FTDI Cable

The cable worked with 3 radios and two different programming software packages - but there were minor difficulties worth knowing about in case you encounter them. Plugged into a USB port on my older Windows 8.1 system, it was immediately detected and the driver automatically installed within less than a minute. A quick check of Windows Device Manager showed that it was assigned COM Port 3 (COM Port number must be set in the programming software). I've tried it with three radios: Puxing PX-777 & PX-UV973, and a Baofeng UV-3R+ (yes, a pretty miscellaneous collection of older cheap radios). Worked first time with the PX-777, using CHIRP software. At first, the UV-3R+ connected, but read garbage data bearing a vague resemblance to the already programmed channels (again, using CHIRP). Unplugging and re-plugging FIRMLY into the radio eventually got it working. The PX-UV973 is not supported by CHIRP, and programming software for it is hard to find these days (and its Yahoo group is gone, along with all those groups). Fortunately I'd downloaded a (supposedly) compatible programming software some years ago when I bought the radio, so I virus checked it locally and online (VirusTotal), and installed. But nothing - software could not see the radio at all. Unplugging and re-plugging repeatedly and firmly did nothing. Looking closely at the radio, I noticed that although the PX-777 and PX-UV973 radios look externally similar, and use the same batteries, microphone, etc., the microphone jacks, where the programming cable plugs in, were physically different. Were the PX-UV973 jacks ever so slightly recessed? Maybe. Noting the above, I squeezed the plug into the side of the radio, and suddenly got a connection, but garbage data. Thus encouraged, I squeezed the radio (being careful not to hit the PTT), holding the plug in FIRMLY while the program did the read, and it worked. So I was getting an issue others have noted with some programming cable/radio combinations - it can be difficult to get them plugged deeply enough into the radio jacks to connect and work. On some radios, trimming a little plastic off the plug is even necessary. With my radios, one worked, one required a firm push plugging in, and the other one required that the plug be held in firmly while reading/writing. I'm writing this off mostly to oddities with two of the radios, as the programming cable works fine once such issues are overcome. Good cable, just check for less than full mating if you have issues with the radio not being "seen" by the software or not reading/writing reliably.

I bought this to program my Anytone 878, works great. Uses the same "KENWOOD" style 2 pin connector for thw radio. Works great!! Highly recommended

I bought this programming cable to have as a spare. I used it on several of my radios and haven’t had a single problem programming any of them with it. It has an official FTDI chip inside so there’s no fuss with loading drivers or what not. It truly is plug and play. I’ve used it with my Mac Mini and it works flawlessly. In my experience the read and write times are about the same as to what I get on my other programming cable from BTECH. This one is a few dollars cheaper however. I have included a picture of the two cables with the Radioddity cable on the left and BTECH cable is on the right and they both look very similar. It has the 2-pin Kenwood style plug so it will program many of the Kenwood, Baofeng, Retevis, Wouxun radios on the market. What it will not program is DMR radios as those radios have the chipset built into the radio itself. It’s not a fault of this cable just the way those radios are designed. Because of the simplicity of using this cable as it is a true plug and play, save yourself a few dollars and give this one a try.

Worked great first time. Good quality.

Works on the radioddity hd-1 heavy-duty frs radio.

Well packaged for what the item was. Delivery time was fine and Amazon issued me a credit for a "slight, very slight" delivery time; which is greatly appreciated though not expected. This cable worked when the one sent by the original radio seller did not! Very pleased with this seller and that the product DOES work as advertised!... Would buy again from this seller...

Good quality, bought for programming channels on the GMRS radio

Why did you pick this product vs others?: It was suggested by the manufacturer of my radio.