Keyspan USB to serial adapter for radio programming

[EagleDriver]

Many in the MILSIM world have run into problems programming Chinese radios, such as Puxing, Wouxun, Baofeng, etc. For these radios, there are two programming cable types that let you program using software on a computer. They are USB and Serial.


USB programming cable

Serial programming cable

Both are actually serial programming cables, but the USB cable includes a built-in USB to Serial adapter. The USB cable can be problematic for users, as it's USB to serial chipset, made by Prolific, won't always work with Windows versions newer than XP. Compounding this problem is the fact that most new computers, especially laptops, aren't coming with serial ports anymore. So you seem to be stuck with the USB programming cable.

But there are several manufacturers who make USB to Serial cables, which you plug into your computer, and you can then use the serial programming cable. Most of them also use the Prolific chipset, which results in the same problem.

The Keyspan USB to Serial adapter, however, uses a Texas Instruments chipset. This works out of the box with Windows up to Windows 7 (I don't have a Windows 8 computer to test on.) You just plug it in to your computer, wait for the device to configure, and then you can use the serial programming cable. It costs around $30 USD, which is about three times what the programming cable costs, but it is worth that much if you are at your wits end trying to use a USB cable.

NOTE: Tripp Lite now owns Keyspan, and they actually make two USB to Serial cables. Only one has the TI chipset and it looks like this:



The other one uses the Prolific PL-2303 chipset, so stay away (unless you are savvy with Prolific drivers.)



So if you are having trouble programming a Chinese (or other radio) using a USB cable, the Keyspan USB to Serial adapter with the TI chipset is plug and play. Once installed, you do have to select your serial port, which you do by going into device manager:

1. Right click on "My Computer" and select "Manage"
2. Select "Device Manager"
3. Open "Ports (COM and LPT)
4. Right click on "Keyspan USB Serial Port (COM2) and select "Properties"
(Note COM2 means that it is already set to COM port 2)
5. Click the "Port Settings" tab, and then click the "Advanced" button
6. Select "COM Port Number" in the drop down box at the bottom.
7. Click "OK" and the click "OK" again.

NOTE: For some reason, when I program using the Puxing software, I always have to re-select my COM port in the Puxing software to match the one I set above--even if I already set it.

Also, when programming your radio using a programming cable, turn the radio on FIRST, and then plug the programming cable in.