How to Program a Baofeng With CHIRP

What you need before you start

You need three things before you start. Get the cable right and everything else is easy.

• CHIRP software (free). Download the current build from the official site, chirpmyradio.com. CHIRP is free and open source; you never need to pay for it. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Use the latest build, since older versions may not recognize newer radio variants.
• A good programming cable. Baofeng HTs program through the two-pin Kenwood-style jack on the side (under the accessory cover). The cable quality matters more than anything else here. A genuine FTDI-chipset cable such as the BTECH PC03 FTDI cable installs cleanly and reliably; cheap clones with counterfeit Prolific chips frequently fail to connect on modern Windows. See the buying warning below.
• Your radio and its frequencies. Have the repeater's output frequency, offset direction and size, and CTCSS/DCS tone ready. A local repeater directory or club site lists these, and our repeater guide explains what each field means.

Step 1: Install CHIRP and get the cable recognized

Install CHIRP, then get the cable talking to your computer. Do this once and it is set for future sessions.

1. Download and install the latest CHIRP from chirpmyradio.com. On Windows, run the installer; on macOS you may need to allow it in Security settings.
2. Plug the programming cable into a USB port. With a genuine FTDI cable on Windows 10 or 11, the driver usually installs automatically.
3. Open Device Manager (Windows) and look under Ports (COM & LPT). You should see a USB Serial Port with a COM number, for example COM3. Note that number.
4. If you see a yellow warning icon or no COM port at all, the cable or driver is the problem, not CHIRP. Jump to the FAQ on cables below before going further.
5. Firmly seat the plug into the radio's side jack. The two connectors seat separately and one is often not fully home. Turn the radio on and set the volume to about half.

A working cable that shows a clean COM port is 90 percent of the battle. Everything after this is just moving data.

Step 2: Download the image from your radio (backup first)

Always read the radio first. Downloading pulls the radio's current memory into CHIRP as an image, which becomes both your working file and your backup.

1. In CHIRP, choose Radio then Download From Radio.
2. Select the COM port you noted earlier.
3. Choose the vendor (Baofeng) and the model. Pick the exact model, for example UV-5R, BF-F8HP, or UV-82HP. If your exact variant is not listed, the closest matching UV-5R generation usually works, but match as closely as you can.
4. Click OK. The radio will read out and CHIRP shows a channel grid.
5. Save this image immediately with File then Save As before you change anything. If an upload ever goes wrong, you can restore this file.

If the download fails partway, it is almost always the cable, the COM port selection, or a loose plug, not a broken radio. Reseat the plug, confirm the port, and try again.

Step 3: Add a repeater channel (frequency, offset, tone)

Now add a repeater. A repeater listens on one frequency and transmits on another, so your radio must transmit on the input and receive on the output. CHIRP handles this with an offset and a tone.

1. Click an empty row in the channel grid, or edit an existing one.
2. Frequency: enter the repeater's output frequency (the frequency it transmits on and you listen to), for example 146.940.
3. Duplex: set the offset direction (plus or minus). The direction depends on the repeater's sub-band and is set by the regional band plan, so do not guess it. Take the exact plus/minus value from your repeater directory (RepeaterBook lists it for every repeater). Leave blank for simplex.
4. Offset: enter the offset size. Standard is 0.600 MHz on 2 meters and 5.000 MHz on 70 cm.
5. Tone: set Tone Mode to Tone to transmit a CTCSS tone, then set the Tone value (for example 100.0 Hz) to match the repeater. Use TSQL only if you also want tone squelch on receive. If the repeater uses DCS, choose DTCS instead.
6. Name: give the channel a short label so it is easy to find on the radio.

Get the tone right or the repeater simply will not respond. Most repeaters require a specific CTCSS tone on your transmitted signal to key up.

Step 4: Upload the image back to the radio and test

When your channels look right, write the image back to the radio.

1. Save your CHIRP file again so the edited version is stored.
2. Choose Radio then Upload To Radio.
3. Confirm the COM port and click OK. Do not unplug the cable, turn off the radio, or close CHIRP while it writes.
4. When the upload completes, the radio may reset. Switch to a programmed channel and confirm it shows the frequency and name you entered.
5. Test on the air: listen for repeater activity, then key up briefly and confirm you can access it. If you hear yourself through the repeater's tail, the offset and tone are correct.

Only ever upload an image you first downloaded from that same radio and model. Uploading a mismatched or hand-built image can push settings the radio does not expect. Because you saved a backup in Step 2, you can always restore a known-good image if something looks wrong.

Common CHIRP problems and fixes

Most CHIRP problems trace back to a handful of causes, and none of them mean your radio is broken.

• No COM port / driver error. This is almost always a counterfeit-chip cable. Genuine FTDI cables install cleanly; fake Prolific clones often show a Code 10 error on modern Windows. Buy an FTDI cable rather than fighting drivers.
• Wrong port selected. Pick the COM number that appears only when the cable is plugged in, not a built-in port.
• Loose plug. The two-pin connector must seat fully. Push firmly and make sure the accessory cover is out of the way.
• Wrong model chosen. Selecting the wrong Baofeng variant can cause a download to fail or garble. Match your exact model.
• Repeater will not key up. Re-check the CTCSS tone value, the Tone Mode, and the offset direction. A missing or wrong tone is the usual culprit.
• Radio off or volume down. The radio must be powered on to read and write.

CHIRP compatible radios and a legality note

CHIRP supports a very wide range of radios beyond Baofeng, which is part of why it is the standard beginner tool. Popular CHIRP compatible radios include the Baofeng UV-5R family and BF-F8HP, the Quansheng UV-K5, many TIDRADIO and Radioddity models, and various BTECH and Wouxun HTs. Not every radio is supported, and support depends on the CHIRP build, so check the current model list on the CHIRP site.

A few important notes on legality and scope. CHIRP will happily let you enter frequencies outside the ham bands, but you may only transmit where your license class permits. A US Technician license is required to transmit on ham bands at all. Before you program frequencies, confirm they fall within your Technician privileges. Programming a channel does not grant permission to use it.