I'm having the same problem Steve Thomas has: Windows 10 PC Radio Kenwood TM-281 Cable - Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port (COM3) Driver 3.2.0.0 7/31/2007
Run CHIRP daily-20190222 Select Download from Radio Confirm Radio & Port
No response from CHIRP after 5 minutes Re-select Download from Radio Error popup reads An error has occurred could not open port COM3: [Error 5] Access is denied
Quit CHIRP
Open MCP-1A
Select Read>All Reading the data from the transceiver, and data is displayed in window Select File>Open - choose "test" mcp file. Full programming data is displayed Select Write>all Popup asks "Do you want to write the data to the transceiver?" Select Yes Writing the data to the transceiver, and radio is programmed with contents of "test" mcp file
So the problem does not seem to be with the cable or the radio, since MCP-1A can talk to the radio. So it appears that Steve and I have exactly the same problem with CHIRP. Except Steve's is first time programming and mine is after a reset or after the radio has been programmed with MCP-1A
Can any TM-281 users offer other suggestions, or CHIRP experts/developers?
/Tom K6IGY
Date: Sun, 24 Feb 2019 20:00:17 -0600 From: Steve Thomas stevet@alertcpr.com Subject: [chirp_users] Error Programming Kenwood TM281 To: chirp_users@intrepid.danplanet.com Message-ID: 37314aab-cfa8-8fc0-1cd8-6663c04870e3@alertcpr.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"
I am trying to program my Kenwood TM281 for the first time. I'm using Windows 10.? I previously ran Chirp to program a Wouxon hand held and it worked fine with that cable.
I have a Prolific cable I got from BlueMax49ers.?? The instructions said it was a genuine Prolific chip and to use the latest drivers.? So I checked and it is using the latest drivers (3.8.28.0).? When I started Chirp, I plugged in the radio, and selected "Download from Radio".?? It gave me a dialog with Com3 preselected, and I selected Kenwood and TM281. When I clicked OK in the dialog, I get this message:
_*An ERROR Has Occurred*__* *__*could not open port COM4: [Error 5] Access is denied.*_
I tried Com3, and got the same error.
_*An ERROR Has Occurred*__* *__*could not open port COM3: [Error2] The System Cannot find The File specified.*_
(this may be the original error, I don't know. I changed the com port to Com4 before writing down what the original error was when it originally went to Com3) **_**_
I looked into Device Manager, and under Ports (Com and LPT) It says the Prolific USB to Serial Comm Port (Com4)
I looked at the Properties and it says this:
Does this sound familiar?
Steve