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USB-to-Serial Converter Drivers

Single and 4-port USB-to-Serial Converters

The FTDI USB-to-Serial converter drivers available below are compatible with these Optec products and stock items:

#17690 - One-port USB-to-Serial Converter

#17691 - 4-port USB-to-Serial converters

USB-to-Serial Converter Driver Download:

CDM20814_Setup.exe (release date: 04/12/2011) Setup program for FTDI drivers for single and 4-port USB-to-Serial converter (Optec stock #17690 and #17691). Remove any previously installed FTDI drivers using the Add/Remove Programs feature in Windows. For Windows 7 32-bit and 64-bit, Vista, Vista x64, XP, XP x64 and Windows 2000, download and unzip to any temporary folder. Open the folder and double-click the setup.exe file to install.
Click to review the latest release notes:
Click here for detailed installation instructions for Windows XP - (Highly Recommended). Drivers for other operating systems can be downloaded directly from the FTDI chip website located at: http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm.

Known Technical Issues:

USB-to-Serial Converter Issues.

NOTE: If a USB-to-serial converter is needed to interface to an Optec instrument, it is necessary to confirm that the converter is compatible with the Optec control software. Many low cost converters using the Prolific chip set will not work with the Optec control software. We suggest that the converter use the FTDI chip set for best compatibility. The #17690 single port and the #17691 4-port USB-to-serial converter sold by Optec uses the FTDI chip set.

Known Issues with Vista and Windows 7

NOTE: Unfortunately, with Microsoft VISTA there is a problem with running the Optec control programs. It is necessary that the program be given administrator rights otherwise the program will crash with a message indicating that a file cannot be opened. The next release of Liberty Basic is suppose to fix this incompatibility. To make it work now for VISTA, find the program executable in Program Files. An easy way would be to look at the target for the shortcut in your start menu. For example, the TCF-S control program is named TCF-S.EXE and has the bow tie icon associated with it. Right click on the program and select properties and then the compatibility tab. Under the privilege level make sure there is a check mark for "Run this program as an administrator". If you want to be walked through, give us a call at Optec.

NOTE: Windows discontinued providing WinHlp32.exe with Vista. Some of the Optec programs still use this older version of help and may require this file be added back into the operating system.

For Vista users, click here to download the WinHlp32.exe installer from Microsoft.

For Windows 7 users, click here to download the WinHlp32.exe installer from Microsoft.