The programming cable for your two way radio is installed and operational. It's plugged into your radio. The programming software finds your cable, but it doesn't detect a radio. What's wrong? Is it the computer, the cable, the radio, or something else?
Follow these steps to troubleshoot and resolve the issue if your radio programming cable does not detect your two way radio.
Step 1. Verify the programming cable is installed correctly.
- If the cable is installed correctly, proceed to Step 2.
- If it is not installed correctly, uninstall the cable and re-install it according to manufacturer's instructions.
Step 2. Check to be sure the radio is on.
Believe it or not, this is not uncommon, especially when one is programming radios on the fly. One can connect the cable on both ends and simply forget to turn on the radio. Before cursing the cable or the computer, check the radio, to be sure.
- If the radio is turned on and there is power, proceed to Step 3.
- If radio switch is on but there is no power, follow our troubleshooting guide called What to do if the radio does not power on.
Step 3. Check to be sure the cable is plugged all the way into the radio.
Sometimes the cable can appear to be connected without a real connection.
- Unplug the cable from the radio and plug it back in to be sure.
- For some radios, the cable may require an extra push to snap it in all the way.
- If the cable detects the radio after reseating the connection, the issue is resolved.
- If the cable still does not recognize the radio, go to Step 4.
Step 4. Try another radio.
Sometimes it's the cable, sometimes it's the radio. To find out which, first swap out the radio.
- If the cable recognizes the other radio, go to step 5.
- If the cable does not detect the other radio, or you don't have another radio, follow our troubleshooting steps for what to do if the radio programming cable does not work.
Step 5. Perform a reset on the first radio.
At this point, it is probably safe to figure the problem may be with the radio itself.
- If the reset works, the issue is resolved.
- If the reset does not work or the radio does not have a reset feature, follow our troubleshooting steps for what to do if the radio is damaged.
Of course, if the radio was purchased from Buy Two Way Radios, you can always contact us.