Tutorial: Baofeng BF-888S Programming with CHIRP

Ham radios rely on radiofrequency to transmit and receive messages. It means you must be on the same frequency with the other person to communicate with each other. Programming can help you enter your desired channel quickly and with a properly adjusted setting. You can program channels to your radio directly or using the CHIRP software. Continue reading to learn how to program your Baofeng BF-888S radio on a PC.

What you need to program the Baofeng BF-888S with CHIRP

Many people purchase the Baofeng BF-888S radio because it is affordable and reliable. What these people forget to consider is the process of programming channels on the device. The unit does not allow for direct programming on the device. You will need to use a PC and the CHIRP software to save frequencies into your channels.

So, what are the things you need for successful programming? First, you must have the Baofeng BF-888S because it is what you’ll program. You also need a programming cable connector compatible with the Baofeng unit. You will use this to connect the radio to your PC. Third, you need a PC which can be Windows, Mac, or Linux. Finally, you’ll need the BaoFeng programming software, CHIRP.

The CHIRP software is used to program the BaoFeng BF-888S and other BaoFeng radios. You can find and download the CHIRP software for free here. If the software does not run automatically on your PC, you may need to install drivers first before you can use the software.

To summarize, these are the things you need to program your BaoFeng BF-888S walkie-talkie:

• BaoFeng BF-888S
• Compatible programming cable*
• PC (Windows, Mac, Linux)
• CHIRP software and necessary drivers

How to Program the Baofeng BF-888S with CHIRP

Once you’ve gathered the items mentioned above, you can now continue with programming your BaoFeng BF-888S. Here’s a step-by-step guide to program your BaoFeng radio using the CHIRP software.

Install the CHIRP Programming Software

1. Go to https://chirp.danplanet.com/projects/chirp/wiki/Home. Look for your PC’s operating system (Mac, Windows, or Linux) and click the link that says “Click here to download the latest version.”
2. You should be redirected to a new page. Click the link named chirp-daily-xxxxxxxx-installer.exe (where xxxxxxxx is the file’s date). The download should begin shortly.
3. After the download is complete, a prompt will appear on your screen saying that Windows protected your PC. Don’t panic. Windows is telling you this, not because the downloaded file contains a virus. It only means the OS does not recognize the file.
4. Select “More info” then “Run anyway” to begin installing the CHIRP software on your PC.

Install the Programming Cable

1. Plug the cable into your PC. It will automatically find and install a driver for the cable or not. Open the device manager to check.
2. If your device manager recognizes the cable, you should install the necessary drivers for the program to run smoothly.
3. Plug the Baofeng radio on the other end of the cable. Turn the device on, then open the CHIRP software.
4. If you see an error message, click OK, then move to the next step.
5. Check the default channels and programs on your Baofeng BF-888S. Select radio from the menu on the top, then Download From Radio. A pop-up window should appear with blanks for Port, Vendor, and Model. Check your device manager to get the Port. For Vendor and Model, type BaoFeng and BF-888, respectively. Click Ok.
6. You should now see the list of frequencies on your device together with the Tone Mode, Tone, Tone Sql, and other items in tabular form.

Save Frequencies on The Channels

1. You can now input frequencies on your device by typing in the value. Take note that you should program channels to your radio carefully. Do not save frequencies that you don’t have a license for. Check the list of legal frequencies you can input on your Baofeng radio, such as ARRL’s band plan for the 70cm band, simplex frequencies, and local repeaters.
2. Fill in all the channels, even if you have to repeat frequencies. This is to avoid irritating beeps when you accidentally enter an unprogrammed channel.
3. After typing in the frequencies, you can also adjust other settings such as the Tone Mode and TSQL value.
4. Once you’re done programming, click File on the menu bar, then save.
5. Click radio from the menu, then select Upload to Radio.
6. Turn off your BaoFeng BF-888S and disconnect it from your PC.
7. Test your radio by turning it on and checking your programmed channels.

Conclusion – Tutorial: Baofeng BF-888S Programming

The BaoFeng BF-888S radio is inexpensive and popular. The only problem with it is it doesn’t allow for direct programming, unlike other radios. You must have a PC, programming cable, and the CHIRP software to program the channels on your radio. Nevertheless, these things aren’t challenging to acquire. The CHIRP software is downloadable for free, and it is user-friendly. Thus, you’ll easily program your BaoFeng BF-888S.