Your favorite GMRS radio/HAM

[Jaay]

6 hours ago, Lscott said:

I have two of the D878UV’s, the original models. They work mostly OK. The programming software is a mess. It has a lot of features jumbled together on some of the screens. The worse part is that the editing isn’t consistent. Some table entries you can cut and paste between cells, other tables you can’t. They seem to have a habit of fixing some editing bugs in the next release, and then f-up something else. 

Just for fun I installed the programming software for the D168 when it first came out. It took me only a few minutes before stumbling across various bugs. Strange the exact same screens and features are in the D878 software, but don’t exhibit the same bugs. I guess the programmers for the two radios don’t talk to each other. Typical poor Chinese quality control. 

They would be far better off concentrating on fixing firmware and radio programming software bugs over adding more features. Features that don’t work are no features at all.

I have a 878UV Plus with bluetooth and gps, and Not a bit of issue with it . I also have the 578UV Pro and no issues with it Or the Cps.  Both radios are the original firmware. The trick with these, is NOT to update the damn firmware every time a new revision comes out, Unless it's a bug fix and is Proven to solve the issue. I've had Anytones for 6 years, and numerous Dmr radios, and everyone has issues with them, but me. Get a FIRM understanding of the Cps and anytone's software, that's the key !

[Lscott]

1 hour ago, Jaay said:

I have a 878UV Plus with bluetooth and gps, and Not a bit of issue with it . I also have the 578UV Pro and no issues with it Or the Cps.  Both radios are the original firmware. The trick with these, is NOT to update the damn firmware every time a new revision comes out, Unless it's a bug fix and is Proven to solve the issue. I've had Anytones for 6 years, and numerous Dmr radios, and everyone has issues with them, but me. Get a FIRM understanding of the Cps and anytone's software, that's the key !

I seem to have the "magic touch" with software. Give me a software package, and it it won't take me very long before I'll find something f'ed up with it.

The biggest problem I had with the Anytone CPS is editing issues. I would file a bug report. Then MAYBE in the next or so release they fix it. Unfortunately soon there after they booger it all up again.

Now they've recently added satellite tracking to the D878's radio's firmware and CPS. Several bug fixes had to be issued just for that mess. You should check out this group.

https://groups.io/g/ANYTONE-878/topics

[WRYZ926]

12 hours ago, tweiss3 said:

What confuses you? Icom does not come with an internal power supply, you must provide your own 12v (13.8v) power source that can provide enough amps for the radio. 7300 requires over 21A, 7610 requires over 23A and the 9700 requires over 18A. I'll revise my statement, the 7851 has an internal power supply.

I will add to what he said. 

Remember that most power supply manufacturers/retailers always advertise the peak amperage of their power supplies. The continuous amp draw is usually 75-80 % of that. An example is most 30A power supplies can only run between 22 and 26 amps continuously. So stick with a 30A power supply for a 100 watt radio and you will be fine. Also if you decide to run an external autotune then you will either need a separate power supply for it or step up to at least a 50A supply if you are going to run the radio and tuner from the same power supply.

I run my Icom IC-7300 and my LDG  AT-1000Pro II autotune on a 50A power supply without any issues. That combo is too much for a 30A supply. I am running my Icom IC-2730A and my Wouxun KG-1000G on a 30A supply but I never transmit on both radios at the same time. I might trip the supply if I transmit on both radios at the same time with both set to high power.

[WRYZ926]

Delete- double post.

[WRYZ926]

Delete- double post .

That was weird, it never showed that my reply was posted and when I checked it posted three times. 

[Jaay]

1 hour ago, Lscott said:

I seem to have the "magic touch" with software. Give me a software package, and it it won't take me very long before I'll find something f'ed up with it.

The biggest problem I had with the Anytone CPS is editing issues. I would file a bug report. Then MAYBE in the next or so release they fix it. Unfortunately soon there after they booger it all up again.

Now they've recently added satellite tracking to the D878's radio's firmware and CPS. Several bug fixes had to be issued just for that mess. You should check out this group.

https://groups.io/g/ANYTONE-878/topics

knowledgeable group of people for sure. Nope, No magic touch here, and definitely not a Guru, but over time I've learned some of the anytone madness and workarounds with their Cps. The Sat tracking I have no use for on the 878's and No use for the new 168  talkie either.

[Lscott]

1 hour ago, Jaay said:

I have no use for on the 878's and No use for the new 168  talkie either.

If one wanted a cheap DMR radio to start off with the D168 looks OK. Otherwise I would take any of my commercial grade DMR radios over the Anytones. Of course you'll pay way more than $200 for the commercial grade DMR radios new, and about that or a bit more used. For example I paid $400 for a new Kenwood NX-1300DUK5, which is the low tier radio in their NX-1xxxK, NX-3xxxK and NX-5xxxK series. For Ham, and GMRS, use it's perfect, just not Part 95 certified, but the FCC doesn't seem to be interested in people using Part 90 radios on GMRS, so far.

https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/290-nx-1300duk5/?context=new

These are cool looking radios.

https://forums.mygmrs.com/gallery/image/255-tk-d200ed300e-fmdmr/

About the only feature I really like with the Anytone is the digital monitor feature. If you have DMR traffic on a frequency that feature will show you the slot number, talk-group and color code along with the ID of the person talking. Beats needing a laptop and SDR dongle to figure it out. None of my commercial DMR radios can do that.

[tcp2525]

1 hour ago, Jaay said:

knowledgeable group of people for sure. Nope, No magic touch here, and definitely not a Guru, but over time I've learned some of the anytone madness and workarounds with their Cps. The Sat tracking I have no use for on the 878's and No use for the new 168  talkie either.

I have no problem with the CPS for the 878. I've built massive code plugs via exporting and using Excell to edit and build, then import back into the CPS. This saved many hours of work. Once you learn a routine, it's fast. It's easy to load every Brandmeister talk group.

[nokones]

Out of all the radios I own, I don't have a dislike for any of them.  I have a gazillion vintage Motorola radios like the Visar, HT1000, MT2000, MTS2000, MCS2000, Astro Saber, various XTS Portable (VHF & UHF) models, XTL 2500 (VHF & UHF) & 5000 (UHF) mobile radios, Vertex/Standard EVX-R70-G7 (same as a Motorola XPR8400 Repeater), and a XPR5550e mobile DMR radio, DTR700 ISM; Kenwood TK780 & 880 mobile radios, and Midland MTX500.  I use specific radios for various activities.

Home Base Stations (2) - XTL5000 (UHF) Dashmounts

Portable Base Station - MCS2000 (UHF) Dashmount

Repeater Station - EVX-R70-G7 (GMRS)

Shop Portable - XTS5000 Model 2 (UHF)

Office Portable - XTS5000 Model 2 (UHF)

Arizona Room - XTS5000 Model 3 FPP (UHF)

Bedroom - VISAR (UHF)

Jeep - XTL5000 High Power Remote Mount (UHF) & XTL2500 (840 Channel) Remote Mount (VHF), Cobra 29 LTD Classic CB Radio, XTS5000 Model 3 (VHF & UHF FPP)

Pickup - XTL5000 High Power Remote Mount (UHF) & XTL2500 (840 Channel) Remote Mount (VHF), Cobra 29 LTD Classic Nightwatch CB Radio

Porsche - Kenwood TK780H-1 (VHF) or TK880-1 (UHF) dashmounts.

Racecar - In-Car HT1000 (VHF or UHF) - Spotters - XTS1500 (VHF or UHF)

Racing Administration Duties - XTS5000 Model 3 FPP (UHF) Model 3 (VHF) and DTR700 ISM

Bicycle - VISAR (UHF)

Golf Car - XTS5000 Model 3 (VHF or UHF FPP)

Emergency Services Group Go-Pack - XTS5000 Model 3 FPP (UHF) & XTS5000 Model 3 (VHF) Wouxun KG-UV3X PRO (VHF & UHF) for RDF, XPR5550e DMR (UHF)

Loaner Radios for my Radioless Jeep Creeps or Porsche People - HT1000 (VHF or UHF), VISAR (UHF), Kenwood TK780H-1 (VHF) or TK880-1 (UHF), or Midland MXT500 (GMRS)