Hi all, with thanks to Jock, George, Dan, Alan and all who responded to my call for help.
 
I was already aware that the .img file had to be downloaded from the individual UV5R radio which would then be the template
used to program the channels and upload back to the radio as I had spent many hours reading every post and article
that I could find on both  www.miklor.com  and  http://chirp.danplanet.com/projects/chirp/wiki/Home sites.
 
I visited the www.miklor.com site and obtained a copy of the program for the 291 model.
 
However on running this I suffered the same problem. I noticed that the program was trying to communicate on COM Port 8.
But the UV5R was shown to be connected to COM Port10. I could not find any method of changing the program from COM8.
 
I disabled the four Bluetooth Communications Ports shown as COM 3 COM6 COM7 and COM8 and reran the program.
 
Eureka this time I had communication.
 
I fired up the CHIRP program and which also connected to the radio.
 
So if it is of any use to others who think their radio is not communicating with either the CHIRP program or the Baffing program
try temporarily disabling any other device that is shown using COM Ports.
 
I still find it strange that the Prolific USB-to Serial cable is shown connected to COM10. and CHIRP shows that it is communicating
using COM4. Purely academic, as the respective programs work and I am able to program my BFB 291 model.
 
Regards,
 
Mike


From: Michael Collinson [mailto:training@bigpond.net.au]
Sent: Wednesday, 24 October 2012 5:34 PM
To: 'chirp_users@intrepid.danplanet.com'
Subject: Version of Baofeng UV-5R not supported by CHIRP?

I have had success using both CHIRP and Baofeng software in downloading and uploading from a Baofeng UV-5R,  Version BFB 251 120702 VER-05 which belongs to a mate.
However, my own model UV-5R, Version BFB 291 120828N B5R0001 does not respond. Any suggestions?
Regards,
 
Mike