[chirp_users] Prolific update and amateur pirates

[Bill Gabbard]

Dean,
My cable came with the radio I purchased from a Calif. seller thus I've no ideal of it's validity.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Dean Gibson AE7Q 
  To: Discussion of CHIRP 
  Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2013 9:01 PM
  Subject: Re: [chirp_users] Prolific update and amateur pirates


  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 
      To: Discussion of CHIRP 
      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> 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> 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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