[werk_ag]

Great advice. I don't know if my Arduinos have or not the counterfeit chips, but as all they are cheap chinese versions, I must take care and not update the drivers.

If the new drivers will brick the chips, it's a really bad move from FTDI. This may explain what happened to
our member pierrelux

"A reasonable company would go after the manufacturers of fake chips, not the consumers who are most likely unaware they have a fake chip."

I have already ordered some Arduidos with the new CH340 chipset, to test them with the WeatherDuino Pro 2 system.

[werk_ag]

Lately I've been quite busy, and not realized all this controversy around the latest drivers from FTDI.
I spent these last hours in forums trying to inform me, and I can only say that despite the FTDI have the legal right to fight piracy of their chips, in my opinion, they chose did it dirty way, penalizing the consumer .

Many developers already stated, no longer include FTDI chips in their projects. I have been developing a parallel project involving graphics chips (EVE) from FTDI, but after this, I decided to cancel this project. There are other alternatives!
It is necessary that FTDI knows that in a war, even if fair, not everything can be done. Honorable intentions or not, counterfeit products or not, actively going in and breaking the property of others is not an acceptable response.

I'm sure at this point, they've repented of what they did, but the damage is done. Malicious drivers have already been removed from Windows Update, and are no longer installed automatically.
Read an official statement of FTDI about the malicious drivers.

FTDI would have been entirely within their rights to distribute a driver that simply did not work with compatible third party chips, raised errors, displayed nag screens etc*. However they distributed a driver that due to their existing relationship with Microsoft was pushed out worldwide to *ALL* jurisdictions and modified third party hardware in jurisdictions where they had no legal right to do so and without proof that *ALL* the targeted chips were marked with FTDI trademarks.

It should be noted that counterfeit parts can creep into any supply chain. E.g. the US Air force couldn't even keep counterfeit parts off the Presidential plane Air Force One: http://www.nytimes.com/1995/10/13/us/faa...parts.html

It has been convenient for developers to design in FTDI chips because a WHQL certified driver is bundled with Windows and is maintained across many OS versions, However FTDI have just proved that they have no respect for the legal rights of your end users and no sympathy for integrators and resellers with a contaminated supply chain. Can you afford to trust them ever again?

Source: http://www.microchip.com/forums/m828027.aspx

[uncle_bob]

Wow, I didn't realise that FTDI was in warfare mode, nor did I know anything about all this.

Werk, does this mean you might start recommending the CH340G Nano over the FTDI Nano?

[werk_ag]

I immediately ordered Arduinos with the new CH340G chipset. When they arrive I will test them in WeatherDuino Pro2 system. If all goes well as I hope, (I only have doubts on the circuit that prevents auto reset) I will start to recommend Arduinos with CH340G chipset, they are even cheaper.
... and even more, I will say also that people run away from things with FTDI chips. These people have abused the power they have.

For now, don't upgrade any FTDI drivers. Last secure version is 2.10
Nobody needs the updated drivers!

[werk_ag]

For all of you who have seen your Arduinos stop working after a recent update of the FTDI drivers, force the installation of the attached drivers!

They are just modified drivers to work with fake FTDI chips que have the PID changed to 0.

Hope they works for you!

[pierrelux]

Maybe this can help to see if the FTDI Chip is a counterfeit chip : the real chips have laser engraved markings, while the clone markings are usually printed.
See : http://hackaday.com/2014/02/19/ft232rl-real-or-fake/

[loriz71]

Hi
For a simple guide to force the ftdi drivers installation watch this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPdSKT6KdF8

I've resolved all my problem with this

[Live_Steam_Mad]

I bought a CH340G version of the Nano from Ebay for 2GBP including postage but then saw the 2 FTDI based ones that Werk_AG recommended, and I thought I had made a mistake so I then ordered the 2 FTDI ones as recommended in the 2 Ebay links that were provided.

But now there is a chance my FTDI ones can be bricked? Well I'm not so sure since FTDI has withdrawn the offending driver from Windows update, and in any case my PC that I have currently got my WH-1081 (Wunderground = IENGLAND609) attached to 24/7 is running Windows XP which doesn't even get updates recently since support ended for it in April if I remember right.

It seems that ordering the CH340G version was now not such a bad idea afterall...

I will be soldering a DIP socket to my PCB's in any case, so that I can easily swap between Nano's if there is a problem with one.

Regards,

Alistair G.

[uncle_bob]

Yeah, I think the plan is to promote the CH340G Nano after FTDIs' dummy spat.

[werk_ag]

Yes, now I only recommend arduinos with CH340G chipset.
FTDI have the right to fight piracy, but not at final consumer expenses. What they have done, in some countries is also illegal.

Please carefully read RX v4.0x parts list. One component must be replaced if you use an Arduino with CH340G chipset.