programming cable

If you are running Windows 11, you may encounter an issue with connecting the TYT-MD-UV390 Plus DMR Digital Radio using the TYT PROG USB programming cable. This may occur the first time the radio is connected to the computer, or as an intermittent issue.

In this video tutorial, Steven from Buy Two Way Radios shows how to fix the connectivity issue with the TYT-PROG Programming cable when using it with the TYT-MD-UV390 Plus.

To avoid any complication, it is highly recommended that you follow the instructions in the video before attempting to install the cable or plug it into the radio for the first time. The driver is available as a free download on the product page for the TYT PROG Programming cable - which you can order from Buy Two Way Radios.

You can also find the driver on our list of the most popular downloads on our website.

Applicable Products: Wouxun PCO-001, PCO-003 and PCO-009 programming cables

If you are running Windows 11 with the latest updates, it is possible the driver for the Wouxun programming cables will install automatically, as Windows may include a Silicon Labs USB driver in its driver list. Otherwise, follow the instructions in the video above.

This video is for anyone who has questions about downloading the driver for Wouxun PCO-001/PCO-009, and PCO-003 Programming cables. To avoid any complication, it is highly recommended that you follow the instructions in the video before attempting to install the cable or plug it into the computer for the first time. The driver is available as a free download on the product page for these Wouxun Programming cables - which you can order from Buy Two Way Radios.

You can also find the driver on our list of the most popular downloads on our website.

Programming your two way radio from a computer is one thing. Installing the equipment needed to do it can be something else entirely. Sometimes the process is relatively simple, other times it becomes deceptively complicated. Either way, the set up of any radio programming station typically involves three primary components: a computer, the software to program your specific make and model of radio, and a cable to connect the radio to the computer.

The first two items are not that complicated to set up. Chances are your computer, especially if it is a Microsoft Windows based PC, is probably already good to go. The programming software is usually provided by the manufacturer of the radio, and although it may not always be free, once you have it, the installation is usually rather straightforward.

Then there is the programming cable. It's a critical component of the whole system because it is the direct, wired data link between the computer and the radio to be programmed. The basic concept seems intuitive enough. Plug one end of the cable into the computer, and the other end into the radio. Everything is connected and ready to go. Simple, right?

Well, if you have something like the XLT Painless Programming Cable, it usually is. In fact, this cable is about as simple and easy as it gets.

For many other programming cables, it's not quite that simple or easy. Sometimes the installation of a programming cable can be a project in and of itself. To understand why, we must first understand how the cable really works.

Years ago, radio programming cables typically had a 9-pin DE-9 (aka DB-9) serial connector to interface with an RS-232 serial port on the back of the computer. Many of these cables were proprietary and required a specific driver installed to communicate or "drive" the hardware and to move the data through the port and across the cable between the radio and the PC.

The introduction of the Universal Serial Bus changed everything. More commonly known by its acronym  USB, this connector type created a new standard for electronic devices that has, true to its name, become universal. The USB connector was intended to replace the myriad of other larger, bulkier and somewhat proprietary connectors across the market with one simple, unifying connector type that could be used to connect just about any device to any other. So far, it seems to have accomplished just that.

Over time, USB replaced the RS-232 serial port as the standard physical connection between the two way radio and the PC. However, the USB plug is on the PC end. While some business radios still use programming cables with a physical RS-232 connector designed to plug directly into a computer equipped with a serial port, most cables today are USB.

Most analog and digital radios have a single, dual or multi-pin audio port that doubles as the data port. To properly create the data connection, the USB programming cables connecting to these radios typically use a circuit or chip to emulate a serial connection between the computer and the radio.

The two most common chips used in these cables are Prolific and FTDI. Each requires the installation of its own proprietary driver in order for the computer to properly recognize and communicate with the programming cable.

Although it is not within the scope of this article to get into the technical aspects of these technologies, it is important to know that they are quite different from one another to better understand why installing a USB programming cable can sometimes be problematic.

In other words, if the correct hardware driver is not used or is not properly installed, the programming cable simply won't work.

If your programming cable won't work, it's usually due to one (or more) of following reasons:

• The cable contains a counterfeit chip. This is a common issue with cheap, sub $10 cables purchased from overseas resellers and sold on eBay or Amazon.
• The programming cable is not compatible with your radio. This is common when using both analog and digital radios, as they often require different types of programming cables.
• The provided driver is too old or incompatible with your version of the operating system (usually Windows).
• Your operating system (usually Windows again) rejected the driver and installed one of its own.
• Your operating system (usually Windows, of course) has a configuration issue or conflict with the USB port or system bus on your computer.
• There is a hardware conflict with your USB port or system bus.
• The driver was installed incorrectly. There are often specific procedures for installation of specialized USB drivers, and if not performed in the correct sequence, it can cause the installation to fail.
• Corrupt USB driver. This will require total removal and re-installation of the driver.
• The installation instructions were not followed correctly or at all.

As you can tell from this list, the reasons can be many and varied. However, the most common support call we receive regarding problems with programming cables is the very last item on the list. While it is certainly possible to receive a faulty cable, in a majority of cases, the issue is simply a matter of following, or more specifically, not following the installation instructions.

If you are having trouble with the programming cable for your radio, here is a list of resources that may help you troubleshoot and resolve the issue.

How to install the XLT Painless Programming Cable

XLT Painless Programming Cable installation video

How to install the Wouxun programming cable and driver

How to install the Programming Cable and Software for the KG-905G

How to install an FTDI Programming Cable on newer versions of Windows 10

FTDI driver update bricks cloned programming cables

How to install the Baofeng USB programming cable and software

What to do if the programming cable does not work

What to do if the programming cable does not detect the radio

What to do if the radio programming software does not detect the cable or COM port

We've received numerous calls recently from customers who are having trouble installing some of the Wouxun programming cables in a Windows 10 PC. This can occur whether Windows recognizes the cable or not. Installing the driver from the mini-cd that comes with the cable does not resolve the issue. Why is the cable not working and how do you fix it?

If you are running Windows 10, technically it should install automatically, or at least it used to, as Windows includes a Silicon Labs USB driver in its driver list. However, Silicon Labs has updated their driver and this driver no longer works. The driver on the mini-cd included with the cable from Wouxun is also no longer valid for Windows 10. Unfortunately, in many cases Windows 10 insists on installing the incorrect version of the driver anyway, further compounding the problem.

To confirm this, open the Device Manager in Windows 10. The cable may appear under Other Devices with an exclamation mark, also known as a splat mark (!) next to the listing for the cable.

Here's how to fix the issue and install the Wouxun PCO-001 or PCO-003 programming cable on a Windows 10 computer.

Step 1. DO NOT attempt to install the driver from the mini-cd that comes with the cable. This is the first step, and is the most common cause of the issue. Wouxun provides it, but to be frank, there's really nothing on it that is particularly useful in the year 2021 and beyond. Don't even mess with the little green mini-cd. Please. Just don't.

Step 2. Download the updated CP210x UART driver. It is available from the Wouxun PCO-001 or PCO-003 product page at Buy Two Way Radios. The driver is located under the Downloads tab above the product description. It works. It's been tested.

Step 3. Unzip the driver package. The package includes drivers for both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows.

Now we come to a very important part of the installation process, the installation itself. But wait, don't just start yet. A common procedure is to install the driver through the Update Driver wizard. This is where many users get into trouble, and where Windows will typically want to install the incorrect driver. Rather than going through all that mess, keep it simple and just use the installer provided in the package. Yes, there is an installer, actually two to be precise. All you need to know is which one to run. Then, just run it. In most cases, the installer will do the heavy lifting for you.

Here is how to install the driver.

Step 1. Check your version of Windows 10. Are you running the 32-bit or 64-bit version? This is important, as it will determine which version of the driver installer you need to run.

Step 2. Be sure Windows is up to date. If not, we recommend that you download and install the updates before installing the new driver. This is a good practice anyway for security reasons and general peace of mind.

Step 3. Run the correct version of the cable driver installer. The 32-bit version is called CP210xVCPInstaller_x86 and the 64-bit version is CP210xVCPInstaller_x64.

4. Follow the installation instructions on screen.

After installation is complete, check the device manager. The splat mark (!) should be gone. Note the COM port number as well. You will need to know this when choosing the correct COM port for the cable in the programming software.

The Wouxun programming cable should now be correctly installed. To verify the installation, right-click on the cable in the Device Manager and go to Properties. Click the Driver tab. The Driver Date and Driver Version should match what is in the image below.

One final tip
If everything is correctly installed, but the computer still cannot detect the cable, it is possible that Windows Power Management is to blame. This is especially something to check if you are using a laptop, where Power Management is set with strict parameters for battery conservation. To check this, go to the Device Manager, right-click on the cable, and click the Power Management tab. Remove the check from Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power and click OK. This should resolve the issue.

Questions? Feedback? leave a comment below.

You've just received your two way radio, taken it out of the package, and now you want to get it operational. You plugged in the programming cable, downloaded the driver, set up the software, and connected the cable the radio to program it.

There is just one small glitch. When you run the program, the software can't seem to find the radio. It can't connect to the cable. It can't even find the COM port. What gives?

First, don't panic or blow a fuse. There are several devices in the mix and multiple connections here, plus an entire computer system. It could be anything. Before you pack up all the new stuff and send it back to the dealer, find out what the real problem is. It may not be as bad as you think. It may even be quick and easy to resolve.

Here are the steps to troubleshoot if the programming software for your two way radio does not recognize the COM Port or the programming cable purchased from Buy Two Way Radios.

Step 1. Verify the programming cable is installed correctly.

• If using our programming cable and it is installed correctly, proceed to Step 2.
• If programming cable is not installed correctly, re-install the cable driver.

Step 2. Verify the COM Port number assigned to your programming cable.

• If you are running Microsoft Windows, go the the Device Manager and click on Ports (COM & LPT).
• Note the number of the COM port assigned to your cable.

Step 3. Verify the correct COM Port is recognized and listed as active in the programming software.

• If the COM port assigned to the programming cable is listed as active and available, choose it and skip to Step 5.
• If the COM port assigned to the programming cable is NOT listed as available, go to Step 4.

Step 4. Assign another COM Port to the USB programming cable.

• Open the Device Manager, go to Ports (COM & LPT) and right click on the listing for the USB programming cable.
• Click PROPERTIES in the pop-up menu.
• Click on the PORT SETTINGS tab.
• Click the ADVANCE button.
• Click the drop down list next to COM Port Number: and choose a COM Port below the number 10 that is not in use.
• Click OK to save the setting, then click OK again to exit the Communications Port (COMX) properties window.
• Note the new COM Port number assigned to the USB Programming Cable and go back to Step 3.
• If a new COM Port number was assigned to the cable and it is still not recognized by your programming software, skip to Step 6.

Step 5. Run or close and restart the programming software.

Step 6. If the program does not recognize the programming cable or the COM Port assigned to it, refer to the manufacturer of the programming software.

If you are using CHIRP programming software, go to the CHIRP web site at http://chirp.danplanet.com/projects/chirp/wiki/Home and download the latest daily build of CHIRP or report the issue to CHIRP.

If these instructions are followed correctly, the programming software for your radio should be able to recognize the correct COM port and access your programming cable.