[Ham-Mac] TNC-X on OSX -- driver install problem

[Chris Smolinski]

>Has anyone on the list successfully married a TNC-X with USB module 
>to their Powerbook under OS X?
>
>I cannot get a functional driver installation. The driver is 
>installed as 
>HARDDRIVE:System:Library:Extensions:FTDIUSBSerialDrive.kext, but I 
>do not get the installation of the relevant files into the /dev 
>folder.  It appears that this is due to the change of the USB module 
>vendor ID to ebe0. I have modifed the StartupItems file 
>FTDIReEnumerate to reflect the new VID, but that doesn't resolve the 
>problem.  Has anyone re-compiled the driver or other wise hacked it 
>to change the VID?  If not, is there another solution?
>

Sounds like they are using the FT232 USB interface chip from FTDI. Is 
the EEPROM with the FT232 settings an 8 pin DIP? If so, yank it off 
the board. Then download and install the default driver from FTDI, 
http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/FT232-FT245/VCP/MacOSX/FTDIUSBSerialDriver.pkg.hqx

Removing the EEPROM makes the FT232 use default PID/VID values. Odds 
are that the unit will still work fine without the EEPROM (unless 
they're doing something odd with the FT232).

The EEPROM is usually a 93C46, or similar.

Also be sure to read 
http://www.ftdichip.com/Documents/InstallGuides/Mac_OS-X_Installation_Guide.pdf

You specifically also want to be sure to NOT have the device plugged 
in while installing the driver, OR while your Mac is booting.

(Not, I don't use the TNC-X, but I have made several devices with the 
FT232 chip, so I have banged my head against the wall a few times 
myself ;-)

Visit http://www.blackcatsystems.com/GM/ if you want to see what I 
have been up to.

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Chris Smolinski
Black Cat Systems
http://www.blackcatsystems.com