I also found that to be true. My old cable worked well. The main problem
I had was that the Chirp download didn't work on my radio. I downloaded
the version direct from Baofeng and that one worked just as it should.
My radio versions are BFB297, and BFS297. I don't really find much of
any difference, but there must be enough so that one works with my
'NewOld' program download, and the other only works with the one I
downloaded from Baofeng.
From: Galen Thurber <galenthurber@gmail.com>
To: Discussion of CHIRP <chirp_users@intrepid.danplanet.com>
Sent: Friday, April 24, 2015 1:59 PM
Subject: Re: [chirp_users] New Baofeng UV-5R w/cable. Chirp reports failed connection w/radio as could not communicate w/radio.
I use linux and had this problem but I have found that it was the cable.
apply some pressure to the top of jack and push it towards the the back of the radio.
I found over time that the cable was so cheap that it needed to be replaced.
I bought new cables off of eBay that have the Baofeng sticker on them, they work great, no push needed