Hytera MD785G
With the new(ish) DMR to WiRES-X interlink on TG2351 connected into the CQ-UK room, I decided to pick up a mobile DMR radio. The best bang for the buck I could find on the used market was this Hytera MD785G in 'unblemished' condition.
Previously, on the TYT MD-380, I made use of a pre-programmed codeplug, and merely tweaked it for my use. On this occasion, I decided to start a new codeplug from scratch.
For the record, programming a DMR radio codeplug from scratch is possibly the most time consuming and tedious thing I've ever done in amateur radio. If you ever make use of someone else's codeplug, instead of programming it for yourself. Take a moment, and thank the person who programmed it for you. They have done you a HUGE favour!
On the plus side, I now have a better idea of what's going on under the hood. I also have a renewed appreciation for what Yaesu have accomplished with the Fusion system and just how easy it is to use and program from the faceplate.
Once all the PC programming of a DMR codeplug is out of the way, using a DMR radio couldn't be simpler. The unlabelled buttons take a while to familiarise yourself with, but it's pretty much plug and play after that.
The Hytera MD785G is a great mobile radio. It has two versions, a 5-25W and a 5-45W model, you can buy it in VHF or UHF versions (it's not dual band). The actual power settings can be fine tuned within these limits in the codeplug, so it's not just 5/25 or 5/45. It's a robust radio that's supposedly splash proof. I'm personally not going to test this claim, but I can believe it.
Audio quality is good, if occasionally louder than you are expecting from certain peoples radio transmissions, and the small square coloured display provides just about enough info, although I'm not sure why it needs the solid blue bar down the right hand side of the display, seems a waste of screen space. All in all, it functions pretty well for an everyday practical mobile radio.
