Earlier this year we told you that the Midland GXT5000 GMRS radio was officially discontinued. This model was first available in April of 2011 and was widely considered the only "business quality" consumer GMRS radio on the market. The GXT5000 was a much anticipated radio that sold well when it was first launched two years ago, but production stopped suddenly after the Thailand based factory that manufactured it was all but destroyed by flooding. We expected it to return once the factory was back online, but after months of delays, Midland finally acknowledged that they would discontinue the model altogether.
In September of this year, rumors began to circulate that the GXT5000 would return after all. However, when we checked up with Midland, the official word was that they would receive only a limited number of radios in one shipment that were already spoken for and they were unsure if it would ever return for sale to the public.
Well, now we have good news! We just received official notification from Midland that the GXT5000 will indeed return! Details are sketchy at this time, but according to Midland, the GXT5000 will be back "on a regular basis" sometime in mid-December 2013!
Of course, we've been through the wringer before on this one, so whether it will actually happen on time or not (or at all) is anyone's guess. However, at Buy Two Way Radios we are keeping a close watch on the return of the GXT5000 and as soon as the radios ship, we'll break the news. Bookmark our blog, check our forum, follow us on Twitter and stay tuned!
So, what will be my advantage to this GXT5000, over my GXT1000's? Or any of the Chinese $25.oo programmable UHF modals?