What Is a Baofeng Programming Cable and Why Do You Need One?
A Baofeng programming cable is a USB-to-audio cable that connects your Baofeng two-way radio to a Windows PC. Once connected, you can use free software such as CHIRP or the official Baofeng CPS (Customer Programming Software) to read, edit, and write your radio’s entire configuration in a single operation — including channels, frequencies, CTCSS/DCS privacy tones, squelch settings, transmit power, and more.
Without a programming cable, setting up even 10 channels manually via the keypad takes significant time and is prone to errors. With a cable, you can program 128 channels across an entire fleet of radios in minutes — and save, share, or duplicate configurations instantly. For any professional team, radio club, or serious amateur operator, a programming cable is not optional: it is essential.
Key Benefits of a Baofeng Programming Cable
⚡
Program in Minutes
Set up 128 channels in one operation instead of entering each one manually
📋
Clone Across Fleet
Save one configuration and duplicate it across multiple radios instantly
💻
CHIRP & CPS Compatible
Works with free CHIRP software and official Baofeng CPS on Windows
🔓
Full Radio Control
Edit frequencies, tones, power, squelch, VOX, and all advanced settings
🛠
Driver Support Included
Windows USB drivers included with every cable for quick, hassle-free setup
💰
Affordable Essential
The lowest-cost, highest-impact upgrade for any Baofeng radio owner
Three Ways to Program Your Baofeng Radio
Choose the method that best suits your setup and technical level:
🖥️ Factory CPS Software
- Official Baofeng software for model-specific settings
- Each model has its own dedicated CPS version
- Required for DM series DMR digital radios
- Windows 10 and Windows 11 only
Download CPS Software →
🌐 CHIRP-next (Recommended)
- Free, open-source — best for beginners
- Works on Windows 10, Windows 11 & macOS
- Clone channels between radios with ease
- Built-in UK repeater frequency database
- Use CHIRP-next — legacy version no longer maintained
Download CHIRP-next →
📱 OLA Radio App (Bluetooth)
- Wireless Bluetooth programming from your smartphone
- No PC or USB cable required
- Available on iOS and Android
- Built-in Bluetooth: UV-5R Mini, UV-32, UV-28 Pro
- Other models require the BT-A1D Bluetooth adapter
View OLA App Details →
⚠️ Driver Installation: Before plugging in your programming cable, install the correct Windows USB driver first. Open Device Manager after connecting — if you see
“Prolific”, install the Prolific PL2303 driver. If you see
“CH340”, install the CH340 driver. Full driver downloads are available on our
software page.
How to Program Your Baofeng Radio — Step by Step
Programming your Baofeng radio with a USB cable takes under 10 minutes from start to finish:
Install the Driver
Run the included Windows USB driver installer before plugging in the cable. The cable will appear as a COM port in Device Manager once installed correctly.
Connect Cable to Radio
Plug the 2-pin audio connector into your radio’s speaker/mic port. Plug the USB end into your PC. Turn the radio on before proceeding.
Read, Edit & Write
Select your radio model and COM port in the software. Click “Read from Radio” to back up, edit your channels, then click “Write to Radio” to upload.
🇬🇧 UK Frequency & Licence Reminder: Always ensure any frequencies you transmit on are within your licence permissions. If you hold a
UK Ofcom Amateur Radio Licence, you may use the full range of amateur frequencies. If you need to operate without a licence, see our
PMR446 licence-free guide.
Full Compatibility Guide — All Baofeng Models
All standard cables use the 2-pin Kenwood-style connector. Check your model’s connector type and OLA App compatibility below:
⚠️ Special Connector Models: The
UV-9R Plus,
UV-9R PRO, and
UV-98 PRO use a
multi-pin screw-in waterproof connector and are
not compatible with the standard 2-pin Kenwood programming cable. These models require a dedicated model-specific cable. Please
contact our support team before purchasing.
| Radio Model |
Connector |
CHIRP |
CPS Software |
OLA Bluetooth App |
Windows Driver |
| UV-5R |
2-Pin Kenwood |
✔ Yes |
✔ Yes |
BT-A1D adapter needed |
Included |
| UV-5RH |
2-Pin Kenwood |
✔ Yes |
✔ Yes |
BT-A1D adapter needed |
Included |
| UV-5RH PRO |
2-Pin Kenwood |
✔ Yes |
✔ Yes |
BT-A1D adapter needed |
Included |
| UV-5RM PLUS |
2-Pin Kenwood |
✔ Yes |
✔ Yes |
BT-A1D adapter needed |
Included |
| UV-5R MINI |
2-Pin Kenwood |
✔ Yes |
✔ Yes |
✔ Built-in Bluetooth |
Included |
| UV-82 5W |
2-Pin Kenwood |
✔ Yes |
✔ Yes |
✘ Not supported |
Included |
| UV-82 8W |
2-Pin Kenwood |
✔ Yes |
✔ Yes |
✘ Not supported |
Included |
| UV-9R Plus |
Multi-pin waterproof ⚠️ |
✔ Yes |
✔ Yes |
✘ Not supported |
Included |
| UV-9R PRO |
Multi-pin waterproof ⚠️ |
✔ Yes |
✔ Yes |
✘ Not supported |
Included |
| UV-98 PRO |
Multi-pin waterproof ⚠️ |
✔ Yes |
✔ Yes |
✘ Not supported |
Included |
| UV-K5 PLUS |
2-Pin Kenwood |
✔ Yes |
✔ Yes |
BT-A1D adapter needed |
Included |
| UV-K6 |
2-Pin Kenwood |
✔ Yes |
✔ Yes |
✘ Not supported |
Included |
| UV-16 PRO |
2-Pin Kenwood |
✔ Yes |
✔ Yes |
✘ Not supported |
Included |
| UV-25 |
2-Pin Kenwood |
✔ Yes |
✔ Yes |
✘ Not supported |
Included |
| UV-32 GPS |
2-Pin Kenwood |
✔ Yes |
✔ Yes |
✔ Built-in Bluetooth |
Included |
| UV-28 PRO |
2-Pin Kenwood |
✔ Yes |
✔ Yes |
✔ Built-in Bluetooth |
Included |
| AR-152 Pro GPS |
2-Pin Kenwood |
✔ Yes |
✔ Yes |
✘ Not supported |
Included |
| BF-888S UHF |
2-Pin Kenwood |
✔ Yes |
✔ Yes |
BT-A1D adapter needed |
Included |
| BF-888S PMR446 |
2-Pin Kenwood |
✔ Yes |
✔ Yes |
BT-A1D adapter needed |
Included |
| BF-88ST PMR446 |
2-Pin Kenwood |
✔ Yes |
✔ Yes |
✘ Not supported |
Included |
| BF-T1 |
2-Pin Kenwood |
✔ Yes |
✔ Yes |
✘ Not supported |
Included |
| BF-W31 |
2-Pin Kenwood |
✔ Yes |
✔ Yes |
✘ Not supported |
Included |
| DM-1701 |
2-Pin Kenwood |
✘ Use CPS |
✔ Yes |
✘ Not supported |
Included |
| DM-32 |
2-Pin Kenwood |
✘ Use CPS |
✔ Yes |
✘ Not supported |
Included |
⚠️ UV-9R Plus / UV-9R PRO / UV-98 PRO — Special Cable Required: These three models feature a
multi-pin screw-in waterproof connector and are
not compatible with the standard 2-pin Kenwood programming cable listed on this page. A dedicated model-specific programming cable is required. Please
contact our support team for the correct cable for these models.
Who Needs a Baofeng Programming Cable?
🏢 Professional Teams & Businesses
Security firms, construction companies, hotels, and event teams managing fleets of 5 or more radios need programming cables to ensure every device is configured identically — same channels, same tones, same settings — with no room for manual error.
📡 Amateur Radio Operators
Ham radio operators use programming cables to store local repeater frequencies, set up scanning lists, configure CTCSS/DCS tones, and fine-tune advanced settings that are difficult or impossible to enter manually via the keypad alone.
🏔 Outdoor & Emergency Preparedness
Hikers, expedition teams, and emergency preppers use programming cables to pre-load all relevant local frequencies, RAYNET channels, and emergency services simplex frequencies before heading into areas without internet access.
🏫 Schools & Community Groups
Schools and community radio groups managing shared radio fleets use programming cables to quickly set up and reset devices between uses, ensuring consistent, safe, and appropriate channel configurations for every user.
What UK Customers Say
★★★★★
"Worked straight out of the box with CHIRP on Windows 11. Driver installed without any issues at all."
Verified UK Buyer — Baofeng USB Programming Cable
★★★★★
"Programmed 10 BF-888S radios for our security team in under an hour. Saved so much time compared to manual setup."
Verified UK Buyer — Baofeng USB Programming Cable
★★★★★
"Used it with my UV-5R and CHIRP — loaded all the local repeaters in minutes. Essential bit of kit."
Verified UK Buyer — Baofeng USB Programming Cable
★★★★★
"Good quality cable, solid connectors, and the driver worked fine. Great value for the price."
Verified UK Buyer — Baofeng USB Programming Cable
Other Accessories
Complete your Baofeng radio setup with our full range of compatible accessories:
Bulk Programming Cable Orders for UK Businesses & Teams
Deploying a large radio fleet? Every radio in your team should be programmed identically — and that means you need a programming cable for every site manager, IT administrator, or radio coordinator in your organisation. We supply bulk cable orders with volume pricing available across all quantities.
Request a Bulk Order Quote →
Frequently Asked Questions — Baofeng Programming Cable UK
What is the best way to program a Baofeng radio?
The best and fastest way to program a Baofeng radio is with a USB programming cable and the free CHIRP-next software. CHIRP allows you to visually edit all channels, frequencies, and settings in a spreadsheet-style interface, then upload the complete configuration to your radio in seconds. This is significantly faster and more accurate than manual keypad programming, and lets you save, back up, and clone configurations across multiple radios. For DM series DMR digital radios, the official Baofeng CPS software is required instead of CHIRP.
Is the Baofeng programming cable compatible with CHIRP?
Yes. All programming cables in our range are fully compatible with CHIRP-next, the most widely used free radio programming software available. We recommend using CHIRP-next rather than the legacy version, as the legacy version is no longer actively maintained. CHIRP supports the full range of Baofeng models including the UV-5R, UV-82, BF-888S, UV-5RH, UV-16 Pro, and many more. Note: DM series DMR radios such as the DM-1701 and DM-32 require the dedicated Baofeng CPS software instead.
What connector does the Baofeng programming cable use?
Most Baofeng programming cables use the standard 2-pin Kenwood-style audio connector on the radio end, plugging into the speaker/mic port on the side of the radio. The PC end uses a standard USB-A connector. However, the UV-9R Plus, UV-9R PRO, and UV-98 PRO use a multi-pin screw-in waterproof connector and require a dedicated model-specific cable — they are not compatible with the standard 2-pin cable. Please contact our support team if you own one of these models.
Does the programming cable work on Windows 10 and Windows 11?
Yes. All cables in our range include the necessary Windows USB driver and are compatible with Windows 10 and Windows 11. After installing the driver, the cable will appear as a COM port in Device Manager. If you see a “Prolific” entry, install the Prolific PL2303 driver. If you see “CH340”, install the CH340 driver. Full driver downloads are available on our software page. For macOS compatibility details, please check the individual product page or contact us.
Can I use one programming cable to program multiple different Baofeng models?
Yes — as long as all your radios use the same 2-pin Kenwood-style connector, a single cable can program multiple different Baofeng models. Within CHIRP or CPS, simply select the correct radio model each time before reading or writing the configuration. This makes the programming cable an extremely versatile tool for teams or clubs operating a mixed fleet of Baofeng radios. Note that the UV-9R Plus, UV-9R PRO, and UV-98 PRO require their own dedicated cable due to their waterproof connector type.
Do I need a licence to use the frequencies I program into my radio?
Yes — in the UK, you must only transmit on frequencies you are licensed to use. If you hold a UK Ofcom Amateur Radio Licence (Foundation, Intermediate, or Full), you may use the full range of amateur frequencies. For licence-free operation, only PMR446 frequencies are permitted without any licence. See our PMR446 licence-free guide and our UK amateur radio licence guide for full details.
Can I back up my Baofeng radio’s settings with a programming cable?
Yes — and this is one of the most valuable features of using a programming cable. In CHIRP or Baofeng CPS, you can download the entire configuration from your radio and save it as a file on your PC. This creates a complete backup of all channels, frequencies, and settings. If your radio is ever lost, damaged, or accidentally reset, you can restore the full configuration to a replacement radio in seconds. For professional teams, we strongly recommend backing up all radio configurations before and after any programming session.
Program Smarter — Not Harder
Genuine Baofeng programming cables · Driver support included · Expert UK technical support
Baofeng Radio UK stocks genuine USB programming cables compatible with the full range of Baofeng two-way radios including the UV-5R, UV-5RH, UV-5RH Pro, UV-5RM Plus, UV-5R Mini, UV-82, UV-9R Plus, UV-9R Pro, UV-98 Pro, UV-K5 Plus, UV-K6, UV-16 Pro, UV-25, UV-32 GPS, UV-28 Pro, AR-152 Pro GPS, BF-888S, BF-88ST, BF-T1, BF-W31, DM-1701, and DM-32. Every cable includes Windows USB driver support and is compatible with both CHIRP-next and the official Baofeng CPS software, making it the fastest and most reliable way to program, clone, and manage your radio fleet. All orders include UK technical support.
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