There seem to be more than the standard version of these porto's! The standard BF-888s can easily be configured using the standard cable and CHIRP. But, there is a version marked BF-888s pro, which is not programmable by it.
Also the normal baofeng tools on the baofeng website (or as delivered on the cd that comes with the baofeng USB cable) will not work.
Here is how to actually program them.
There seems to be a few differences between the pro and standard model:
- the sticker behind the battery is blue, not black
- Apparently, the protocol is different (older?)
- The memory map is different
- The pro seems to be able to scramble the transmission
- The CTS and other channel options to not work between a standard 888 and a pro version!!
The software to use with the pro versions is available for download here.
Install both packages in the zip file.
The first action is to start the S888 v1.5 software. Select the correct com port and download the current data from the porto.
It will show it's current channel settings etc.
Do NOT change a channel setting in this software, it is not possible to do so in the 400 - 470 Mhz range. The reason for this is that it comes up with UHF2 setting and will only accept frequencies in that range.
If this setting is changed, the entire table is cleared, losing all data in it.
The only reason we are using this software is to disable all the scramble settings so we can use these porto's with the normal 888's.
So set all the scrambled options to 'off' and save it to the porto.
Now, start up the other software, it will be installed as YX-720.
Do the same thing: select the correct com port and download the information from the 888. Do NOT start a new table and try to store that to the porto, it will fail!!!
Once the table is loaded, this software will allow you to set frequencies and options for those channels.
If using only pro sets, you can use CTS etc. but if you have a mix of standard 888's and pros then best leave cts etc. off, it will somehow not work (probably because the option is elsewhere in the memory map than is used in the software?).
Once everything is set, store the data in the porto and it should work.
You can save the file for later use, but loading it again is a hit and miss affair, it might fail when uploaded this file somehow. Better to always just download first, do changes, then upload.
It is possible to program more than one portophone while the software is running! So setting up more than one is just a matter of download, change, and upload to all the devices you have.