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Connect UV-PRO and UV-50PRO to Winlink Express over Bluetooth
Prove Bluetooth before troubleshooting the RF path
Enable KISS TNC and leave the separate Digital Mode disabled. Pair the radio with Windows, then choose its Bluetooth serial COM port in Packet Winlink. The radio’s connection icon proves that first link. Only then should you test the gateway frequency and VHF RF path.
Winlink Express over Bluetooth
What this guide proves
This guide builds two links: Windows to the radio, then the radio to a nearby compatible VHF packet gateway. It cannot make an HF or distant gateway reachable.
1. Prepare the radio
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Use the correct controls
Use the handheld controls on UV-PRO or the control head on UV-50PRO for the radio-side steps.
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Enable KISS TNC
Open Main Menu → General Settings → KISS TNC and turn KISS TNC on.
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Leave Digital Mode off
Open General Settings → Digital Mode and leave its Enable option unchecked for this Winlink Express KISS workflow.
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Select the gateway memory and start pairing
Tune to the verified VHF packet gateway channel, then place the radio in Bluetooth pairing mode.
2. Find the Windows serial connection
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Add the radio in Bluetooth settings
In Windows Settings, add a Bluetooth device and select the BTECH radio when it appears. The displayed name can vary by model or firmware.
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Write down the COM ports
Open Device Manager and expand Ports (COM & LPT). Record the Bluetooth COM-port numbers. Windows may create more than one; the alternate port is often the first thing to try when Winlink cannot open the radio.
3. Connect Winlink Express in two stages
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Open a Packet Winlink session
Choose Packet Winlink in Winlink Express and open its session window.
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Select a recorded Bluetooth COM port
Open the session settings, choose one of the COM ports from Device Manager, and save the change.
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Look for the radio connection icon
Start the session and watch both the Winlink status window and the radio. The radio’s connection icon proves the PC-to-radio link is working.
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Then test the VHF gateway
Select the verified nearby gateway and begin the connection attempt using its current published settings. If the icon remains but the gateway does not answer, stop changing Bluetooth settings and troubleshoot the RF side.
Troubleshooting Winlink connections
| What you see | What it means | Next move |
|---|---|---|
| No Bluetooth COM ports | Windows did not create the serial service | Remove the pairing, update the Bluetooth adapter, pair again, and recheck Device Manager. |
| The COM port opens, but no radio icon appears | The wrong port is selected or another program owns it | Close every radio app and try the other Bluetooth COM port. |
| The icon appears, but the gateway does not answer | The local link works; the RF path does not | Verify the gateway is current, nearby, VHF packet, reachable, and configured with the correct frequency and mode. |
| Winlink says the port is busy | Another app or stale session owns the connection | Close all radio software, stop the session, power-cycle the radio if needed, and reconnect one program only. |
| Only HF or distant gateways appear | No compatible nearby VHF RMS gateway is available | UV-PRO and UV-50PRO cannot use an HF-only gateway. Choose another approved path or location. |
Manuals, firmware, and Winlink documentation
Common questions
Does the radio connection icon mean I reached the gateway?
No. It confirms Winlink Express has connected to the radio. The VHF gateway connection is a separate test.
Can I leave the BTECH Programmer app connected?
No. Close it and every other program that could claim the Bluetooth serial port.
Can UV-PRO or UV-50PRO connect to an HF Winlink gateway?
No. Choose a compatible VHF packet gateway within the radio’s supported and authorized operating range.
Does this cover WOAD, Linux, Pat, or YAAC?
No. Those platforms need their own verified pairing, TNC, and port instructions.
Comments (17)
Good info. Please duplicate for WOAD, Winlink On AnDroid.
I use WOAD too on my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra for Winlink.
I too use WOAD on my S22. Make Winlink work on BF‑F8HP PRO please.
Good info – Agree, would like similar detail for WoAD.
Please also include info for Linux.
Would also like to have info for connecting APRS to a host computer with Windows and Linux and, if possible, sharing GPS info as well.
I assume you have to configure rfcomm0 or 1. I don’t know which channel
then bind rfcomm to some known address. This is of interest to me too woad on tablet is nice. Linux Mint/yaac wine rmsexpress on tablet is nicer. PAT on linux Menu would be a win too, if not Wine rmsexpress. I suppose
quick question, how can i find out if I’m actually making a connection to the service? what should I be looking for in the waterfall from the SoundModem?
Please also detail the process for connecting to Linux with Pat for Winlink and/or YAAC for APRS. This is especially important now that Microsoft has announced the EOL for Win10. There are many older Windows computer that cannot be upgraded to Win11 that will work great with Linux. Pairing one of those with this radio for emergency communications would be great.
Reach out to [email protected] for setup help
I cannot connect to any gateways, using the radio, I cannot connect to my computer to use win link express , not even if I go sit outside to attempt to use radio mail on my phone. even if it is connected through Bluetooth to my computer I only ever have 1 comport unless I plug in my radio programming cable which is com 4. you know I just had a thought thought what if I check the Bluetooth adapter on my computer, because my comport/lpt is not reporting it correctly Better instructions could be published to use all of the features including digipeater and i gate because I know there is a way to piece this all together without the use of raspberry pi that I have been reading so much about that I need to have.
Reach out to [email protected] for any setup issues
Is there a like tutorial for the BTech UV-25X4?
in your instruction, “Go back and select General Settings > Digital Mode – ensure the “Enable” box is unchecked.” should read “Go back and select General Settings > Digital Mode – ensure the “Enable” box is checked.” because when you set share location to 600, Digital Mode is automatically enabled.
Winlink freq way out of range of UV Pro! I must be missing something. Winklink towers are all very sparsely spaced and the freq are mostly all in the 7MHz range. Way out of the UV Pro ability.
“”” Find the local VHF Winlink frequency for your area. Save this frequency as a memory channel on your radio (name it something easy like “Winlink”).”””
Huge step left out of the instructions:
“” Find the local VHF Winlink frequency for your area. Save this frequency as a memory channel on your radio (name it something easy like “Winlink”).””
If you go to the Winling site and look for towers. They are extremely sparse throughout the country. In the state of Florida, there’s only three and not a single one anywhere near Central Florida or the middle of the state. One on East Coast two on the West Coast. Plus the majority of all these wind link towers run down in the 7 to 10 MHz range. That’s way outside to capabilities of the UV pro. I can connect my radio to Winling express create a message and try to send it And it will work meaning it will attempt to send whatever frequency you have in there. But a huge step that is missing is where are the wind capable towers located?
Worked great! thanks for taking the time to help out.
I wish it was so easy! The BTech app for UV Pro connects and works fine. But I cannot get WoAD or Winlink Express on a pc to work. The trouble is figuring out where the problem is. I think that the PC is not making a Bluetooth connection. The phone/WoAD may be making a Bluetooth connection (supposedly there’s a “phone “icon on the display. It would be nice if BTech showed what all the display icons were).
If the phone is connected via WoAD, then it may be that I’m too far from the Winlink node I’m connecting to. Or I have a config problem.
I got up today wanting to send a Winlink email message to my regular email account. Now I’ve got umpteen tabs open, and hours into it, and totally confused. My next test is to drive closer to a node.
Hi Nick — separate the Bluetooth/TNC link test from the RF-path test. Fully close the BTECH programmer app and any other program using the radio. On the UV-PRO, enable KISS TNC, leave Digital Mode disabled as shown in the tutorial, place the radio in Pairing mode, and pair it in Windows. In Winlink Express, open Packet Winlink and try each Bluetooth COM port shown in Device Manager. The phone icon confirms that Winlink Express has connected to the radio; only after that should you troubleshoot the selected nearby VHF RMS Packet gateway, frequency, and RF range. WoAD and the PC should not try to use the radio at the same time.