Howdy y’all! I’m a new amature HAM and I am completely lost on how to operate my new radio. I have an Anytone ATD578UVIII mobile. I have already updated it to the newest firmware and even followed instructions to add a pre-made set of codes for Fort Worth.
I have yet to make my first contact or even hear anything over the radio since i purchased it over a year ago. Any and all assistance to help get me started would be greatly appreciated.
I bought the radio to be better prepared for emergency situations, but im starting to feel like i bought an expensive paperweight.
My call sign is KJ5GWP
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Hello
Weclome to Amather radio frist of all.
So first is radio, antenna, and coax, location of your antenna, and how high.
Radio have you gone through and added any repeaters to the radio by programming them into it? This usually takes place by plugging the radio into a PC and using software like Chrip.
Lets start here
K5COW - Cowtown Amateur Radio Club - Visit the Club.
I club is a great way to get information.
Thank you for responding! Here is the information you requested:
Radio: Anytone AT-D578UVIII
Antenna: Comet Mobile VHF/UHF Vertical Antennas SBB-5
Antenna height:
- from ground 89.5"
- antenna itself 38"
Antenna location: passenger bed side close to the cab.
Coax: 20ft cable Bingfu UHF PL259
Programming: So far I have followed video instructions on how to update the firmware and add my local texas band plan. I used the recommended computer program to download the information and upload the information to the radio. I hope i did it correctly, but I feel so lost I dont really know how to move forward.
Any and all time taken to assist is greatly appreciated. Heck, you may even help me save lives some day.
Thank you for the information. I got my license at cowtown radio, but due to a busy schedule among other things I haven’t been able to visit again.
So this is in your truck. How far is the cowclub from you
About 30 min give or take
11 miles driving
So when you said you sent up the band plan it was just simplex frequency i believe.
What you need to do is download a app on phone called the repeater book app
Its pretty simple to use. It will tell you where the repeaters are near you.
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Thank you, I’ll certainly check that out. Unfortunately I don’t have bluetooth on my raio yet, so any changes needed would have to be done either manually or with the PC program, which I’m still confused about. Hopefully that app helps with that.
Yes pc hookup like you did to update the firmware.
The repeaters are going to get you the best contactable means on 2 m band.
2 m / 70 cm is More of a local radio system
30 minutes is what 15 miles away.
So heres what you have available.
Simplex:
is radio to radio calling.
Distance Depends on flat land or hills trees buildings. The higher you can get the better range you get.
Antenna. 1/4 wave good 1/2 wave better
Power: run full 50 watts
Good for 20- 30 miles at best
Now we have option 2
Repeaters:
The are radio to tower that connects to others thru it. You hit it at 20 miles it will connect 30 miles out further
Getting there to the repeater still takes everything we listed in the simplex.
So the idea is to load up as many around you within 30 miles.
This is done buy using the repeater book app and software program which is just a spread sheet
If you are somewhat computer savvy its pretty simple.
I actually just got the lower version of your radio today and i am going to program it in a few minutes
I would bet its the same software and process.
If you have time tonight i could walk ya thru it
Hope if helps
Thats fantastic information, thank you. Tonight I am a bit occupied, but if you give me a time you are available tomorrow or Sunday I will be available for almost any time before 1900.
I can privately DM you my number if you wouod like.
understand
here is a screenshot of my programming repeaters here,
I just downloaded software off Anyone’s website .
these are all numbers I pulled off the repeater book app
Good morning have you had time to review. your local repeater list.
Yes, ive even tried to add some manually, but no success yet.
Weekend was busy. So let me do some work on this. Now after i began using the software they provide , Anytone. Its kinda sucks.
I went ahead and spent 25 dollars on RTSytems software. It works so much easier and it had the repeater app with it.
You can use the cable that came with you radio.
Let me know if this works for you
Good to go. I will give it a look see in a bit.
Ive downloaded that program. Just reading through the details and help to figure it out.
Ive watched a few videos for the new program you showed me, and im still watching some more. I have a very very general idea of how the program works, but the next thing im trying to find is if there are any code plugs already created so i dont have to manually add everything.
Side note, on my way home from errands i happened to turn my radio on, and I successfully connected to a repeater for a short moment. Thats the most progress ive made so far. It was a little exciting.
I now have my DMR code. Still trying to figure out what im doing.
Great
When you are in RT systems under FILE, you should see an add external data. click on it and it will bring up a new box. there fill in bands you want to load 2 m 70cm then your nearest city and how far around you 50 miles I would guess, then let it search. it will bring back all the repeaters it finds and load them into the spreadsheet for you.