[chirp_users] FTDI good - not FTDI bad

[Richard B. Emerson]

Following the traffic here, I think the following should be (if it 
isn't) a FAQ item. Nonetheless it bears repeating here:

FTDI conversion chips and drivers are extremely stable. Anything else, 
including Prolific, is a gamble with poor odds. It's that simple.

Background: On our sailboat, I do a number of serial/USB conversions. 
This converts (admittedly ancient) NMEA 183 serial data from 
instrumentation for a USB port on a laptop running a navigation program 
(Coastal Explorer - don't leave port without it). Initially I used 
Prolific-based convertes (what did I know?). Simply put, it became one 
non-stop headache. Data wouldn't come through, drivers stopped 
functioning, etc., etc. I switched to an FTDI-based 10-port serial/USB 
converter. The only changes to the system was to plug the DB-9 pigtails 
into the new converter and load the FTDI driver. End of problems, no 
crashes, full functionality. To clarify, one port services the full NMEA 
183 data stream from the autopilot computer (speed through the water, 
depth, wind direction and speed, full GPS data stream [position, speed 
over the bottom, direction, GPS status, time of day)) and the port sends 
steering information to the autopilot, waypoint location data, and more. 
Another port sends data to the VHF and SSB radios (position, time of 
day) and receives data from the VHF (Digital Selective Calling data 
including emergency data received). Another port sends position, time of 
day, waypoint location data and receives target data from the radar 
including Modified Automatic Radar Plotting Aid data. The last active 
port receives data from the Automatic Identification System and an 
auxiliary GPS receiver (part of the AIS system). (full translation of 
"NMEA 183", "waypoint", etc. available off-list)

This is a long and probably very boring summary of what goes through 
FTDI devices at a mix of data rates (4800 baud for all but the AIS, 
which works at 38400 baud). If the FTDI part fails, life gets ugly fast 
(yes, there are backups). I bet a lot on FTDI and have no cause to 
regret it. Prolific devices were... my wife wore earplugs when the 
converters failed.

Again, FTDI good - not FTDI bad.

73 de KC3DOO
Rick