Anytone AT-D878UVII Plus
The AT-D878 is a solid first radio. It supports analog FM, DMR, APRS, and GPS, making it easy to explore different parts of the hobby. The features grow with you instead of being outgrown quickly. These are some tips from my experience for anyone getting started.
First Steps Before Programming
Codeplugs can be intimidating, which is why some start with a simple analog radio—totally valid. There’s a lot of flexibility here, and it can be overwhelming until you start experimenting. Here’s a low-pressure way to get your bearings:
- Just listen first: When you open the box, set the radio to analog mode, lower the squelch, and scan using the up/down arrow. Focus on what’s active, what repeaters are nearby, and how your location and antenna affect reception.
- Try manual programming: Before connecting to a computer, enter a few analog repeaters from the keypad. The interface feels like a phone from 2003, but being able to make quick adjustments manually is valuable and reinforces test concepts like TX/RX offsets and PL tones.
- Get a feel for the radio: Don’t be discouraged if you hear nothing at times or the rubber duck seems limited. With a Signal Stick, staying vertical and near a window improves reception. This is a low-pressure way to understand how the radio behaves before diving into a full codeplug.
Codeplug
Once comfortable scanning and entering repeaters manually, you can start organizing your codeplug. Keep FM repeaters, DMR repeaters, and hotspots separate, since each has its own characteristics.
- FM repeaters: Use RepeaterBook to find wide-coverage repeaters for a “Tier 1” zone. Smaller repeaters within ~20 miles go in a “Tier 2” zone. Even if traffic is light, having them ready means you won’t miss anything unexpected.
- DMR repeaters: Digital repeaters need correct talkgroups and time slots. Digital Monitor helps you hear what’s active. TG 9 (local) is essential. BrandMeister and NEDECN overlap in some areas but operate as separate networks.
- Hotspots: Hotspots provide reliable worldwide access independent of local repeaters. Talkgroup changes take effect only when the system is idle. They’re great for experimenting and testing settings without relying on RF propagation.
Technical realizations:
- Pull repeaters by distance, not state, to catch nearby systems you might miss.
- How zones and scan lists are organized makes or breaks day-to-day usability.
- Seeing full signal but hearing nothing is usually a talkgroup or time slot issue, not RF.
- Adding more talkgroups reduces confusion on repeaters carrying overlapping regional traffic.
Antennas
Most of my operating has been indoors and not especially close to major repeaters, which quickly made it clear that setup and antenna choice matter as much as the radio itself. Everything is indoor and portable for now—no permanent installs.
| Antenna |
Range (miles) |
Notes |
| Rubber Duck |
5–10 |
Fine for very local contacts, simple and ready to use |
| Signal Stick |
15–25 |
Portable, vertical near window, sufficient for satellite reception |
| Slim Jim (window-mounted) |
≈40 |
Indoor terrestrial, reliable RX/TX, makes FM operation feel consistent |
Looking Ahead
There’s plenty I want to explore as I get more comfortable with the 878:
- Satellite work: Signal Stick works for receive; eventually plan to try an Arrow antenna to work them actively.
- APRS: Setting up the radio to send and receive packets will allow tracking stations, integrating weather, and telemetry.
- DMR expansion: Experiment with more talkgroups, time slots, and bridging between BrandMeister and NEDECN.
- Portable/mobile setups: Flexible indoor/outdoor use while maintaining reliable RX/TX performance.
- Refining codeplug strategies: Continuously organizing zones, talkgroups, and scan lists to make scanning predictable and fun.