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TassyJim

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Joined: 07/08/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 6100

Posted: 07:12am 11 Aug 2023

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I use CH340 USB-TTL modules a lot.
They have been reliable and easy to drive. Until now.
I discovered that MMEdit no longer liked some of my modules.
TeraTerm was OK but not MMEdit.
The module in question is this one.

The description on one local suppliers web site is:

Quote CH340G USB A to serial adapter module, ideal for interfacing a USB to a micro-controller serial RS232. USB power can be set to either 3.3 or 5vdc with an onboard link. Uses a clone CH340G chip that is fully supported by most computer operating systems. Please Note: that there are reports that some newer drivers many not work on all operating systems.

They work OK on my W10 PC but not my W11 system.
Linux seems OK
I did work out a fix for MMEdit fortunately.
I open the port as 2400 baud first then close the port and reopen at the required speed. So far that has been reliable.

Buyer beware...

Jim

VK7JH
MMedit MMBasic Help

Volhout
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Joined: 05/03/2018
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 4247

Posted: 07:31am 11 Aug 2023

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Try installing an older driver in W11.
This happened to FTDI drivers also, where latest driver refused to work with chinese clone chips.

Success

Volhout

PicomiteVGA PETSCII ROBOTS

TassyJim

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Joined: 07/08/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 6100

Posted: 07:46am 11 Aug 2023

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Volhout said Try installing an older driver in W11.
Volhout

Users of MMEdit would not like me telling them they have to fix their computer, probably after every Windows update.

Much better if I can fix it for all users without them having to worry about it, which I seem to have done. For now.

Jim

VK7JH
MMedit MMBasic Help

Mixtel90

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Joined: 05/10/2019
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 6798

Posted: 08:49am 11 Aug 2023

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It's not the first time that drivers in Windows have screwed up on a version change and it won't be the last! Why do they have to mess with working systems?

Mick

Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini
Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs

TassyJim

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Joined: 07/08/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 6100

Posted: 09:46am 11 Aug 2023

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WCH supply the driver, not Microsoft.
It is possible that they did what Prolific and FTDI did and deliberately stuffed the clones.
It is also possible they they just stuffed up.

Jim

VK7JH
MMedit MMBasic Help

JohnS
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Joined: 18/11/2011
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 3802

Posted: 09:58am 11 Aug 2023

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It would REALLY help if Microsoft stopped changing the driver mechanisms, i.e. stopped making existing drivers obsolete!!

(Though I got a great laser printer almost free as Windows no longer had a working driver for it and the user was happy I could use it on Linux rather than it go to landfill.)

John

ice2642

Regular Member

Joined: 27/05/2023
Location: Brazil
Posts: 82

Posted: 11:41am 11 Aug 2023

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99% the win 11 driver be the problem, try install the Chinese driver normally the vendor say a link when you buy it in aliexpress. maybe the windows or the browser say it be a virus, 99% is not.

I do not like windows, I try it many times, win 3.0, 3.1. win 95/98, me, 2000, xp, nt, vista, 7, 10, 11 and after some weeks with it I return to linux.

MMBasic 5.0707 on PicoMite VGA

matherp
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Joined: 11/12/2012
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 9128

Posted: 11:48am 11 Aug 2023

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Quote I do not like windows,

And I hate Linux but the argument is pointless. It pops up multiple times on all sorts of threads and achieves nothing. Can we not have a forum wide moratorium on Windows/Linux discussions and bashing?

Mixtel90

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Joined: 05/10/2019
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 6798

Posted: 12:10pm 11 Aug 2023

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Mick

Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini
Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs

ice2642

Regular Member

Joined: 27/05/2023
Location: Brazil
Posts: 82

Posted: 12:38pm 11 Aug 2023

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matherp said

Quote I do not like windows,

Indifferent to my personal taste, the problem is probably in the win 11 driver.
I didn't post to say that one system is better or worse, but to present a possible solution by installing the driver over the win 11 native.

Especially if you see that in win 10 it worked and in 11 it didn't.

MMBasic 5.0707 on PicoMite VGA

robert.rozee
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Joined: 31/12/2012
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 2350

Posted: 02:08pm 11 Aug 2023

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matherp said

Quote I do not like windows,

i hate any operating system that regards the user as the product.

cheers,
rob :-)

Mixtel90

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Joined: 05/10/2019
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 6798

Posted: 02:25pm 11 Aug 2023

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Yep. Run the IMP terminal emulator on CP/M. :)

Mick

Zilog Inside! nascom.info for Nascom & Gemini
Preliminary MMBasic docs & my PCB designs

TassyJim

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Joined: 07/08/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 6100

Posted: 09:29pm 11 Aug 2023

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I wasn't trying to start another war.
I came across the problem and thought that other TBS members might save a lot of head banking if they were aware of the 'problem'
To finish my contribution.
This code runs OK in MMb4W on my W11 PC but requires the additional kick start in the original MMBasic for DOS.

'
PRINT "started"
OPEN "com8:2400" AS #2 'these two lines are need in MMBasic for DOS
CLOSE #2 ' but not for MMB4W
OPEN "com8:38400" AS #2
PRINT "port open"
PRINT #2, "help"
PAUSE 1000
reply$ = INPUT$(200,#2)
PRINT reply$
CLOSE #2
PRINT "done"

I believe it was an update to Windows that occurred on 8th August that started the issue.

Jim

VK7JH
MMedit MMBasic Help

Chopperp

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Joined: 03/01/2018
Location: Australia
Posts: 1057

Posted: 12:55am 12 Aug 2023

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As an aside, I have a couple of USB-TTL converters, light blue in colour, with a 4 core lead with 4 free female DuPont connectors on the ends which do not work on W11.

Device Manager comes up with PL2303TA DO NOT SUPORT WINDOWS 11 OR LATER. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR SUPPLIER.

So far, I haven't had any luck with updated drivers.

Other types I have seem OK so far (Just recently did the W11 upgrade)
Brian

EDIT Update. I had a further search & found the correct drivers & install method.
here
Edited 2023-08-12 11:50 by Chopperp

ChopperP

robert.rozee
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Joined: 31/12/2012
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 2350

Posted: 08:04am 12 Aug 2023

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there do seem to be (at least) TWO distinct issues:

"Windows 8/8.1/10 are NOT supported in PL-2303HXA and PL-2303X EOL chip versions. Windows 11 and higher are NOT supported in PL-2303HXA/ TA/TB/HXD/RA/SA/EA (EOL chip version)".
from: https://www.prolific.com.tw/US/ShowProduct.aspx?p_id=225&pcid=41

and:

"Putty is constatly giving an error „Unable to open connection”. In addition in the device propperties I found an error
1. This device cannot start. (Code 10)
2. A device which does not exist was specified.
A quick investigation gave an unpleasant anwser – PL2303 chips are fake! In the newest drivers Prolific blocked all fake chips and the driver in Windows 8.1 is also blocking my fake pl2303. But there is a solution – you have to install old drivers – version 3.3.2.105".
from: http://wp.brodzinski.net/2014/10/01/fake-pl2303-how-to-install/

i've never been a fan of the Prolific devices, having them in practice prove flaky from as far back as the days of windows 2000.

cheers,
rob :-)

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