Radioddity DB20-G CPS Programming tips (a/k/a Anytone AT-779UV)

[MichaelLAX]

This thread continues this previous discussion in the Thread entitled: FCC.

[WRYS709]

1 hour ago, Sbsyncro said:

reviving an old thread here..  I'm setting this radio up for a friend using the software.  I don't see any options for locking the keypad/mic buttons. He apparently has it mounted next to his knee in his jeep and is constantly changing settings.  Is there way to lock the keys like there is on most HTs (and my Wouxun KG1000G)?

A couple other questions:

The "Vice-Machine Display" option under the Function Setup offers three options:  Frequency/Channel, Battery Voltage, and Off.  It seems that the only way to disable "dual watch" is to set this to "Off"?    

If scanning both the A and B channels, does the "Revert Channel" option under the "Information of Scanning Channel" tree determine the behavior when a signal is detected on one of the channels?  If so, would the "Last Called" selection cause the next transmission to go to the channel that received most recently?  If so, what is the difference between that choice and "Selected+Talkback"? 

Lastly is there a BCL (busy channel lockout) setting somewhere that I just don't seem to be able to find?

I am currently at my "opened" Anytone AT-779UV in the house, programmed for GMRS (but with more options), with Firmware 2.26 (my Radioddity DB20-G programmed for "locked" GMRS with firmware 2.30 is in the car right now), so my comments are based upon my playing with this Anytone.

1) Holding down the FUN key for a few seconds will LOCK the keypad/mic buttons (one beep).  Let me know when you figure out how to UNLOCK it!?! hahaha. Of course, holding down the FUN key again for a few seconds toggles this feature (two beeps).

You can also toggle this same "locking" feature by holding down the A button on the mic/keypad.

2) I believe you are referring to Menu 19: DSPSUB, which has these 3 choices of settings. You can get to this without the software by pushing the FUN button once and then scrolling through the Menu with the V/M (Up) and MAIN (Down) buttons.  You then change the settings using the Up (Arrow) and Down (Arrow) buttons and when you are happy with your settings, push FUN again to exit this mode.

3) I am not sure what you are asking here, because I probably don't have any experience here.  But I want to learn, so please educate me.  Is this in the software?

4) By "Busy Channel Lockout" I believe you mean a setting which will prevent the radio from transmitting while it detects someone else using the same frequency. I am looking into this for you.

UPDATE: Look at the manual's description of Menu Item !!: RPLOCK, below and see if this does what you want; again using the FUN button will get you into Menu Mode:

 

[MichaelLAX]

Thank you @WyoJoebut it seems that your copy/paste tip is limited to copying from and pasting back into the Radioddity/Anytone software itself.

I downloaded CHIRP into my Windows environment and my attempts to copy from a previous CHIRP file and then paste into the Radioddity software have not been successful.

I also exported from CHIRP into a "csv" file, modified this text file to match the columns in the Radioddity CPS software and then attempted to copy/paste without any luck either.

Radioddity CPS continues to only recognize the last "copy" from within its own program, even after I have successfully done a copy in CHIRP or the csv file.

[Blaise]

That's my experience.  You can't even paste a single piece of text into a single field!  I had to manually transcribe every frequency by hand from chirp...

[MichaelLAX]

Yes, I have done that twice now:

1) The first time I acquired my AT-779UV and built a codeplug; and

2) After some growth in various repeaters I now have access to, and additions to the various categories, I rebuilt my codeplug but this time left blank lines between categories.

Since I have one also in my car, now I tend to manually insert a new channel into each machine (including an alphanumeric name) and also add it to the codeplug, to save the hassle of unscrewing it from the cup-holder mount in my car and bringing it upstairs to program.

I built a somewhat shorter version for the PAPA System group's members to be able to download and I know of at least two members who have use it and grown from my start.

I am still hoping that someone like @WyoJoewill find a better solution for us! He is the one who told me that I could use the updated Radioddity firmware and programming software for its GM-30 in my clone, the Pofung P15UV, which I originally purchased to be able to scan for tones.  I subsequently gave it to my 10 year old grandson, in place of his FRS Motos. 

I now use instead the TYT-UV88 which is another GM-30 clone, but it is a ham radio that can also be opened to GMRS, MURS, etc and even can use CHIRP to copy/paste program and then refine the programming with its own programming software.

[aarque01]

I have the AT-778UV. Maybe my setup can help? The MIDX23-50 channels are Midlands extra channels. There's a ton of videos on YouTube that are incorrect with channel spacing. FCC ruled out wide band (25khz) on GMRS. You can reference my code plug data from website below.

 https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/FRS/GMRS_combined_channel_chart

 

[aarque01]

Forgot to add my repeaters. REP15R-22R are factory defaults in previous post. The one I will post below are open to GMRS license holders.

[MichaelLAX]

Thank you for these charts, but I am not sure what you are hoping to add to our discussion:

The AT-778 and the AT-779 are two completely different radios.

Are you suggesting that the software for the 778 has import/export features and can be used with the 779?

[aarque01]

I believe so. When you save your file, it's in .dat format? The 778 in a mobile is 25watts and I believe 779 is 20 watts.

[aarque01]

see if you can open with your programming.

AT-778UV_v2.dat

[aarque01]

Sorry, I was premature with my answer. I have same problem. The best practice for me is to do save as for multiple versions of .dat files (code plug). 

[MichaelLAX]

Thank you for that attempt, but version 2.01 of the Anytone AT-779UV software will not open your file:

While some file extensions are compatible with each other (such as csv), dat files are generic data files that can follow different internal rules.

[WRPC593]

Hi.. I'm hoping someone can help me out with the Radioddity version 2.0.2 programming software for the DB20-G mobile radio. I'm assuming its basically the same software for the Anytone listed on here. The DB20-G is setup for 400-490mhz and 136-174mhz, as is the program. My problem is that I cant highlight the CH option on the left side of menu. The other options open up a popup menu. Also, I can enter a gmrs freq in ch.1 but will not let me add a tone.. Not sure if I am missing something?? Thanks...

 

Kevin 

[MichaelLAX]

3 hours ago, WRPC593 said:

Hi.. I'm hoping someone can help me out with the Radioddity version 2.0.2 programming software for the DB20-G mobile radio. I'm assuming its basically the same software for the Anytone listed on here. The DB20-G is setup for 400-490mhz and 136-174mhz, as is the program.

Yes, in my experience, the Anytone AT-779UV and the Radioddity DB20-G are interchangeable both as radios and programming software.

Try changing, in the Model Information -> Model menu from 136-174/400-490 to 136-174/400-470, and see if that solves your problems.

And power off, hold down V/M button, power on and what firmware version (for example at the bottom: V2.26) do you have?

Are you also double clicking the >> at the end of each Channel listing to open up a box for Tones, etc.?

[SteveShannon]

1 hour ago, WRPC593 said:

Hi.. I'm hoping someone can help me out with the Radioddity version 2.0.2 programming software for the DB20-G mobile radio. I'm assuming its basically the same software for the Anytone listed on here. The DB20-G is setup for 400-490mhz and 136-174mhz, as is the program. My problem is that I cant highlight the CH option on the left side of menu. The other options open up a popup menu. Also, I can enter a gmrs freq in ch.1 but will not let me add a tone.. Not sure if I am missing something?? Thanks...

 

Kevin 

The CPS doesn’t work that way. To edit the channel double click on the double chevron on the rightmost end, under the “more” column. 

[MichaelLAX]

[Sbsyncro]

reviving an old thread here..  I'm setting this radio up for a friend using the software.  I don't see any options for locking the keypad/mic buttons. He apparently has it mounted next to his knee in his jeep and is constantly changing settings.  Is there way to lock the keys like there is on most HTs (and my Wouxun KG1000G)?

A couple other questions:

The "Vice-Machine Display" option under the Function Setup offers three options:  Frequency/Channel, Battery Voltage, and Off.  It seems that the only way to disable "dual watch" is to set this to "Off"?    

If scanning both the A and B channels, does the "Revert Channel" option under the "Information of Scanning Channel" tree determine the behavior when a signal is detected on one of the channels?  If so, would the "Last Called" selection cause the next transmission to go to the channel that received most recently?  If so, what is the difference between that choice and "Selected+Talkback"? 

Lastly is there a BCL (busy channel lockout) setting somewhere that I just don't seem to be able to find?

[wayneproperties]

On 2/13/2024 at 6:45 PM, Sbsyncro said:

The "Vice-Machine Display" option under the Function Setup offers three options:  Frequency/Channel, Battery Voltage, and Off.  It seems that the only way to disable "dual watch" is to set this to "Off"?

Thank you for your tid bit on disabling dual watch on the DB20-G. I've been searching for how to do just that for quite a while and found your solution, thanks. Worked great.

Wayne WQRU-619

[WRWM359]

In the previous discussion that led to this thread, MikeLAX said:

”I had been expecting that maybe CHIRP would provide an upgrade, since this rig is so inexpensive, and selling like hotcakes; but I am told that someone needs to send them a unit to work on.”

is this true? Does anyone know the answer to this?  Because here we all are 2-3 years later, and there is still no profile in CHIRP for this radio. Crazy! If all that they need is a unit to work on, maybe a handful of us could pass a hat around and get one of these radios sent in so that this is finally resolved and becomes a radio that CHIRP can program. I’d put in $20-25 if anyone else wants to help get it done. I haven’t a clue where we’d ship the radio to, but I’m guessing finding out wouldn’t be difficult. 

[WRUU653]

2 hours ago, WRWM359 said:

In the previous discussion that led to this thread, MikeLAX said:

”I had been expecting that maybe CHIRP would provide an upgrade, since this rig is so inexpensive, and selling like hotcakes; but I am told that someone needs to send them a unit to work on.”

is this true? Does anyone know the answer to this?  Because here we all are 2-3 years later, and there is still no profile in CHIRP for this radio. Crazy! If all that they need is a unit to work on, maybe a handful of us could pass a hat around and get one of these radios sent in so that this is finally resolved and becomes a radio that CHIRP can program. I’d put in $20-25 if anyone else wants to help get it done. I haven’t a clue where we’d ship the radio to, but I’m guessing finding out wouldn’t be difficult. 

It may have been true two years ago but no that’s not what’s holding things up. Go to chirp and do a search on the models and you’ll find they did open up various new model issues under the different models. It looks like they hit a wall. RT software has recently cracked the Anytone model that I believe was found to work on the DB20 so there is hope chirp may succeed. Remember these people at chirp volunteer so they may or may not get to it. Meanwhile you can buy the Anytone RT software though at present it’s only for windows. 

[SteveShannon]

22 minutes ago, WRUU653 said:

It may have been true two years ago but no that’s not what’s holding things up. Go to chirp and do a search on the models and you’ll find they did open up various new model issues under the different models. It looks like they hit a wall. RT software has recently cracked the Anytone model that I believe was found to work on the DB20 so there is hope chirp may succeed. Remember these people at chirp volunteer so they may or may not get to it. Meanwhile you can buy the Anytone RT software though at present it’s only for windows. 

And RT Systems works well for this radio.  

[WRUU653]

1 minute ago, SteveShannon said:

And RT Systems works well for this radio.  

Worth the money too I think. I never hear complaints about their software. 

[SteveShannon]

Just now, WRUU653 said:

Worth the money too I think. I never hear complaints about their software. 

I’ve heard complaints about the price from people who haven’t purchased it, but not from those who have.  It’s nice to have almost every radio I have programmed with almost exactly the same software.

[WRYZ926]

Some people are just such tightwads that they can turn coal into diamonds when they walk. 

$25 is not a bad price for software that you know is going to work with your radio. RT Systems is working on more Mac versions of their software for different radios. Or at least that's what they stated in the email I received from them.

The only time I have had an issue with RT Systems software was when trying to use a cheap programming cable with a Prolific chip on my Mac. I'm sure the Amazon cable was a pirated Prolific chip on top of that. I tried that cable with RT Systems software on a Windows 10 and a Windows 11 computer and it worked. Though 11 did give me a little trouble. The same cable absolutely will not work on a Mac. I tried that cable with my 2018 Mac mini and my M4 Mac mini.

Edit: The cheap cables from Amazon with the Prolific chips do not work with MacOS. There is a thread on the QRZ forum on this and it seems the pirated Prolific chips found in the cheap Amazon cables are the main culprit.  

[Jaay]

11 hours ago, SteveShannon said:

I’ve heard complaints about the price from people who haven’t purchased it, but not from those who have.  It’s nice to have almost every radio I have programmed with almost exactly the same software.

Buy once, cry once. RT Systems has become the standard for those who want problem free software.