The stock antenna covers 380-512mhz and is quite long. A better antenna
is the 440-490mhz model which is just shy of 4" long and has better
gain. This is the one I use.
There currently is no way to connect an external antenna to this radio.
The RF port, located at top rear under a plastic cover, was designed
for test purposes only and will not tolerate the stresses of an external
cable. The /\/\ adapter for the RF test port cost around $300 and is
made up of two parts.
I think the biggest and most obvious differences is the 7 has a bigger
display and full color, has more channels ( a lot more but probably way
more than you'll ever need on the ham band) , higher capacity batteries,
it meets more military specifications, the radio itself is bigger and
looks more like a real radio in my opinion and it has some other
features you probably wont ever use like enhanced privacy.
6550
+Better battery life - almost 2X
+Works with SMA-whatever adapter for external antenna
+Cheaper
-Will not be able to take advantage of the new functionality found in the 7000 model firmware with release 2.2
-Small display
7550
+Full size color display
+Works with the new functionality in upcoming 2.2 firmware
+Better ergonomics
+Better receiver performance
+One model covers both Low and High UHF bands
-Ships narrow banded only so you have to purchase CPS $265 and get the Entitlement ID for wide band
-No external antenna capability
-Lower battery life
The rx audio of the gen 2 radios [7550, 3500, & 5550]
sounds slightly different
than the gen 1 radios [4550, & 6550]. I can tell the difference w/o
looking. When I listen to a 6550 & 7550 together, I actually
slightly prefer the 6550. It just sounds more natural.
The
7550 sounds good, but the 6550 sounds better to me. However the rx sens
of the 7550 is hotter than a pistol, even when using the factory
stubby. It hears distant repeaters that none of my 6550's can hear. I
have never used my speaker mike with any of my DMR radios.
In comparing the XPR6550, and the XPR7550 does anyone know if on the XPR7550, if the channel selector knob goes around in circles? which means you can put as many channels as you want in any bank (1 through 50, as an example - and the channel knob goes from 1 to 50)?
Yes, the 7550 does work this way.
2 comments:
Thanks for your comments, Comments may take a day to show up
A discussion group about this subject.
Digital Ham Radio / Amateur Radio
DigitalHamRADIO@groups.io
https://groups.io/g/DigitalHamRADIO
****** share this with others *******
Amateur Radio Users Support Group
AmateurRadio@groups.io
https://groups.io/g/AmateurRadio
****** share this with others *******
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
A difference between the 6550 and 7550 that my local radio vendor told me was the Capacity Plus options. I bought some XPR6550 handheld radios where I work and now we may need to do trunking. For amateur use, this is unlikely. In business use, it is more possible.
ReplyDeleteI now need to buy Capacity Plus modules for each radio and an Entitlement ID for each, that had I bought the XPR7550, it would already have the module installed and the license (EID) included.
the 7550 has the option board already installed, it is just not flashed, so you don't have the added expense of buying and installing a GOB like you do with the 6550. Both the 6550 and the 7550 have Capacity Plus as a standard feature. Connect Plus is an option with either radio, the only difference in cost is the added option board for the 6550. Not really a deal breaker.
ReplyDelete