7 replies to this topic

[Caffeine]

I'm currently jumpering my netduino to one of my other boards to hijack the FTDI USB chip on that board, for serial communication, and I got to thinking it would be better to have a UART shield for the netduino. Does anyone make a UART shield? I've never used an arduino (native C++ on 'raw' AVR's for me) but I understand that the arduino USB connection is used both for programming and communications, so a UART shield isn't really necessary. With that in mind I set about designing one. If there isn't one on the market I'll have to make my own I guess  UARTShield.jpg   76.56KB   104 downloads Currently drawn up with a FT232R, as that's what I have sitting here, with solder jumpers to select which RX & TX pins of the netduino to connect, however I note that FTDI now make a FT2232D, which uses 1 USB connection to expose two virtual COM ports, allowing me to have both UARTs appear as separate COM ports on the PC! I'll have to red-do the design with that on board. Edit: Now with FT2232D  DualUARTShield.jpg   73.17KB   112 downloads

[stacyh3]

There is this one Arduino RS232 Shield, but it only exposes 1 port.

Stacy

[Chris Walker]

Now _that_ is pretty cool. I would buy one

[dab]

I use one of the FTDI USB cables that has the FT232R built in.

Works great with the Netduino (make sure to get the 3V3 version).

[freds]

I use one of the FTDI USB cables that has the FT232R built in.

Works great with the Netduino (make sure to get the 3V3 version).

I have used a 5V cable to also power the netduino via the 5v pin for serial debuging with no problems.

[Crispin]

I use one of the FTDI USB cables that has the FT232R built in.

Works great with the Netduino (make sure to get the 3V3 version).

I have one of those and while it works well, I think it is slightly less flexible than cast iron. Using it with 90 degree headers makes it a bit easier.

Still, handy cable

[Caffeine]

So I got round to ordering the PCB, and some FTDI2232D chips, so it will be interesting to see how it all works together...  UART Shield.png   350.75KB   24 downloads

[Caffeine]

So the boards arrived and I soldered one together (actually made two, had a minor brain explosion on the first one and put the FTDI chip in 90° out of position, oops!) It almost works The PC recognises that something has been connected but can't identify it. Some investigation required... Ignore the resistors, I didn't have any spare 0805 ones in the appropriate denominations, will be rectified shortly.

Attached Files

•  2011-08-10 16.57.03.jpg   1.32MB   37 downloads