Now it is not that FTDI chips are without controversy since FTDI trashed their reputation of their handling of what they allege to be Chinese counterfeits of their chips, but apart from the deliberate bricking debacle, the chips have been reliable performers. In true Chinese style, downgrade knock offs of Arduino boards (eg the Arduino nano) have appeared, the downgrade is achieved by use of CH340 USB to RS-232 converters instead of the FTDI chips on the genuine nano. Information is scarce as their website is mostly in Chinese language.ĬH34x chips have become more common, perhaps as consumers have fled the Chinese Prolific product line (for good reason). One of the several sources of chips for USB to RS-232 converters is WCH, a Chinese firm offering their CH340 and CH341 chipsets.