StarTech.com 6.6ft (2m) USB to Null Modem Serial Adapter Cable, COM Retention, FTDI, USB-A to DB9 RS232, Interchangeable DB9 Screws/Nuts, Windows/macOS/Linux

Product Overview

AI-generated summary

At £27.80 ex‑VAT, this StarTech USB‑to‑serial adapter cable is the kind of “boring but dependable” tool you want in the spares cupboard. The big win is COM retention and the fact it uses an FTDI chipset, which usually means fewer driver headaches and more predictable behaviour in Windows, macOS and Linux. If you’re connecting to older kit—think barcode scanners, industrial controllers, UPS management, console ports on networking gear that still insists on RS‑232—this will often be the fastest route to getting working without hunting down legacy dongles.

I’d recommend it for anyone who needs a real RS‑232 serial connection from a modern laptop/PC, especially in a mixed OS environment or where device scripts/software expect the COM port to stay the same. That said, I wouldn’t buy it if your workflow is heavy on RS‑232 troubleshooting or if you need robust “field” durability: it’s a cable adapter, so you’ll treat it like a delicate tool. Also, make sure you actually need RS‑232—if your device is expecting USB, TTL, or something like a different serial variant, you’ll just end up spending £27.80 to confirm you needed a different adapter.