How to check if a USB to serial converter has an FTDI chipset

[Quick link: Instructions for Windows 10]

[Quick link: Instructions for Windows 7]

[Quick link: Instructions for Windows XP]

Many industrial devices use serial communications, most commonly RS-232. Modern laptops no longer ship with RS-232 ports built in unless specially ordered, so USB-to-serial converters are typically used to communicate with these devices. While there are many brands of USB-to-serial converters, nearly all of them use a chipset from one of just a few manufacturers to communicate over RS-232.

This article is intended to help a user determine the type of chipset used in their USB-to-serial converter since some chipsets work well with Parker products and some do not. USB-to-serial converters with chipsets from FTDI (Future Technology Devices International Ltd.) have been found to work better with Parker products than converters with chipsets from other manufacturers.

Instructions for Windows 10

Press the Windows (a.k.a. Start) button. Type device manager and press Enter.
In Device Manager, expand Ports (COM & LPT) and select your serial port. The port number may not match what is shown here.
Double-click the serial port and the USB Serial Port Properties dialog will appear. Go to the General tab and verify that the manufacturer is FTDI.

Instructions for Windows 7

Press the Windows (a.k.a. Start) button. Type device manager and press Enter.
In Device Manager, expand Ports (COM & LPT) and select your serial port. The port number may not match what is shown here.
Double-click the serial port and the USB Serial Port Properties dialog will appear. Go to the General tab and verify that the manufacturer is FTDI.

Instructions for Windows XP

Press the Start button and then click Control Panel.
In Control Panel, double-click System.
In the System Properties dialog, go to the Hardware tab and click Device Manager.
In Device Manager, expand Ports (COM & LPT) and select your serial port. The port number may not match what is shown here.
Double-click the serial port and the USB Serial Port Properties dialog will appear. Go to the General tab and verify that the manufacturer is FTDI.