[chirp_users] Prolific update and amateur pirates

[Bill Gabbard]

Dean,
No problems with mine thus far. I've same thought on Windows 8 as well.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: John W. 
  To: Discussion of CHIRP 
  Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2013 9:12 PM
  Subject: Re: [chirp_users] Prolific update and amateur pirates


  Well, in most cases, no one knows they have a counterfeit until they get the cable and it does not work properly.  I have not ever heard a retailer saying "We sell fake chips".

  Fortunately, I will not be upgrading to Win8.  It brings nothing new, insofar as functionality.  It does however, take away the start menu and introduces a stupid new interface that only is effective for touch screens.



    From: Dean Gibson AE7Q <data at ae7q.net>
    To: Discussion of CHIRP <chirp_users at intrepid.danplanet.com>
    Sent: Tue, February 26, 2013 9:01:52 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.





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