Fake FTDI FT232RL chips

[j_ds_au]

Not too long ago, I bought an FTDI FT232RL chip from a vendor here, and a USB serial converter module (also incorporating this chip) from another vendor.

I had read about fake chips on the 'net, which apparently stopped working after FTDI released their driver version 2.10.00. As soon as I received these items, I made sure to test them with this driver version. Since they both worked OK, I gave positive feedback and noted in the comments that the chips were genuine.

Unfortunately, the situation was not as it seemed. After I updated to the next FTDI driver version, 2.12.00, both these items stopped working. They were not genuine after all, rather they were just good enough fakes to fool the version 2.10.00 drivers, but not the later drivers.

I wish there was a way to revise my feedback comments, so that potential customers are not mislead into believing these two vendors are offerring genuine product when in fact, they are fake. Sigh.

Joe.

[padi*0409]

Joe, you can leave follow-up feedback, just hover your mouse above the "community" icon at the top of the page then click on "feedback forum", it's not ideal as other buyers are unlikely to see it but that's all I can suggest..

[j_ds_au]

Thank you for the hint!

I used "Community / Feedback Forum / Follow Up to Feedback Left" to add a caution that these items weren't genuine after all. Anyone that does read my feedback will no longer get the wrong impression from my original comment.

Cheers,

Joe.

[aps1080]

To the OP, a genuine question, not criticism.

Are these chips significantly cheaper than genuine chips ?

And does or did this seller state that they were actually genuine ?

(I know stuff all about these chips, just for general knowledge sake)

Thanks

[j_ds_au]

Hi aps1080,

The FT232RL module did seem very cheap (although these modules can be made for basically not much more than the chip itself). I did wonder if this one was genuine

The FT232RL chip (different vendor) was 3.5 USD, certainly well within the price range of a genuine chip, which list for about 2.5 USD each for a single reel of 2000 from a distributor (if you buy more or are a good customer, no doubt you'd get a discount on that price, probably under 2 USD). Also, it was described as "100% original". I certainly expected this one to be genuine, but alas ...

Joe.