BTECH APRS-K1 Multi-Function Universal Audio Interface Cable - Supports APRSpro, APRSDroid - Android & iOS Compatible - Supports, BaoFeng, TYT, Wouxun, AnyTone, Kenwood, and More

I purchased the Pro version. Works as advertised! I am planning to use it for my upcoming trip in September.

Grabbed this to play around with packet radio and APRS on some Baofeng and TIDRadios. The packet radio doesn't work very well since the radios themselves just can't transition between send and receive as fast as a mid-tier radio. But for APRS, this worked great. It wasn't really something I needed, but I just wanted to play around with it. It worked.

Met expectations for my ham radio hobby.

Worked for my Baofeng 5RM and direwolf on a Linux box to get on APRS. I’ve read other reviews about the issues with squelch and VOX but I didn’t have that problem at all. Once I got everything configured it was plug and play. Looking back I would have got the more expensive cable with PTT but oh well.

I picked up the BTECH APRS-K1 Interface Cable to experiment with APRS and digital modes using my Btech BF-F8HP Pro handheld—and I’m honestly impressed by how much functionality you get in such a small, affordable package.✅ Plug-and-Play Simplicity: Unlike more complex setups, the BTECH APRS-K1 is extremely easy to use. Just plug the K1 connector into your radio and the audio jacks into your phone, tablet, or computer running your favorite APRS or packet software. No drivers, no configuration headaches. It worked right away with APRSdroid on my phone.✅ Great for APRS: I’ve successfully used it for APRS position beacons and receiving weather bulletins. It's an excellent tool for experimenting with analog/digital hybrids, and it’s especially handy for on-the-go or field use.✅ Compact & Durable: The build quality is solid, and the cable isn’t flimsy like some other knockoffs. It coils easily and fits in a go-bag or glove box without taking up much space.✅ Wide Compatibility: Works with most radios using the Kenwood K1 connector—including Baofeng, TYT, Radioddity, and others. I tested it with a BF-F8HP Pro and it worked flawlessly.🆚 Compared to the Digirig:The Digirig is more powerful and flexible—it has a built-in sound card and can interface with many radios via USB, with full CAT control and rig monitoring. It’s great for WSJT-X, FT8, Winlink, and other digital modes that require precise audio control. However, it is double the price and you still have to buy $35 cables to connect it.However, the APRS-K1 shines in its simplicity and portability. No drivers, no setup, no extra power needed. Just plug and go. It’s perfect for APRS and analog audio modes, especially if you're working with Android apps or just need a lightweight field setup.📌 Things to Know before you buy:This cable is audio-only—no CAT control or PTT over USB. It uses VOX, so your radio must support that (most Baofengs do).You may need to adjust mic gain and audio levels depending on your device and app.Final Thoughts:The BTECH APRS-K1 is a fantastic low-cost solution for APRS and audio-based digital modes. It’s not as feature-rich as a Digirig, but it’s also less than half the price and far easier to use in a field or mobile setting. If you’re looking to get started with APRS or dabble in analog digital modes, this cable is a no-brainer. Great value, great design, and super convenient.

Works great. Plug one end into your Baofeng radio and the other into your cell phone then run APRSDroid and you have an over the air APRS system

1. The cable is made well and no issues with the cable itself.2. The cable's use is very limited by the radio if you want to do APRS doing both transmission and reception. If you want to do one or the other the cable works great. If you just want to be a beacon it works fine, if you want to just see what assets are around again the cable works fine. You just can do both.Here is the reason whyThe cable is audio only so you have to use VOX if you want to transmit. If you want to transmit put VOX on 2 and the radio will transmit fine. Warning be careful sending email or text via APRS. The receiving station will send back a confirmation but the Baofeng will not properly hear the confirmation and depending on your software it may try to send the message again.To get a Baofeng to receive APRS consistently you need to turn off power savings and turn off squelch. If you turn off squelch VOX does not work, so no transmission.You need to turn off squelch because most Baofengs are not quick enough with the squelch on to get the first part of the packet and APRS is all or nothing when it comes to a packet.So because of the radio you can receive or transmit not both using this cable.

I wanted to like this cable for APRS operation on my macbook. Be warned that it's just not good. I returned the first one and tried another, but they're the same. The cable contains a sound card that processes the audio coming from the radio pretty heavily. I noticed a lot of distortion, but the biggest issue for me is it suppresses the audio level far enough that Direwolf can't pick up packets well. With my radio at full volume Direwolf reports that the audio is not quite half of what it should be. My computer reports it's about 25% of the max. It's very quiet. I know it's the cable because when I turn my radio down and then up quickly, the audio increases to full volume like expected, but only for about a half second, then the suppression kicks in. Also, about a half-second after a packet is received there is an audio volume burst, like the suppression is resetting itself. I don't know what kind of design went into this, but it doesn't seem good at all. I'm never going to be absolutely sure it's not a macbook-specific problem, but other audio sources I've tested don't do this at all. This is just my opinion, but if the computer end of the cable is USB-C, why bother limiting audio input? It's not like you're going to damage the computer at all. I mean, keep it from clipping, sure, but don't squash it down to nothing.