Recently installed CHIRP to program my Yaesu FT-50R HT. I purchased a USB to radio cable on Amazon which works with this radio. Cable installed on Win7 + Win 10 right away, correct latest Prolific driver. Could download FROM radio to CHIRP no problem! Every attempt to upload TO radio failed with an error message. Tried several times with same error msg. Then installed the old 1995 RTD programming software and it opened an instruction box when downloading or uploading. If it was not for that, I would have thought the cable was bad.
On the Yaesu FT-50R, here is the right way, with any programming software. For example, I will use CHIRP.
I want to take what is on the radio now and save it to a backup file of the original factory settings and firmware. So I need to download from radio to CHIRP. Here are the 50R steps.
Open CHIRP
On 50R hold PTT + top Knob down while powering on radio. Display will say CLON
Now go to CHIRP top menu, select download from radio. When box opens, press OK.
Now press PTT button on 50R
Cloning box will open. When complete, CHIRP main page will show the radio info. I then created a backup image with the name 'original factory image' in a folder in My Documents. Named the main folder Yaesu FT-50R Backups 2016. Then a sub folder called Original Factory Image. Moved the new file into that folder. Then went again to CHIRP, File, SAVE AS and pointed to the main FT-50R Backups 2016 folder and in the name line called it 'working copy' and the date. Then saved that one. Now close CHIRP and reopen again. Go to File, Open, working copy. I then added some repeater freqs and 2nd tab down on left, went to 'settings'. After finished, I repeated the initial sequence to 'upload to radio' which failed at every attempt.
Went back to the original programming program from 1995 and tried to upload to radio there. Fortunately it provided a popup box with instructions. To UPLOAD from CHIRP to 50R, here are the correct steps.
Have everything as wanted to upload to radio on software page but DO NOT select UPLOAD to radio yet!
First!
Turn radio OFF
Then Hold PTT + Knob and turn radio On.
Now press MON button (below PTT button) Display will say READY.
Now select Upload to Radio in Software and click on OK
Upload (sending) verification will begin. When complete @ 100% box will close and 50R will return to VFOA
I was 1/2 hour trying to figure out why I could bring info from radio but not TO radio. I even reported a bug with CHIRP and then updated to User Error after figuring things out.
If you purchased a used Yaesu FT-50R, CHIRP and an aftermarket Prolific USB to radio cable will work. However, CHIRP has a very limited access to tweaking the radio settings. You will need the new RT Systems software and cable @ $49 for complete access. Most settings are set them once, so no big deal. I did purchase the spendy version to support their development. Especially with older models. I was surprised to see that they also now support Baofengs, same as CHIRP. Again, access to more radio settings.
73
Ray
KF6OJE