A commonly recommended version for overcoming Windows 11 compatibility errors (like "PL2303TA does not support Windows 11") is the or earlier legacy versions like v3.3.2.105 . Installation Steps :
For over a decade, this "GPS puck" has been the unsung hero of ship captains, open-source sailors, drone mappers, and digital nomads. But in late 2025, a low hum of panic spread through the navigation forums. The culprit? .
When you plug the BU-353S4 into a fresh Windows 11 machine, the OS shrugs. It sees a "USB Serial Converter." It installs a generic Microsoft driver (usbser.sys). And then... nothing. The GPS puck lights up (steady blue LED), but your navigation software (OpenCPN, Google Earth, or SailGrib) hears only static.
Once the driver is installed, your GPS needs a clear view of the sky. Download the from the GlobalSat website. G Star Iv Gps Driver Download Bu-353s4 Windows 11
The is not a single file but a process: identify the chipset (CP210x or PL-2303), download the correct Silicon Labs driver, disable signature enforcement once, and configure your COM port at 4800 baud.
Do use the outdated CD that came with the device. Instead:
Download the from the GlobalSat website. Open the utility. A commonly recommended version for overcoming Windows 11
While the BU-353S4 relies on the highly accurate SiRF Star IV GPS chipset , its internal USB-to-Serial connection uses a Prolific PL2303TA chip. Because Microsoft and Prolific dropped official Windows 11 support for this specific legacy chip, standard automatic updates will trigger a "Code 10" error stating that the device is not supported.
Why? Windows 11 has stricter driver signature requirements and often fails to automatically assign the correct USB-to-Serial controller driver for legacy GPS units.
If you see a yellow exclamation mark, right-click the entry and select Update Driver Browse my computer for drivers Let me pick from a list of available drivers Select an older version (e.g., Version 3.3.2.105 from 2008) if the latest version fails to start. The culprit
How to Install G-Star IV GPS Drivers for GlobalSat BU-353S4 on Windows 11 The GlobalSat BU-353S4 USB GPS receiver Go to product viewer dialog for this item.
Before downloading any driver, it is critical to understand what you are working with.
For enterprise deployment, IT administrators should pre-stage the Prolific PL-2303 (Legacy) driver (version 3.3.x) before distributing the devices to end-users. This prevents the "Code 10" conflict caused by Windows 11's aggressive driver updating.