[Elecraft] Fake FTDI chips

[Jerome Sodus]

Hello Don W3FPR,

I need to comment about "reputable brands" relative to
USB-to-serial-adapters.

Triplett-Keyspan is not reputable, in my opinion.
The story goes like this.
I have an AIM-4170 analyzer that needs a RS232 connection.
The AIM works when connected to a Dell desktop's RS232 port.
For portability, I wanted to use the AIM with my Dell laptop and bought a
Keyspan adapter.
Regrettably, much time went by before I could get back to the hobby and try
the Keyspan but I never suspected a big problem would be lurking.
Keyspan's USB-adapter, when plugged into the Dell laptop, would not work my
AIM-4170 analyzer.
So I tried plugging it into the desktop; still would not work.
But incredibly, their technical-support put the blame on my AIM.
By this time, it is past the warranty period.
I bought a Radio-Shack adapter for the laptop; AIM works fine.

To finish the story, I bought a HP-desktop.
The Keyspan won't work there.
For that HP, I also bought from HP a real RS232-card with two ports.
The AIM works fine with those ports.

So much for Keyspan's adapter and their tech-support.

BTW, my KX3 kit came today.

73 Jerry KM3K