AnyTone Mobile Radio AT-779UV Long Range Transceiver 20W Dual Band 144-148/420-450mhz Mini Scanning Receiver with/F Cable

Update: Seller sent me an email with instructions to unlock the radio allowing me to use it as a scanner like I wanted so I am bumping it up to 4 starts. I would go to 5 but the software is still hard to find and a pain to use. If this radio could be programmed with CHIRP it would be a 5-star radio.This seems like a solid radio if all you want is a straight GMRS radio with no CTS/DTCS codes because you can't even program codes without the software which was a royal pain to find.I bought with the intent of using it as my GMRS base station/police scanner but even after going through the hassle of finding and downloading the Anytone software you still can't program in any extra channels so the advertised 500 channel storage is use.It is possible to listen to non-GRMS frequencies by typing in the desired frequency with the mic keypad but there is no way to save them to the radio memory. It is also possible to scan through the entire range of frequencies but it is too slow to be useful.In short I thought I would be able to program in all my local police/fire frequencies and scan through them but unless I'm missing something it's not possible.

At this price point, this is the best value in a mobile GMRS radio that I have found. Any other mobile GMRS radio with similar features is likely to cost at least twice as much. I left the firmware stock, because I didn't have any need to expand the frequency range. I have other radios for that.The only other mobile GMRS radio that I've found around the $100 price point is the Midland MXT105. While much easier to use, it does not come close to offering the versatility of the Anytone AT-779UV. The main features that put this radio ahead of the competition at this price point is the output power and repeater capability.To fully utilize the repeater capability, though, you need to program it using a computer. The software provided by the vendor is designed for Windows, but I was able to use in on Linux using WINE, but only after I configured it so the programming cable was using COM1. It didn't work for me until I did that.The software isn't particularly user friendly, but it gets the job done. I've given this product a 4 star review because, although the software works, it does take some effort to use it, and it's almost a necessity to use the software to configure the radio the way you'll want it. I'm not sure that programming from the front panel will provide the same options that the programming software offers.At first, it seemed that I couldn't change any of the settings, but I soon realized that to do so requires double clicking on the cells you want to change. This only works on some of the cells, though. What I also learned is that if you double click on the ">>" in the "More" column, it brings up a channel edit dialog that allows you to make all the necessary changes for that channel.Remember, when using programming software for any radio, always download from the radio first, then save that downloaded file for future recovery in case you need it. Then save it a second time under another name for editing and uploading back to the radio.With the software I was able to name the channels (they weren't named initially), change the output power and channel width (narrow / wide), modify CTCSS or DCS tones (including non-standard tones), and add additional channels for different repeater configurations.On my radio, I have the eight GMRS repeater frequencies each entered three times. The first set is open with no CTCSS/DCS codes. The next set is with CTCSS 141.3 enabled, as this is the most common tone found on GMRS repeaters, The third set is with custom CTCSS tones programmed for specific repeater usage.Once the radio is programmed, it works well for its intended purpose. The sound quality is very good. I'm pretty sure it is subject to the same receiver sensitivity issues as most other "CCRs" (so-called cheap Chinese radios), but I'm in an area with little interference, so I am not experiencing any problems in that regard.With the 18 to 20 watt output and a decent antenna, this radio should work pretty well within the limitations of GMRS. The most common use of GMRS mobile radios I've seen is for communications within the "off-road" community. For this purpose, this is probably the best budget (~$100) radio you can get.There are some higher priced options, such as the Wouxon KG-1000G, the B-Tech GMRS-50X1, or the Midland MXT400, all of which offer higher output power (40 to 50 watts) and possibly some additional features and user-friendliness, but they all come at twice the price or more. For what one of them costs, you could buy two of these radios and at least one antenna (perhaps even two) as well.

This radio exceeded all of my expectations. It has excellent sound even though the speaker is relatively small I generally keep the volume at about 50 to 60% and rarely need to turn it up.I am not that experienced programming radios but I downloaded the software and used the programming cable that came with the radio and after a little trial and error was able to program my radio just the way I wanted it. The small size is a big bonus allowing it to be mounted in many places and then many cars or trucks were larger radios just would not fit. I personally don’t care for or use the buttons on the hand Mike I found that I was always accidentally changing the channels and so I disabled that feature is very easy to do an undo with the push of one button .Many of my radio friends in my GMRS club recommended this radio and I am certainly glad they did and I can recommend it to you for the price this is a great little radio that will do many things other more expensive radios won’t even do

Radio is mis advertised. Options for full operations are locked out, such the ability to use sub audible tones for repeater access. It was very nice to add a computer programming cord, however for the life of me I cannot find the correct software that is needed for use. It would be helpful for the seller to provide a link for the correct software for use in programming correctly

5-6-2021With the mixed reviews I read AFTER purchasing and waiting for delivery, I was somewhat worried that I had purchased the wrong version. Now that I've had an opportunity to test it and refer to a very helpful message I received from the seller after receiving the radio, I'm not the least bit disappointed. I'm an amateur radio operator, Technician class, in the DFW metroplex. I tuned my 4130-filler-rod-stuck-in-a-cb antenna for both bands, pulled up an Echolink repeater on my phone, spoke my callsign into the radio, and heard myself crystal-clear 21 miles away. For talking mobile, it's going to take me a while to grow out of this one.Update, 5-28-2021:Final audio stage went out. Not sure if it was because I would forget to turn off the radio before turning off the vehicle. Quick and easy workaround: ran a 3.5mm male - male stereo audio cable from ext. speaker jack of radio to aux input of vehicle entertainment system.1-9-2022: First DX satellite contact with this radio, flipping back and forth between bands. Dallas, TX to Colima, Mexico!