BTECH GMRS-50X1
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| Frequency | TX: 462.5500-462.7250 MHz + 467 MHz repeater inputs (GMRS channels 1-7, 15-22; 15 modifiable two-way channels), RX: 136-174.99 MHz (VHF) + 400-520.99 MHz (UHF) wideband scanning receiver, FM broadcast: 65.0-108.0 MHz (receive only) |
| Bands | GMRS (TX) + VHF/UHF dual-band scanning receiver (RX only) |
| TX power | 5 / 20 / 50 W (High 50W / Mid 20W / Low 5W switchable. FCC tested at 42.95W on high. Part 95E type accepted.) |
| Modes | FM (NFM and WFM switchable) |
| Weight | 900 g (31.7 oz) - Approximate ~900g. Manufacturer does not publish exact weight. |
| Connector | NMO mount (requires external antenna, Nagoya NMO-200C or NMO-100C recommended) |
| Year | 2022 |
| antenna | NMO mount (external antenna required, not included) |
| mic | speaker mic included (RJ-45 style connector) |
| ext spkr | external speaker jack |
| dc in | DC cable included. 13.8VDC. |
| power req | 13.8VDC. DC cable included. |
Estimated (unverified): Three TX power levels confirmed: 50W / 20W / 5W (FCC-tested ~43W on high). GMRS Part 95E - a GMRS license is required. RX is a wideband scanner (VHF/UHF) + FM broadcast; TX is GMRS only.
A 50 W GMRS mobile with a dual-band scanning receiver (VHF 136-175 + UHF 400-521 MHz), so you can add NOAA weather, MURS, marine, and other channels as receive-only. It has FM broadcast, is repeater capable, and offers 50 CTCSS + 346 DCS with tone scanning. Quad standby, CHIRP programmable, and alphanumeric channel names. It is FCC-tested at 42.95 W (honest about power), with a speaker mic included and US-based support. It is compatible with the GMRS-V1/V2 handhelds.
It requires an external NMO antenna (not included, add $30-60). Programming via CHIRP needs a PC and cable. FCC-tested power is 42.95 W, not the headline 50 W. The scanning receiver adds complexity for users who just want simple GMRS. Build quality is adequate, not premium. The GMRS-50V2 successor is now available. Support is email-based (no phone). Early reviews criticized the looks.
A 50 W GMRS mobile with a built-in scanner. The GMRS-50X1's main draw is its dual-band scanning receiver: few GMRS mobiles in this price range let you monitor VHF/UHF public-safety, weather, marine, and business frequencies alongside GMRS. For overlanders, off-roaders, and rural users who want situational awareness from one radio, it offers a lot of capability per dollar. The GMRS-50V2 is the successor.
The BTECH GMRS-50X1 was one of the first 50-watt GMRS mobile radios, and it helped kick off the overlanding-GMRS boom by giving licensed users a vehicle or base radio with serious power on the General Mobile Radio Service. It transmits on the GMRS channels at three selectable levels, 50, 20, and 5 watts, and is type-accepted under FCC Part 95E, the rule part that requires a GMRS license (a cheap, no-test, family-covering license). Crucially it is a GMRS radio, not an amateur radio: it does not transmit on the ham bands.
What made it popular beyond the power was the receiver. Alongside the GMRS transmit channels it has a wideband scanning receiver that listens across VHF and UHF and an FM broadcast band, so it doubles as a scanner for weather, public-service, and entertainment listening. It supports GMRS repeater channels with split and tones, a color display, dual watch, CTCSS and DCS, NOAA weather with alerting, and it programs from a computer with the usual free software.
It has since been discontinued and replaced by the GMRS-50V2, but it remains common in trucks and shacks. Connection is to an external mobile antenna, and it runs off 13.8 volts like any mobile rig. For a handheld companion on the same license, BTECH's own GMRS-V2 pairs naturally, and a popular pocket alternative is the Baofeng GMRS-9R.