Counterfeit FTDI chips?

[Okkim Atnarivik]

Dear Colleaques,

I just returned to an old project which I hadn't had time to advance for
months. The project involves a FT245R parallel-to-USB converter IC from FTDI.
I could not make the WinXP drivers install, however, and finally tried the
USBView program which reported the Vendor code 0x067B and product ID 0x2303
suggesting that the chip is actually a Prolific PL2303 !

Now, PL2303 looks pin-compatible enough with FT245R that it could get
powered-up in my circuit, and could even respond to a vendor code query
over USB. Otherwise it looks more compatible with the FT232R.

A simple explanation would be that I've been swindled and the FT245R is a
fake, although the IC case has the FT245R markings on it and it has been
bought as a FT245R.

What bothers me is that according to my notebook, months ago I've been
able to get FT_ListDevices function of the FTDI driver to actually report
the very FT245R. I'm not sure whether I was ever able to actually pass data
over the USB link - I seem to recall that I was, but there is no mention of
that in my notebook. Now I'd like to figure out whether there is any other
explanation to seeing the Prolific vendor ID (besides the counterfeit theory)
- any suggestions?

Originally I thought that the EEPROM containing the Vendor ID has gotten
corrupted, but removing the chip from the PCB and soldering a fresh
(assumed) FT245R still gave the Prolific ID. I tried running the USBView on
three different PC's, with same results. Then I might have mistaken my chip
with another USB chip in the system (for instance, the Altera USB-blaster
programming cable appears to contain an FTDI chip), but removal of the USB
cable leading to my board correctly made the Profilic-ID'd chip disappear
from the USBView scan.

Now I'm dumbfounded - if my batch of chips are fakes, where did that
earlier FT_ListDevices recognition come from? Besides, what is the use
to sell PL2303's as FT245R's, wouldn't it be even more profitable to sell
just dead blocks of plastic with FTDI credentials stamped on - the ones I have
get caught anyway because the driver won't install? I see a bit more
sense in trying to sell PL2303's as FT232R's (I guess they might be more pin
compatible) although even then the fakes get caught at the driver
installation phase.

Regards,
Mikko

 

[Okkim Atnarivik]

Get a couple pieces from Mouser or Digikey. They are the authorize dist.

My pieces came from our Technician's stash, I suppose they are from
Farnell.

Regards,
Mikko

 

[Peter]

Have you spoken to FTDI about this?

There are two main players in this line: Prolific and FTDI. I use both
of them, in volume. Prolific are much bigger in the market but offer
no support. FTDI have a much better product and excellent support.

Counterfeit chips are not unusual. I've had Hitachi H8/300 processors
from China etc which were fake - I think the package was empty. The
lead frame was about 0.3mm bigger so didn't quite fit into the
programming socket It amazes me that somebody would gear up to make
a one-off load of $$$, on such an obscure product. Maybe they
custom-make these fakes, with a range of packages and markings
available.

Were the FTDI chips functional? I can hardly believe that.

 

[Mike]

Have you spoken to FTDI about this?

There are two main players in this line: Prolific and FTDI. I use both
of them, in volume. Prolific are much bigger in the market but offer
no support. FTDI have a much better product and excellent support.

Counterfeit chips are not unusual. I've had Hitachi H8/300 processors
from China etc which were fake - I think the package was empty. The
lead frame was about 0.3mm bigger so didn't quite fit into the
programming socket It amazes me that somebody would gear up to make
a one-off load of $$$, on such an obscure product. Maybe they
custom-make these fakes, with a range of packages and markings
available.

Were the FTDI chips functional? I can hardly believe that.

I can't see why or how Prolific survive, In my experience with
RS232-USB converters their products repeatedly cause no end of
problems on multiple operating systems so now I always go out of my
way to buy FTDI, less stress, less objects thrown at the wall and
ultimately less landfill.

--

 

[Jamie]

I can't see why or how Prolific survive, In my experience with
RS232-USB converters their products repeatedly cause no end of
problems on multiple operating systems so now I always go out of my
way to buy FTDI, less stress, less objects thrown at the wall and
ultimately less landfill.

Really, I got one for my Acer Mini and it works perfect. I use it for
a variety of things, PLC's, Scope down loads, DMM monitoring etc..
This Acer uses XP home.
What I found the most problems with is Windows turning down the USB
port to low power and no power at all when it goes into a sleep mode.
I've heard this to be more of problem in the 64bit systems.

maybe you should turn the feature off if you haven't already.


http://webpages.charter.net/jamie_5"

 

[Spehro Pefhany]

I can't see why or how Prolific survive, In my experience with
RS232-USB converters their products repeatedly cause no end of
problems on multiple operating systems so now I always go out of my
way to buy FTDI, less stress, less objects thrown at the wall and
ultimately less landfill.

Works flawlessly with the MCU-emulator and OTP programmer units I've
tested it with, on both of my laptops and netbook.

The fun thing is finding even PCI cards that will work with old
parallel-port dongles. 8-(


Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany

 

[Peter]

I can't see why or how Prolific survive, In my experience with
RS232-USB converters their products repeatedly cause no end of
problems on multiple operating systems so now I always go out of my
way to buy FTDI, less stress, less objects thrown at the wall and
ultimately less landfill.

Prolific is not a device I would use for the industrial market
Largely due to lack of support. However the chip is probably 1/3 of
the price so all the Chinese mfgs use them.

FTDI stuff is excellent and does exactly what it says on the tin. I
have done a few designs and all work perfectly. We sell thousands of
the finished product (USB to 422/485) and have not had compatibility
issues.

 

[Jasen Betts]

Now I'm dumbfounded - if my batch of chips are fakes, where did that
earlier FT_ListDevices recognition come from?

A counterfeit driver conveniently supplied with the counterfeit chips?

 

[Bob Larter]

Hi Mikko,

If you send details of where / when you purchased your devices to
[email protected] I will be happy to investigate any possible
counterfeits offline.

Is that really '[email protected]' with only one 'p' in support, or
is that a typo?