AnyTone D868/D878 GD32 USB virtual COM port driver 2.0.2.4944
=============================================================

WHAT THIS IS
------------
The GigaDevice "GD32 virtual com driver" installer, version 2.0.2.4944, as
distributed by BridgeCom Systems (the US AnyTone distributor) for the AnyTone
AT-D868UV and AT-D878UV family. The AnyTone handhelds program over a USB
cable that connects straight to the radio's own GD32 microcontroller; the
radio, not the cable, presents itself to Windows as a virtual serial (COM)
port. This driver gives Windows that COM port when it does not find a driver
on its own.

The package holds two copies of the installer, one for 32-bit (x86) and one
for 64-bit (x64) Windows. Both carry the GigaDevice version strings 2.0.1.2304
and 2.0.2.4944; the second is the version named in AnyTone's own "Virtual
Driver Installation" instructions ("GD_VirtualComDriver v2.0.2.4944 ... has
been released, users who may have had issues with an earlier driver can
extract and install this new driver"). The files inside are dated 2019-01-24
and 2019-01-25.

BridgeCom labels this download "Windows 7/8 Driver for AnyTone 868/878UV (DO
NOT USE ON A WINDOWS 10 PC!)". It is only needed on Windows 7 and 8.

APPLIES TO
----------
- AnyTone AT-D878UVII PLUS and AT-D878UVII (V2 hardware). BridgeCom lists
  the driver on its V1 (AT-D878UV) download page, but every V2 firmware
  package from 2021 to 2025 still includes AnyTone's "Virtual Driver
  Installation.pdf", which points to this GD32 driver, so the same driver
  covers both generations.
- AnyTone AT-D878UV / AT-D878UV PLUS (V1) and AT-D868UV, per BridgeCom's
  label.
- Windows 7 and Windows 8 PCs only.

Must NOT be used on: Windows 10 or 11. BridgeCom's label says not to use it
on Windows 10, and AnyTone's change log says: "If you get a new radio and
your PC is Windows10 system, do not install the GD32 virtual driver. Just
plug the radio USB cable in to the USB port on your PC and let windows find
the driver." It does nothing for cables that contain their own USB-serial
chip (FTDI, Prolific, CH340); those radios use a different driver.

BEFORE STARTING
---------------
- A Windows 7 or 8 PC with a Windows administrator account. AnyTone's
  instructions say to make sure the Windows installation is up to date first.
- The AnyTone USB programming cable (USB on the PC end, the radio's
  two-pin speaker/microphone jack on the other).
- The AnyTone CPS that matches the radio's firmware (see the AnyTone
  CPS/firmware entries in this archive; they are link-only).

CONTENTS OF THIS ZIP
--------------------
The zip published on fubsypoly.com contains the vendor file(s) byte-for-byte,
unmodified.

GD_32_64_d1448b85-661b-4838-9042-9b62529954bb.zip
    936,009 bytes
    SHA-256 cc44fb4899c1b9c558b796e421ce37158eb4f98253776b9eaddcbef802d4f68c
    BridgeCom's package, file name exactly as served. Inside:
      GD3264/x64/USB Virtual Com Port Driver.exe  (854,528 bytes)
      GD3264/x86/USB Virtual Com Port Driver.exe  (799,744 bytes)
README.txt
    This file.
SHA256SUMS
    SHA-256 checksums of the files above.

INSTALLATION
------------
Steps follow AnyTone's "Virtual Driver Installation" instructions (shipped in
every D878UVII firmware package).

 1. Make sure Windows is up to date.
 2. Unzip GD_32_64_...zip to a folder.
 3. Run the installer as the PC administrator: x86\USB Virtual Com Port
    Driver.exe on 32-bit Windows, x64\USB Virtual Com Port Driver.exe on
    64-bit Windows. The installer's own text reads: 'Click the "Install" will
    install GD32 virtual com driver on your computer.' On success it reports
    "GD32 virtual com driver has been successfully installed."
 4. Restart the PC (AnyTone recommends this).
 5. Open the CPS, connect the USB cable to the radio and the PC, and turn the
    radio on.
 6. In the CPS, select the radio's COM port (CPS: Set > Set Com). AnyTone's
    note: "Cable must be plugged in and radio turned on for the CPS to see the
    Com port."

VERIFYING
---------
With the radio connected and turned on, Windows Device Manager > Ports (COM &
LPT) lists a new COM port while the radio is on and removes it when the
radio is turned off. The same port number appears in the CPS COM port list.
The exact device name Windows shows could not be confirmed.

IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG
-----------------------
- No COM port appears: the radio must be switched on; the port exists only
  while the radio is on and connected.
- On Windows 10/11 do not use this driver; unplug, uninstall it from
  Device Manager if it was installed, and let Windows install its own driver.
- A cable sold as a "programming cable" but wired for charging only will not
  create a port. Try a different cable.
- The AnyTone firmware instructions warn to switch off GPS and APRS in the
  radio menu before connecting for a firmware update, so the radio cannot
  start transmitting while connected to the PC.

DOWNGRADING
-----------
Not applicable. BridgeCom has published no other version; to remove the
driver, uninstall it in Device Manager (the installer also has an uninstall
function: "GD32 virtual com driver has been successfully uninstalled.").

PROVENANCE
----------
- File: GD_32_64_d1448b85-661b-4838-9042-9b62529954bb.zip
- Retrieved from:
  https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0833/9095/files/GD_32_64_d1448b85-661b-4838-9042-9b62529954bb.zip?v=1605029885
- Linked from BridgeCom's page:
  https://support.bridgecomsystems.com/anytone-878-v1-model-cps-firmware-downloads
- Date retrieved: 2026-09-18
- Status: verified (from the distributor's own file host). No Wayback copy
  of the file was found.

MORE INFORMATION
----------------
- https://radios.fubsypoly.com/anytone-d878uvii/vol-3/ (Programming)
- BridgeCom AT-D878UVII/UVII PLUS downloads:
  https://support.bridgecomsystems.com/anytone-878-v2-model-cps-firmware-downloads
- The AnyTone firmware packages (link-only entries in this archive) contain
  "Virtual Driver Installation.pdf" and "Firmware Update Instructions.pdf".
