Please don't use the CP2101 chip

I’d like to see the GPS boards have prolific or ftdi serial controllers. While there are drivers for non-windows, non-mac applications, it’d be nicer if the usb-serial chip was better documented.

Yes, I could use the RS232 version, but I prefer the USB as it’s easier for hanging off my laptop.

We use prolific ones at work, and the drivers are very flaky

the CP210x has a pretty good forum here: http://www.cygnal.org/

Check out the USB section.

That’s all very well and good, if you can use the binary drivers - a number of the intel mac users were commenting that silicon labs are providing poor levels of support. They don’t provide any register documentation for developers to write their own drivers.