Baofeng UV-3R USB Programming Cable

The cable itself is just fine. It appears to mimic a Prolific cable, but not 100% perfectly. At some point, Prolific updated its drivers to fail this cable. (Understandable. Who wants to provide software for one's competitors?)

If you have Windows 7 Home Premium Edition, 32-bit, with Service Pack 1, the following will work. (It will probably work for other Win7 configurations; this is the only one I've personally done.)

1. Go to the Yahoo Group for UV-3). (Sorry, Amazon reviews don't let me enter a URL.)

2. Join that group. Wait to be approved by the moderator.

3. Go to the Files section for that group.

4. Navigate to the "409shop USB Driver" folder.

5. From inside that folder, download usb_drivers_win7.zip

6. Extract the contents of the zip file (PL2303_Prolific_GPS_AllInOne_1013.exe).

7. Run that .exe and install the software.

8. Go to Device Manager, and navigate to "Other devices" > "USB-Serial Controller". If it exists, right-click on it and delete it.

9. Ensure that you cable is plugged in.

10. In Device Manager, click the Action menu and select "Scan for hardware changes".

11. Under "Ports (COM & LPT)" you should now see "Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port (COMx)"

12. Connect your radio to the cable and turn on the radio.

13. Download Chirp 0.2.2 from its web site. Install it. Run it.

14. From Chirp's "Radio" menu, choose "Download from Radio". If it works, you've demonstrated that the cable and drivers work.

I give it 4 stars instead of 5 because SainSonic really ought to put this on a printed insert in the envelope with the cable. (Note to SainSonic: Feel free to copy my instructions and include them in your shipment.)

After some initial frustration and fear that either the cable or the radio (both purchased together from this seller) might be dysfunctional, I had success with it on both Windows XP running under Fusion with Mac OS Lion and also with Windows 7 on my wife's laptop. You need to understand that this is not a straight forward procedure as many may presume...

I recommend joining the Yahoo group for the Baofeng UV-R3 for the wealth of information and the fact that you can download the requisite software and drivers for this cable there. My procedure that proved successful is outlined in the Yahoo group posting #6492.

There is a bad review of the cable here at Amazon that I nearly chimed in on but persistence paid off. There is also a comment that this cable has a counterfeit Prolific chip to which I can not deny as I have not been able to get this cable to work with the genuine Prolific drivers using Chirp 0.2.2 running on Mac OS 10.7 (Lion) as yet. And Yes, there is software for the Baofeng UV-3R that runs on a Mac...

What I can attest to is that the cable works under Windows with drivers from the Yahoo group mentioned above.

Buy Baofeng UV-3R USB Programming Cable Now

I just got the cable this week but no drivers were included and the ones off the internet don't seem to work. I'll try and reach the sainstore for more info, but unless they resolve the driver issue I would not recommend buying this cable.

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The cable I received was defective. You are sending a replacement. I'll review it when it comes. I have a second one coming. Will review that when it comes.

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The problem is either the Programming Cable, or the jack on the 3R+. As of now one is useless and I have read it is the jack.

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