Hytera PNC550 LTE PoC Radio

So, is the PNC550 what we expected? ...

There are some massive advantages when you choose the Hytera PNC550 as a LTE radio handset of that there is no doubt. Like all LTE solutions, the range is first and foremost and this device is like most others in this respect. There's the 'dual sim' advantage too where one or both can be in standby and other dual sim benefits apply, where other LTE devices don't always offer this feature. The large long use battery is essential in our opinion, but the fast 2A charger is welcome too. The audio on this unit can be up to 2 watts which is a very high output for audio compared to some devices that hover at just 1/2 watt, so the audio can be a major benefit from this handset if you need that volume say in noisy environments.

The PNC550 has a number of communications technology within the handset, but whichever technology you use there remains no need for a license from Ofcom.

While we can assume the same basic features on this unit that other LTE PoC radios have, there are however, some reservations from our point of view regarding the type of unit that this LTE radio is based on as follows:

• Firstly, having the unit based on Android 8.1 we feel is a major disadvantage. Current Android versions are way ahead of the 8.1 version and these updates are important on any platform that is basically an open architecture. For us, the prospect (however remote some will tell you it is) of Google and their partners collecting data should be a concern.
  

• The screen on the PNC550 is designed to be robust and strong, but from experience going back to 1993 with business mobile phones, and with substantial numbers of smart phone sales from a division of LRS UK ( phonesavers.co.uk ) we don't feel that the screen is commensurate with being robust in the way that many other handsets offer. To be fair to Hytera, they do make other models like the PNC380 that are SUBSTANTIALLY more robust and in our opinion better designed for the LTE style of handsets.
  

• The use of cameras and other technologies built in to the PNC550 create an expectancy of offering far more than most other LTE PoC radios currently. But we remain concerned about this handset and the 'extras' that are included... why? Well the fact is two fold. Firstly, there (might be) the annoyance of users using the equipment for far more than simply business use - things such as the camera for example... and companies might not want that ability on a business phone. But also of course each extra feature on the handset creates something extra also that can fail in service. So the extensibility of use might be curtailed at some stage from failed secondary use features.
  

Overall sadly in the case of the PNC550 we would really recommend the PNC380 handset that is an entirely different product and more in line with what we (and generally customers) might find encompasses a far better platform with a more conformist approach to what we feel makes good LTE PoC radios.

It would be a mistake to 'write off' Hytera based on this handset as their other offerings are substantially better in our opinion, but we wanted to show the Hytera PNC550 because of it's more radical design and to highlight some of the features that could prove barriers to customers.

So in summary, if you want a Hytera LTE PoC (push to talk over cellular) then we can recommend that you consider the PNC380 from Hytera as a far better choice to base your business LTE handsets on.