[Elecraft] USB to Serial Ports adapter: a product test

[Doug Person]

I did the exact same thing for Baofeng radios.  I just converted the 
programming cable to a serial cable.  The counterfeit chips are a 
/serious/ problem.  You will be hard-pressed to find a new computer with 
"real" serial ports in them.  So, Serial to USB conversion is an ongoing 
necessity.

Doug -- K0DXV

On 3/28/2014 12:56 AM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
> That "explanation" dances all around the real world situation.  The 
> Chinese have been making cheap counterfeit Prolific and FTDI chips. 
> Both Prolific and FTDI have produced drivers which detect those 
> counterfeit chips to protect their intellectual property.
> While the counterfeit chips may work fine when used under Windows XP, 
> they will not work with the newer Windows 7 or 8 drivers.
>
> Yes, there are "workarounds" - turn off Windows updates and load the 
> older drivers which do not have the detection algorithms.  I would 
> prefer not to do that, and I have been burned several times with the 
> Chinese counterfeit transistors and ICs.  I ordered what was supposed 
> to be 2N5739 transistors which are no longer available from reliable 
> manufacturers.  I had to throw all 10 of them into the trash because 
> they did not work above the audio range.  The SSM2165 used on the K2 
> KSB2 board is an obsolete part, but is advertized from Chinese vendors 
> - unfortunately, that chip does not work, so it is "buyer beware".  If 
> you buy counterfeit goods, it is just like getting a counterfeit $100 
> bill, it is worthless.  Unfortunately, there are vendors who are 
> listing 'workarounds' in order to sell their counterfeit products 
> rather than 'raising hell' to stop this proliferation of counterfeit 
> devices.
>
> I cut the USB end off the USB to Wouxun adapter that had the 
> counterfeit chip in it and will be connecting it to a DB9 connector.  
> I can then connect it to either a real serial port or to a good USB to 
> serial adapter.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 3/28/2014 1:11 AM, WA7SPY wrote:
>> Here is a very good explanation about USB to serial port converters. 
>> ( see below) You pay a higher price but the recommended one works 
>> with my Windows 7 PC. I have had no problems connecting older RS232 
>> equipment to my Windows 7 PC. It works like a champ.
>> I have no interest in the US Converters but there products work well!
>> http://www.usconverters.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=62
>>
>>
>>
>>> On Mar 27, 2014, at 8:57 PM, Don Wilhelm <w3fpr at embarqmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi all,
>>>
>>> I have had an experience with the Chinese "fake" Prolific USB to 
>>> serial chips.  A Wouxun VHF/UHF handeld would not work with my Win7 
>>> computer because the Prolific drivers identified the chip as a fake 
>>> Chinese knockoff.  I tried the solutions in the web as well as the 
>>> older Prolific drivers with no great success.  I even tried the 
>>> Linux solutions and was not able to program the handheld (I am not a 
>>> Linux guru, but I followed the instructions).  Simply, it did not 
>>> work, and I am not willing  to keep a Windows XP computer going just 
>>> for these Chinese fake chips.  I bought the programming cable in 
>>> good faith, but that faith has been destroyed by the Chinese fake 
>>> chips.
>>>
>>>
>
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