XPR 7550- analog/digital conventional or IPSC scanning, Capacity Plus scanning, secure conventional repeater operation (AES 256)
PD 782- analog/digital conv scanning, Connect Plus scanning, secure conv rpt operation (AES 256)
I purchased a Motorola XPR 7550 (UHF) a few weeks ago and updated it to firmware R02.50.04. Motorola made decent audio improvements with this latest f/w but apparently they pulled it due to radios experiencing TX issues on Cap+ systems. Go figure.
In the last few months I also purchased two Hytera PD782's, firmware version A7.00.11.007.
The PD782 is a great radio and I'm glad I decided to give Hytera a try.
I figured I would put one up against Motorola's top tier DMR portable radio, the XPR 7550.
The XPR 7550 wins in these areas:
Built in Bluetooth
Bluetooth programming
Receive sensitivity - on distant DMR signals the 7550 will show 1-2 bars more signal strength than the PD782. On one really weak DMR signal, the XPR 7550 will unmute and show 0-1 bar while the 782 will not unmute at all. For comparison, the 782 is on par with my 6550's for rx sens.
The PD782 wins in regards to the following:
Much louder RX volume, also more pleasant sounding
Better battery life- not IMPRESsed with Motorola's 2150mAh IMPRES battery.
Front panel screen is more refined, like the SL 7550.
More durable feel
FPP: analog (freq,ctcss,dcs), digital (freq,slot,cc,tx contact,rx group list)
More useful as a "scanner"-
Excellent for Motorola Connect Plus passive scanning
Not restricted to 16 or 32 group limit in your receive list like you are with a Motorola, Tytera, or CS.
Pseudo Trunk slot setting allows the radio to monitor both slots within one frequency. If you want to isolate a slot, just use FPP and select " Slot 1" or "Slot 2" instead of "Pseudo Trunk". You can fit a large 15 repeater Con+ site in one 16 ch zone by utilizing Pseudo Trunk.
Other notes: CPS for both radios are user friendly and feature rich. MotoTRBO CPS is a bit more streamlined and the firmware updates seem easier to perform.
Security:
Authentication-
Hytera needs to implement a feature similar to MotoTRBO RAS. Hytera has optional authentication for XPT (eXtended Pseudo Trunk), but no options for conventional repeater operations.
VS-
MotoTRBO offers either basic (255 codes) or enhanced encryption (ARC4) to NA customers although AES 256 is quite possible to obtain outside of dealing with M.
Hytera offers basic and full encryption:
PD782 out of the box options:
Basic encryption key in either 40, 128, or 256 bit length (Basic uses the same key applied to each superframe over and over, no IV)
40 bit full encryption- ARC4, works with MotoTRBO enhanced privacy
PD782 at cost enc options:
Hytera proprietary full encrypt in AES 128/256 bit strength (user selectable in CPS once license is applied)
DMRA full encrypt in AES 128/256 bit strength (user selectable in CPS once license is applied). DMRA AES 256 is fully compatible with MotoTRBO AES 256.
Conclusion:
Both are excellent radios and for most uses I couldn't recommend either over the other unless proprietary or special use features are required.