StarTech.com 3ft (1m) USB to Serial Cable with COM Port Retention, DB9 Male RS232 to USB Converter, USB to Serial Adapter for PLC/Printer/Scanner, Prolific Chipset, Windows/Mac

Product Overview

AI-generated summary

For £24.70 ex-VAT, this is a sensible “get it working” USB–serial lead, especially if you’re wiring up older kit like PLCs, label printers, or barcode scanners with a DB9 port. The fact it’s based on a Prolific chipset is the big selling point in the real world—Prolific tends to be more reliably driver-friendly than the no-name alternatives, particularly when you’re rolling out to multiple Windows machines or dealing with Mac users who don’t want a whole driver saga.

That said, I wouldn’t buy it if you’re doing anything mission-critical that depends on rock-solid serial timing or long-term stability in harsh environments. At a 1m length, you’re also limited on reach—fine in the workshop or on a bench, but not ideal if your control cabinet is some distance away. Also, if your “PLC” or device is picky (or expects specific RS232 behaviours), the cable’s a workaround—not a cure-all—so check your device requirements before you order. Overall: worth it for SMB/IT teams that need a dependable, low-cost serial adapter for everyday provisioning and servicing, but it’s not the choice if you’re trying to “bulletproof” a production line.