MD782 is my second Hytera radio and I couldn’t be more pleased with it. I can corfirm Hytera’s build-in quality is superb – this unit is robust and well build. All the knobs are sturdy and you can actually feel the quality.
Hytera MD782 is IP54 certified which makes it dust and splash proof.
The radio is capable of working both on analog and digital modes and is therefore a perfect companion while transitioning to digital age.
Hytera MD782 is IP54 certified which makes it dust and splash proof.
Programming the radio
Hytera MD782 doesn’t come with a programming cable which will cost you around $80. The cable has a small dongle with a switch to select either programming or firmware uploading mode. Be sure to select programming mode before plugging it in.
MD782 has its own CPS software which is clear and easy to use. Once again I have to praise the software, it’s definitely well built and compares (except the price) to Motorola’s CPS software. There’s no hassle with USB drivers like with other chinese made radios.
One nice touch is that the output power can be flexibly defined.
After first programming you might want to keep the cable at hand. There’s usually some little tweeks to be made.
Hytera MD782 doesn’t come with a programming cable which will cost you around $80. The cable has a small dongle with a switch to select either programming or firmware uploading mode. Be sure to select programming mode before plugging it in.
MD782 has its own CPS software which is clear and easy to use. Once again I have to praise the software, it’s definitely well built and compares (except the price) to Motorola’s CPS software. There’s no hassle with USB drivers like with other chinese made radios.
One nice touch is that the output power can be flexibly defined.
After first programming you might want to keep the cable at hand. There’s usually some little tweeks to be made.
Desing and techical specs
The radio itself is large but it can still be fitted into standard DIN-slot. It doesn’t have numerical keypad which indicates MD782 is targeted for business users. This being said the radio is well suited for amateurs as well, but you need to program all the desired channels and frequencies into the memory.
Hytera MD782 comes in many different configurations. I bought UHF 400-470 version without GPS module. This particular model has TX power between 5 to 25 watts.
The radio itself is large but it can still be fitted into standard DIN-slot. It doesn’t have numerical keypad which indicates MD782 is targeted for business users. This being said the radio is well suited for amateurs as well, but you need to program all the desired channels and frequencies into the memory.
Hytera MD782 comes in many different configurations. I bought UHF 400-470 version without GPS module. This particular model has TX power between 5 to 25 watts.
The radio is capable of working both on analog and digital modes and is therefore a perfect companion while transitioning to digital age.
There are four programmable buttons on the front. I decided to have buttons for transmit power, zone selection and scan function.
The radio has BNC connector for antenna which can be found on many mobile radios. Not ideal choise for a base radio, but I also bought BNC to UHF adapter for my configuration.
One flaw in design is that the volume knob is combined with channel selection. In order to switch a channel one needs to push the volume knob and confirm selection with another push. In my opinion separate knobs would be more handier.
The radio has BNC connector for antenna which can be found on many mobile radios. Not ideal choise for a base radio, but I also bought BNC to UHF adapter for my configuration.
One flaw in design is that the volume knob is combined with channel selection. In order to switch a channel one needs to push the volume knob and confirm selection with another push. In my opinion separate knobs would be more handier.
Hands on
One annoyance at first was the fact that the radio had all the tunes switched on as default. This meant that MD782 kept beebing at the beginning and at the end of any transmission. It also beebed before and after pressing the PPT. But can be turned off easy in the programming.
While scanning on amateur talkgroups all the beebing made me almost insane, and it took a while to find a way to mute my radio. This took even more toll on my nerves. (To mute the radio push settings button next to green call button. Then find tones menu). D’oh.
Otherwise the radio is logical and easy to use. Both analog channels and digital talkgroups can be defined into one common scan list, which is neat. Lack of physical keypad means you are stuck with sending predefined text messages, but in the HAM world this isn’t much of a problem.
I’ve received flattering reports on my audio quality, which seems to be one of the high points of all Hytera radios.
One annoyance at first was the fact that the radio had all the tunes switched on as default. This meant that MD782 kept beebing at the beginning and at the end of any transmission. It also beebed before and after pressing the PPT. But can be turned off easy in the programming.
While scanning on amateur talkgroups all the beebing made me almost insane, and it took a while to find a way to mute my radio. This took even more toll on my nerves. (To mute the radio push settings button next to green call button. Then find tones menu). D’oh.
Otherwise the radio is logical and easy to use. Both analog channels and digital talkgroups can be defined into one common scan list, which is neat. Lack of physical keypad means you are stuck with sending predefined text messages, but in the HAM world this isn’t much of a problem.
I’ve received flattering reports on my audio quality, which seems to be one of the high points of all Hytera radios.
Conclusion
To be honest I’ve been so amazed by the Hytera radios that I even thought becoming a reseller. Hyteras are afforfable enough for HAMs and I’m myself quite happy to pay some extra for reliable and well build equipment.
I still own two cheap Tytera radios but I really haven’t used them after buying PD782 and MD782.
There’s a saying: poor people shouldn’t buy cheap crap. Once again this was proved to be right.
There’s still one wish I’d like to make: Hytera guys, would you please consider combining a basic GSM phone and a DMR radio?
To be honest I’ve been so amazed by the Hytera radios that I even thought becoming a reseller. Hyteras are afforfable enough for HAMs and I’m myself quite happy to pay some extra for reliable and well build equipment.
I still own two cheap Tytera radios but I really haven’t used them after buying PD782 and MD782.
There’s a saying: poor people shouldn’t buy cheap crap. Once again this was proved to be right.
There’s still one wish I’d like to make: Hytera guys, would you please consider combining a basic GSM phone and a DMR radio?
Pros
- Build-in quality
- Audio quality
- Programming software
- Ease of use
Cons
- Combined volume/channel selector knob