Using USB to Serial Cable to Connect STM32F411 to PC Terminal Program

[Terence D]

Posted on November 10, 2017 at 19:09

Hi guys.  I'm still trying to get my STM32F411 to communicate (using UART) with a terminal program running on Windows 10.  I just found a really good YouTube tutorial on this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0E3_9u4ds4

.  It seems I should be able to use

https://www.adafruit.com/product/954

 to accomplish the same task as shown in the video.  Just hoping a more experienced engineer on the forum can confirm this?

[Terence D]

Posted on November 12, 2017 at 00:08

Bump.

[Tesla DeLorean]

Posted on November 12, 2017 at 01:07

I like the SiLabs CP2102, cabled, would prefer mini over micro, but probably limited choices.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1x-CP2102-v2-0-Micro-USB-2-0-to-Serial-UART-TTL-RS232-Converter-3-3-to-5-0V/131559693250?hash=item1ea1919bc2:g:66wAAOSwyQtVqsWi

 

Lot of lower cost variants of this type of board out of China.

TX of module would go to USART_RX on STM32, and RX to USART_TX, while GND is commoned

[Terence D]

Posted on November 12, 2017 at 07:00

Thanks, Clive.  So, it sounds like there should be no problem using a cable like this.  I did see some like you've linked to on EBay for a very affordable price but my local electronics store appears to have the AdaFruit USB to TTL serial cable in stock.  I'm okay with paying a little bit more to have it immediately.

[Tesla DeLorean]

Posted on November 12, 2017 at 08:23

Boards out of China run less than $2, sort of thing you order by the dozen..

>>

So, it sounds like there should be no problem using a cable like this.

Should be fine, I think you're projecting complexity here. The thing to be avoiding is RS232 level, as these are NOT compatible with CMOS levels the processor is using/presenting at the pins.

[S.Ma]

Posted on November 12, 2017 at 13:37

If you can, the USB of the STLink is a composite device. There is a VCOM port which is routed to one UART of the target STM32. Use this one with Teraterm and off you go. The speed you program on USB is used to program the STLinkMCU UART settings. 115200bps would be the typical one.

[Terence D]

Posted on November 12, 2017 at 18:23

Clive One wrote:

>>

So, it sounds like there should be no problem using a cable like this.

Should be fine, I think you're projecting complexity here. The thing to be avoiding is RS232 level, as these are NOT compatible with CMOS levels the processor is using/presenting at the pins.

Clive - Can you elaborate?  I want to use UART to send/receive text to/from a terminal program in Windows like

http://www.putty.org/

.  My plan is to only use the Tx/Rx pins of this cable to do so.  Just as shown in the

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0E3_9u4ds4

[Terence D]

Posted on November 12, 2017 at 18:25

KIC8462852 EPIC204278916 wrote:

If you can, the USB of the STLink is a composite device. There is a VCOM port which is routed to one UART of the target STM32. 

Based on what I learned on

, I don't believe I can do this with my STM32F411.

[Tesla DeLorean]

Posted on November 12, 2017 at 18:33

I'm not watching 42 min videos, like I said you're over thinking this, you've got to wire up three leads, and use a device providing CMOS levels. The AdaFruit and board I cited do what you need.

RS232 infers different voltage levels, and inversion of the signal polarity.

[Terence D]

Posted on November 12, 2017 at 18:43

Clive One wrote:

I'm not watching 42 min videos, like I said you're over thinking this, you've got to wire up three leads, and use a device providing CMOS levels. The AdaFruit and board I cited do what you need.

RS232 infers different voltage levels, and inversion of the signal polarity.

Chill out dude, I'm not asking you to watch a 42 minute video.  The very beginning of the video shows the two wires hooked up to the Tx/Rx pins and at 2:10 he shows the USB to serial device.  I was simply asking if the AdaFruit cable accomplishes the same thing as I can purchase it immediately (locally) as opposed to waiting a week+ for shipping.