Arduino Mega Serial Communication Ports Usuage

Projects Interfacing w/ Software on the Computer
1

Hi,
I will like to use the 4 serial communication ports on the arduino Mega. Do I need a usb to serial adapter like what this link says I need in order to use the other ports. If so, where do i get one ? because when i googled it I got something that doesnt look like it will connect. Also what other configurations do I need to do if any to use the other serial communication ports ?

Thanks

2

Your Mega comes with the first hardware serial port sharing a USB adapter. You only need USB adapters in the ( rather unlikely) event that you wish to connect to other PCs via a USB port. I imagine if you were that adventurous, you would connect via a serial port anyway. In the meantime you can connect to other serial devices, without the need for USB adapters. The other ports are used in the same was as Serial "0", but you call them by number

Serial1.print

etc.

3

All the serial ports on the Mega are only TTL level so to connect to a RS232 level device you will need some form of level conversion in between else you may damage your arduino (or whatever it's connected to).

4

Thanks both of you all.

Just to confirm @Nick_Pyner, you are saying that I do not need an adapter or anything else apart from the standard Serial to USb cable provided to communicate with the other serial ports (RX1 TX1 ; RX2 TX2) from my one PC ?

5

Izzy92:
that I do not need an adapter or anything else apart from the standard Serial to USb cable provided to communicate with the other serial ports (RX1 TX1 ; RX2 TX2) from my one PC ?

That is not an accurate description and I don't know if that is because you don't understand or because you have not written it carefully.

Please describe what you want to do with the different Serial ports and we will be better able to help you.

...R

6

Read reply #4

What I am saying is, if you have one PC, use the standard serial to communicate, just like you have always done. You may use the other three ports to communicate with other serial devices (Bluetooth, other Arduinos etc.) without any need for USB adapters. There are other devices that demand comms by USB, in which case a USB shield, configured to run on one of the other ports, is in order. The only instance I can think of is a mobile phone, but I imagine there are others.