Help with USB to serial cable adaptor

Development Tools IDE 1.x
1

Hi,

I have made a cable to connect a Ethernet arduino board via USB-Serial adaptor. I have the correct pinouts connected i.e.
Pin1 = RTS, connected to DB9 Pin7
Pin2=RXD, connected to DB9 Pin2
Pin3=TXD, connected to DB9 Pin3
Pin4=5V (not connected in my case),
Pin5=CTS, connected to DB9 Pin8
Pin6=GND, connected to DB9 Pin5

When I try to upload program I get error "avrdude: stk500_getsync(): not in sync: resp=0x00".

I tried same program with a FTDI cable and it downloads with no problems so I know the board is OK..

My question is that do I have to use FTDI cable for connection between USB to serial or any USB to serial adaptor could work, if yes what could I be doing wrong?

thanks for the help

PS: the drivers are installed for USB-serial cable with no issues and device manager does not report any errors.

2

Make sure you are selecting the right serial port.

Connect RX to TX of the adapter, then open serial monitor. See if sending a character there loops through.

3

Hi,

Yes I am selecting the correct COM port and I swapped RX TX on the cable connected to my Ethernet board, however I am not sure about how to send characters to see if they come through in the serial port monitor window..are there special commands like 'ping' or anything like that to verify RX-TX connectivitiy?

thanks

4

As I said, on the adapter connect RX to TX. It's called "loop back." That way you can use serial monitor to send a character and receive it on, on the adapter itself.

If that doesn't work, then the problem is the adapter.

5

sorry I know what you mean now..I did connected the loopback cable and the serial port monitor console responds with correct letters as entered..so the adaptor is OK..