USB/UART converter FTDI FT232, miniUSB

They say red is faster…

You can never have too many USB/UART (serial, TTL) converters. They’re irreplaceable when you want to program or communicate with a device using UART. Without them, flashing an ESP8266 would be nearly impossible.

Converters come in many flavors, and one of the most reliable and hassle-free chips is the FTDI FT232RL. It’s also one of the most counterfeited. Some time ago, FTDI started fighting back – some versions of their drivers can block or even brick fake chips. This converter works flawlessly with FTDI’s latest official drivers, so we’re assuming it’s legit.

About that cable…

To use this converter, you’ll need a USB mini B cable. Those are getting rare nowadays, so if you don’t have one lying around, grab one now and save yourself the frustration later.

Speaking of cables – everyone’s switching to USB-C these days. Want to skip the mini-USB hassle? Consider the USB/UART converter with USB-C

This chip is the heart of:

• FTDI Friend from Adafruit
• Lilipad FTDI from Sparkfun
• 3.3V cable-style converter
• 5V cable-style converter
• Breadboard-friendly module

And now, meet a new member of this FTDI-powered family – this one comes in bold red and hails from the distant lands of China. It stands out thanks to a handy voltage selector jumper: 3.3V / 5V. Not only does it change the power supply, but also the UART logic levels. That means it’s safe for your 3.3V circuits – no smoke, just happy bits.

Solder on some goldpins and plug it straight into a breadboard.

This USB-UART converter is built around FTDI’s FT232RL chip – famous for its excellent (sometimes controversial) support. It works with all major operating systems:

• Windows 10
• Windows 8/8.1
• Windows 7
• Windows XP
• Windows CE 4.2–2013
• Linux
• Mac OS

Once plugged into your computer, it appears as a COM port.

Drivers are available from the chip manufacturer’s website.