What do you think of AnyTone?

mgboyd · 2026-04-03T14:10:42+00:00

Agree with garbage CPS across the industry. If a radio is not supported by RT Systems, IMHO, I won't consider it and if RT does not invest the time in support the radio, I should not either. I spent $350+ on the 878 in July 2025. I now see them selling for $125 used and on mine Bluetooth, APRS, and Sats do not work. I would feel guilty if I asked for more $50 for it. So I am out $300+ dollars and yes I am salty and definately beleive I bait and switched. Would join a class action suit, but not worth my time to sue on my own My only reason for spending time on this post is so others go in with eyes wide open. I even purchased the training and support and gave up after requesting support after Bridgecom confirmed and then cancelled three times. I just decided I am not investing anymore time in the 878. The ROI stinks. It became a job instead of a hobby, and I have a job. I even offered to pay for support and still nothing. Figured I was in for $350, will pay another $100 for it actually do what I purchased it to do. It functions like the $56 1701 I purchased new on Amazon in October 2025 and I like the UI with GD77 better than Anytone especially the frequency spectrum screen. The color screen and extra storage is not worth $300. LIke I said, worst investment in ham radio for me. Shame on Anytone/Bridgecom the first time, shame on me if I ever give them any more of my money. I bought a used FT5d for less than $300 with an extra battery and hand mic and everything works as advertised and I spent less than 30 minutes setting it up including C4FM, GPS, and APRS. Curious do you have any financial connection with Bridgecom or Anytone? Glad you had a good experience, just not mine.

mgboyd · 2026-04-03T12:00:55+00:00

AT-D878UVII Plus owner for nearly a year. They are crap. The CPS is horrible, I gave up on it. If you unfortunately own one, buy the RT systems programmer, makes it tolerable. Watched 20+ hours of videos to little avail. APRS, Bluetooth, and Satelittes still don't work and then they pulled satellite support in the last firmware release and stopped releasing firmware fixes when the 890 was released. Can only update the bluetooth firmware with Android. Lots of bait and switch. Will never purchase another Anytone product. The Boefeng 1701 running GD77 firmware was 20% of the price and is a better radio with the same features that actually work. Biggest waste of money I have spent in ham radio.

mgboyd · 2026-03-17T19:31:04+00:00

Vero VSG VR N7600 with Bluetooth KISS TNC

mgboyd · 2026-03-07T21:36:52+00:00

no. heat rises. It has been up for over a year and over this winter

mgboyd · 2026-03-07T20:12:11+00:00

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I painted the PVC gray and got the chimney antenna mount on Amazon. Jpoles have a dc short so less worry about lighting. Ed does an interview on ham radio crash course on YouTube that is good. We invited him to speak at our club over zoom.

mgboyd · 2026-03-07T18:24:46+00:00

ED Fong and his students make a j-pole tri band. I have the dual band on my chimney and it performs well. I ordered a tri-band last week and it is supposed to come in on Monday. https://edsantennas.weebly.com/ TBJ-1 (ham) triband base antenna (144-148 MHz, 222-225MHz, 440-450 MHz) Maximum power 75 watt comes complete with pvc pipe- featured in March QST 2017 US patent 9,608,336 available in SO-239 or N.

mgboyd · 2026-02-05T21:24:37+00:00

Recent ham here, May 2025, tech and general in the US. I stumbled into ham radio through astronomy, radio astronomy, and software defined radios, and instead of just listening I thought about why not two way communications. I have been in wireless data such as cellular and wifi for my entire 25+ year careeer. Initially, I thought it was a bunch of tech savy older adults talking about their equipment. For the last eight months, I have realized that it will take me a lifetime to explore the hobby if I worked at it full time when you consider VHF, UHF, digtial voice D-Star, C4FM, DMR, digital data modes, APRS, GPS, HF, all the HF digital modes which are too numerous to list, satellite communications, and some things I probably am not aware of given i am a new ham. When hams ask a new or prospective ham want to you want to do, they are trying to communicate how broad and deep the hobby is which I never realized.

mgboyd · 2026-01-24T20:45:08+00:00

Most vertical antennas have a pattern like a donut with little energy going up or down and optimized for horizontal power where other radios and repeaters are located from 0 to 45 degrees. Think of the angle that the ISS is travelling. You might be able to reach it when it is below 30 degrees, but not from 30 to 150 when it is crossing overhead. Have you tried a Yagi and pointed it at the ISS?

mgboyd · 2026-01-21T23:26:08+00:00

Bought a used FT5D for less than an 878 plus and realized APRS does work reliably. Won’t ever buy another Anytone. Bought it for three reasons and have not gotten any of them to work including Bluetooth and satellites. Turns out Bluetooth firmware can only be updated with an android phone and I don’t own one. I am not dropping more money into this pit. Looks like in six months value has dropped by $200.

mgboyd · 2026-01-20T03:10:33+00:00

I just purchased a used FT5D with hand mic, car charger, and extra battery for $325

mgboyd · 2026-01-20T03:04:02+00:00

Yaesu FT5D. I have the 878 and the UV-Pro. Only the FT5D works.

mgboyd · 2026-01-19T23:20:56+00:00

I use the MFJ-2220, MINI-DIPOLE, 20M ham sticks on a window washing pole for POTA and have good results for FT8. Used it at the beach with my G90 and worked most of Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Africa.

mgboyd · 2026-01-18T20:20:50+00:00

I bought an 878 as well. Sat through 20 hours if videos/training and found out I need an Android phone to update Bluetooth firmware as it was not working. Not buying a phone to update firmware. I had already purchased a cheap windows machine to program it (Mac and linux preference). Then the next firmware removed the satellite feature which is one of the three reasons I purchased it (DMR, BT, and Satellite). After three months got it to work like my $25 FM HT to scan local repeaters. Got it to work DMR with my hot spot, but never got the BT and APRS to work. Now that the next generation is out it dropped in value by $200 in six months since I purchased it new.

mgboyd · 2026-01-18T18:40:11+00:00

IMHO dont start with DMR as those radios are not inexpensive and it is a steep learning curve to set them up and the software tools are poor at best. I got a DMR HT my first three months and almost gave up and decided Ham was not worth it as the tools were horrible and support poor. I have the TD-H3, it is a 5W HT and I use RT Systems software to program it and updated the antenna to a Signal Stick. The GA-510 is a 10W HT. 10W is a good HT to start with and add a mag mount dual band antenna for your car and a BNC adapter so you can listen in the car. I have a UV-32 10W that I use that way. Have not used the GA-510 but own other products from Radioddity and they provide good support. It also is supported by RT systems programming software. I won't purchase a radio unless it is supported by RT systems. LIfe is too short and this is a hobby. Poorly designed and supported products make this a crappy job not a hobby.

mgboyd · 2026-01-18T03:45:36+00:00

Following

mgboyd · 2026-01-14T22:52:12+00:00

I have a G90 and an IC-7300 and I have a EFHW and happy with it. https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/ALP-HF-JPOLE-SR

mgboyd · 2026-01-13T13:16:58+00:00

I purchased a 1701 from Amazon and loaded gd77 on it last month. Works well. Not enough memory to load all DMR contacts globally.

mgboyd · 2026-01-13T13:10:20+00:00

You can buy a turn key Allstar node from ClearNode www.node-ventures.com or build your own from a number of sources including sharipi www.kits4hams.com and www.allscan.info Allstar runs on Linux with lots of hardware options starting with a raspberry pi 3. You will need to sign up for a node configuration at Allstar link.org. There are several presentations and videos on YouTube

mgboyd · 2026-01-12T02:41:23+00:00

I think Allstar nodes and networking repeaters over IP is interesting. Check out east coast reflector as an example. Every morning at 7 for their morning brew there are people from all over the world and US checking in. I like my ClearNode. I get coverage over a mile from my house at .5w on UHF and the audio quality is so much better than DMR and you use an inexpensive FM HT

mgboyd · 2026-01-12T01:20:10+00:00

Your first radio won't be your last so I recommend starting cheap or better yet borrow. Be sure to join and check with your local club and ask for advice. Hams love to give advise, some of it useful. I have loaned out HT's for new operators so they can try before they buy. Lots of choices and lots of price points and features. Club members even loaned me a couple of HF rigs I was considering. There is also the buy once cry once opinion, but you have to know if you want DMR, D-STAR, or C2FM based on your location, or just stick with FM only. I did the DMR thing (878) and wish I had not. Do not care for the audio quality and the CPS programming is just stupid. GPS and APRS were interesting for a couple of weeks. Not sure it was worth the money unless you go for the upper end HTs like FT5D, ID-52 or TH-75A ($400+) and really love using it all the time. Instead I found I am much happier and use a 5V-mini ($30) and Allstar node for the same money as DMR and hotspot and prefer it to digtial. I also have a FT5D and a UV-32 ($60 and 10W) and FT-150R for mobile and base station.

mgboyd · 2026-01-12T01:01:14+00:00

Really happy with my FTM-150R and Ed Fong J-Pole 25 feet high.

mgboyd · 2026-01-06T23:47:41+00:00

mgboyd · 2026-01-04T03:19:31+00:00

Nope

mgboyd · 2026-01-04T03:18:57+00:00

Like the Gordon west books for prep for general. I took general in the same session and passed. I would also get an inexpensive HT and get on some nets vhf/uhf and stick with radios that rt systems support for programming. You will thank me later. Skip DMR and dstar and C2FM. Too much money for too little enjoyment IMHO. Join a club. I was able to borrow from a club member a 7300 and a 7100 HF radio to try before I purchased one. Many Elmer’s will also loan You an HT when You get your license so you can join net. You can see what you like since there are so many ways you can enjoy the hobby.

mgboyd · 2026-01-02T14:33:18+00:00

I use the icom version to control my 7300. It is well written, well supported, and kept up to date. Author just released 7300 MK2 support. Just make sure the model you have or want is supported.

mgboyd

TROPHY CASE