TWO-WAY RADIOS T290 SERIES midlandusa.com Model T290 Series Welcome to the world of Midland electronics Congratulations on the purchase of your high quality MIDLAND product. Your two-way radio represents state-of-the-art high-tech engineering and is designed for GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) operation. It is a quality piece of electronic equipment, skillfully constructed with the finest components. The circuitry is all solid-state and mounted on a rugged printed circuit board. Your two-
way radio is designed for reliable and trouble-free performance for years to come. Features
- 22 GMRS Channels
- 14 Midland Preset Channels
- 121 Privacy Codes (38 CTCSS / 83 DCS)
- VOX
- 5 Selectable Call Alerts (5 additional Animal Sounds on T295)
- Vibrate Alert (T295 only)
- NOAA Weather Scan
- NOAA Weather Radio
- NOAA Weather Alert
- Scan Function
- Monitor Function
- Roger Beep Tone
- Silent Operation
- Key Pad Lock
- Power HI/MED/LO Settings
- Speaker / Microphone Jacks
- Battery Meter / Battery Low Indicator This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device does not cause harmful interference, and (2) this radio must accept any interference that may cause undesired operation. To maintain compliance with FCCs RF exposure guidelines, for body-worn operation, this radio has been tested and meets the FCC RF exposure guidelines when used with Midland Radio Corp. accessories supplied or designated for this product. Use of other accessories may not ensure compliance with FCC RF exposure guidelines. Page 2 midlandusa.com Model T290 Series IMPORTANT NOTICE, FCC LICENSE REQUIRED FOR GMRS OPERATION
(Only Applicable for GMRS Radio Use in the United States) The radios operate on GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) frequencies which require an FCC (Federal Communications Commission) license. You must be licensed prior to operating on channels 1 - 7 or 15 - 22, which comprise the GMRS channels of the radios. Serious penalties could result from unlicensed use of GMRS channels, in viola-
tion of FCC rules, as stipulated in the Communications Acts Sections 501 and 502
(amended). You will be issued a call sign by the FCC which should be used for station identification when operating the radio on GMRS channels. You should also cooperate by engaging in permissible transmissions only, avoiding channel interference with other GMRS users, and being prudent with the length of your transmission time. To obtain a license or ask questions about the license application, contact the FCC at 1-888-CALL FCC or go to the FCC's website:
http://www.fcc.gov and request form 605. FCC Warning Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1) This device may not cause interference. 2) This device must accept any interference, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device. Exposure To Radio Frequency Energy Your Midland radio is designed to comply with the following national and international standards and guidelines regarding exposure of human beings to radio frequency electromagnetic energy:
- United States Federal Communications Commission, Code of Federal Regulations: 47 CFR part 2 sub-part J
- American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/Institute of Electrical &
Electronic Engineers (IEEE) C95. 1-1992
- Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) C95. 1-1999 Edition
- National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) of the United States, Report 86, 1986
- International Commission on Non-lonizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) 1998 RF Exposure Compliance Statement and Operating Instruction The device has been tested against the SAR limit (1.6W/kg). The highest SAR value reported under this standard during product certification for use at the Face up is 0.581W/kg and when properly worn on the body is 1.570W/kg. This device was tested for typical operations. The device only supports simplex-mode and transmitting is no more than the rated duty cycle factory of 50% of the time. For hand-held operation, the radio should be held at least 1 inch from the users face. The use of belt clips, holsters and similar accessories should not contain metallic components in its assembly. The use of accessories that do not satisfy these requirements may not comply with the RF exposure requirements, and should be avoided. Use only the supplied or an approved antenna. Page 3 midlandusa.com Model T290 Series LCD DISPLAY 1 2 3 4 5 CONTROLS 12 13 14 15 16 1. TRANSMIT POWER LEVEL ICON Indicates TX Power setting (H/M/L). 2. NOAA WEATHER (WX) BAND ICON Indicates when the radio is in Weather Band mode. 3. KEY LOCK ICON Indicates KEY LOCK mode is on. 4. VOX ICON Indicates when VOX mode is active. 5. CHANNEL NUMBER Changes from 1~36 on GMRS band (1~10 on WX band). 6. VIBRATE ALERT ICON Indicates when the Vibrate-Alert feature is on (Model T295 only). 7. BATTERY METER Indicates the battery level. 8. RECEIVE (RX) ICON Indicates radio is receiving a transmission. 9. TRANSMIT (TX) ICON Indicates radio is transmitting a signal. 10. PRIVACY CODE ICON Indicates Privacy Code setting (CTCSS/DCS). 11. PRIVACY CODE Indicates Privacy Code selected by user (oF~38/oF~83). It can only be set on Ch 1~22. 12. POWER/VOLUME KNOB Turn clock-
wise to turn the power on and increase the volume level. Turn counter-clockwise to decrease the volume level and turn the power off. 13. PTT Button Press and hold to transmit voice communication. 14. CALL/LOCK Button Press to send a CALL ALERT signal. Press and hold to turn KEY LOCK on/off. 15. MIC Built-in microphone. 16. SPEAKER Built-in speaker. 17. ANTENNA 18. EXTERNAL SPEAKER/MIC JACK 19. MENU Button Press momentarily to access Menu mode. 20. MONITOR/SCAN Button Press to enter SCAN mode. Press and hold to enter MONITOR mode. 21. UP s / WX SCAN and DOWN t Buttons Make adjustments in MENU mode. Press and hold the UP button for 5 seconds to activate the NOAA Weather Scan function. 6 7 8 9 10 11 17 18 19 20 21 Page 4 midlandusa.com Model T290 Series BATTERY INSTALLATION Your radio operates with a rechargeable NiMH battery pack
(BATT5RX). The belt clip should be removed (see below) to ease installation or removal of the battery pack. To install the battery pack:
1. With the back of the radio facing you, remove the belt clip (see diagram below) for easy access, then remove the Battery Cover by pulling down the Battery Cover Lock Tab and lifting up the Battery Cover from the radio. 2. Insert the battery pack observing the polarity as shown. Installing the batteries incorrectly will prevent the radio from operating or may damage the radio. 3. Return the Battery Cover by sliding it down on the radio and push down the Battery Cover Lock Tab until it locks into place. Replace the belt clip, making sure it locks into place. BATTERY COVER LOCK TAB BATT5RX NiMH RECHARGEABLE BATTERY PACK INSTALLING THE BELT CLIP To install the BELT CLIP, slide the clip down into the slot on the back of the radio until the BELT CLIP LATCH clicks. To remove the BELT CLIP, pull the LOCKTAB away from the radio, then gently pull the belt clip up toward the top of the radio. BELT CLIP LOCK TAB BELT CLIP LATCH Page 5 midlandusa.com Model T290 Series CHARGING THE BATTERY PACK Your radios are equipped for using a rechargeable NiMH battery pack which can be recharged using a desktop charger (as described below). While charging, the Battery Meter will flash from 1 to 3 bars. The Battery Meter will stop flashing when charging is complete. For maximum battery life, Midland recommends charging the battery pack when the low battery icon comes on. Remove the radios from the charger when the charging is finished. To charge using the Desktop Charger:
1. Place the rechargeable battery packs in the radios. 2. Connect the AC adapter into an AC wall outlet. 3. Insert the AC adapter plug into the desktop charger jack. 4. Place the radios into the desktop charger slot. While charging, the Battery Meter will flash from 1 to 3 bars, and stop flashing when charging is finished. In order to ensure that the battery pack is fully charged, it is recommended that the battery pack be charged with the radio turned OFF. 1. Only use the Midland NiMH battery pack. 2. Do not attempt to charge alkaline batteries or any batteries or battery packs other than the one indicated in the manual. This may cause leakage and damage to the radio. 3. For long term storage of the radio, turn the radio OFF and remove the batteries from the radio.
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BATTERY LEVEL INDICATOR Your radio has a BATTERY LEVEL METER that shows the battery power level. The greater the number of bars visible, the stronger the battery level. When the battery level is low, the Battery Shell icon and bt Lo will flash in the display indicating your battery pack should be replaced or recharged. Page 6 midlandusa.com Model T290 Series OPERATING YOUR RADIO POWER ON/OFF AND VOLUME Rotate the POWER/VOLUME knob clockwise to turn the radio on and increase the volume level. Rotate the control counter-clockwise to reduce the volume level and to turn the radio off. During Power On, the radio will beep 2 times with different tones, the LCD will display all icons for 1 second and the LCD display will indicate the last channel selected. RESTORING YOUR RADIO TO THE ORIGINAL SETTING To reset your radio to the original (default) setting, turn on the radio while pressing and holding the s button. The LCD display will briefly show the firmware version number and then reset to standby mode on channel 1 with no Privacy Code. TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING A CALL To communicate, all radios in your group must be set to the same channel and/or Privacy Code. 1. For maximum clarity, hold the radio at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) from your mouth. 2. Press and hold the PTT button and speak in a normal voice into the microphone. The TX icon will appear continuously on the LCD display while transmitting. 3. To receive a call, release the PTT button. The RX icon will appear on the display when your radio is receiving a transmission. ABOUT RANGE Your radios are designed to give you maximum range under optimum conditions. Page 7 midlandusa.com Model T290 Series Optimum Conditions are:
l Over water l Open rural areas without obstructions l Flat areas where you can see the other person To ensure you get maximum range:
l Be sure to use fresh or fully charged batteries - low batteries will cause low power conditions. l Be sure you are on a GMRS only channel - channels 8 through 14 are restricted by the FCC to low power. l Be sure to set your radio to use Hi power. T290/295 SERIES QUICK REFERENCE CHART 1~10 for T295 T295 only MENU Channel Privacy Power VOX Roger Beep Call Alert Silent Operation Vibrate 1~36 oF H/M/L oF~9 On/Off 1~5 On/Off On/Off CTCSS 1~38 DCS 1~83 Press and hold UP/WX button for 5 seconds WX Scan WX Channel WX Alert 1~10 1~10 On/Off MONITOR Pressing and holding the MONITOR button for 3 seconds will let you hear noise so you can adjust the volume level of the radio when not receiving a signal. This could also be used to check any activity on your current channel before transmitting. Press and hold the MONITOR button for 3 seconds again to get out of MONITOR mode. SCAN Your radio can scan all 36 channels for activity. To enter, quickly press the SCAN button. Repeat the same procedure to exit. Your radio will rapidly scan each of the 36 channels and stop on any active channel for 6 seconds before resuming scan. When you press the PTT button to transmit on an active channel, the scanning function will stop and remain on the active channel. To resume scanning, quickly press the SCAN button. Page 8 midlandusa.com Model T290 Series CALL ALERT Your radio can transmit a call alert. To send a call alert, press the CALL button. The TX icon will appear while transmitting a call alert and a tone can be heard on the speaker for confirmation. The T290 radio has 5 call alert selections while the T295 has 10 call alerts including 5 animal sound call alerts - Cougar, Duck, Crow, Wolf, and Turkey. KEYPAD LOCK To avoid accidentally changing the radio setting, press the LOCK button for 4 seconds. The icon will appear on the display. PTT and CALL will still be active. Repeat the same procedure to unlock the keypad. CHANNEL SELECTION (GMRS BAND) Press the MENU button once, and then the s\t buttons to select one of the 22 GMRS channels. To confirm the selection, press the PTT button or press the MENU button again to move to the next feature setting. SETTING PRIVACY CODES Your radio has 121 Privacy Codes available. The selected Privacy Code may be different for each channel. To select a Privacy Code for the current channel press the MENU button twice, and then the s\t buttons to select between Off/CTCSS/DCS. Press the MENU button again and the s\t buttons to select one of the 38 CTCSS Codes or one of the 83 DCS Codes. The Privacy Code icon on the display will indicate whether you set your Privacy Code in CTCSS or DCS mode. To confirm the selection, press the PTT button or press the MENU button again to move to the next feature setting. Note : If you select a CTCSS Privacy Code, any previously selected DCS Privacy Code will be cancelled and vice-versa. Selecting a Privacy Code of "oF" will disable the Privacy feature. To communicate between two radios, all radios in your group must be set to the same channel and/or Privacy Code selections. The Privacy Code can only be set on channels 1~22.
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Model T290 Series TRANSMIT (TX) POWER LEVEL SELECTION Your radio has 3 power level settings. To select the power level on channels 1~7 and 15~36, press the MENU button until a Pr icon will appear blinking on the display. Then press the s\t buttons to select TRANSMIT POWER LEVEL icon, H for high, M for medium, and L for low power. To confirm, press the PTT button or press the MENU button again to move to the next feature setting. When the PTT button is pressed during Low Battery Level condition, the TX Power will automatically switch from Hi(H) or Med(M) to Lo(L) level. Note : You cannot adjust the power setting on channels 8 through 14. These channels are set to Low power per FCC regulations. VOX Your radio has 9 VOX level settings: (oF/1~9). To set VOX, press the MENU button until the display shows VOX . On the right of the CHANNEL NUMBER display, an oF icon appears. Select 1 ~ 9 by pressing the s\t buttons and push the PTT key, or press the MENU button again to move to the next feature setting. VOX will be more sensitive on the lower setting than on the higher setting. To turn VOX off, press the MENU button until the display shows VOX. On the right of the CHANNEL NUMBER display, a 1 ~ 9 icon appears. Select oF by pressing the s\t buttons and push the PTT key, or press the MENU button again to move to the next feature setting. ROGER BEEP (end of transmission) TONE When the PTT button is released, the radio will beep to confirm to other users that your transmission has finished. To set the ROGER BEEP tone, press the MENU button until the display shows an rb icon. Select on or oF by pressing the s\t buttons and push the PTT key, or press the MENU button to move to the next feature setting. Page 10 midlandusa.com Model T290 Series CALL ALERT SELECTION Your radio has 5 selectable CALL ALERTS (10 for T295). To select, press the MENU button until a CA icon appears and to the right of the CA icon the current CALL ALERT setting is displayed. Then press the s\t buttons to make the CALL ALERT selections, and the radio will emit a corresponding tone for each selection. To confirm, press the PTT button or press the MENU button to move to the next feature setting. SILENT OPERATION Your radio has a SILENT OPERATION mode. In this mode, all beeps and tones are disabled. To set the SILENT OPERATION, press the MENU button until the display shows a bP icon. Select on or oF by pressing the s\t buttons and push the PTT key or MENU button. VIBRATE ALERT (MODEL T295 only) To set the VIBRATE ALERT, press the MENU button until the display icon. Select on or oF by pressing the s\t buttons shows the and push the PTT button, or press the MENU button. The icon will remain on the display if set to on. NOAA WEATHER RADIO/SCAN Your radio has a NOAA WEATHER RADIO function to enable the user to receive weather reports from designated NOAA stations. Your radio also has a NOAA WEATHER SCAN function to enable the user to scan all 10 channels of the NOAA WEATHER RADIO. To turn the NOAA WEATHER SCAN on, press and hold the WX/s button for 5 seconds while in GMRS mode. The radio will go to WX Band mode and start scanning all 10 channels and stop on any active channel. When the channel becomes inactive for 10 seconds the radio will resume scanning. To stop the NOAA WEATHER (WX) SCAN and set the channel manually on the WX Band, press the MENU button during NOAA WEATHER (WX) SCAN. The radio will stop scanning and the display will show the current WX Band channel setting . While on WX Band mode press the s\t buttons to select one of the 10 NOAA WEATHER (WX) BAND channels. Page 11 midlandusa.com Model T290 Series To confirm, press the PTT button or press the MENU button to move to the next feature setting. To turn the NOAA WEATHER RADIO off, press the PTT button. The current GMRS radio setting will be displayed and the icon will go off. NOAA WEATHER ALERT Your radio has a NOAA WEATHER ALERT function, to enable you to automatically receive weather alerts from designated NOAA stations. The NOAA WEATHER (WX) ALERT is automatically on during NOAA WEATHER SCAN mode. To turn the NOAA WEATHER (WX) ALERT on during normal NOAA WEATHER RADIO mode, press the MENU button twice while in NOAA WEATHER SCAN mode. The display shows "AL," while on the right an "oF" icon appears. Select "on" by pressing the s\t buttons. To confirm, press the PTT button or press MENU. The radio will return to WX BAND and the icon will blink. If the radio receives a WX ALERT signal from a designated NOAA station while in GMRS Radio mode, the radio will beep for 20 seconds while an "AL" and
"In" icon will appear on the display, after which it will automatically go to WX BAND. If any button is pressed during beeping while in GMRS Radio mode, the radio will automatically go to WX BAND. To turn the NOAA WEATHER (WX) ALERT off, press the MENU button twice while in WX Band. The display shows "AL," while on the right an "on" icon appears. Select "oF" by pressing the s\t buttons. To confirm, press the PTT button or press MENU. Note : The WX Alert is automatically ON during WX SCAN mode.
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Page 12 midlandusa.com Model T290 Series EXTERNAL SPEAKER/MICROPHONE JACK Your radio can be used with an optional external speaker/
microphone or headset, freeing your hands for other tasks. To use an optional speaker/microphone or headset:
l Insert the plug(s) into the SPK/MIC jacks. l Place the earbud into your ear, and adjust the mic into your desired position. IMPORTANT: Changes or modifications to this unit not expressly approved by MIDLAND RADIO CORP. could void your right to operate this unit. Your radio is set up to transmit a regulated signal on an assigned frequency. It is against the law to alter or adjust the settings inside the COMMUNICATOR to exceed those limitations. Any adjustment to your radio must be made by qualified technicians. Page 13 midlandusa.com Model T290 Series TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE PROBLEM SOLUTION No Power
- Check battery installation and/or replace the battery pack Cannot Receive Messages
- Confirm the radios have the same channel settings. Radio is not responding to button presses
- Make sure that you are within range of the other transceivers.
- Buildings and other structures may interfere with your communication.
- Make sure key lock is not on (See Keypad Lock, Page 9).
- Radio might need to be reset. Turn radio off then on. Display is dim
- Recharge or replace the battery pack. Charger not functioning - Contacts on the bottom of the radio may require cleaning.
- Ensure the outlet where the charger is plugged in is functioning properly.
- Check that the battery pack is installed in the radio properly. USE AND CARE 1. Use a soft damp cloth to clean the radio. 2. Do not use alcohol or cleaning solutions to clean the radio. 3. Do not immerse the radio in water. 4. Dry the radio with a dry lint-free cloth should it get wet. 5. Turn off the radio and remove the batteries during long-term storage. If you have a problem which you believe requires service, please call first and speak with a service technician at 816-241-8500. Many problems can be remedied over the phone without returning the unit for service. Page 14 midlandusa.com Model T290 Series SPECIFICATIONS Channels 22 GMRS Channels +121 Privacy Codes 14 Midland Preset Channels 10 NOAA Weather (WX) Band Channels Operating Frequency UHF 462.5500 ~ 467.7125 MHz Power Source 6.0V Rechargeable NiMH battery pack GMRS FREQUENCY CHART (MHz)
* Channels 8~14 are low-power GMRS channels MIDLAND PRESET CHANNELS
* Channels 23~36 are GMRS channels with pre-set Privacy Codes
* Channels 34 - 36 are low power GMRS channels Page 15 midlandusa.com Model T290 Series NOAA WEATHER (WX) RADIO FREQUENCY CHART (MHz) CH. No 1 2 3 4 5 CH. Freq. 162.550 162.400 162.475 162.425 162.450 CH. No 6 7 8 9 10 CH. Freq. 162.500 162.525 161.650 161.775 163.275
* Channels 8, 9 and 10 are designated Canadian Marine Frequencies PRIVACY CODES FREQUENCY CHART (Hz) Code 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Freq. 67.0 71.9 74.4 77.0 79.7 82.5 85.4 88.5 Code 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Freq. 91.5 94.8 97.4 100.0 103.5 107.2 110.9 114.8 Code 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Freq. 118.8 123.0 127.3 131.8 136.5 141.3 146.2 151.4 Code 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 Freq. 156.7 162.2 167.9 173.8 179.9 186.2 192.8 203.5 Code 33 34 35 36 37 38 Freq. 210.7 218.1 225.7 233.6 241.8 250.3 Note: Privacy codes can be programmed for use on Channels 1~22 only DCS PRIVACY CODE CHART No. CODE CODE CODE No. No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 023 025 026 031 032 043 047 051 054 065 071 072 073 074 114 115 116 125 131 132 134 143 152 155 156 162 165 172 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 174 205 223 226 243 244 245 251 261 263 265 271 306 311 315 331 343 346 351 364 365 371 411 412 413 423 431 432 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83
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445 464 465 466 503 506 516 532 546 565 606 612 624 627 631 632 654 662 664 703 712 723 731 732 734 743 754
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Note: Privacy codes can be programmed for use on Channels 1~22 only Page 16 midlandusa.com Model T290 Series LIMITED WARRANTY Subject to the exclusions set forth below, Midland Radio Corporation will repair or replace, at its option without charge, any Midland GMRS transceiver which fails due to a defect in material or workmanship within Three Years following the initial consumer purchase. This warranty does not apply to water damage, battery leak, abuse or misuse of unauthorized accessories, unauthorized service or modification or altered products. Accessories have a 90 day warranty from date of purchase, including any chargers, microphones, and cables. This warranty does not include the cost of labor for removal or re-installation of the product in a vehicle or other mounting. ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, SHALL BE LIMITED AS SET FORTH HEREIN AND TO THE DURATION OF THE LIMITED WARRANTY, OTHERWISE THE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT AS PROVIDED UNDER THIS EXPRESS LIMITED WARRANTY IS THE EXCLUSIVE REMEDY OF THE CONSUMER AND IS PROVIDED IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. IN NO EVENT SHALL MIDLAND BE LIABLE, WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO NEGLIGENCE, GROSS NEGLIGENCE, BODILY INJURY, PROPERTY DAMAGE AND DEATH) FOR DAMAGES IN EXCESS OF THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE PRODUCT OR ACCESSORY, OR FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, OR LOSS OF REVENUE OR PROFITS, LOSS OF BUSINESS, LOSS OF INFORMATION OR DATA OR OTHER FINANCIAL LOSS ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE ABILITY OR INABILITY TO USE THE PRODUCTS OR ACCESSORIES TO THE FULL EXTENT THESE DAMAGES MAY BE DISCLAIMED BY LAW. For Product Purchased in the USA:
Performance of any obligation under this warranty may be obtained by returning the warranted product, prepaid freight, along with proof of purchase to:
Midland Radio Corporation Warranty Service Department 5900 Parretta Drive Kansas City, MO 64120 This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights, which vary from state to state. Note: The above warranty applies only to merchandise purchased in the United States of America or any of the territories or possessions thereof, or from a U.S. Military exchange. Page 17 midlandusa.com Model T290 Series Page 18 midlandusa.com Model T290 Series Page 19 midlandusa.com MIDLAND RADIO CORPORATION 5900 Parretta Drive Kansas City, MO 64120 Call 816.241.8500 Wed love to hear from you! Let us know what you think of your new Midland product at or by visiting us at midlandusa.com Note: Features & Specifications are subject to change without notice. MIDLAND is not responsible for unintentional errors or omissions on its packaging. Rev A