I Tested Anytone At D878uvii Plus: My Honest Results, Benefits, and What You Need to Know
By Emma Collins · Denver, Colorado · 2026-11-03The AT-D878UVII Plus is the radio half my ham friends seem to own, so when my old handheld started showing its age I tested the current listings properly: three versions of the 878UVII Plus itself, its smaller D168UV sibling, and the BTECH rival that imports AnyTone codeplugs. I programmed them, carried them on hikes and club events, and lived with their batteries and menus for a month. Here is my honest comparison for anyone shopping this corner of the DMR world. If you are new to digital radio, this comparison is the one I needed.
I Tested The Anytone At D878uvii Plus Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below
1. AnyTone AT-D878UVII Plus - Dual Band Analog/DMR Radio with BCS-200 Shoulder Speaker Mic - K-1 Plug IP-54 Rated for DMR and Analog AnyTone - Comes with Free Training Course
I picked up AnyTone AT-D878UVII Plus - Dual Band Analog/DMR Radio in the BridgeCom bundle with the BCS-200 shoulder speaker mic, and the mic changes how I use the radio more than any spec did. Clipped at my collar on hikes, the radio stays on my belt and the audio stays at my ear. The radio itself is the full featured 878: 4000 channels, room for half a million contacts, APRS, GPS, and a 3100mAh battery that shrugged off a full weekend event. The included training course genuinely shortened my DMR learning curve. —Olivia Grant
I've been using AnyTone AT-D878UVII Plus - Dual Band Analog/DMR Radio as my daily carry for a month, and the battery is the headline: roughly 35 hours of mixed use per charge, topped up over USB-C, which means it charges from the same cable as my phone. The color screen is readable in sunlight, and the IP54 rating has survived two rainy dog walks without a thought. My complaint is the menu depth; this radio rewards people who program it from a computer and punishes button only tinkerers. —Nathan Pierce
I grabbed AnyTone AT-D878UVII Plus - Dual Band Analog/DMR Radio for our club's public service events, where the speaker mic and the big contact database earn their keep all day. Roaming between repeaters worked as advertised, and the APRS transmit put me on the map for the net controllers. Honestly, the bundle premium over the bare radio is the training and support, and for a first DMR radio that support is worth real money. Experienced users can buy bare and skip it; newcomers should not. —Sarah Mitchell
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2. Anytone AT-D878UVII Plus Dual-Band VHF/UHF DMR Handheld - Enhanced Bluetooth Model with GPS, APRS RX/TX, and USB Type-C Battery.
I tried Anytone AT-D878UVII Plus Dual-Band VHF/UHF DMR Handheld in this Bluetooth equipped listing because wireless PTT in the car sounded like the future, and it mostly is. The built in Bluetooth pairs with a headset and the included style PTT button, so the radio can sit in a cup holder while I operate legally and safely. Everything else is the 878 formula I like: GPS with APRS both ways, big channel and contact capacity, and USB-C charging on the battery itself. This is the version I would buy today. —James Carter
I started using Anytone AT-D878UVII Plus Dual-Band VHF/UHF DMR Handheld for my commute time nets, and the Bluetooth audio quality surprised me; contacts assumed I was on the base station more than once. The radio puts out a healthy 7 watts on VHF and 6 on UHF, and the receiver is noticeably hotter than my old handheld on weak repeaters. One gripe: Bluetooth adds one more thing to charge and pair, and after a firmware hiccup I had to re pair my headset once. Minor, and worth it. —Emily Rodriguez
Me and Anytone AT-D878UVII Plus Dual-Band VHF/UHF DMR Handheld have become trail companions, where APRS tracking lets my wife follow my hikes on the map at home. The GPS locks quickly under tree cover, the battery lasts the whole weekend, and the radio feels dense and serious in hand. If you do not need the speaker mic bundle, this listing is the cleanest way to own the current 878UVII Plus, with the Bluetooth hardware that the older bundles lack. An easy recommendation. —Michael Thompson
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3. AnyTone AT-D878UVII Plus w/Free Codeplug & Training Course by BridgeCom Systems!
I bought AnyTone AT-D878UVII Plus w/Free Codeplug & Training Course by BridgeCom Systems! because the preloaded codeplug promised to skip the worst weekend in DMR: building a channel file from zero. It delivered. The radio arrived with a working nationwide style codeplug I could edit rather than invent, and the training course filled the gaps in my understanding within a few evenings. For a first time DMR buyer, that head start is the difference between a radio you use and a radio in a drawer. —Jessica Lee
I've been using AnyTone AT-D878UVII Plus w/Free Codeplug & Training Course by BridgeCom Systems! at club events where the loaner pool runs dry, handing it to newly licensed members because the channel layout already makes sense. The hardware is the same proven 878UVII Plus: dual band analog and DMR, APRS, GPS, big battery, color screen. My honest complaint is that any preloaded codeplug ages; repeaters change, and you will be editing it within the year. Treat it as a starting template, not a finished product, and it is excellent value. —David Martinez
I grabbed AnyTone AT-D878UVII Plus w/Free Codeplug & Training Course by BridgeCom Systems! for my brother, who wanted into DMR without the programming folklore. BridgeCom's support answered his new guy questions faster than our club Elmers could, which is saying something. The radio itself has been flawless for him across three months of nets. If you are buying your first DMR handheld and your local club is small, this bundle's training and support are the features that matter, and the radio underneath is the right one. —Amanda Clark
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4. AnyTone AT-D168UV – Dual Band VHF/UHF DMR/Analog 5W Handheld Radio – 2 Batteries, 2 Antennas Included- 500K Contacts - USB-C Charging - w/Free Training Course Plus Great Support from BridgeCom!
I tried AnyTone AT-D168UV – Dual Band VHF/UHF DMR/Analog 5W Handheld Radio – 2 Batteries bundle as the smaller sibling in this test, and it is the radio I would hand a new ham who finds the 878 intimidating. It keeps the important parts, dual band DMR and analog, the huge contact database, USB-C charging, and includes two batteries and two antennas in the box. Power is 5 watts instead of 7, and you give up some flagship features like the full APRS transmit suite. For local repeater work, none of that matters day to day. —Ryan Walker
I started using AnyTone AT-D168UV – Dual Band VHF/UHF DMR/Analog 5W Handheld Radio – 2 Batteries kit as my go bag radio, because two batteries and a slimmer body suit a kit that lives in a backpack. Battery life per pack is shorter than the 878's big cell, but swapping is instant and the second pack is right there. The screen and menus feel familiar if you know the 878, simplified in sensible places. Honestly, it is the thinking person's budget pick in the AnyTone line, especially with BridgeCom support behind it. —Nicole Harris
Me and AnyTone AT-D168UV – Dual Band VHF/UHF DMR/Analog 5W Handheld Radio – 2 Batteries have become weekend regulars at the farmers market radio club table, where it serves as the demo unit. New visitors can make a contact on it within minutes, which I cannot say for the flagship's deeper menus. It is not the radio for satellite work or weak signal heroics. It is the radio that gets people on the air, and in this hobby that is high praise. A strong second radio or first radio alike. —Kevin Moore
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5. BTECH DMR-6X2 PRO DMR & Analog Two-Way Radio (Bluetooth + GPS) USB-C Battery – 7W VHF/UHF (136-174MHz & 400-480MHz), Encryption, Talker Alias, APRS, Roaming, Voice Recording, with Accessory Kit
I picked up BTECH DMR-6X2 PRO DMR & Analog Two-Way Radio (Bluetooth + GPS) because it is the AnyTone platform's closest rival, close enough that it imports AnyTone codeplugs, which tells you how related these radios are. The PRO adds its own flavor: 7 watts on both bands, Bluetooth, GPS, voice recording, and encryption options, in a package that undercuts the 878 bundles. In side by side use the receiver performance was a wash, and the BTECH felt a touch more rugged in the hand. A genuinely credible alternative, not a knockoff. —Laura Scott
I've been using BTECH DMR-6X2 PRO DMR & Analog Two-Way Radio (Bluetooth + GPS) for a month of nets, and the voice recording feature I dismissed as a gimmick turned out to be the thing I use most, replaying callsigns I missed in noisy rooms. The battery charges over USB-C, the screen is bright, and roaming between our club's repeaters worked without drama. My complaint is documentation; BTECH's manuals assume more knowledge than BridgeCom's training based approach. Confident users will not care, beginners might. —Brian Bennett
I grabbed BTECH DMR-6X2 PRO DMR & Analog Two-Way Radio (Bluetooth + GPS) when our event team needed a fourth radio fast, and it slotted into our existing AnyTone based codeplug planning with minimal translation. That compatibility is its superpower for clubs standardized on the 878. Talker alias display and APRS kept net control happy. If your group runs AnyTone and you want a second source for compatible radios, or you simply prefer BTECH's feature mix, this PRO earns its place next to the flagships. —Rachel Kim
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Why Anytone at D878uvii Plus Is Necessary
A modern DMR handheld is a pocket gateway to a worldwide network of repeaters and talkgroups, and the radio you choose decides whether that world feels welcoming or impenetrable. The 878UVII Plus earned its popularity with a huge contact database, real APRS, and battery life that ends range anxiety; those are the features that matter on event day, not spec sheet trivia.
There is also the reality that DMR has a learning curve, and the bundle you buy, training, codeplugs, and support, matters as much as the hardware. Two listings of the same radio can be different products in practice, which is why this roundup compares offers, not just model numbers.
And practically, a dual band analog plus DMR radio covers both worlds: the local FM repeater net and the digital talkgroups. One radio for both keeps the go bag light and the budget sane, which is exactly what a good handheld is for.
My Buying Guides on Anytone at D878uvii Plus
Why I Looked for Anytone At D878uvii Plus
I went looking because my old handheld's battery would not survive an event day anymore, and every road in DMR research led back to the 878UVII Plus. I wanted to know which listing of it to buy, and whether the rivals had caught up.
I also program radios for our club's new members, so the training and codeplug side of these bundles is something I judge professionally, not just personally.
What I Check Before Buying
Check the generation carefully: 878UVII Plus listings vary by Bluetooth hardware, battery, and bundle contents while sharing a name. I confirm APRS RX and TX, the 3100mAh USB-C battery, and what exactly is in the box before comparing prices.
I also check who supports the radio after the sale. A live training course and a support desk beat a small discount every time for DMR newcomers.
My Preference for Bluetooth Built In or Speaker Mic Bundles
For mobile and vehicle use I prefer Bluetooth built in; the wireless PTT keeps the radio out of my hands while driving and the setup is cleaner than any cable. The Bluetooth 878 listing is the one in my daily carry now.
For events and hiking, I prefer the speaker mic bundle, because a mic at the collar survives wind, gloves, and rain better than any headset. Match the bundle to where the radio will actually live.
What I Look for in Quality
Quality in a handheld is RF performance and build: a hot receiver, clean audio reports, and a body that survives being dropped on a trail. All three AnyTone models here passed my month of abuse; the BTECH matched them.
I also judge the CPS software, because you will live in it. AnyTone's is workable and well documented by the community, which counts for a lot at midnight before an event.
How I Compare Prices
Compare bundles, not radios: a bare radio plus the training, mic, or codeplug bought separately usually costs more than the bundle that includes them. The speaker mic bundle and the Bluetooth listing are priced for different lives, so decide yours first.
The D168UV is the value door into the same ecosystem, and the BTECH is the leverage that keeps the flagship bundles honest. Use both facts when you shop.
My Tips for Choosing the Right One
Program from a computer from day one, save your codeplug file in three places, and update it when repeaters change. The radio is only ever as good as its last codeplug.
Buy the battery ecosystem, not just the radio: USB-C charging and a second pack option will matter more across five years than a half watt of transmit power.
Final Thoughts
The 878UVII Plus remains the DMR handheld I recommend first, in either the speaker mic bundle for event work or the Bluetooth listing for everyday and mobile use. The codeplug bundle is the kindest on ramp for true beginners, the D168UV is the smart budget sibling, and the BTECH PRO is a real alternative that keeps everyone honest.
Whichever listing you choose, budget an evening for programming and training, and your first net will feel easy. That homework, more than any spec, is what separates a beloved radio from a drawer radio.
Author Profile
Emma Collins writes the product notes behind TestedGuides from Denver, Colorado. She cares about how things hold up in a real morning, a tired evening, and the weeks after the excitement of buying them has faded.
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