inglewoodpete
Senior Member
Not strictly a PICAXE question but I think there is a wealth of PL2303 knowledge amongst the forum's members.
I recently bought an LG Smart TV. The documentation indicated that it could be controlled externally from a suitably configured receiver via a "PL2303 chip-based USB to serial converter".
Having several Prolific PL2303 cables that I use for my PICAXE work, I plugged one into a USB port on the LG TV. The TV responded with a message (something like) "Unrecognised USB device inserted". Hmm: when is a PL2303 not a PL2303?
Digging deeper into the LG's owner's manual (they're getting better) revealed the following: "LGTV supports PL2303 chip-based (Vendor ID: 0x0557, Product ID: 0x2008) USB to serial converter which is not made nor provided by LG.". A quick check of my PL2303 cable, when plugged into my laptop, reveals Vendor ID: 0x67b, Product ID: 0x2303 Prolific Technology, Inc.
Being a TV, you can't just download an alternate driver to use a different USB device: you're stuck with the TV's firmware.
All sorts of questions come to mind. Ultimately, do members know how to identify one of the 'alternate' PL2303 (Vendor ID: 0x0557, Product ID: 0x2008) USB to serial converters? Alternatively, where I can buy one and be confident that I am buying a compatible converter. Ie in the packaging, without opening it? I don't want to buy 20 of them just to find one that works with the TV.
I recently bought an LG Smart TV. The documentation indicated that it could be controlled externally from a suitably configured receiver via a "PL2303 chip-based USB to serial converter".
Having several Prolific PL2303 cables that I use for my PICAXE work, I plugged one into a USB port on the LG TV. The TV responded with a message (something like) "Unrecognised USB device inserted". Hmm: when is a PL2303 not a PL2303?
Digging deeper into the LG's owner's manual (they're getting better) revealed the following: "LGTV supports PL2303 chip-based (Vendor ID: 0x0557, Product ID: 0x2008) USB to serial converter which is not made nor provided by LG.". A quick check of my PL2303 cable, when plugged into my laptop, reveals Vendor ID: 0x67b, Product ID: 0x2303 Prolific Technology, Inc.
Being a TV, you can't just download an alternate driver to use a different USB device: you're stuck with the TV's firmware.
All sorts of questions come to mind. Ultimately, do members know how to identify one of the 'alternate' PL2303 (Vendor ID: 0x0557, Product ID: 0x2008) USB to serial converters? Alternatively, where I can buy one and be confident that I am buying a compatible converter. Ie in the packaging, without opening it? I don't want to buy 20 of them just to find one that works with the TV.