Anytone AT-D878UV II PLUS DMR BT APRS

[rockaclimba]

1. Do I need a hotspot to go digital with this handheld via computer?

2. Will it work in remote without internet or if there is no repeater in range ?

3. My background is medical - not to efficient in heavy coding and understanding complex electronic variables.
I have to purpose - one is to be on contact with home somehow when I am out in woods - second is to explore HAM RADIO world.

[ This is expensive for me 460 CAD after taxes after I already spent 1100 CAD for ALINCO DMR radio to be installed in truck. ]

 

[K4EET]

Hi @rockaclimba and welcome to Radio Reference. I have the same HT. Great radio with lots of features. Let’s see if I understand your questions and can answer them for you.

1. The computer doesn’t have a whole lot to do with radio day-to-day operations. The computer gets new firmware (currently at v2.05) for the radio, updated Digital Contacts List (which grows roughly 100 users each day on the average), and modifies the radio’s parameters. If you do get a hotspot, the hotspot’s “dashboard” or control panel runs on the computer via the network address of 192.168.1.xxx where “xxx” is the exact address of the hotspot on the LAN.

With respect to going digital, your radio can communicate point-to-point to other DMR radios without a hotspot or repeater. The same is obviously true for analog operations.

2. With respect to communicating from the back country with no repeaters and no Internet, the same scenario as stated in the second part of the first answer. Depending on terrain, foliage and distance to the receiving radio, you may or may not have comms. Distance could be quite limited.

Note: Just got the dinner call. If someone else doesn’t chime in, I’ll be back after dinner to finish my comments.

73, Dave K4EET

 

[K4EET]

Hi @rockaclimba, I’m baaccckkkk!!!!!

You will probably have questions on 1 and 2 so ask away. And remember, there are no dumb questions. If you don’t know or don’t understand, then us folks here at Radio Reference want to help you.

3a. In the woods: For communications to your home, there are a lot of variables that come in to play. Of course, both you and whoever you want to be talking to at home will need Amateur Radio (ham) licenses. You are in Canada so I cannot help in that area since I am not familiar with your communications rules and regulations. If you are looking for reliable comms over a very large area of mountainous terrain for example with no repeaters, your best bet might be a Satellite Phone. Leave ham radio to have fun with (see 3b).

3b. Explore ham radio: It sounds like you already have your ham license based on the HT and mobile radio investments in DMR and analog VHF/UHF amateur radio. Of course, that is hardly a scratch on the surface of a huge chest of goodies of really cool things to try. What do you already know about ham radio and are there any activities or equipment that you want to check out first? Actually second, because you have already jumped in to the DMR aspect by getting both a portable and mobile setup. You may still want to invest in a hotspot because, with the right one, you can not only talk to hams worldwide but you will also be able to talk to hams on different systems (not DMR) like Yaesu Fusion, P25, NXDN, as well as other DMR users.

So I give the microphone back to you. Where have I confused you, where do you have questions, what else can we tell you, etc?

73 my new friend, Dave K4EET

 

[rockaclimba]

It too me days to come back here - and here is my story.
Coming and talking here- I already had made up my mind what I am going to buy but that was expensive for me. I purchased a Baofeng and that was my into into CPS / CHIRP and I kept on playing with it. Was able to heat EMS but no repeater stuff.
And then I sold it on marketplace and invested 475 CAD ! in Anytone 878UVII Plus.
DXCANADA was dealer - after I opened the set- their website has old downloads and CPS.
Anyway, got latest but it was no easy job - just couldnt understand how things work as there were so many variables and settings.
( CANADA }
I got so frustrated that I went on facebook and made a yell for everyone to be careful what to expect when u buy stuff from dealers like that.
Kept on deleting and writing codeplug - found that BAND is biggest issue.
Resolved That !
Now Talkgroups and Contact list is uploaded but how to use them.
How repeater works - and how to use it to get access to talkgroups - its a mystery like Noa's Boat !
Codeplug do not tell how to add offset settings of a repeater !
Then local club members came forward and asked me to drop radio to them and they will program it - God Bless them !

NEXT CHALLENGE: Alinco DR-MD500 is in truck - whole day I was watching videos but could not understand where is that PORT to insert USB PC interface cable ?
What a funny thing- no youtuber showed that and I could not find it. Manual dont have it ....

 

[K4EET]

Hi @rockaclimba and wow , what a journey you've been on! Glad your local club members were able to come to your rescue. As for the Alinco DR-MD500, I am not at all familiar with that rig so I will have to take a back seat on that one.

73, Dave K4EET

 

[kg4icg]

The DR-MD500 is a mobile DMR dual bander where the sister to it is the DR-M520 which is a tribander with 220. Basically the CPS is setup like the Anytone's. I have the Anytone 878UVIIPlus along with a Alinco DJ-MD5XTG, Kenwood THD74A , and Yaesu FT70DR. and have a Skybridge Plus hotspot which works on all the radios when needed