 28 2022 at 11:50 am

Our Midland X-Talker Radios, T70 Series, are fully charged,
When we looked at them setting in the charger the screen showed... ER ub ... We don't know what that means

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1. Rick
  
  May 31 2022 at 1:44 pm
  
  When the T70 Series radios are fully charged, the screen should display "Full". Does it not do this?
  
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Brent

October 23 2021 at 3:01 pm

I have set my radios to channel 8 with NO DCS or CTSS codes. Even if I lock the channel to avoid having them change channels, they will automatically change to 8-01 DCS channel if I turn the radios off? I sometimes turn the radio off to save battery. However, whenever I do this, the Radio's reset from channel 8 (with no DCS or CTSS) when I turn them off to channel 8-01 DCS? It does this even if I've locked the channels before turning off the radio? How do I stop this from occurring? Thanks!

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1. Rick
  
  October 26 2021 at 9:44 am
  
  We need more information. Which model do you have? Some radios may have presets pre-programmed into them.
  
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dalton lance

October 4 2021 at 8:44 am

we have the midland t70 series and we cant figure out why the wont communicate to eachother within the so called 38 mile radius, what should we do and how should the screen setting look?

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1. Rick
  
  October 4 2021 at 9:07 am
  
  The 38 mile range advertised by the manufacturer (not us) is a general estimate based on "optimal conditions" with no obstructions, i.e. mountaintop to mountaintop. A more realistic expectation of range limits under normal operating conditions can be calculated using our GMRS Radio Range Chart.
  
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Ek

July 31 2021 at 8:56 am

I have a GTX X-TRA TALK MIDLAND THEY BOTH WORK BUT ONLY ONE RECEIVES ..WHY THEY BOTH ARE ONE THE SAME CHANEL

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1. Rick
  
  August 2 2021 at 9:57 am
  
  It sounds like one radio has a CTCSS tone or DCS code, aka privacy code enabled and the other doesn't. The simplest way to troubleshoot it is to disable CTCSS and DCS on both radios. If the radios communicate with one another, issue resolved.
  
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Peter Lemonjello

March 22 2021 at 1:53 pm

I have a pair of GTX 2050's set to the same channel DCS 13 13. one can receive and transmit. one can only transmit. they've worked perfectly until recently. Batteries are solid and still last all day. I have tried the reset on both talkies but to no avail.
I love these little handsets and would love to give them a few more years.
thanks.

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1. Rick
  
  March 22 2021 at 3:10 pm
  
  The easiest way to troubleshoot this is by removing the DCS code from the same channel on both radios and test. If they can both transmit to and receive from one another, the radios are functional and there is something up with the DCS code. If so, you may want to use another code or a CTCSS tone instead. If there is no change, and one of the radios cannot receive, there may be another issue.
  
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Jim Withrow

November 24 2020 at 11:56 am

I just purchased a pair of GXT850 off of Ebay and one of the radios doesn't work (it was disclosed in the sale that it "might need a new battery"). When switched on, with fresh AA batteries OR the fully charged rechargeable, the display light is dimly lit but there is nothing on the display and the radio doesn't make any noise. I opened it up and didn't see any corrosion and there's no obvious damage to the casing. Any ideas?

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Andrew

October 30 2020 at 5:34 pm

I have a pair GXT 895 and one of them has a constant static on channels 1 - 22 and the "RX" is on in the upper right corner. I have tried everything I know of and I can't get is to stop. The other radio is fine. Any help would be appreciated!

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Chris Pike

October 27 2020 at 5:29 pm

Hi, I have 2 x Midland GXT 1050 radios. They both locked themselves on the same day. I have tried turning off, running batteries down , pressing and hold the padlock button. Nothing will make the locked sign go away. I would understand with one radio, but not the pair on the same day.
Any help would be good , Cheers
Chris

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Mitchell Conner

October 24 2020 at 5:57 pm

I have Midland GXT1000. After every keyed transmission the radio and the radio receiving the call end the transmission with a squelch. My friends Midland GXT1000G’s do not do that with each other, only she I send a transmission. The 1000G’s do not do it between them. How can I get the GXT’s to stop this. It is very disruptive while deer hunting.

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Jim Leising

August 21 2020 at 5:20 pm

I have found I can perform a full reset by turning off, then turning back on while depressing the “up” arrow button on my GXT 1000G radios. Solves several issues.

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Chris

April 12 2020 at 1:42 pm

GXT797: I turn them on and all of the icons on the screen just blink, and as it blinks there is a little fuzzy noise as well. The buttons are not responsive. ????

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1. Rick
  
  April 13 2020 at 10:25 am
  
  This can happen if the batteries are too weak to power the radios. This is a very old model. If you are using the original rechargeable battery packs, it is likely they have reached their EOL (End of Life) and need to be replaced. If you are using fresh alkaline batteries and can verify it is not a power issue, it quite possible the radios themselves may be damaged. This can happen if they have been inadequately stored for an extended period of time in an area with high heat, humidity or moisture. Long term exposure to environmental elements such as heat and moisture can damage electronic devices, especially if they have not been properly secured for storage.
  Check the battery terminals for corrosion, and clean them as necessary. This is a common issue with radios that have been stored for long periods with the batteries inside. If the batteries and terminals are in good condition, it may very well be an issue with the internal circuitry of the radios. The GXT797 has been out of production for about a decade. Their successor is the GXT1000/GXT1050.
  
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Karl Shumaker

February 7 2020 at 4:43 pm

GTX1000 first was unresponsive showing "ln" so did a reset by battery removal for about 5 minutes. That was successful. The second time it was dropped and shows the same code "ln" and was unresponsive to a reset. Turning on gets the normal self-test, screen light and tone cut short then displaying "ln." After the normal delay time the screen backlight goes out but the code stays on the screen until turned off.
I have opened it up and powered externally to try to find something loose to no avail. One large capacitor has questionable solder joints but that is it.
Any suggestions on test and repair?

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1. Rick
  
  May 4 2020 at 4:42 pm
  
  First, is it happening with just one radio, or the pair? How long have you had the radio? Are you using fresh alkaline batteries or the rechargeable battery pack? If you're using the battery pack, how old is it? When did this first start to occur? When was the last time it worked? Did anything change between the time it last worked and the time it stopped working? Has it been dropped or exposed to excessive moisture recently? Has the radio ever been opened prior to the start of this issue? Is there anything in the audio jack? Is there a strong source nearby that could potentially cause interference? The "In" icon should appear when the radio receives a weather alert. If it is stuck on from the time the radio turned on, and none of these other possibilities are a factor, the radio may be defective or damaged. These radios are not user serviceable, and they aren't intended to be so. they are also inexpensive, so performing a repair may not be worth the cost. If it is outside the warranty period, which for the Midland GXT1000 is three years, you may need to purchase a new one.
  
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Marshall R.

November 23 2019 at 6:43 pm

My gxt1050 will receive but wont transmit.

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Franklin Caval-Holme

November 13 2019 at 12:37 am

I had the same problem. Press the PTT button to end the weather forecast.

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Mark Megee

June 28 2019 at 10:39 am

My Midland GXT1000 can transmit, but not receive. Any ideas? I was able to call it just a bit ago for a second, but I heard a lot of static. Since then, it won't receive a call.

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Jose Manuel Padilla

April 13 2019 at 3:21 pm

I have 2 midland Radios ( MXT400 and GXT1000) The privacy code dont work?
Please help

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1. Rick
  
  April 15 2019 at 12:01 pm
  
  We need more information. Could you provide specifics?
  
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Steve Taylor

February 21 2019 at 5:14 am

I have Midland G5XT . Fully charged. Turns on fine. Press the transmit key and they turn off ? Both handsets do this. Pls advise

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1. Rick
  
  February 21 2019 at 11:33 am
  
  The issue you described is usually indicative of weak batteries. This seems to be a long discontinued model for the UK, but based on the specs it uses either AAA alkaline or rechargeable batteries. If you are using the rechargeables, it may be possible those batteries have reached their end of life. Have you tried using non-rechargeable alkaline batteries instead?
  
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Bob

January 28 2019 at 5:50 pm

gtx1050 are not worth s**t imho

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Radio 101 - Troubleshooting keys on a Midland GXT two way radio

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