Platform: AnyTone AT-D878UVII Plus
Goal: Simple, readable, scalable, and safe for beginners
Template Design Principles
- Start minimal, expand intentionally
- One purpose per zone
- Clear, human-readable naming
- No duplicate or unused talkgroups
- Separate daily use from emergency operations
1. Base Codeplug Structure (Blank Template)
Channels
Create channels in this order:
- Analog Simplex
- Analog Repeaters
- DMR Repeaters – Time Slot 1
- DMR Repeaters – Time Slot 2
- APRS (Analog + Digital)
Do not mix analog and DMR channels in the same zone.
Digital Channel Naming Standard
[CALLSIGN]-[TG]-[TS]
Example:
K5ABC-TG91-TS1
K5ABC-LOCAL-TS2
Analog Channel Naming Standard
[REPEATER NAME]-[BAND]
Example:
CITYVHF-2M
CITYUHF-70
SIMPLEX-146.520
2. Zone Layout Standard
This is the recommended universal layout that scales from beginner to advanced operator.
ZONE 1: DAILY – ANALOG
Purpose: Everyday local communication
Include
- Local analog repeaters
- National simplex (146.520 / 446.000)
- Personal or club simplex channels
Why
- Works without DMR infrastructure
- Fast access during power or network failures
ZONE 2: DAILY – DMR
Purpose: Routine digital operation
Include
- Local DMR repeater
- TG9 (Local)
- Statewide TG
- Nationwide TG (e.g., TG91)
- One TAC talkgroup
Best Practice
- Limit to 5–10 channels
- Avoid international TG clutter early
ZONE 3: TRAVEL – ANALOG
Purpose: Road trips, hotel stays, field operation
Include
- Common repeater pairs
- VHF/UHF simplex
- Weather receive (optional)
Tip
Keep this zone frequency-centric, not location-centric.
ZONE 4: TRAVEL – DMR
Purpose: Portable hotspot or roaming
Include
- Hotspot simplex frequency
- Dynamic TG9
- TAC TGs
- Worldwide TG
Note
Use dynamic talkgroups only. Avoid static assignments here.
ZONE 5: EMCOMM – ANALOG
Purpose: Emergency operations
Include
- ARES/RACES repeaters
- Emergency simplex channels
- Local coordination channels
Rules
- No scanning by default
- No unnecessary channels
- Predictable channel order
ZONE 6: EMCOMM – DMR
Purpose: Digital emergency coordination
Include
- Assigned EMCOMM TGs
- Statewide DMR channels
- Backup digital simplex (if used locally)
Strong Recommendation
Disable roaming and Bluetooth for this zone.
ZONE 7: APRS
Purpose: Location and messaging
Include
- Analog APRS (144.390)
- Digital APRS (if used)
- Beacon-only channel
3. Step-by-Step CPS Programming Walkthrough
Step 1: Start Clean
- Open CPS
- Read from Radio
- Save immediately as:
878_BASELINE_FACTORY.rdtStep 2: Enter Operator Identity
- Callsign
- DMR ID
- Radio ID Name
- APRS Callsign + SSID
Step 3: Create Zones (Before Channels)
Build all zones first so channel placement is intentional.
Step 4: Program Analog Channels
For each repeater:
- RX Frequency
- TX Frequency
- Tone Mode (CTCSS/DCS)
- Power level
- Bandwidth (Wide/Narrow)
Step 5: Program DMR Channels
For each DMR channel:
- RX/TX Frequency
- Color Code
- Time Slot
- Talkgroup
- Admit Criteria (Color Code Free)
Step 6: APRS Configuration
- Enable GPS
- Set beacon interval (start with 5–10 min)
- Verify APRS path
- Disable excessive messaging
Step 7: Scan Lists
Create purpose-based scan lists:
- DAILY-ANALOG
- DAILY-DMR
- EMCOMM-ANALOG
Avoid scanning mixed modes.
Step 8: Write to Radio
- Save file
- Write to Radio
- Power cycle
- Verify zone order and channel audio
4. Codeplug Naming & Versioning Guide
File Naming Standard
878_[PURPOSE]_[DATE]_vX.rdtExamples
878_DAILY_2026-01-08_v1.rdt
878_EMCOMM_2026-01-08_v1.rdt
878_TRAVEL_2026-01-08_v1.rdt
Version Rules
- Increment version for any functional change
- Never overwrite a working version
- Keep a “last known good” copy
Recommended Folder Structure
/AnyTone_878/
├── baseline/
├── daily/
├── travel/
├── emcomm/
└── archive/
Final Deployment Recommendation
Beginners
- Load DAILY zones only
Intermediate
- Add TRAVEL zones
- Enable Bluetooth and hotspot support
EMCOMM
- Maintain a separate EMCOMM codeplug
- Test quarterly