On Sun, Aug 18, 2024 at 7:50 PM Adam Parsons via Users users@lists.chirpmyradio.com wrote:
I've had issues using a Retevis-branded programming cable, too, although in my case, the problem was on Windows! It's always been a bit of a challenge to find a Prolific USB/Serial driver version that actually works with a given Prolific-based programming cable, but under Windows 11, it pretty much seems none of the drivers work. I would have expected you to have had more success under Linux than Windows!
Regardless, using a FTDI-based cable should be much more reliable. I've had no issues with mine. I would imagine that using BlueMax49ers from France won't be particularly easy or cheap, but you should be able to find a few FTDI programming cables on Amazon (I got mine from Amazon UK). Yes, they are approaching twice the price of the Prolific cables, but they do work....which makes them a lot more valuable in my opinion. The cable I bought had the description "DTech USB Programming Cable FTDI Chip for BaoFeng UV-5R BF-F8HP UV-82HP UV-82 BF-888S H777 TH Series K1 Kenwood 2 Pin Connector Two Way Ham Radio Cord" - just ensure it states that it uses the FTDI USB to serial converter chip.
Good luck.
Adam
In order to use a Prolific chip based programming cable with Windows, the chip in the cable must be the latest PL2303GS version to be used with the latest driver. For the older (considered end-of-life by Prolific) PL2303HX and PL2303TA chip, you must use the v3.2.0.0 driver (Windows 7, 8, 10 and 11) or v2.0.2.1 (Windows XP). Links to the needed drivers are available on the Miklor website.
https://www.miklor.com/COM/UV_Drivers.php
Jim KC9HI