StarTech.com 1ft (30cm) USB to Serial Adapter Cable, COM Retention, Interchangeable Nuts/Screws, USB-A to DB9 RS232, FTDI IC, ESD Protection, Windows/macOS/Linux

Product Overview

AI-generated summary

For £24.34 ex-VAT, this is a sensible “get it working” USB-to-serial lead if you’ve got the usual RS-232 needs in a UK business environment—configuring routers/switches, connecting older serial consoles, dealing with some alarm/panel gear, or tying into estate management systems that still speak COM ports. The FTDI chipset is the big confidence builder: it’s generally reliable under Windows and doesn’t tend to be the sort of finicky adapter that mysteriously drops off or needs driver babysitting. StarTech also calling out COM retention and the ability to swap the DB9 hardware is practical for teams that move kits around (or keep multiple adapters on the bench) and don’t want “which COM number is it this time?” slowing anyone down.

I’d buy this if you know you specifically need RS-232 over DB9 and you’re setting up for lab/warehouse/admin tooling where stability matters more than novelty. I’d be cautious if you’re trying to use it for anything that isn’t true RS-232 (many “serial” devices are actually TTL/other voltage standards) or if you’re expecting it to behave like a high-throughput industrial link—this is a cable adapter, not a full serial-over-IP or protocol gateway. Also worth noting: for KVM/mouse/keyboard cable categories it’s more of a mismatch on the catalogue—don’t let that naming confuse you; it’s genuinely about serial, not peripherals.