Before this radio does anything useful, you have to build it a codeplug. Channels, then contacts and talkgroups, then zones that group the channels together. Nobody tells you that coming from analog FM, and it is the moment many people give up on DMR. Get past it, and the AT-D878UVII Plus turns out to be the most complete DMR handheld I have carried.
It is a dual-band 2 m / 70 cm handheld that does both DMR and analog FM, with up to 7 W, Bluetooth, GPS, APRS and enough memory for 4,000 channels and the entire DMR user database. Street price is around $200 to $250.
It is very good at DMR. It is average at analog FM receive. And it asks for more learning than any analog radio. Those three facts decide whether it suits you.
Learning the codeplug
DMR radios come from the commercial world, and the 878 is programmed the commercial way. You do not just punch in a frequency and a tone. You define channels with a frequency, color code, time slot and talkgroup, add your contacts, then organize channels into zones. Expect hours, not minutes, the first time. A full day of learning is not unusual.
Once the structure makes sense, the radio stops feeling hostile. Editing a codeplug in the software becomes routine, and you can borrow parts of a friend's codeplug and adapt them. Some people are on the air within an afternoon using a good video course. Others swear their way through a weekend. The manual is poor, so plan on videos and online guides rather than the printed book.
Operators disagree about the training bundles sold with this radio. One camp credits a dealer's video course with getting them on DMR in an afternoon. The other finds the same material disorganized, out of date and too eager to sell extras. My take: free videos plus a local DMR user who will share a codeplug teach you faster than any paid course. Pick the dealer for its return policy, not its training.
Programming uses AnyTone's CPS software (RT Systems also supports it). CHIRP does not. The CPS is usable but cramped. If you need large fonts or a low screen resolution, some windows become hard to work with.
DMR in daily use
This is where the 878 earns its reputation. Through a hotspot or a local DMR repeater, it simply works. Talker alias shows the caller's call and name straight from the network, and with the user database loaded you see names even without it. The color display shows zone, talkgroup and caller in colors you choose.
You can enter frequencies and talkgroups from the keypad, which is rare on DMR radios and useful in the field. Memory is big enough to load repeaters for several states and drive through all of them without reprogramming. That is the main reason I picked the Plus over cheaper DMR radios.
A hotspot trick worth knowing: with a multi-mode hotspot running profiles (Openspot or WPSD), you can put DMR, D-STAR and Fusion reflectors behind talkgroup IDs and switch between them from the 878 with a private call. A single DMR handheld then reaches all three networks, which is the most fun I have had with a hotspot.
Power levels, hotspots and travel
There are four power levels. The top setting gives up to 7 W, which is plenty for a DMR repeater across town. For a hotspot on the desk, drop to the lowest level. It saves battery and keeps you from overloading the hotspot's tiny receiver.
Roaming lets the radio hunt for the strongest repeater in a list as you drive. It works, though it uses more battery and needs a well-built roaming list in the codeplug. On a long trip I load repeaters for every state on the route into zones, and switch zones as I cross borders. With 4,000 channels there is room for all of it plus analog repeaters, simplex and weather.
The accessory jack is the familiar Kenwood-style 2-pin, so speaker mics and earpieces you already own for other handhelds fit.
Analog receive is the weak spot
On analog FM, the 878's receiver is mediocre. Next to Japanese handhelds, and even some cheaper Chinese ones, it hears less. Repeaters that come in on other radios sometimes do not open the squelch here. Selectivity is not great either.
A small trick helps: a short counterpoise wire hanging from the antenna base, or a hand wrapped around the radio near the antenna, makes weak signals come up noticeably. It says something about the antenna system. A better antenna helps too.
For local repeaters with good signals, none of this matters. For fringe simplex or a distant machine, carry a better analog radio. FM receive is not a strength, and if DMR is not your main interest, this is the wrong radio to buy.
Audio: loud, sometimes too loud
The speaker is loud and clear, usable outdoors, in a truck and in a noisy room. Receive audio is easy to understand. Transmit audio gets good reports, if a little thin.
The flip side is volume control. The lowest setting is still too loud, especially on digital, and the knob goes from off to too loud with not much in between. With earphones it is worse. I live with it by setting the in-radio volume levels down and keeping the knob near the bottom.
Battery, build and screen
Battery life is excellent. The 3,100 mAh pack easily runs a full day of listening, and much more if you turn off roaming and GPS. For an everyday carry radio, that alone counts for a lot.
The case is solid and heavy in a good way. This does not feel like a cheap import. It takes drops and still works. It is bigger and heavier than an analog HT, so don't expect a pocket radio.
The screen is bright and clear with selectable colors. The resolution is not high, but it is readable.
APRS, Bluetooth and firmware
APRS is the feature that disappoints. Analog APRS beacons mainly on key-up, or on a channel set to the APRS frequency. The settings are scattered through the menus, and getting it right takes patience. Digital APRS on DMR works in the background. If APRS is a priority, buy a radio designed around it.
Bluetooth works with headsets and a PTT remote. Firmware updates come regularly and do fix bugs; an early receive-delay issue was cured that way. Keep the firmware current, but read the release notes first and follow the update steps exactly.
How it compares
| Radio | Why you'd pick it |
|---|---|
| AnyTone AT-D878UVII Plus | Most complete dual-band DMR HT: big memory, keypad entry, great battery |
| TYT MD-UV380 | Cheaper DMR starter; harder codeplug, fewer features |
| Radioddity GD-77 / Baofeng DM-5R | Budget DMR options for trying the mode |
| Yaesu FT5DR | C4FM Fusion instead of DMR, with a stronger receiver |
| Kenwood NX-5300 | Commercial DMR with a far better receiver at a much higher price |
Setting one up the way I do
- Learn the structure before you start: channels, then contacts and talkgroups, then zones.
- Start from a known-good codeplug for your area and edit it, rather than building from blank.
- Load the DMR user database so callers show by name.
- Set the lowest power level for a nearby hotspot.
- Use hotspot profiles to reach DMR, D-STAR and Fusion from the same handheld.
- Turn the in-radio volume levels down to tame the volume knob.
- Turn off roaming and GPS when you want the longest battery life.
- Add a short counterpoise or a better antenna for weak analog signals.
Who should buy it
- Hams moving into DMR with a hotspot or a local DMR repeater.
- Travellers who want thousands of channels and talkgroups in one radio.
- Operators who want one HT for DMR and analog FM repeaters.
Skip it if you are a new ham who only needs analog repeaters: an analog Yaesu, Icom or Kenwood will hear better and program in minutes. Skip it too if you work weak analog simplex in fringe areas, or if you have no patience for codeplug programming.
Bottom line
The AT-D878UVII Plus is the DMR handheld to beat: huge memory, keypad talkgroup entry, a bright screen, loud audio and a battery that lasts. Its analog receiver is ordinary and the learning curve is steep, so buy it for DMR and pair it with a good analog radio if FM simplex matters to you.
Reader field notes — share yours
Log in to share your field notes and photos.