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 (via AT_Options, configured-but-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, AT_Options-enabled AES-256, and a faster CPU for the 200k-contact database. Firmware is sticky to bootloader — pre-BL_v2 units max at V3.04, BL_v2 units run the V4.xx family; do not cross-flash. The US path is BridgeCom (Kansas), who handle firmware bundling, the AT_Options key (tied to the radio serial), 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 280–400 mid-2026).
