Also known as: AT-D878UVII Plus, D878UVII, AnyTone 878
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The AnyTone AT-D878UVII Plus is the de-facto standard hobbyist DMR handheld in North America: dual-band 144/430 MHz, DMR Tier I/II plus analog FM, APRS on both analog and DMR, built-in GPS and Bluetooth, and codeplug capacity for a 500,000-contact digital ID database — from around $250.1 If your local repeaters or hotspot run DMR, this is the radio the room will tell you to buy.
Key takeaways Best features for the price in our handheld top 10. DMR + FM + APRS + GPS + Bluetooth + ~7 W and a huge support ecosystem for ~$250. The costs: AnyTone’s Windows-only CPS has a real learning curve and firmware/CPS version-matching is a chronic annoyance; the receiver front end is mid-grade (intermod in RF-dense areas); build quality is good-for-a-Chinese-brand, below Yaesu/Icom/Kenwood. No C4FM or D-STAR. Transmitting requires an FCC Technician license; listening doesn’t.
Overview
DMR came to ham radio from the commercial world, and it shows: talkgroups, color codes, dual timeslots and codeplugs are alien territory for a new operator. The 878’s genius is the ecosystem that grew around it — BridgeCom’s training material, countless YouTube walkthroughs, shared codeplugs for most US metros, and constant firmware updates. That community, more than any spec, is why it became the standard.
The hardware holds its end up: ~7 W VHF / 6 W UHF, strong transmit audio, a 1.77-inch color display, 4,000 channels and 10,000 talkgroups, voice recording, and recent revisions with a 3,100 mAh battery that charges over USB-C on the pack itself. Analog APRS transmit and receive at this price is genuinely rare. The weak points are equally consistent: a mid-grade front end that intermods near strong transmitters, slow GPS lock, no published IP rating despite “rugged” marketing, and some firmware builds offering AES/ARC4 encryption options — which are not legal on US amateur bands, so leave them off.
Modes & features
- DMR Tier I/II (dual timeslot) + analog FM.
- APRS — analog TX/RX and DMR positioning, with built-in GPS.
- 500,000-contact digital ID database; 10,000 talkgroups; 4,000 channels.
- Bluetooth with PTT accessory support; voice recording; roger beeps.
- ~7 W VHF / 6 W UHF; 3,100 mAh USB-C battery on current revisions.
Programming
AnyTone’s free CPS (Windows only) is mandatory for DMR codeplug work, and the CPS version must match the radio’s firmware — mismatches are the most common new-owner failure. No CHIRP: DMR codeplug radios are out of its scope. Budget an evening with a walkthrough video for your first codeplug, or start from a shared local one.
GopherTrunk alternative
GopherTrunk receives; it cannot transmit, so it’s not a substitute for the 878. But it happens to be very good at DMR reception — a ~$30 RTL-SDR running free GopherTrunk decodes DMR traffic, follows talkgroups, and records and logs every call. Before buying a DMR radio and building a codeplug, listen for a week: you will learn which talkgroups are actually active on your local repeaters, and whether DMR (rather than C4FM or D-STAR) is the mode worth buying into. Start at best SDR for GopherTrunk.
Who it’s for
- Buy the AT-D878UVII Plus if your area (or your hotspot plans) run DMR — it’s the most radio and the most community support you can get near $250. View on Amazon →
- Buy the Yaesu FT-5DR instead for C4FM areas, or the Kenwood TH-D75A / Icom ID-52A for D-STAR.
- Skip DMR entirely if your local scene is analog — a Yaesu FT-60R is simpler and tougher. Full rankings: best handheld ham radios.
Sources
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AnyTone AT-D878UVII Plus product page — AnyTone, on DMR Tier I/II and analog FM, APRS positioning, GPS/Bluetooth, contact database capacity, and output power. ↩
Frequently asked questions
Is the AnyTone AT-D878UVII Plus the best DMR handheld?
For hobbyist DMR in North America it’s the default choice — the community, tutorials, firmware cadence and 500,000-contact database handling are unmatched at the price. Commercial rigs from Motorola or Hytera are built better but cost far more and program worse for ham use.
Does the AT-D878UVII Plus do APRS?
Yes, unusually well for the price: analog APRS transmit and receive plus DMR positioning, with built-in GPS. Full packet/KISS work is still Kenwood TH-D75A territory.
Can I program the AnyTone 878 with CHIRP?
No — DMR codeplug radios are outside CHIRP’s scope. You’ll use AnyTone’s free Windows-only CPS, and the CPS version must match the radio’s firmware version, which is a chronic annoyance.
What's the difference between the $250 and $350 listings?
Bundles. Around $250 buys the radio; ~$350 buys BridgeCom-style packages with training courses and accessories. Newer hardware revisions also ship a 3,100 mAh battery with a USB-C charge port — worth checking for.
Do I need a license to use the AT-D878UVII Plus?
Transmitting on the ham bands requires an FCC amateur license (Technician minimum) — and for DMR you’ll also register for a free DMR ID. Listening requires no license.