[Info-vax] FTDI driver for windows

[Dave Froble]

On 6/19/2019 10:02 AM, VAXman- at SendSpamHere.ORG wrote:
> In article <qebthr$m6t$3 at gioia.aioe.org>, =?UTF-8?Q?Arne_Vajh=c3=b8j?= <arne at vajhoej.dk> writes:
>> On 6/18/2019 12:39 PM, Bill Gunshannon wrote:
>>> On 6/18/19 10:51 AM, Dave Froble wrote:
>>>> On 6/18/2019 9:36 AM, Scott Dorsey wrote:
>>>>> John E. Malmberg <wb8tyw at qsl.net_work> wrote:
>>>>>> On 6/18/2019 7:57 AM, VAXman- at SendSpamHere.ORG wrote:
>>>>>> <snip>
>>>>>>> The problem is in WEENDOZE.  The USB is an FTDI chip.  When I plug
>>>>>>> in the
>>>>>>> altimeter, WEENDOZE proclaims a new device.  Then, WEENDOZE claims
>>>>>>> that
>>>>>>> it's gone.  Then, it proclaims a new device.  Lather, rinse,
>>>>>>> repeat.  All
>>>>>>> of this is before ever launching the software to download any data.
>>>>>
>>>>> This is the standard behaviour of a counterfeit FTDI device.  The
>>>>> windows
>>>>> driver is written by FTDI and will deliberately shut down counterfeits.
>>>>>
>>>>> You may blame Windows for this, but it's doing exactly what it was
>>>>> designed
>>>>> to do.
>>>>
>>>> This reminds me of the Intel compilers that would check the CPU, and
>>>> slow down when running on AMD CPUs.
>>>>
>>>> The end user won't know what components are used, and is an innocent
>>>> victim of such practices.  Personally, while I might understand, I
>>>> feel that it's a rather poor practice.  Vendors like that are to be
>>>> avoided.
>>>
>>> Chinese "vendors" who steal intellectual property and then use it
>>> to manufacture cheap knockoffs are to be avoided.
>>
>> The key question here should be: is it legal for another manufacturer
>> to produce a FTDI chip or not?
>>
>> No => software rejecting it seems fair
>>
>> Yes => software rejecting it seems problematic
>
> Well, the email I received from the manufacturer/designer of the altimeter
> says that the FTDI chip is legit.  Where does that leave me with WEENDOZE
> refusing to connect to it???
>

Did you expect them to say anything else?  Such as "yeah, we're selling 
a product with a pirated part."

How do they know?

The thing is, there is an explanation that fits the experience, and, 
many people using WEENDOZE are using USB devices with no issues, or, 
maybe minor issues.

Where is this device mfg?

The mfg sold the device, getting it to perform as advertised is their 
problem.  Them making it your problem says "avoid".

-- 
David Froble                       Tel: 724-529-0450
Dave Froble Enterprises, Inc.      E-Mail: davef at tsoft-inc.com
DFE Ultralights, Inc.
170 Grimplin Road
Vanderbilt, PA  15486