A very detailed& Professional Analysis of the FT232 fake IC:
https://zeptobars.com/en/read/FTDI-FT232RL-real-vs-fake-supereal
Makerfabs encountered this problem some years ago, that the FT232 stopped work as the windows driver updates… After that, we purchase all our FT232 IC only from mouser, to ensure they are the original brand, which is expensive (>$3) but did not lead to us further troubles.
But by now, we have some more choice than the FT232:
1. CP2102/CP2104:
This is my preferred solution. All Makefabs IOT boards use this solution. The price is less than $1, this is what we suggest.
The datasheet at: https://www.silabs.com/documents/public/data-sheets/CP2102-9.pdf
2. CH340G/CH340C:
There are plenty of Chinese-made Uno boards with CH340G IC, this chip is really cheap, but not so stable. As MF experience, the CH340G has strict request on the load capacitance, that 20% not works in every production …bad…
Lucky is that the new generation of CH340C released, this CH340C with internal oscillator, works much better.
The datasheet at: https://www.mpja.com/download/35227cpdata.pdf
3. PL2303
Also a cheap choice, very cheap
Datasheet: http://www.prolific.com.tw/UserFiles/files/ds_pl2303HXD_v1_4_4.pdf
Ref board: https://www.amazon.com/Prolific-PL2303-USB-TTL-Module/dp/B008958S7A
4. Atmega16U2
This is the official Arduino solution. Arduino uses a programmed 16U2 to act as a USB2UART convertor but not FTR232, it should be because the 16U2 is much cheaper than the FT232 Solution, but by now, there are so many other cheaper solutions, this solution is not popular, at least we do not have even 1 customer using this solution, in the past 3 years.
Summary: Makerfabs suggest the solution_1 CP2102 solution or solution_2 CH340C, the PL2303 not stable& popular, and the Atmega16U2, I do not know, anyway, it is not so cost-effective.
3. PL2303
Also a cheap choice, very cheap
Datasheet: http://www.prolific.com.tw/UserFiles/files/ds_pl2303HXD_v1_4_4.pdf
Ref board: https://www.amazon.com/Prolific-PL2303-USB-TTL-Module/dp/B008958S7A
4. Atmega16U2
This is the official Arduino solution. Arduino uses a programmed 16U2 to act as a USB2UART convertor but not FTR232, it should be because the 16U2 is much cheaper than the FT232 Solution, but by now, there are so many other cheaper solutions, this solution is not popular, at least we do not have even 1 customer using this solution, in the past 3 years.
Summary: Makerfabs suggest the solution_1 CP2102 solution or solution_2 CH340C, the PL2303 not stable& popular, and the Atmega16U2, I do not know, anyway, it is not so cost-effective.
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