My mobile radio and antenna install

[WRMV722]

I will update this as I go.  I was using a GM-30 in the car and out, reason I started with an HT, and realized I really wanted more power for in vehicle use.  I had a few requirements in a mobile unit. 

First, had to be affordable.  I was trying to work with sticking to a $200 budget for radio and antenna.

Second, it had to be repeater capable.

Third, split-tone capability preferred.

For the antenna, I wanted to avoid drilling a hole for the mount.  That left me a few options.  Lip mount, magnet mount, or roof rack mount.

Roof rack mount was abandoned because the rack is not metal, which would eliminate ground plane antennas.  I was originally also concerned with clearance, but then realized how short UHF antennas are.  I came from the CB world years ago.

Radio was eventually picked for cost and features.  The AnyTone AT-779UV GMRS version.  It comes with the program cable, which was a nice addition.

For the antenna, I finally decided on a Browning BR-176-S 3dBd gain and a magnet mount base.

The antenna showed up today, and I was able to trim according to the specs included with the antenna, and mount the antenna on the car.  The cable was able to be routed into the rear door, and concealed until it crosses under the driver's seat to the center console.

 

[jgillaspy]

Looks good so far, but you may want to consider a drip loop somewhere before the radio so water doesn't run down the wire to your radio.

JG

[WRMV722]

39 minutes ago, jgillaspy said:

Looks good so far, but you may want to consider a drip loop somewhere before the radio so water doesn't run down the wire to your radio.

JG

The wire runs down under the weather stripping of the rear door, and then crosses into the car under the trim panels.  There is a loop under the trim panel that should take care of any water.

[djxs]

That is a great install! I wonder... would that be a great topic to start? Titled: "Show me your install?" A place where people can show off how they have tackled installations. Of course, only if it has not already been done.

[WRMV722]

The radio arrived today, but with the severe storms I have been unable to safely install in the car.  On the bright side, I was able to use the included program cable and software to program in local repeaters and channel names.

First impressions - The radio feels very solid and is nice and compact.  Programming with the included cable and free software from AnyTone is very easy.  I was able to program in local repeaters and channel names.

[djxs]

21 minutes ago, streetracer621 said:

The radio arrived today, but with the severe storms I have been unable to safely install in the car.  On the bright side, I was able to use the included program cable and software to program in local repeaters and channel names.

First impressions - The radio feels very solid and is nice and compact.  Programming with the included cable and free software from AnyTone is very easy.  I was able to program in local repeaters and channel names.

Keep us posted on the installation WRMV722

[WRMV722]

Well there was a bit of a break in the storm, so I went out and got the radio mounted up.  Easy to see why driving, and not so big that it will be obstructing my view.  I was able to tuck power and antenna wires behind the trim around the radio and hvac controls to conceal and secure them decently.  I am using the lighter plug for now, but will most likely hardwire it in when the weather clears up.

[WRMV722]

Pretty happy today.  While driving through the tropical storm to a client this morning, I had a short conversation over a local repeater that was roughly 8.4 miles behind me.  I had just gotten off the highway and was in a heavily treed area.  I am not sure how high the antenna is on the repeater, but I was happy to be able to have a short conversation.

On the way home, while on top of a hill on the highway, I hit another repeater that was roughly 21.6 miles away.  So far it is safe to say I am happy with this setup.

[Citizen]

1 hour ago, streetracer621 said:

On the way home, while on top of a hill on the highway, I hit another repeater that was roughly 21.6 miles away. 

That defies the odds big time, hitting something that far away without seeing it first.  Probably time to make an appointment with your optometrist, or just be more careful driving next time!

(Sorry, couldn’t resist.)

...

[serrasalmus]

hahahahahahahahah

[WRMV722]

Update on how things are working out.

Today on my way to a client's office, I was able to have a good long conversation with a couple of guys through one of the local repeaters.  They both said I was coming through nice and strong with very good audio.  We continued to discuss my setup as I drove further away from the repeater.  Aside from some breaking up as I went down the backside of some of the larger hills, they were able to hear me clearly until I was roughly 18 miles from the repeater.  There was lots of trees and some hills between myself and the repeater.  Needless to say, I am very happy with how the AnyTone 779UV and Browning 176-S antenna are working out.

[djxs]

On 7/13/2021 at 6:08 PM, streetracer621 said:

Update on how things are working out.

Today on my way to a client's office, I was able to have a good long conversation with a couple of guys through one of the local repeaters.  They both said I was coming through nice and strong with very good audio.  We continued to discuss my setup as I drove further away from the repeater.  Aside from some breaking up as I went down the backside of some of the larger hills, they were able to hear me clearly until I was roughly 18 miles from the repeater.  There was lots of trees and some hills between myself and the repeater.  Needless to say, I am very happy with how the AnyTone 779UV and Browning 176-S antenna are working out.

Those are great results @streetracer621

[MichaelLAX]

Some Operational Tips for the Anytone AT-779UV a/k/a Radioddity DB-20G:

Open up the Ham 2 meter and 70 cm bands to transmit on the USA version:

1) Turn off the power.  

2) While holding down the V/M button, turn on the power.  Use the Up and Down arrow keys to change from the GMRS setting on the display to 136-174 MHz; 400-470 MHz and now power down.  

3) When you power back up licensed operators can now transmit on the GMRS channels and the 2 meter and 70 cm Ham bands. 
----------------------------------------------------------------

Giving a Channel an alphanumeric name without using a computer:

1) Go to the appropriate Channel

2) Push the FUN button and using the V/M and MAIN buttons to go through the Menu items until you reach Function 29: DSPCHANNEL and using the Up and Down arrow buttons, select NAME. Push the FUN button to exit the Function menu.

3) Push the FUN button and using the V/M and MAIN buttons to go through the Menu items until you reach Function 12: CHANNEL NAME.  Using the Up and Down Arrow buttons, scroll through the list of 1-0, A-Z and a-z to find the first letter.  When you do find it, push the MON button to confirm that character and move to the 2nd position.  Repeat as necessary until up to 8 characters are entered.

4) When finished push the FUN button to exit the Function Mode.
----------------------------------------------------------------

Programming a repeater channel without using a computer:

1) Switch to VFO mode (from Channel Mode) using the V/M key

2) Using the number keys on the mic, enter the repeater's output frequency

3) On the mic, push FUN then 9 repeatedly until the proper split (+ or - or blank for Off) appears above the frequency.

4) Press the FUN key on the Radio and use the V/M and Main keys as an up/down to get to function 10:Offset.  

Use the Up and Down arrow keys to set your offset split, such as 5.00000MHz or 0.60000MHz (you can hold down the Up or Down key to have it continuously change). 

Once you get to the proper offset, push the FUN key again.

5) Press the FUN key on the Radio and go to Function 01:T-CDC and use the Up and Down keys to find the proper transmit PL Tone.  

Use the same method to optionally set the proper receive PL Tone, if necessary, on Function 02:R-CDC (or Function 03: RT-CDC if both tones are the same)

6) You can rotate through High, Medium and Low transmit power using FUN and 0 (zero) on the mic.

7) Save to the first open channel by pushing Fun and UP on the microphone (or then use the UP and DN keys on the mic to scroll through the available channels, with empty ones saying NULL

Save to this channel holding down the "MON-*" key on the mic and you are done!
----------------------------------------------------------------

Use DCS Digital Tones:

Go to desired channel
Press FUN on mic
Press 1 on mic
Go to menu 1 using V/M or Main key on mic
Press number 1 on mic to cycle to 000 N display for menu 1
Use up and down on mic to scroll to code corresponding to desired DCS code. 
List is in the instructions.
Use V/M or Main to go to menu item 2. Repeat selection process
Press DIL on mic to exit.
_________________________________________________________________

New Radioddity DB20-G CPS software V2.02
1. Change the default bandwidth from Narrow to Wide.
2. Address the bug that "when repeater TX frequency change, RX frequency automatically match"
----------------------------------------------------------------

Also, In anecdotal tests in my shack with my Comet try-band vertical on the roof, I have been able to "hit" repeaters on 2 meters and 70 cm that I cannot hit with my Yaesu FT-857d with the same Comet!

[Citizen]

5 hours ago, WRBU527 said:

Some Operational Tips for the Anytone AT-779UV a/k/a Radioddity DB-20G:

[snip]

Also, In anecdotal tests in my shack with my Comet try-band vertical on the roof, I have been able to "hit" repeaters on 2 meters and 70 cm that I cannot hit with my Yaesu FT-857d with the same Comet!

Would you please say which particular Comet tri-band antenna you are using?  Seems there are several.

Thanks.

...

[MichaelLAX]

I used a semi-professional to purchase and install my 80-6 meter Hygain and the tr-band Comet, so I have sent him an email to see if he kept track of which models he purchased for me!

[BoxCar]

5 hours ago, Citizen said:

Would you please say which particular Comet tri-band antenna you are using?  Seems there are several.

Thanks.

...

You need the one with a matching connector. The connectors are typically a male or female SMA or BNC. The Yeasu uses the female SMA.

[Citizen]

On 8/2/2021 at 2:11 AM, MichaelLAX said:

----------------------------------------------------------------

Giving a Channel an alphanumeric name without using a computer:

1) Go to the appropriate Channel

2) Push the FUN button and using the V/M and MAIN buttons to go through the Menu items until you reach Function 29: DSPCHANNEL and using the Up and Down arrow buttons, select NAME. Push the FUN button to exit the Function menu.

3) Push the FUN button and using the V/M and MAIN buttons to go through the Menu items until you reach Function 12: CHANNEL NAME.  Using the Up and Down Arrow buttons, scroll through the list of 1-0, A-Z and a-z to find the first letter.  When you do find it, push the MON button to confirm that character and move to the 2nd position.  Repeat as necessary until up to 8 characters are entered.

4) When finished push the FUN button to exit the Function Mode.
----------------------------------------------------------------

 

On the Anytone AT-779UF, I found that when naming a channel via software, use of the lower-case letter "k" always reverts to upper-case "K" when displayed on the radio front panel.  For example; when I put in "Dcksn" (short for "Dickenson", since only 8-chars allowed), the front panel displays "DcKsn".  It does not seem to matter which position the letter "k" appears, it's always displayed in upper-case.

Not that big of a deal, but still annoying, so I thought I would notify Anytone of this.  Below is my email to them.

 

Quote

Regarding AT-779UV radio:

When in Display Mode "Name", the letter "k" always displays as "K" (upper case vs. lower case) on the radio.  This without regard for what is typed in the software.

Quote

AT-779
Version 2.0.0
The software apply for AT-779UV model
Warning Copywrite (C) 2020-2021

(also, "Copywrite" should be "Copyright")

 

I'll post their response when/if I get one.

...

[Citizen]

On 8/27/2021 at 10:41 AM, Citizen said:

On the Anytone AT-779UF, I found that when naming a channel via software, use of the lower-case letter "k" always reverts to upper-case "K" when displayed on the radio front panel.  For example; when I put in "Dcksn" (short for "Dickenson", since only 8-chars allowed), the front panel displays "DcKsn".  It does not seem to matter which position the letter "k" appears, it's always displayed in upper-case.  <snip>

 

Enough time has passed, I thought I'd report back that I've had no response yet from Anytone.  I had sent my email to support@anytonetech.com

...