Also known as: AT-D578UVIII, D578UVIII, D578
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The AnyTone AT-D578UVIII Plus is the default DMR mobile for hams: tri-band transmit on 2m, 1.25m, and 70cm, analog FM plus DMR Tier I/II, a built-in GPS doing both true FM APRS and DMR APRS, Bluetooth audio and PTT, air-band receive, and a contact database around 500,000 digital IDs that puts a name on every caller.1 At roughly $430–500 it delivers more features per dollar than anything else on the mobile list — which is exactly why it’s our best-features-for-the-price pick.
Key takeaways Best features for the price in our mobile top 10. FM + DMR Tier I/II (MOTOTRBO-compatible), tri-band with 50 W VHF / 45 W UHF (about 25 W on 220 MHz per spec sheets — verify against the current manual), ~4,000 channels, 10,000 talkgroups, ~500,000-contact database, FM + DMR APRS, Bluetooth, air-band RX, roaming, hotspot-friendly. Trade-offs: Windows-only quirky CPS, occasional firmware regressions, loud fan, and a front end below Icom/Yaesu on crowded sites. ~$460. Ham license required to transmit; none to listen.
Overview
AnyTone’s D578 is what happens when a Chinese OEM iterates fast on what hams actually ask for. The III Plus — mind the variant soup of III Pro and dual-band models — is the tri-band amateur DMR flagship: color TFT, detachable faceplate, digital voice recording, roaming between repeaters, and friendly behavior with Pi-Star-style hotspots. TX draw is a modest ~11–12 A.
The community’s verdict is consistent. In its favor: the huge digital-ID database showing callsign and name for every DMR caller, a genuinely loud speaker, APRS on both analog and DMR, and constant firmware development. Against it: the CPS is Windows-only and quirky, firmware updates occasionally introduce regressions, the fan is loud, menus run deep, and the receiver front end — decent as it is — sits below Icom and Yaesu when a crowded commercial site is hammering the input. One more honest note: analog cross-band repeat is not a supported feature (a single-band repeater mode has appeared in some firmware, but it is firmware-dependent — don’t buy on it).
Modes & features
- Analog FM and DMR Tier I/II, MOTOTRBO-compatible — the dominant amateur digital mode in many regions, and the one with the cheapest ecosystem.
- Tri-band transmit: 50 W on 2m, ~25 W on 220 MHz (spec-sheet figure — check the current manual), 45 W on 70cm; air-band receive on top.
- GPS with true FM APRS TX/RX plus DMR APRS — rare even among flagships.
- ~4,000 channels, 10,000 talkgroups, ~500,000 digital contacts, Bluetooth audio + PTT, voice recording, roaming, hotspot-friendly.
Programming
No CHIRP — DMR codeplug radios are out of CHIRP’s scope. The free AnyTone D578UV CPS (Windows-only) is the tool; it is quirky but complete, and the DMR community publishes shareable codeplugs for most metro areas. Budget an evening for codeplug concepts (talkgroups, zones, receive groups) if DMR is new to you.
GopherTrunk alternative
GopherTrunk receives; it cannot transmit — it will never key up a DMR talkgroup for you. What it does brilliantly is scout: a ~$30 RTL-SDR running free GopherTrunk decodes and records DMR (and P25, NXDN, and more), so you can watch your local repeaters and confirm which talkgroups actually carry traffic before building a $460 codeplug around them — with logs and timestamps no transceiver keeps. Listening needs no license; transmitting on ham bands requires an FCC amateur license (Part 97, Technician minimum). Pick hardware from best SDR for GopherTrunk.
Who it’s for
- Buy the AT-D578UVIII Plus if DMR is your area’s digital mode and you want the most radio per dollar — database, dual APRS, tri-band, Bluetooth — and can live with a quirky Windows CPS. View on Amazon →
- Buy the Yaesu FTM-500DR for C4FM country and better RF refinement, or the Icom ID-5100A for D-STAR.
- Spend less with the BTECH UV-25X2 if you only need analog FM.
- Full rankings: the 10 best mobile ham radios.
Sources
-
AnyTone AT-D578UVIII factory product page and BridgeCom Systems AT-D578UVIII Plus listing — manufacturer and primary US distributor, on tri-band coverage, DMR Tier I/II, APRS, database capacities, and pricing. ↩
Frequently asked questions
Is the AnyTone AT-D578UVIII Plus the best DMR mobile?
For hams, it is the default: a huge digital-ID contact database with caller info on screen, APRS on both analog FM and DMR, tri-band transmit including 220 MHz, Bluetooth, and constant firmware development. Its receiver front end trails Icom and Yaesu on crowded RF sites — that is the honest trade.
Does the AT-D578UVIII Plus do APRS?
Yes, both kinds: true FM APRS transmit and receive via its built-in GPS, plus DMR APRS. Among digital mobiles this dual-APRS support is a genuine differentiator.
Which AT-D578 variant should I buy?
The family is confusing — there are III Plus, III Pro, and dual-band Plus variants. The III Plus is the tri-band amateur DMR flagship covered here; check the listing carefully so you get the tri-band amateur model.
Can I program the AT-D578UVIII with CHIRP?
No — DMR codeplug radios are outside CHIRP’s scope. You use AnyTone’s free D578UV CPS, which is Windows-only and quirky but capable. Budget an evening to learn codeplug basics.
Do I need a license for the AT-D578UVIII Plus?
Transmitting requires an FCC amateur license (Part 97, Technician minimum) — and on DMR you’ll also register for a DMR ID. Listening requires no license; a $30 RTL-SDR with free GopherTrunk decodes and records local DMR traffic so you can scout the network first.