One Radio to Rule Them All… or Two Radios Done Right?
The Question
As handheld radios evolve, we’re seeing a push toward “do everything in one box” radios like the AnyTone AT-D890UV.
At the same time, many experienced operators still prefer a modular approach—pairing something like the AnyTone AT-D878UVII Plus with a purpose-built APRS/D-STAR powerhouse like the Kenwood TH-D75A.
So which is actually better?
Let’s break it down the way it matters in the field.
What the AT-D890UV Is Trying to Do
The AT-D890UV is essentially AnyTone’s attempt at a “flagship unified handheld.”
It combines:
- DMR + analog (and even NXDN auto-detect)
- APRS (GPS-based)
- Airband AM receive
- Cross-band repeater
- Bluetooth + USB-C
- 500k contacts / 4000 channels
- “commercial-grade” feature set (man-down, encryption, etc.)
In short: one radio, everything baked in.
What the 878 + TH-D75 Combo Does Differently
Instead of one radio doing everything “pretty well,” this combo splits roles:
878UVII Plus → Digital Voice + DMR Workhorse
- DMR (BrandMeister-ready)
- Analog + APRS
- Mature firmware, huge ecosystem
- Rock-solid CPS workflows
TH-D75A → APRS + D-STAR + RF Tools
- Native APRS (arguably best-in-class)
- Full D-STAR stack
- Advanced receive, satellite, and RF utility features
Translation:
You’re running two optimized radios instead of one generalized radio.
PRODUCT COMPARISON TABLE
| Attribute | AnyTone AT-D890UV | AnyTone AT-D878UVII Plus | Kenwood TH-D75A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Strategy | All-in-one | DMR specialist | APRS / D-STAR specialist |
| Digital Modes | DMR + NXDN | DMR | D-STAR |
| APRS | Yes (integrated) | Yes | Best-in-class native APRS |
| Airband RX | Yes | No | Yes |
| Cross-band repeat | Yes | No | Limited |
| Dual receive | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| GPS | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ecosystem maturity | New (2025+) | Very mature | Very mature |
| Ease of use | Moderate | Moderate | Advanced |
| Price (approx) | ~$300 | ~$250 | ~$700 |
| Total system cost | ~$300 | ~$950 combo | ~$950 combo |
| Redundancy | None | High (two radios) | High (two radios) |
Real-World Comparison (This Is What Actually Matters)
1. Simplicity vs Capability
- AT-D890UV: One radio, less to carry, less to manage
- Combo: More gear, but each radio is best-in-class at its role
👉 If you want grab-and-go simplicity, the 890 wins
👉 If you want maximum capability, the combo wins
2. APRS (This is where things get real)
- 890UV: APRS works—but it’s still AnyTone-style APRS
- TH-D75A: APRS is Kenwood-tier—decoding, messaging, filtering, reliability
👉 For serious APRS/iGate/field work:
TH-D75A absolutely crushes anything else
3. Digital Voice Flexibility
- 890UV: DMR + NXDN in one radio
- Combo:
- 878 = DMR
- TH-D75A = D-STAR
👉 The combo gives you multi-network flexibility (DMR + D-STAR simultaneously)
4. Field Operations / EMCOMM Reality
This is where your use case matters most:
AT-D890UV
- Cleaner deployment
- Fewer failure points
- Good for:
- SAR teams
- Event comms
- Grab-and-go kits
878 + TH-D75A
- True redundancy
- Can monitor + transmit on two independent systems
- Better for:
- EMCOMM
- APRS infrastructure work
- Complex net environments
👉 In real-world comms:
Two radios = resilience
5. Learning Curve & Workflow
- 890UV: New platform → expect quirks early
- 878: Mature CPS, tons of codeplug support
- TH-D75A: Steeper learning curve, but extremely powerful
👉 Combo = more complexity, but also more control
Verdict: Which One Should You Run?
Choose the AT-D890UV if:
- You want one radio that does everything
- You prioritize portability and simplicity
- You’re okay with “good at everything, master of none”
👉 This is the modern all-in-one field radio
Choose the 878 + TH-D75A Combo if:
- You care about serious APRS performance
- You want DMR + D-STAR simultaneously
- You value redundancy and flexibility
👉 This is the operator-grade, no-compromise setup
Bottom Line
The AnyTone AT-D890UV is trying to replace two radios with one—and for many operators, it will.
But it doesn’t fully replace what happens when you pair:
- AnyTone AT-D878UVII Plus (DMR powerhouse)
- Kenwood TH-D75A (APRS/D-STAR monster)
One radio = convenience
Two radios = capability
If you’re building a serious station—or doing APRS/iGate/digital infrastructure work—you already know which side of that tradeoff you land on.