Manual programming of the UV-5RA (if its anything like the UV-5R) can be tedious and frustrating for
new user. I purchased the XLT "painless" programming cable for around $20.00
Along with software from CHIRP.com it made everything easy. Works fine on a Windows 7 machine.
Go to mt.cricketventures.com for programming instructions. Just remember to plug the USB connector
back in to the same USB port you originally installed from. May not work if you use another USB port.