AnyTone AT-D878UVII Plus
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| Frequency | 136-174 MHz (VHF) / 140-174 MHz (TX), 400-480 MHz (UHF) |
| TX power | 1 / 2.5 / 5 / 7 W (Four selectable power levels: ~7W VHF / ~6W UHF maximum (bench tests measure a little under), down to ~0.2W. Marketed as 'up to 7W'.) |
| Modes | FM (analog, 12.5/25 kHz), DMR (Tier I and Tier II, TDMA two-slot, Mototrbo compatible) |
| Battery | Li-ion 3100mAh / 7.4V |
| Weight | 280 g (9.9 oz) - Approximate ~280g with 3100mAh battery. |
| Connector | SMA-Male on the radio body - takes SMA-Female antennas |
| Year | 2021 |
| antenna | SMA-Male on the radio body - takes SMA-Female antennas |
| speaker mic | Kenwood/Wouxun 2-pin compatible (2.5mm + 3.5mm) |
| bluetooth | Bluetooth (PTT button included in box) |
| programming | USB programming cable (included) |
| charging | USB-C (on battery) + desktop charger cradle (included) |
| power req | 3100 mAh 7.4V Li-ion battery with USB-C charging (included). Desktop charger + AC adapter included. |
Estimated (unverified): AMATEUR (ham) radio - FCC Technician-class license or higher required (NOT GMRS/license-free). Dual-band DMR (Tier I/II) + analog FM; ~7W VHF / ~6W UHF (bench tests a little under). 4000 channels; 10,000 talkgroups; 500,000-ID contact database. GPS + analog AND digital APRS (TX/RX); repeater roaming. 'Plus' adds Bluetooth (base UVII has no BT). Desktop cradle charging (NOT USB-C). FCC-approved 2021.
A very capable amateur DMR HT. It holds 500,000 contacts (the global DMR database), with full APRS (analog + DMR) and GPS, and Bluetooth with an included PTT button for hands-free vehicle use. It has a VFO with a rotary knob, DMR roaming, a 1.77 in color TFT with customizable colors/fonts, and dual VFO to monitor two bands. The 3100 mAh battery charges over USB-C. The community ecosystem is large (the DMR community training, shared codeplugs, active forums), and it is FCC Part 90 for commercial use too.
The Windows CPS has a steep learning curve (DMR programming is inherently complex). The Bluetooth implementation is criticized in some reviews. Build quality is good but not Kenwood/Icom grade. The Chinese firmware has occasional translation issues. No IP67. Premium-priced for a Chinese HT, though it offers features many costlier radios lack.
A leading amateur DMR handheld. The AT-D878UVII Plus combines APRS, Bluetooth, GPS, 500,000 contacts, VFO, DMR roaming, and a large user community into one of the most capable amateur DMR handhelds. The learning curve is real, but community support (the DMR community, forums, shared codeplugs) helps. For getting into amateur DMR, it is a common recommendation.
The AnyTone AT-D878UVII Plus is, by broad consensus, the de facto standard DMR handheld in US amateur radio, the radio most clubs and nets assume you have. It is an amateur (ham) radio for the 2-meter and 70-centimeter bands, requiring an FCC Technician-class license or higher to transmit; it is not GMRS or license-free. It does DMR Tier I and II plus analog FM, with a color screen, GPS, repeater roaming, and a feature most handhelds lack: true analog APRS transmit and receive, not just digital position reporting.
It transmits roughly 7 watts on VHF and 6 on UHF (bench tests land a little under those figures), holds 4,000 channels and 10,000 talkgroups, and carries a 500,000-entry worldwide DMR contact database, enough to show callsigns and names without pre-loading. The "Plus" designation is the one to watch for: it is the version with Bluetooth, which adds a wireless PTT button and audio to a car or headset, though owners describe the Bluetooth implementation as imperfect. The base AT-D878UVII has the same APRS and GPS but no Bluetooth.
A buyer's note on charging: the USB-C lives on the battery, not the radio body. AnyTone's 3100 mAh battery carries a built-in USB-C port (it still seats in the desktop cradle as well), and current production ships with it, whereas older units came with a cradle-only battery. Because that USB-C battery fits the whole family (868UV, 878UV/Plus, 878UVII Plus), you can buy one separately to retrofit an older radio - so if USB-C matters to you, check that the listing specifies a 'USB-C' or 'Type-C' battery, since the radios are otherwise identical (the port charges at standard speed, not fast-charge). As with all AnyTone radios, the code-plug software is powerful but has a learning curve. The earlier, simpler AT-D868UV is its discontinued predecessor; the BTECH DMR-6X2 is the US-supported sibling built on the same platform with USB-C charging.