StarTech.com 13ft (4m) 2-Port USB to Serial Adapter Cable, Interchangeable DB9 Screws/Nuts, COM Retention, USB-A to DB9 RS232, FTDI, Level-4 ESD Protection, Windows/macOS/ChromeOS/Linux - Rugged TPE Construction

Product Overview

AI-generated summary

If you need a dependable USB-to-serial lead and you don’t want your day taken up by flaky drivers or random disconnects, this StarTech adapter is a safe bet. The big win here is practical reliability: FTDI-based adapters tend to “just work” across Windows and the usual Linux/ChromeOS setups, and the added COM retention/behaviour consistency matters in the real world if you’ve got software pointing at a specific COM port. The rugged TPE build is also genuinely useful if it’s living in a toolbox or being plugged/unplugged in the field.

At £49 ex-VAT, though, I’d only buy it if you’re going to use it more like a tool than a one-off. If this is for occasional lab use, there are cheaper FTDI options that’ll probably do the job just fine. But for teams doing repeat device management, equipment commissioning, or anything where “wrong COM port” or signal instability becomes a time sink, this is good value. I’d avoid it if you’re expecting it to replace proper serial hardware for electrically noisy environments without planning (and of course, make sure the devices really are RS-232/DB9 and not TTL/5V logic).

**Who should buy:** IT/engineering teams standardising on stable serial adapters, anyone with recurring COM-port-sensitive tooling, and users who want something that won’t feel flimsy after months of use. **Who shouldn’t:** casual users needing a quick adapter once in a while.