I like to program my radio or scanner via the computer. You can see more, import more and adjust things quickly. One thing you can do on the PC is adjust which channels are in the scan or not, something unfortunatley you can not do on the radio (bit funny).
This all worked fine, however after a windows update, I could no longer connect. Something happened.
I went into the device manager and found the error, my cable no longer worked. This same issue happened to a USB Card reader also.
PL2303HXA PHASED OUT SINCE 2012. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR SUPPLIER.
While this is all very informative, it really didn’t help me. However I found a solution.
What windows have done, is for the older chips, Window’s has dropped driver support for them. However you go to http://wp.brodzinski.net/hardware/fake-pl2303-how-to-install/ you can download an old driver version, then install the old driver version.
Once downloaded, open the zip file and run the exe file and install. Unplug the USB cable, and plug it in again.
Then, go back to the Device Manager, right click on the above line, select properties, go to Driver tab, select Update Driver, select Browse my computer for driver software, then navigate to the downloaded file, then select Let Me Pick, then you get a selection as per the picture below. Select the older 2008 version as shown below.
Press Next and let it install. Once complete, click on Close, and Close again, and the Device Manager should now be changed to:
Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port (COM?)
You should be able to communicate with the radio fine now. You many have to re-do the above steps if you re-boot the PC or do a windows update.
Option 2
I came acrross this other way to do it also, using a different driver. Both options work for me, however it depends on which cord I am using. So if the first option doesn’t work, you may want to try option two below.
I hope this helps you. This took a while to put together, so please let me know what you thought by adding a comment below. Don’t forget to follow our page also for more updates. There are more hints on this web site also.
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VK3TBS 
Thanks.
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first option worked for me to get my picocricket working on a windows 10 machine which uses the PL-2303HXA chip set. I have found that the PL-2303 has a new driver for windows 10 since may 2020 but not the PL-2303HXA variation.
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Thanks for the feedback Beardy.
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Thank you a lot, i was having the same problem with a COM to USB cable.
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Glad it helped. Thanks for the encouragement
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It’s nearly impossible to find well-informed people about this subject, but you sound like you
know what you’re talking about! Thanks
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Thanks Hans. Great to know it helped
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WE ARE NOT WORTHY!
Thanks for this. I had bought an LED name plate as a novelty a few years ago and didn’t think about it when I upgraded to Windows 10 on a PC without a disc drive. The drivers being stale hadn’t even crossed my mind when I started trying to get this thing up and running again. You’re a life saver.
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Glad we could help. Yes a great trick that has saved a lot of old hardware. Thanks for taking the time to let us know.
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Thanks, it works.
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So glad it helped you. Thanks for letting me know.
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Nice explanation. Worked a treat for my USB-serial converter. This dongle has talked to hundreds of devices flawlessly over 15 years. Reinstalled Win10 recently and the driver update meant I could no longer communicate with my house inverter. Being off-grid, this is critical. Thanks – I’m saved.
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Thanks Johnno, glad it helped
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