AnyTone AT-D878UVII PLUS

Overview

The AnyTone AT-D878UVII PLUS is the current-flagship dual-band DMR Tier I/II handheld in the BridgeCom / AnyTone US distribution channel — the DMR daily-driver in this lineup, the HT that gets keyed up first when the answer is "I want to talk on DMR." It pairs integrated Bluetooth (HFP headset + PTT), an internal GPS and TNC, AES-256 (configured in the standard CPS, left disabled on amateur bands), promiscuous-mode talkgroup recon, and roaming, with the deepest codeplug-programming surface of any radio in the project. This deep dive covers the hardware, the multi-mode envelope, the AnyTone CPS programming workflow, codeplug-backup discipline, and field use. Migrated from the Scanners project as part of the Scanners/Radios restructure Stage 2 Phase 2 (2026-06-16).

Context

The "II PLUS" generation brought four meaningful improvements over the original 2018-era D878UV: integrated Bluetooth, a re-tuned AMBE+2 vocoder and improved analog audio, AES-256 encryption, and a faster CPU for the 200k-contact database. Firmware (current: 4.00, August 2025) is updated inside the CPS after entering update mode with PTT + PF3 at power-on, followed by an MCU reset with PTT + PF1; firmware for the original D878UV must not be loaded ("version error"). The radio programs over USB through its own GD32 microcontroller (GD32 virtual COM driver on Windows 7/8; none needed on Windows 10), and CHIRP does not support it. The US path is BridgeCom (Kansas), who handle firmware bundling, warranty, and the codeplug-sharing community. It is the DMR-first amateur's right pick across a hotspot, a couple of local repeaters, and the wider BrandMeister space — not the budget choice (~USD 280–320 mid-2026).

Deep dive

1. Vol 1 AnyTone AT-D878UVII PLUS — Vol 1: Introduction & Hardware
2. Vol 2 AnyTone AT-D878UVII PLUS — Vol 2: Operations
3. Vol 3 AnyTone AT-D878UVII PLUS — Vol 3: Programming
4. Vol 4 AnyTone AT-D878UVII PLUS — Vol 4: Reference