StarTech.com 17in (43cm) 1-Port USB to RS232 DB9 Serial Adapter Cable, USB to Serial Adapter Cable - M/M

Product Overview

AI-generated summary

If you just need a quick, reliable way to get a single RS232 serial port from a laptop/PC with no legacy ports, this StarTech USB-to-serial cable does the job and it’s priced about right for that niche. At £17.27 ex-VAT, you’re basically paying for low-drama compatibility and a cable you can throw in a spares drawer for clients who still have barcode scanners, old PLC/serial console gear, or other “RS232-only” kit. StarTech generally avoids the “won’t enumerate properly” headaches you sometimes see with cheaper generics, so in day-to-day reseller support it’s a safer bet.

I’d say **buy** this if you need **one** serial connection and you don’t want to mess around with docking stations or internal cards. **Avoid** it if you’re planning heavy, long-term field use where you’ll be constantly moving devices around (USB cables take wear), or if the wider setup already needs more than one serial port—at that point you’ll either want an actual multi-port solution or a different approach. Also, if the environment is particularly locked down, double-check driver/OS support before you standardise across a fleet; otherwise it’s a solid, cost-effective “get it working fast” adapter.