| KB1YQK |
Rating:  |
2023-05-31 | |
| Solid radio with lots of features |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Update May 2023: I've now had a chance to compare this radio against a couple other radios. This isn't a formal engineering comparison; just my impressions from some informal comparisons around the house:
- Against a Yaesu FT-60R: obviously, the classic superhet design is a tiny bit more sensitive and less prone to desense vs. the 868's direct conversion receiver on 2m. However, the difference isn't that big - and in some cases, the audio from the Anytone is a bit easier to understand due to less high-frequency noise in the output. The squelch does tend to close a bit too easily on the Anytone, so assigning one of the side keys to Monitor can be helpful. On TX, no difference other than I need to turn the 868's Mic level up to max to get good audio reports. (I also tend to talk quietly.)
- Against a TYT MD-390: supposedly the MD-390, again being a superhet, is a better technical radio. In all of my testing, I couldn't see any difference even with both having the best possible antennas mounted. I do think the audio is a tiny bit clearer on the MD-390 but not enough to make any kind of difference under actual use. On TX, again, they were basically identical, with the 868 getting the nod for slightly higher max power. Given the remarkably poor user interface on the MD-390, I'd take the 868 any day.
A couple other new things I love about this radio:
- The assignable keys are really helpful - I assign one to switch A/B channel, one to switch VFO vs. Memory, one to change power, one to change the Digital Slot monitor setting, and I still have another one I haven't used yet.
- Zones can be any number of channels large. On other DMR HTs (e.g., MD-380/390) the zones are limited to 16 channels.
- Looooong (for a radio) channel names of 16 characters. I can cram a lot of info about club, repeater, and TG into 16 characters. Between that and the 12 character zone names, I never get confused about what channel I'm on.
- Generally, I use an HYS-771N from Amazon that is an actually-pretty-good clone of a Diamond; the radio seems to play well with it.
- The dual watch feature is extremely useful. Putting two different DMR repeaters on each watch, then enabling Double Slot monitor, means you can hear all traffic on both timeslots from both repeaters. Where I am, DMR traffic is pretty split between many repeaters and timeslots so this is very helpful.
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This radio has been solid in both analog FM and DMR uses. It's also been relatively simple to program, which is saying something for a DMR radio.
Even with the stock duck, tx/rx performance is fairly good. I'm about 8 miles from my closest 70cm DMR repeater and can reliably hit it from inside my house on low power (1W). Reception is of course perfect on DMR anywhere in my house at this distance. With analog FM on max power, results are more variable from inside but not bad - I get readable signal reports hitting a repeater that's about 17 miles away at High (5W) power. I can receive okay but it does vary somewhat with location inside the house; outside works reliably. Attaching it to my attic-mounted antenna, I get perfect signal reports hitting the same repeater despite obstructions (like my attic, which is covered in QRM-generating solar panels).
CPS is fairly easy to work with once you get the hang of it. I wish the DMR ID database held *slightly* more contacts since the full radioid.net database is now over 200k entries, but I certainly have enough space for all of the folks I'm likely to hear on local repeaters.
I haven't dug into the more complex features like digital APRS, but it does get a GPS lock relatively quickly even from inside the house near a window.
I will say I've only lightly used this radio; someone using it for more serious purposes (RACES, etc. type use) might have a different opinion.
At the price point it's a bargain - if I had to only have one radio and didn't care about HF, then I'd probably just have this plus external antennas when I need better reach. |
|
| W0JD |
Rating: |
2021-04-25 | |
| A disposable radio with no repair options |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| Enjoyed mine for several years, when it failed to power on one day my attempt find a repair option yielded no results. |
|
| IW2BSF |
Rating: |
2020-09-10 | |
| Good China DMR handy ... GPS,APRS,Roaming and others ! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
HI, to date (September 2020) is the TOP of Chinese radio ....
NOW there are the NEW model the Anytone 878 Plus the new version of the "old" 868 , plus have the BT Luetooth module inside !
GPS, APRS both digital and analog, Roaming and Bluetooth at a relatively low price compared to Motorola or Hytera professional DMR radios!
Anytone 878 Plus is similar at the ALINCO DJ-MD5 ( tha is the old version like the 868 ! ) and the look is very nice , china copy by the Hyera professional radio too ! hi hi :-)
Pros:
- real VFO and possibility to memorize "on the fly" a radio link or simplex frequency!
- Nice lcd display with various colors that can be customized to taste!
- CPS and Codeplug similar to all other Chinese radios
- Good audio modulation (vocoder both version 2)
- Great 1Watt sound very powerful even in the car!
Versus:
- Battery lasts a long time but very large (2,100 mA)
- APRS is limited, it only goes to tx!
- Roaming with the 2 DMR networks doesn't work very well!
- Bluetooth works with many phone headsets but NOT
works on Composition Media car audio of the Volkswagen group (at least up to VW GOLF 7!)
73 de IW2BSF - Rudy |
|
| WB8NUT |
Rating: |
2020-03-14 | |
| Much better than the Connect Systems radios I owned |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I have now owned the 868 for over a year. I purchased the 868 from Connect Systems since I bought their private label line of DMR radios (CS800, CS800D and CS750) in the past. First the CPS is excellent. It is very easy and does not require you to have Excel to export and import contact lists into the radio. Anytone also keeps the Talk Group list separate from the Contact List. On the Connect Systems it is one list which is more difficult to work with. The audio on the Anytone radios is very good. The GPS also works well for sending position packets to the APRS network (this does not work with the Motorola repeaters on the MARC Network, but works very well with hotspots and repeaters connected to other networks like Brandmeister). The radio is capable of holding a lot of channels, zones, TGs and contacts. I have not exceeded the capability thus far. The radio also works great on FM. Highly recommend the Anytone radios over Connect Systems, TYT and some of the other Chinese brands as offering more functionality and better pricing and value. |
|
| KD8DVR |
Rating: |
2018-12-14 | |
| Very good radio |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
I give it a 4, only due to a few drawbacks. Analog reception and transmit quality is a little below what I'd like to see. Also, the stock antenna is really pretty poor. I'd prefer an aftermarket antenna for any use other than a hotspot.
Transmit and receive audio quality on DMR is outstanding.
The stock antenna performs the same or worse than most HT antennas I've used. I feel there is a need for an aftermarket antenna.
The GPS takes several minutes to get its *first* lock. Took mine about 10 minutes. *This is normal*. The GPS must download from the satellite data stream, some information to help locate the sats, and other stuff. After the first time, I can get a GPS lock in under a minute. GPS accuracy isn't as good as your typical GPS unit; but it is passable for what I need it for.
Digital APRS can be invoked when using the Brandmeister network, either by repeater or hotspot. It generally isn't too bad as far as accuracy, at least on the 2 radios I own.
The CPS is a typical DMR codeplug software. If you can write a codeplug with other brands, this should come fairly easily. For those unfamiliar with codeplug writing, you'll be challenged, as like all DMR equipment, there is a learning curve. The CPS worked well, with no noticeable glitches.
I have 2 of these radios and have never experienced crashes or lockups. Firmware as of this writing is 2.33
All in all a very good radio. I do not regret my purchase. |
|
| N0GV |
Rating: |
2018-11-24 | |
| Great Radio |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
OK -- Now I've had this little puppy for almost 10 months. She still is a great puppy, loads of fun and getting better every time it is updated. When I see negative reviews on this radio I just scratch my head and wonder what they expected for under $200 for an analog & DMR dual band radio.
Heck I can cause an IcoKenseauRola radio to stroke out too... IF I do my part as a "better idiot" and mess with it. Heck try to program a Moto radio and you will die in frustration if you don't have the VERY pricy program and cable FOR THAT UNIT!
Hmmmm.... I tell my students that they are building better idiots every day faster than we can design an idiot resistant device. Perhaps that is the issue......
At any rate this radio is a little wonder - it can be programmed (emergency use only) to interface with first responder radios and is compliant when doing so with the FCC emission standards. It can (again emergency use ONLY) be set up to either transceive on FRS/GMRS or receive only on them.
I strongly advise coordination with the licensee and their tech folks before going off the ham bands but, it is self evident that more and better radios are needed in disasters like that in Northern California and I cannot imagine any coordinator being resistant to having radios offered if none are available.....
Bottom line -- don't be an idiot; leave that to others there is a whole lot of folks out htere right now working on the next generation "better idiot" -- why bother yourself?
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Earlier 5-star review posted by N0GV on 2018-01-23
Anytone AT-D868UV dual band DMR/Analog radio.
1. Audio is excellent on both Digital and Analog
2. Programming is straightforward
3. Sensitivity seems good -- haven't attempted to quantify.
4. Battery life is outstanding in digital.
5. Battery life is quite good in analog.
6. Price is wonderful.
7. Radio quality is quite good. No it isn't a mil-spec Motorola unit but it costs 1/3 of the comparable, oops there are no comparable, Motorola units.
Bought from Connect Systems -- Customer support is outstanding. Mine came with a defective programming cable. Once we knew what was wrong a new cable was sent priority and all went well. I do not consider a bad cable really a defect of the radio but a minor irritation.
I will likely follow this up with a dual band DMR mobile -- was hoping that a DSTAR + System Fusion + DMR + APCO-25 unit will come out. There really is no technical excuse not to do this.... |
|
| K0VAR |
Rating: |
2018-10-10 | |
| Locked up after one day |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
Locked up!
I had the code plug programmed.
I talked on both analog and digital repeaters much of the evening.
Then switched to timeslot one and chatted for an hour wirh friends.
The radio was warm. I put it in the charger For overnight.
The next morning i turned it on and it never moved past the name screen. Locked up! Useless! Seller said send it back
or I could see if it was reprogrammable to fix it.
The pulsing clock noise on anologe RX, the buzing on the receiver signal when its in the charger, and now locked up unusable! I dont trust it.
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|
| KE4IAJ |
Rating: |
2018-08-17 | |
| Works great, excellent value |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
Excellent DMR HT, easy to program, constant firmware updates making it better and better.
To me this is the best DMR HT on the market for the money, even better than the well known TYT, Radioddity's, etc.
The best part is it holds 160,000 contacts! This is my daily go-to HT for analog and DMR. I'm ready for the AnyTone mobile DMR radio to be released!
A few more features that separates it from the rest of the competition is 8 watt output, same antenna's that the common Baofeng's use, and no stupid useless track ball! (TVT 2017 dig lol)... |
|
| AD4C2006 |
Rating: |
2018-07-19 | |
| The best DMR portable radio |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
In 5 years I have been involved in the new DMR mode for UHF and VHF, I have owned already all chinese radios, starting with Hytera, then Tyteras, CS, and recently Ailunce the Anytone D668UV which is for me the best option for a low afordable price.
The display besides to be big enough can give you all details about the station you are talking with. His DMR ID, the TG and zone where you are, the guy full name, city, county/province and country, the time, the received signal, etc all you will need in the same window.
It received both bands at once, VHF and UHF but only one will pass over the audio amp, the one that appeared first in the IF passband is the one we will hear, the other will be muted until the band in use be quite again. That mean is not a full dual watch radio but it help to hear what is going on in both bands without having to change zones.
The international ID data base has now more than 100 thousand users, this radio will store up to 150K of them, no more typing ID and data in your lists, its there for you and very easy to upload it to the radio.
Technical specs.
I checked mine with a Motorola service monitor and I had 7W out on VHF and 5.5W on UHF in FM analog, and same values on DMR.
Sensitivity is excellent, on FM squelch will open with 0.15 microvolts in both bands and with 0.25 signal is very quite.Tx freq error was just 10Hz off on both bands.
Received audio is very loud and clean, no distorsion at all. My TX audio is been reported loud and clear.
Today with no doubt for less than $170 USD this the best choice taking in count all the features.
Oh I forgot did you guys know that you can load any picture you want to the welcome display, yes you can and in my radio I can see my new house when it start. Cool.
In three months using it daily, I have had no issues at all, it works always fine.
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|
| N6LDJ |
Rating: |
2018-07-15 | |
| Locks-up if left in charger on; but *very* capable radio |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
Radio performs the following functions that may be important to repeater owners needing to monitor activity on their repeaters, or find active talkgroups. All of these features come from factory, most are poorly documented.
- Decode and display of the following:
Talkgroup ID
Private Call ID
Timeslot No.
Color Code
Complete Caller ID (name and location if lookup list populated)
(all the above without having to know the CC or TS like the MD380 and most others)
- True promiscuous-mode operation on programmed slot or both slots (FIFO); this goes beyond ETSI OVCM (Open Voice Channel Mode), which can be more restrictive.
- Automatic DMR/Analog decode (selectable); works in channel scan** and band scan
- Has SMA (male) connector on radio for external antenna
- Construction quality is reasonable
- Radio will lock-up when left in charger after battery is depleted, and requires that battery be completely removed to reset. This is my second radio, FW V2.3. I leave the radio on 24/7, for several years, until I sell it, which is why I experienced this. If you use private call, you will leave your radio on all the time (no reason to turn off).
If the radio is in charger, why does the battery deplete? We don't know - first radio I have ever owned (over 30 years) that will not be trickle-charged in charger. Bat voltage gets too low and instead of turning off, I am told processor voltage gets too low and crashes it.
- Once display times out, it goes completely blank; no B&W or grey-scale or dimmed mode like all my other radios I have owned (Hytera, Motorola, Bendix King/Relm, Kenwood, ICOM, etc.). So the user will set the display time to infinity or a very long time, which depletes battery faster (but radio has great run time).
- Volume steps too course, so a very low setting cannot always be attained.
- Key-up and repeater access time is double to triple that of Hytera and Motorola radios (say 350ms versus maybe 150 ms; usable but not competitive.
- there is no way to set band scan edges, which would be a nice addition.
- ** Sloooww memory channel scan; tis is actually slower than ICOM radios!
There is no other radio on the market now that can do what this one does, right out of the box. Wish there was a mobile with remote head. Radio is actually quite good otherwise, with fewer up-front problems than others in its price class.
Highly recommend purchase from Connect Systems / CSI (http://www.csi-radios.com/at-d868uv/). Great practical support, even though the radio has some issues. They respond fast.
Lock-up may be solved by purchasing the battery eliminator.
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