FT232BL: how do i use it?

Projects Programming
1

A friend gave me an FT232BL that simplifies USB into serial data, but how do I use it in the first place?

2

Plug it in.

Then using a terminal emulator, CoolTerm and PuTTY are popular and work well, find and connect to the port it shoukd appear on.

You can test the device by wiring TX directly to RX. Characters you type in the terminal emulator window will be sent right back, so you shoukd see

 aabbccddeeff

when you type abcdef.

From there, it's off to the races.

HTH

a7

3

So this:

Did this "friend" really just give you a bare chip, or is it on a PCB or something?

4

Placa FTDI FT232BL Conversor USB Serial - ByteFlop - A loja de Arduino em João Pessoa e Campina Grande This is the thing.

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5

Thanks for the help! I will do it.

6

and did (s)he give you anything to identify which pin is which on that connector?

If not, ask her/him!

7

The pinout is clearly marked on the silkscreen, see additional photo:

FT232RL_
FT232RL_997×331 47.2 KB

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8

Yup. So a few strands of fine wire wrapped around the TX and RX pins right next to each other there would set up the loop-back test.

a7

9

Or, if you have one of these jumper links knocking about:

image

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10

Seen here not to scale!

a7

11

:rofl: :joy: :sweat_smile:

12

you put the FT232RL on the photo i think.

13

I do have one on the board.

14

That needs to be there to select 5 or 3.3 as the module's Vcc.

Unless you connect what it connects elsewise. Several FTDI devices I have use solder pads and switching is a bigger deal. So I don't switch, I "permanently" made a 5 volt and a 3.3 versions.

a7

15

Depending on your OS, you may also need to install the FTDI drivers.
(If you've installed Arduino, this has probably already been done. Earlier Arduino versions used FTDI chips.)

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