View source for Serial adapters

The [[Serial voltages]] page explains the differences between various types of voltage levels used for serial ports, and explains which boards use which voltages.  Pin layout for the MiniDIN8 connectors are described [[Motherboard_I/O#Serial_cable_connections|here]].

== Logic level serial adapters ==

The following sections, arranged alphabetically by vendor, show a variety of serial adapters which can be used to convert from logic level serial to RS-232 level serial.

===[http://www.acroname.com/ Acroname]===
Acroname sells both an [http://www.acroname.com/robotics/parts/S13-SERIAL-INT-CONN.html RS-232] and a [http://www.acroname.com/robotics/parts/S19-USB-SERIAL-INT-CONN.html USB] adapter. Note that the RS-232 adapter will work with 5v devices (robostix), and 3.3v devices (breakout-gs and other gumstix serial). These are also available as an [http://www.acroname.com/robotics/parts/S15-BS-INT-ASM.html RS-232 bundle] and a [http://www.acroname.com/robotics/parts/S20-USB-INT-ASM.html USB bundle] which include the appropriate cables for connecting to your PC as well as the [http://www.acroname.com/robotics/parts/C10-SER-INT-CONN-EXT.html extension] cable.

Both the RS-232 and USB adapters have pinouts which allow the devices to be connected directly into the robostix connectors, but note that pin 1 on the Acroname adapters might not be the side you expect. With headers installed on top of the Robostix board, the "top" of the adapter must face ''away'' from the board. (For right-angle headers on top of the board, the adapter looks upside-down when connected correctly.)

===[http://www.hvwtech.com/ HVW Tech]===
HVWTech sells both an [http://www.hvwtech.com/products_view.asp?CatID=163&SubCatID=197&SubSubCatID=198&ProductID=289 RS-232] and a [http://www.hvwtech.com/products_view.asp?CatID=163&SubCatID=197&SubSubCatID=231&ProductID=409 USB] adapter. Note that these are both 5v only devices. One nice feature of these adapters is that they're both designed to plug into solderless breadboards.

===[http://www.microboticsinc.com/ Microbotics]===
Microbotics makes a few [http://www.microboticsinc.com/Serial%20Converters/SLC.html small adapters], including a dual channel version.

===[http://www.pololu.com/ Pololu]===
Pololu sells both an [http://www.pololu.com/products/pololu/0126/ RS-232] and a [http://www.pololu.com/products/pololu/0391/ USB] adapter. Both of these will adapters will work at 3.3v or 5v, so can be used with the robostix or the breakout-gs.

===[http://www.sparkfun.com/ SparkFun]===
Sparkfun sells an [http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=449 RS-232], [http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=198 CP2102 based USB], [http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=199 CP2103 based USB], and [http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=718 FT232RL based USB] adapters. The RS-232 adapter works with 3.3v and 5v. The USB adapters are 3.3v adapters, but because they're bus powered, you can insert a 10k resistor inline with the USB Rx line and make it work with 5v. The 3.3v logic high on the USB Tx line will be seen as a logic high by most modern 5v logic.

===[http://www.ftdichip.com/ FTDI]===
FTDI makes a couple of interesting [http://apple.clickandbuild.com/cnb/shop/ftdichip?op=catalogue-products-null&prodCategoryID=47&title=Cables%3A+TTL-232R USB to logic-level serial cables]. Note that you can choose UK or USA pricing from [http://apple.clickandbuild.com/cnb/shop/ftdichip here].

===Build your own===
[http://www.botkin.org/dale/rs232_interface.htm This site] has an incredibly simple circuit for interfacing an RS-232 circuit to logic level serial.

== USB to RS-232 serial adapters ==

===[http://www.iogear.com/ IOGear]===
IOGear makes a standard [http://www.iogear.com/main.php?loc=product&Item=GUC232A USB to RS-232 serial adapter cable], useful for Gumstix programming from laptops without legacy ports.  Works perfectly with HyperTerminal in Windows.  You'll have to short the RTS and CTS pins to use it with Minicom in Linux, or else it's good for Rx only!

===[http://www.aten.com/ Aten]===
Aten makes a USB to RS-232 converter, [http://www.aten.com/products/productItem.php?pcid=20050107104554001&psid=20050117102915002&pid=2005022316346005 UC232A]. I have used this successfully on both Windows XP (Aten provide drivers for windows), and Ubuntu 6.10 Linux (built-in support).

[[Category: Robostix]]