[chirp_users] CHIRP DOWNLOAD problems

[Jim Unroe]

Hi Scott

On Fri, Oct 27, 2017 at 4:07 PM, SCOTT PETERSON <SPETE2 at verizon.net> wrote:
> I downloaded CHIRP from the Web Site to WD 10 and after the down load was
> completed there was no sign of a CHIRP shortcut on my desk top.

Of course not. Assuming you downloaded the recommended version for
Windows, you have to go to the folder that you downloaded it to and
double-click the downloaded file to install it.

>
> Went to C: (x86) CHIRP and found shortcut. I dragged the shortcut to
> Desktop. I clicked on the CHIRP ICON and Chirp loaded.
>
> I then installed the Baofeng USB Programming Cable for Baofeng Two way Radio
> UV-5R, BF-888S,BF-F8+ With Driver CD to my BF-F8HP Radio.

Sounds like you purchased one of the low cost programming cables
manufactured with a counterfeit Prolific chip.

>
> I attempted to install the Driver CD and found it corrupted.

It is generally recommended you ignore the CD that comes with one of
these programming cables.

>
> I thought that my windows 10 had the most up to date USB Driver and I would
> not need the one that came with the Programing Cable. I may have been wrong
> and do need a special Driver.

Window 10 will download and install the latest driver supplied to them
by the Prolific company. The latest driver is intentionally
incompatible with counterfeit Prolific chips. You will most likely
have to download, install and select the older Prolific v3.2.0.0
driver that was available before the Prolific company decided to
combat piracy of their chip.

>
> I than plugged the programing Cable in to the USB Port and then the Radio,
> turned the Radio on, started CHIRP, clicked the Radio Menu, input vendor
> info, started download.
>
> Message:
>
> Due to the fact that the manufacturer continues to release new versions of
> the firmware with obscure and hard-to-track changes, this driver may not
> work with your device. Thus far and to the best knowledge of the author, no
> UV-5R radios have been harmed by using CHIRP. However, proceed at your own
> risk!

This is just a standard warning that you get when programming a
Baofeng UV-5R or similar radio. Tick the box so that you will not see
it in the future.
>
> Typed USB in port assignment  box and tried again with the following
> results.

USB is not a valid port. These radios are programmed by way of a
serial (aka COM) port. Modern computers do not have a COM port. The
chip in the programming cable in conjunction with the device driver
create a virtual COM port. When a compatible device driver is
installed, the programming cable will be assigned a COM port number
from COM1 to COM256. If the programming cable is plugged in and a
compatible device drive is installed before CHIRP is launched, the
available COM port(s) should be listed in the dropdown list for you to
choose from.

>
> Do I need a special USB Driver?

You may need a compatible driver if your programming cable has the
counterfeit Prolific mentioned above. Check the miklor.com website. It
has a page that shows you how to find out which chip is in your
programming cable (Prolific, FTDI, etc) and how to do downgrade the
driver if you have the counterfeit Prolific chip (nearly all Prolific
type chips in programming cables are counterfeit).

http://www.miklor.com/COM/UV_Drivers.php

>
> Can anyone help me with this problem?

Yes. Pitch the CD. Determine which chip is in your programming cable.
If it is a Prolific type chip, download, install and select the older,
compatible driver. Use Device Manager to determine which COM port was
assigned to the programming cable. Select that COM port when
downloading from the radio. Save the first successful download from
the radio, unedited, to a native CHIRP Radio Images (*.img) file to be
kept unchanged as a backup.

>
>
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
>
>
> Scott
>

Good luck,
Jim KC9HI