[Wine] Help with USB-to-serial cable

[doctordruidphd]

I am trying to use software to program a scanner radio (BCD396t and UASD software). The software installs and seems to run properly, reading and writing database files. But I cannot connect to the scanner, through a USB-to-serial cable. 
OS: ubuntu-8.10, kubuntu-8.10, debian/lenny (tried them all)

lsusb identifies the cable as follows:
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 067b:2303 Prolific Technology, Inc. PL2303 Serial Port

I set up the link in dosdevices as follows:
ln -s /dev/ttyUSB0 com5

When I change the baud rate in the software, and then check with stty, it is changing the baud rate on ttyUSB0, so that part works. This computer has only USB ports, no serial. I actually have several other devices with the same problem -- need to program with USB-serisl cables.

Any ideas how to set this up?