Also known as: MXT400, MicroMobile MXT400
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The Midland MXT400 was the MicroMobile flagship until 2022: 40 watts of name-brand GMRS in a simple, tough package. It is now discontinued — confirmed by Midland’s own support site — and superseded by the MXT500, which fixed its three defining flaws (40 W → 50 W, narrowband-only → selectable wideband, no NOAA → NOAA).1 Today it’s a used-market radio at roughly $100–180, though the sold-price data is thin enough that you should treat that range as a sketch.
Key takeaways A cheap used 40-watter with eyes-open flaws. 15 GMRS + 8 repeater channels, Part 95E certified, Midland build. Narrowband-only TX (quiet into wideband repeaters), no NOAA, and split tones only via the optional DBR1 cable + software. A residual third-party Amazon listing exists, but eBay and the used market are the practical way to buy one — and used pricing (~$100–180) is thin-data territory. Test TX on channels 15–22 before paying — a documented firmware bug. GMRS license to transmit: $35, 10 years, no test, covers family. Rankings: best GMRS mobile radios.
Overview
The MXT400 earned its following honestly: it was the first serious-wattage Midland GMRS mobile, built simply — a basic segment display, a non-detachable face, an SO-239 jack for standard PL-259 feedline — and it kept working. But its design choices aged into its chief complaints. Transmit is narrowband-only, so it always sounded quiet into wideband repeaters (there’s no wide/narrow toggle to fix it, unlike everything Midland has made since). There’s no weather receive at all. And repeater flexibility is locked behind the optional DBR1 programming cable and Midland’s software — without them, no split CTCSS/DCS tones, period. Midland retired it in 2022 precisely because those three things had become the line’s loudest complaints.
Where to buy is part of the honest story: an Amazon listing for the MXT400 still exists, but it’s residual third-party stock — check it for price gouging. The practical market for this radio is eBay and the used channels, which is also where the $100–180 figure comes from (against an original $249.99 MSRP).
License note: transmitting on GMRS requires a license — $35 to the FCC, valid 10 years, no test, covering your immediate family. Listening needs nothing, on this or any radio.
Buying used: what to check
This is the section that matters, because the MXT400’s failure modes are specific and testable:
- Test transmit on channels 15–22 before money changes hands. There’s a documented case of an MXT400 refusing to TX on channels 15–22 without a reboot — a firmware glitch Midland support could not fix. Since 15–22 are the main repeater-adjacent channels, a unit with this bug is badly compromised. Key up on them, every one.
- Ask about programming history. Programming-software/firmware version mismatches cause errors; ask the seller whether it’s been programmed, and with what.
- Bench-test on a real supply. At 40 W it draws heavy current — use a supply good for ~30 A continuous. Weak supplies cause resets that look like radio faults.
- Ask whether the DBR1 cable is included. It’s required for split tones and no longer easy to buy — a package with the cable is worth real extra money.
- Confirm the fan runs.
Priced against the alternatives: a used BTECH GMRS-50X1 in the same $80–160 band brings 50 W, split tones, wideband receive, and CHIRP — a stronger used buy unless Midland simplicity is specifically what you want. And a new Radioddity DB20-G at ~$120 with a warranty undercuts most MXT400 listings while doing split tones out of the box.
GopherTrunk alternative
FRS and GMRS are analog narrowband FM at 462/467 MHz — easy pickings for a ~$30 RTL-SDR running free GopherTrunk, which monitors and records local FRS/GMRS and repeater activity. That’s doubly useful when you’re eyeing a used MXT400: a week of recordings tells you whether your local repeaters need split tones (which this radio only does with the elusive DBR1 cable) before you bid. GopherTrunk is receive-only — it complements a transmitting radio, never replaces one. Download GopherTrunk and scout the band first.
Who it’s for
- Buy a used MXT400 if you want cheap name-brand 40-watt simplex power, the seller lets you test channels 15–22, and NOAA/split tones aren’t on your list. Check listing on Amazon →
- Buy the MXT500 instead if you can spend new-radio money — it exists specifically to fix everything wrong with this one.
- Skip it for a used BTECH GMRS-50X1 (more radio for the same used money) or a new Radioddity DB20-G (warranty, split tones, ~$120). Full rankings: best GMRS mobile radios.
Sources
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MXT400 Programming Software and Instructions (Discontinued) — Midland support — Midland’s own support site confirming discontinued status and the DBR1 cable/software requirement for split tones; dealer archive: Midland MXT400 — Buy Two Way Radios with the 40 W/narrowband/no-NOAA specifications. ↩
Frequently asked questions
Is the Midland MXT400 discontinued?
Yes — confirmed by Midland’s own support site, which files it under Discontinued Mobile Radios. It was superseded in 2022 by the MXT500, which fixed its three headline flaws: 40 W became 50 W, narrowband-only became selectable wideband, and NOAA weather was added.
How much is a used Midland MXT400 worth?
Roughly $100–180 depending on condition and accessories, based on observed eBay listings — but the sold-comps data is thin, so treat that range as a guide, not gospel. Original MSRP was $249.99. A leftover third-party Amazon listing exists; check it against eBay pricing for gouging.
Do I need a license for the Midland MXT400?
To transmit, yes — a GMRS license: $35 to the FCC, valid 10 years, no test, covering your immediate family. Listening requires no license, used radio or not.
What should I check before buying a used MXT400?
Test transmit on channels 15–22 first — there’s a documented firmware glitch where the radio refuses to TX on those channels without a reboot, and Midland support couldn’t fix it. Also bench-test on a ~30 A supply, ask about programming history, confirm the fan runs, and ask whether the DBR1 cable is included.
Can the MXT400 do repeater split tones?
Not out of the box. Split CTCSS/DCS tones are only possible via the optional DBR1 programming cable and Midland’s software — and that cable is no longer easy to buy, which is why used listings that include it are worth more.