If you’re looking for a GMRS radio, I certainly wouldn’t even consider the Anytone 878. I have the same basic radio with the Alinco nameplate. It’s a fine DMR radio, but you really have to learn how to build codeplugs in order to get anything to appear as a channel for selection. Most of the advanced features of the radio are useless in GMRS. Why spend the extra money?
Here’s what’s involved:
For analog channels it’s a little easier than for digital. You enter each channel by hand. The radio isn’t capable of the 1/2 watt PEP requirement for some of the interstitial channels, so you cannot cover those channels, at least not in full compliance.
Then, after entering the channels, you must enter them into zones. You can have one big zone or multiple zones. You could have a different zone for each different repeater or city or any other way you want to slice and dice. Zones are a bit like memory banks and channels may be included in multiple zones.
The CPS has some inconsistencies as well, mostly poor English translations that appear in some spots.
In use, you use the up and down buttons to select the zone and then you use the rotary switch to select channels within the zone.
I have added both analog and digital channels from the front panel, but it’s not really intuitive, requiring you to be deep within the menu to do so.
Scanning is absolutely unintuitive. You can create a scan group in the CPS, but when the radio asks you to select the group, and you do, you’re presented with a list of all the channels within the group. You must also have added the channel to the scan group when you defined the channel. That’s the most frustrating part of the radio.
I suspect the same thing is true of both of the commercial radios you have listed; you must use the dedicated CPS before anything appears on the front panel to use.
If you’re trying to avoid Chinese GMRS radios, I really like the Garmin Rinos. They’re made in Taiwan, rather than China, and they are well built. Now, you cannot change the antenna because they transmit GPS coordinates. They can also be used to send text messages, to another Rino, but that’s not why I would buy the radio. They are type 95e certified.
Honestly, I would just recommend getting something like the Wouxun KG 805 or 905, or even the 935 or the new plus model. By all accounts they’re easy to use, very reliable, and don’t require a background in commercial radios to care and feed. The experience won’t sour you on radio.
If you still are interested in either the Motorola or EF Johnson you’ll find they are nearly bomb proof. I don’t have either, but I understand the desire to have really high end equipment. Others can advise you on other type 90 alternatives such as Kenwood TK-3270 etc.
Good luck!
