[chirp_users] Prolific update and amateur pirates

[Dean Gibson AE7Q]

I would like to address this to everyone who buys a cable with a 
counterfeit Prolific USB-to-serial converter chip:

You may not think you are hurting anyone, but you are.  Aside from the 
legal and ethical issues with buying counterfeit goods, you are 
financially affecting more than just Prolific (who sells legitimate chips).

You are financially affecting *me*.  And in a very concrete and tangible 
way.

Because of the extensive counterfeiting of their USB-to-serial converter 
chip (and the theft of their intellectual properties: 
http://www.prolific.com.tw/US/ShowProduct.aspx?p_id=155&pcid=41 ), 
Prolific has taken certain steps:

 1. They have designed a new USB-to-serial converter chip that is
    supposed to be more difficult to counterfeit, and selling that to
    legitimate cable makers.  This chip will be supported in Windows 8.
 2. The present USB-to-serial converter chip will *not* be supported in
    Windows 8:
    http://www.prolific.com.tw/US/ShowProduct.aspx?p_id=225&pcid=41

So, how does this affect me?  I have and use thirteen USB-to-serial 
converter cables with the old (legitimate) Prolific chip.  These cables 
will *not work* when I upgrade to Windows 8.  Instead, I will have to 
buy new USB-to-serial converter cables.

I will pay the *twice the price you would have paid* (times thirteen), 
than if you had bought a legitimate cable.  Once, for each legitimate 
original cable, and once again for a new cable.

So, for those of you who knowingly bought counterfeit cables *and 
continue to use them*: *Thanks, guys*.

As a person who has contributed code to the Chirp project, has written 
other open-source software for the amateur community, and has maintained 
a couple amateur radio support sites (free and without ads) for the past 
decade, you have made my heart very warm with feelings of appreciation.  
Or maybe just a bit hot.

Sincerely, Dean Gibson / AE7Q

On 2013-02-26 16:42, Bill Gabbard wrote:
> */I just Right-Clicked the Update and Clicked Hide, so won't show again./*
> */Thanks,/*
> */Bill/*
>
>     ----- Original Message -----
>     *From:* Phaeton <mailto:phaeton at neo.rr.com>
>     *To:* Discussion of CHIRP <mailto:chirp_users at intrepid.danplanet.com>
>     *Sent:* Tuesday, February 26, 2013 5:19 PM
>     *Subject:* Re: [chirp_users] Prolific Update
>
>     *...*
>     On Feb 26, 2013, at 4:34 PM, Jim Unroe <rock.unroe at gmail.com
>     <mailto:rock.unroe at gmail.com>> wrote:
>
>>     No. Do not update.
>>
>>     Unless your programming cable has a genuine Prolific
>>     usb-to-serial chip in it (most cheap cables have a counterfeit
>>     chip), the updated driver will detect the counterfeit chip and
>>     stop working. You must continue to use the older driver that does
>>     not perform this check.
>>
>>     Jim
>>
>>     On Tue, Feb 26, 2013 at 4:15 PM, Bill Gabbard
>>     <wcgabbard1 at windstream.net <mailto:wcgabbard1 at windstream.net>> wrote:
>>
>>         */I've a Windows 7 PC that the Windows Update notified me the
>>         below Update is available.  Should I update it?/*
>>         */Thanks,/*
>>         */Bill/*
>>         */------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------/*
>>         */Prolific - Other hardware - Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port/*
>>         */Download size: 114 KB/*
>>         */You may need to restart your computer for this update to
>>         take effect./*
>>         */Update type: Optional/*
>>         */Prolific Other hardware software update released in
>>         February, 2013/*
>>

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