The BF-888s ham transceiver is great value and can be programmed easily with the correct cable and software. I have found that the software downloaded from Miklor.com does not work correctly. When data is transferred from the BF-888s it is incorrectly identified with Model info reading VHF 245 -246 Mhz even though the displayed set frequencies are in the 460 Mhz band. When entering a new 400Mhz + frequency and hitting ENTER the frequency entry is shifted to one in the VHF band!!!!. So I uninstalled the app that was installed by BF888s_v1.05.exe. Then used the BF480 software (bf480.exe) and had no problems re-programming.
Some owners complain that the BF-888s will not go into programming mode. These are the correct steps
1. Install the programming cable USB driver (use the correct version for the computer OS). Run the driver software supplied and when finished plug in the USB programming cable and allow the driver install to complete and assign a COM port typically COM 4
2. Run bf480.exe, in setup select the correct COM port.
3. With the BF-888s switched OFF plug the programming cable firmly all the way into the body. USB end still plugged in. If the cable is not fully inserted the BF programming mode will not be achieved.
4. Switch ON the BF-888s and it will be in programming mode. The programming cable must always be connected before switching the BF ON.
5. In the BF-480 software select to READ from transceiver. Then clicking OK to read.
6. The original setup can then be saved to a file before re-programming. Once re-programmed the settings can be saved into a new file that can be used for cloning.
7. The new frequencies can then be loaded into the transceiver by selecting WRITE and then OK to write.
Check that the frequencies have been loaded by processing a new READ from the transceiver.