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<DIV>Hello Al,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I will be looking for you from TO5A. GL.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>73, George, K5KG</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 size=2 face=Arial FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10">George
Wagner, K5KG<BR>Sarasota, FL <BR>941-400-1960 cell
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>In a message dated 10/22/2014 6:10:44 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
f5vhj@orange.fr writes:</DIV>
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<DIV>Bob,</DIV>
<DIV>Glad you are always a source of help.</DIV>
<DIV>If you turn on a radio this weekend, try to find me at TO5A and say
hello.</DIV>
<DIV>73, Al</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>------ Original Message ------</DIV>
<DIV>From: "Bob Wilson, N6TV" <<A title=mailto:n6tv@arrl.net
href="mailto:n6tv@arrl.net">n6tv@arrl.net</A>></DIV>
<DIV>To: "Win-Test Reflector" <<A title=mailto:support@win-test.com
href="mailto:support@win-test.com">support@win-test.com</A>></DIV>
<DIV>Sent: 22/10/2014 21:41:50</DIV>
<DIV>Subject: [WT-support] Caution: latest Windows Update breaks fake "FTDI"
USB-to-Serial adapters</DIV></STRONG>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV id=xa22e47dcc14048f49edb729c330c253c>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=cite2
cite=CAOmNKGLpotnJDkFxFj+gus8YA1qkDJGRX3LP=-hM6HKeFC0Lsw@mail.gmail.com
type="cite">
<DIV dir=ltr>I have not experienced this myself. I don't know anyone
personally who has seen this yet.
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Reports indicate that the latest Windows Update will permanently damage
a USB-to-Serial adapter if it is found to be using a "fake" or "cloned" FTDI
chip instead of a genuine FTDI chip.</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>This applies to Windows 7 and later. You can read more about it
there:</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
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<DIV><A
title=http://hackaday.com/2014/10/22/watch-that-windows-update-ftdi-drivers-are-killing-fake-chips/
href="http://hackaday.com/2014/10/22/watch-that-windows-update-ftdi-drivers-are-killing-fake-chips/">http://hackaday.com/2014/10/22/watch-that-windows-update-ftdi-drivers-are-killing-fake-chips/</A></DIV>
<DIV><A
title=http://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/ftdi-driver-kills-fake-ftdi-ft232/
href="http://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/ftdi-driver-kills-fake-ftdi-ft232/">http://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/ftdi-driver-kills-fake-ftdi-ft232/</A></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>Recommendation: if you use a USB-to-Serial adapter based on the
FTDI chipset, avoid any Windows Updates until after contest season, or use
Windows XP instead of Windows 7 or 8.</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>If you use an adapter based on Prolific, you may have other
problems. I believe there are far more fake Prolific adapters than
fake FTDI adapters. These fake Prolific adapters often cause a random
"Blue Screen of Death," or they work for a little while then mysteriously
stop working.</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>How do you know if you have a genuine USB-to-Serial adapter or a fake
one? There apparently is no easy way to tell (yet). Post
something here if you discover a utility that can help.</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>In the mean time, buy name brand (such as GearMo) from reputable
dealers (such as Amazon.com), and you should be OK.</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>73,
<DIV>Bob,
N6TV</DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>Support
mailing
list<BR>support@win-test.com<BR>http://lists.f5mzn.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/support<BR></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></FONT></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>