Cipherlab 308 Usbtors232 Interface Converter Driver Top Today
Before downloading any driver, you must identify the chip revision. Using the wrong driver can result in Error Code 10 (This device cannot start) on Windows.
To check: Plug in the converter, open Device Manager (Windows), expand “Ports (COM & LPT)”. If you see “Prolific USB-to-Serial Comm Port” with a yellow triangle, check the “Hardware Ids” in Properties > Details. If it contains USB\VID_067B&PID_2303, you have a genuine Prolific chip.
The CipherLab 308 does not require a traditional "driver" in the Windows sense (like a printer driver). Instead, it uses a USB CDC (Communications Device Class) driver that makes the converter appear as a virtual COM port.
Q1: Do I need a separate driver for each CipherLab 308 cradle?
No. One driver handles up to 256 virtual COM ports. All cradles using the same converter type will work with the same driver. cipherlab 308 usbtors232 interface converter driver top
Q2: Can I use this driver on Windows Server 2019/2022?
Yes. Prolific drivers support Windows Server editions. You may need to install the “Desktop Experience” feature first.
Q3: Why does my antivirus flag the driver installer?
Some older Prolific installers use packers that trigger false positives. Always download directly from Prolific.com.tw and verify the digital signature (Prolific Technology Inc.).
Q4: The driver works but my CipherLab 308 won’t transmit data until I unplug/replug the USB. Why?
Your cradle’s DTR (Data Terminal Ready) signal is not being properly initialized. Open your terminal software, set DTR to “Enable” manually, or use a scripting tool to send a DTR ON command before scanning. Before downloading any driver, you must identify the
Q5: Is there a 64-bit specific driver?
Yes. All modern Prolific drivers are native 64-bit for Windows 10/11. Avoid 32-bit versions on 64-bit OS.
CipherLab’s official website may have older drivers. For the “top” performance, go directly to Prolific Technology Inc.’s official driver download page.
Some laptops provide insufficient power over USB. The CipherLab 308 converter draws minimal current, but adding a cradle with a scanner can push limits. Use an externally powered USB 2.0 hub. To check: Plug in the converter, open Device
If you cannot access Prolific’s official page, these are trusted secondary sources:
Warning: Never use “Driver Booster” or similar tools. They often install generic drivers that break PL-2303 functionality.
Why? The CipherLab 308 USB-to-RS232 converter internally uses a Prolific PL-2303 chipset. This is a common, industry-standard USB-to-serial bridge chip. However, counterfeit chips and Microsoft Windows updates have caused many older drivers to fail.
Note: CipherLab does not write this driver from scratch—they rebadge the Prolific driver. Therefore, the top driver is always the latest official Prolific driver, not an older CD-ROM version.