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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:

USB-to-Serial Converter Driver Download:
CDM v2.12.28 WHQL Certified.zip (release date: 2017/08/24)

FTDI USB driverSetup 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 10,  8 and Windows 7 32-bit and 64-bit,  Vista, Vista x64, XP, XP x64 and Windows 2000, download and unzip to desktop or any temporary folder.  Open the folder, right-click the setup.exe file and "Run as Administrator" to install.

Download USB-to-Serial drivers
Driver Documentation:
Click here to review the latest release notes: FTDI Release Notes
Click here for Windows 10 Application Note 396 detailing step by step installation instructions:

 FTDI Release Notes
Click here for Windows 8 Application Note 234 with detailed step by step installation instructions:

 FTDI Release Notes
Click here for Windows 7 Application Note 119 detailing step by step installation instructions:

 FTDI Release Notes

Click here for additional installation instructions for older Windows XP operating systems.  Drivers for other operating systems can be downloaded directly from the FTDI chip website located at:  https://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm.

 FTDI Website
Driver Installation Guide for MAC OS X.

Step-by-step instructions for installing the FTDI Drivers on a Mac running OS X.
 FTDI Release Notes

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 older Optec control software.  We recommend that the converter use the FTDI chip set for best compatibility.  All Optec USB converters and USB/Serial cables use the FTDI chipset and drivers.
Known Issues with Windows and Liberty Basic
NOTE: Beginning with Microsoft Vista there has been a problem running the older Optec control programs without full administrator rights.  This issue is  based on a limitation in the Liberty Basic complier. It is necessary that the program be given full administrator rights to the installation folder so that certain configuration files can be modified and saved.  Note that this does not apply to any of the newer Optec programs and ASCOM drivers developed in the Microsoft .NET environment. 
 
If you have any complier errors, try copying the Program Files folder and entire contents (e.g. C:\Program Files (x86)\Optec\TCF Control\1.40\tcf) to the desktop and run directly from that location. 
 
Contact Optec Technical Support if you have any other problems or concerns.
 
Older Windows Help files
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.