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Cipherlab 308 Usb-to-rs232 Interface Converter Driver May 2026

Cause: Windows has blocked the driver because it detected a counterfeit chip. Prolific has deliberately blocked many clone chips in drivers after version 3.3.2.2009.

Solution:

If you have a CipherLab 308 USB-to-RS232 interface converter, you’ll need the correct driver so your Windows PC can talk to legacy RS232 serial devices through the USB port. This post walks through what the device is, how to install the driver, common troubleshooting steps, and tips for verifying the connection.

Step 1: Download the Driver Download the official package (e.g., PL2303_Prolific_DriverInstaller_vx.x.x.exe).

Step 2: Run the Installer as Administrator cipherlab 308 usb-to-rs232 interface converter driver

Step 3: Reboot (Important) The installer may not require a reboot, but perform one manually to finalize the system-level changes.

Step 4: Connect the CipherLab 308

Step 5: Verify the Installation

Cause: The driver was never properly installed, or Windows Update overwrote it. Cause: Windows has blocked the driver because it

Solution:

Since the 308 often uses the PL-2303 chip:

Before discussing the driver, it’s essential to understand the hardware. The CipherLab 308 is a compact cable/adapter that converts a USB signal (Type-A connector) into a standard RS232 serial signal (DB9 male or female connector, depending on the model).

Typical Use Case: A business has a CipherLab 1560 barcode scanner designed for RS232 serial communication. The new inventory management computer is a laptop with only USB ports. The user connects the scanner to the 308 converter, plugs the converter into the USB port, and—theoretically—the system sees a virtual COM port. Step 3: Reboot (Important) The installer may not

Why a Driver is Mandatory: Unlike a standard USB mouse or keyboard, which uses HID (Human Interface Device) drivers built into every OS, a serial-to-USB converter requires a dedicated driver to create a "virtual COM port." Windows, macOS, and Linux do not natively understand how to map USB data to legacy serial protocols. The CipherLab 308 driver acts as a translator, creating a bridge like COM3 or /dev/ttyUSB0.

Installing the driver is half the battle. The other half is configuring the virtual COM port to speak your scanner’s language.

Step 1: Identify Scanner Defaults Most CipherLab RS232 scanners default to:

Step 2: Configure the Port

Step 3: Program the Scanner (if necessary) If your scanner is set to a different baud rate, you must reprogram it by scanning configuration barcodes from the CipherLab user manual. The converter cannot change the scanner's settings; it only passes data through.

  • Identify the chipset (if unknown):
  • Download and install the matching driver from the chipset maker’s official site:
  • After installing, unplug and replug the converter. Windows should create a COM port (e.g., COM3).
  • Confirm in Device Manager under “Ports (COM & LPT)” you see “USB Serial Port (COMx).”
  • Configure your serial software to use that COM port and proper baud/parity settings for your device.