I want to connect a RS-232 port device to USB with an adapter. The adapter has 2 versions. PL2303 chip or FTDI chip. Anyone that can help me out here?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0769F4R3...olid=2D05MPMGMIQG0&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Or any better recommendations?

 

I use these:

Tripp Lite Keyspan High-Speed USB to Serial Adapter, PC & Mac (USA-19HS) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000VYJRY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_adwQCbQRH1GJ9

Much more expensive but extremely reliable drivers which is a key concern with these things.

If not this one, then the FTDI chipset would be my choice, but beware of counterfeit versions that can be bricked by genuine firmware.

 

Just use Arduino Uno board:
"Connect a jumper from RESET to GND. Your Uno is now a TTL-serial-to-USB converter. TX, RX, and GND are the connections."
From the year of our lord 2012: https://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=138832.0

 

I want to connect a RS-232 port device to USB with an adapter.
Or any better recommendations?

If this is for a desk-top/tower PC, did you check the MB for a COM port expansion plug.
Often these are fitted but not brought out in modern PC's.
This was the case with my Asus MB.
Max.

 

If this is for a desk-top/tower PC, did you check the MB for a COM port expansion plug.
Often these are fitted but not brought out in modern PC's.
This was the case with my Asus MB.
Max.

I can second that. I think all my motherboards have the pins on the motherboard for the serial port, but they don't have actual braket with the connector (DB-9). I had to buy one of these:
https://www.amazon.com/CablesOnline...rs232+bracket&qid=1554607865&s=gateway&sr=8-5
make sure cable is long enough.

Hey Max. If they add the connector from the motherboard, will it be +-15V RS-232? I mean I always plugged my dial-up modem and I never measured it.

 

Depends what IC they use for the RS232, if the type with a charge pump it is usually ~+- 9v or so.
Only the signals and GND are used in the communication/transmission.
Max.

 

This is to connect an Alienware Aurora R6 tower to a VC8145 bench DMM. Yes, I bypassed some cheap adapters due to reported counterfeit/compatibility issues from customer feedback. Not sure what the real functional difference is between the FTDI and PL2303 drivers. Also have some older devices w/ RS232 ports that I may want to integrate after this. My days of digging into computer cases and MB's are over due to my mobility issues or I'd probably dig out an old serial card from the computer pile. I have to get help with cabling and this seems the easiest solution. I think this is the first computer I've owned without RS232 or a serial card I added. I can always try the cheaper one w/FTDI and send it back to Amazon if it doesn't work. Thanks for the input guys!

 

This is to connect an Alienware Aurora R6 tower to a VC8145 bench DMM. Yes, I bypassed some cheap adapters due to reported counterfeit/compatibility issues from customer feedback. Not sure what the real functional difference is between the FTDI and PL2303 drivers. Also have some older devices w/ RS232 ports that I may want to integrate after this. My days of digging into computer cases and MB's are over due to my mobility issues or I'd probably dig out an old serial card from the computer pile. I have to get help with cabling and this seems the easiest solution. I think this is the first computer I've owned without RS232 or a serial card I added. I can always try the cheaper one w/FTDI and send it back to Amazon if it doesn't work. Thanks for the input guys!

Ok. Yes, just get the usb to rs-232 cable.

The story goes like this. Back about 10-ish years ago FTDI chips were something like 90% of the market. Chinese counterfeited them. FTDI noticed it because they began loosing money. So. FTDI released a driver, but built into the driver was code to check ID register of the chip. If driver found "FTDI" chip with wrong ID, the driver disabled the chips. Literally overnight tens of thousands of devices, that people paid money for, stopped working.

And that is how Chinese CH340 or 341 usb chip came about.

 

This is to connect an Alienware Aurora R6 tower to a VC8145 bench DMM. Yes, I bypassed some cheap adapters due to reported counterfeit/compatibility issues from customer feedback. Not sure what the real functional difference is between the FTDI and PL2303 drivers. Also have some older devices w/ RS232 ports that I may want to integrate after this. My days of digging into computer cases and MB's are over due to my mobility issues or I'd probably dig out an old serial card from the computer pile. I have to get help with cabling and this seems the easiest solution. I think this is the first computer I've owned without RS232 or a serial card I added. I can always try the cheaper one w/FTDI and send it back to Amazon if it doesn't work. Thanks for the input guys!

The FTDI chipset, if real, will have the best drivers and the broadest compatibility, that’s the reason for the choice. Otherwise, they should be equivalent. The Keyspan device is one I have used for many years, professionally and personally, and it’s been extremely reliable, that’s why i suggested it, but it does come at a premium.

 

My 2c :

Avoid the prolific chipset like the plague... saying that it sucks is a gross understatement ...

[sarcasm] the only two things wrong with it are the software and the hardware [/sarcasm]

 

I have used FTDI as well as two other types. The FTDI adapters are very robust and deliver true RS-232. If you don't want to spend time sorting through adapters and drivers, just go for FTDI.

 

Watch out for the CH340 versions if you are running Macs. Unfortunately, the drivers are very flakey and can crash the Macs hard like the power has been dropped off.
If you get it going, as I've had it working, be careful if there is an OS update, as it is likely to cause problems. There has not been any trouble on my Macs with the FTDI chips, even tho I was not going to use them again after FTDI having the driver kill the fake chips that the customers had purchased in good faith. FTDI should have gone after the counterfeiters, not the users. Still, that is in the past.

 

This is the thing which more than sure is no worth to solder Yourself, because regular price at ebay.com is sth like 0,50...0,99 USD. Even IC will cost more in the shop.