Prolific confirms Counterfeit Prolific ICs in USB cables originating from China

Prolific Technology, Inc. updated information regarding its confirmation of counterfeit Prolific USB chips being sold from China (1/7/2012).
Two Taiwan based distributors of USB cable sets using the Prolific USB chips are now recommended by the company.
http://www.prolific.com.tw/eng/downloads.asp?id=31

IF you received a MS Windows - Error Code 10 (driver compatibility issue) with your Chinese USB cable -- you may have a non-functional counterfeit USB chip.

Warning Notice:
It is recently confirmed by Prolific Technology that counterfeit (fake) PL-2303HX USB to Serial Controller ICs using Prolific's trademark logo and device drivers were being sold in the China market.
Counterfeit IC products show exactly the same outside chip markings but generally are of poor quality and causes driver compatibility issues (Error Code 10).
We issue this warning to all our customers and consumers to avoid confusion and false purchase.

Please be warned that selling counterfeit products are illegal and punishable by civil and criminal courts according to the trademark, copyright, and intellectual properties laws and regulations.
Prolific will take proper and severe actions to cease and confiscate these counterfeit products.
Prolific also prohibits the distribution of any PL-2303 drivers (including download links) without written permission from Prolific.

Prolific advices end-users to only purchase branded cable products with company name contact information for service and support in case you suspect a counterfeit chip inside.
You may also contact Prolific to provide the vendor information.

Prolific recommends following cable brands:

ATEN INTERNATIONAL CO., Ltd.
Product Name: UC232A USB to RS-232
Contact: Jerry Lee
E-mail: Jerrylee@aten.com.tw
Web: http://www.aten.com

Good Way Technology Co., Ltd.
Product: FB1210 USB to 1-port RS-232 Adapter
Contact: Herman Chen
E-mail: herman_chen@goodway.com.tw
Web: http://www.goodway.com.tw

===
Prolific Technology, Inc. has issued a NEW End User Licnesing Agreement (EULA), on December 22, 2011.
This text file can be downloaded (and read) here:

End User License Agreement ("EULA")
http://www.prolific.com.tw/support/f...neric/EULA.pdf

Do not install or use any software from Prolific website until you have read and accepted all of the license terms.
Permission to use the software is conditional upon your agreeing to the license terms.
Installation or use of the software by you will be deemed to be acceptance of the license terms.
Acceptance will bind you to the license terms in a legally enforceable contract with Prolific Technology Inc.

NOTE: Prolific does not manufacture any end-user cable products and does not provide exclusive support to end-users.
Prolific highly suggest end-users to contact the user product manufacturer for service and support.
Please read the End-User License Agreement (EULA) before downloading any software or drivers from Prolific website.

 

"The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee has found that counterfeit electronic parts are finding their way into the U.S. military supply chain at an alarming rate."

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/made-in-china-u-s-military-finding-fake-chinese-electronics-in-gear-at-alarming-rate/

 

I quit using the Prolific chipset devices. They do not work well with Windows 7. I've switched to nothing but FTDI chipset devices. They are made in the US and are available at electronic supply houses like Digikey, Mouser, etc. In the case of HRD with Windows 7 when you start up DM780 (all coupled with using Prolific serial to USB adapter) you risk the blue screen of death.

In my job, we manufacture automotive electronics. We have an extensive test development department and they quit using Prolific and switched to the FTDI a long time ago.

They are a few dollars more but they are faster, do not crash, and made in the US.

 

Looking far back, I recall in the mid 1980's that counterfeit Texas Instruments IC's were found in numerous military systems. This was not restricted to a single manufacturer nor service.

Again, the criminal seeks opportunity wherever that may be.

 

Tom's got it right.

As for the OP - if the problem is counterfeit Prolific chips, then they've been doing it for a very long time, and the bad chips are in the products carried by Best Buy and others, and have been for years. I've switched over to FTDI, U.S. made, for half the price of the Prolific junk, and they work perfectly in all my computers.

 

Are you sure FTDI chips are made in the US?

From: http://www.ftdichip.com/Corporate/FTCompany.pdf

The company headquarters seems to be in Scotland.

They do seem to have a better reputation than the Prolific products but I'm not sure if that's necessarily because of where they're made. Elecraft have switched from Prolific to FTDI.

 

Sure would like to know a source for the "real" prolific interfaces instead of bickering!

I got burned by one of those cheap-o's and have the "error 10" problem. Sure would like to get CAT for my 706MKIIG again. Anyone have a source of an interface that works?

 

Prolfiic answered this question on their web page (posted at beginning of this NEWS thread).
http://www.prolific.com.tw/eng/downloads.asp?id=31
ANSWER: You have to order Prolific chipset cables from Taiwan and then have shipped to your address ($$ and time).

USA Big Box stores are NOT reliable sources -- now you know why these were so cheap.
No Big Box store is going to sort through thousands of "no-name" USB cables to find the counterfeits (worthless) -- they just put them ON SALE![/i]
==
Prolific advices end-users to only purchase branded cable products with
company name contact information for service and support in case you suspect a counterfeit chip inside.
You may also contact Prolific to provide the vendor information (where you bought countefeit USB cable).

Prolific recommends following Taiwan based cable mfg/brands:

ATEN INTERNATIONAL CO., Ltd.
Product Name: UC232A USB to RS-232
Contact: Jerry Lee
E-mail: Jerrylee@aten.com.tw
Web: http://www.aten.com

Good Way Technology Co., Ltd.
Product: FB1210 USB to 1-port RS-232 Adapter
Contact: Herman Chen
E-mail: herman_chen@goodway.com.tw
Web: http://www.goodway.com.tw
==========
FTDI, Inc. - founded by Fred Dart and based in the UK has been making USB chipsets since Intel developed the standard (mid-1990s).
They have a US operations office in Silicon Valley (California, USA) -- Mouser and DigiKey (USA) stock a FULL LINE of products.
http://www.ftdichip.com/index.html

FTDI makes not only the USB chipsets -- but cables sets, innovative backward solutions for designers, and evaluation kits
FTDI also has a full software staff that supports not only MS Windows, but virtually ever OS actively used -- including Android for your new smartphone.

FTDI RS-232 to USB Cable sets (MANY to choose from, FTDI makes and supports ALL of them)
http://www.ftdichip.com/Products/Cables.htm

MOUSER stocks 44 different FTDI USB cable sets in their Fort Worth, TX warehouse
http://www.mouser.com/Search/Refine.aspx?Ne=254016&N=1323038+254629+4294950629

Your local Fry's Electronics sells the Parallax RS-232 to USB dongle for $17.95 in their
RC toys/science projects/experimenters section -- that uses the FTDI USB bridge chipset.

Don't have a Fry's? You can order on-line
http://www.frys.com/product/5229677

DESIRE a USA based and HQ firm, closer to your home?

Silicon Labs, Austin, Texas USA
Maybe your neighbor works there -- who pays taxes or his wife teaches your kids
http://www.silabs.com/products/mcu/Pages/USBtoUARTBridgeVCPDrivers.aspx

Timewave/AEA uses the Silicon Labs chipsets in their adapters. Elecraft uses FTDI.
In fact, MANY US based firms that make amatuer radio products (USB soundcard interfaces, etc.) use either the Silicon Labs or FTDI chipsets.
==
Want to build your own LEVEL converter (TTL serial to USB),
again large selection for the DIY builder (robotics, RC modeler, DIY radio amateur) from FTDI.
http://www.ftdichip.com/Products/Cables/USBTTLSerial.htm

w9gb

 

BTW, for the Rest of the World QRZ Readers, who desire to purchase FTDI products,
but have NO local dealer or country distributor:

Welcome to ChipSHOP - the FTDI On-Line Store.
FTDI Customers worldwide may buy up to 500 FTDI device samples and / or development modules
DIRECLY from FTDI using a Credit or Debit card.
http://apple.clickandbuild.com/cnb/shop/ftdichip

CONTACT DETAILS
Future Technology Devices Intl. Ltd.
Unit1, 2 Seaward Place,
Centurion Business Park,
Glasgow G41 1HH
United Kingdom
Tel : +44 141 429 2777
E-Mail : chipshop@ftdichip.com

 

Seconding FTDI, though the ones I've seen were fabbed in Taiwan. Note that FTDI is a Scottish company; every bit carefully hand-crafted on the misty heather-covered hillsides ...

 

w9gb: Thanks! Above and beyond what I was looking for

 

Help the less knowledgeable.
Why such the big uproar about the Prolific chipset?
I have a Alura-tec from Fry's that doesn't work with my setup.
I had to get a FTDI chipset so my Yeasu could cat with my computer.
Should I keep the Prolific?
As far as my limited knowledge goes it's worthless.
I hope you can shed some light.
73
W5WPL
Bill

 

What?!? Counterfeit ICs originating from China? Does the sun still rise in the east? Well what surprises me is the company itself posted notice about fake chips in their products.

I may take a look at some other brands, i.e. FTDI, as I can never get my usb cable to work with my BK radios. It works with other radios (Icom, Kenwood).

 

Just the Facts:
The Taiwanese based company Prolific is an OEM mfg. of USB to RS-232 bridge intergated circuits.
They DO NOT make "end user products", such as RS-232 to USB converter cables.
These cables are made by other Eastern Asia mfg. (cable makers) who use their chips.

In December 2011, Prolific posted on their webpage, what had been rumored for the past 12 to 18 months,
COUNTERFEIT chips that look identical (difficult to determine counterfeit) to their trademarked products
were manufactured in China and sold to countless cable and equipment fabricators.

Countless American consumers, looking for that "great bargain" -- were sucked into buying USB to RS232 cables selling for less than $10 each.
Compounding this problem were "testimonials" that "it worked for me" posted here and throughout the Internet -- frustrating and discouraging some radio amateurs (that got a bad cable).
Likely a mix of good and bad chips from their suppliers were in those cables -- inidvidual testing each cable would have been required to determine which ones had the bad chips.
Polite term in retailing for this sale tactic is product dumping. Where you sell a product that can not be returned -- for any $$ you can get for it.

Under the purchase agreement (as a US consumer) with Fry's you have the right to return the item
for stated reason within a specific time period.
IF you elect not to -- that is your free decision to spend your $$ on a broken or worthless product.

w9gb

 

In the interest of trying to drag this back on topic, here's a source for IC-706 USB interface cables that uses the FTDI chip.

http://www.amazon.com/Interface-IC-7000-Chipset-Supports-Windows/dp/B004L0T4UM