Connecting to a BBB or RBBB

This page shows some options for connecting to an Arduino, BBB, RBBB etc. All of the options are solid and easy to use. The tradeoffs are discussed below.

The FTDI USB to TTL serial cable works well for those users who do not have a DB-9 serial port. It can also be used to supply up to 500 mA to a BBB, RBBB, Diecimila or other board. More expensive than the serial cable option though.

The P3 & P4 adapters work well for those users who 1) Have a DB-9 serial port, and 2) Don't mind hooking up a wall wart, batteries or other power supply to their board. More economical than the FTDI cable option.

Some generic serial cables are at the bottom for those who can't find one at the bottom of their closet.

USB BUB board, USB to TTL serial adapter

The USB BUB board has been engineered to be an affordable, flexible USB connector with lots of applications. It uses the popular FT232R chip, the same as Arduinos, the FTDI cable we sell, and the Spark Fun breakout boards. This board has a few features not found on some other USB boards though.

• An inductor to filter some high frequency noise from the power line
• A polyfuse to protect the USB line from short circuits
• An LED which shows serial activity on both the TX and RX lines
• A shunt to switch the logic levels from 5 to 3.3 volts. This shunt doesn't switch the power though, the 3.3 V pin from the FT232R is available but remember that it's only good for 50 mA of current. Maybe a future version will feature a 3.3 V regulator too.
• Two sets of header sockets, both of which can be remapped by the user. One pin header comes connected in the pin order of the FTDI RS232 cable (the same as the BBB/RBBB/LilyPad/Arduino Pro pin header, with the added bonus of having the DTR line instead of having to use the RTS line (and its attendant quirks).
The other socket is unmapped and is available for the user to remap in any convenient manner, so you basically get two adapters for the price of one. Map one for 3.3V and the other for 5V projects. Remap one for a Basic Stamp, or breadboard Arduino or anything that comes up.
The main header can also be easily remapped should one wish, by cutting the traces and adding jumpers for the required pin order.
• The USB-BUB is shipped with two female and one male six-pin headers, a three pin header for the logic level select and a shunt, that the user must solder on. All other parts are mounted and the board has been tested and is ready to go.

The USB BUB is available with or without a USB A to mini cable. This is the same one that your digital camera connects with, so you can use the one you already have or get an extra for your camera. All for less than the price of competing adapters or the FTDI cable.

USB cables

USB Type A Male to Mini B Male Cable 6 ft
Same as the one that came with your digital camera.

USB Type A Male / Type B Male Cable, 2.0 Version, 6 ft
This is the most common USB cable, used by Arduino NG, Diecimila, Duemilanove, most printers, etc .

FTDI makes a useful USB-to-TTL cable that most customers use to connect to the Bare Bones Board and Really Bare Bones Board. Drivers are available for Windows, Mac and Linux. The drivers are solid and all of the bugs and glitches that were present two years ago seem to have been worked out.

Connecting to TTL serial protocol is a common need with many microcontrollers and this cable is useful for connecting to many different microcontrollers such as PICAXE, PICS, BASIC STAMP and many more.

Windows Users:

You will need to set a parameter with your serial port to get the serial port to produce the required reset signal.
Device Manager -> Com Ports -> USB Serial Port -> Port Settings -> Advanced button -> Set RTS On Close

Linux users:

80 in stock

P4 RS232 to TTL Serial Adapter Kits

Provides a RS232 serial-port connection to a BBB or RBBB. It has the reset (RTS) line on it, and supports the BBB rev D, or any other Modern Device Board with the RTS-capacitor hack installed. Also works with Mini, Lilly Pad, Boarduino, Basic Stamp interpreter, Basic Atom, Picaxe, more. You can even connect to an Arduino Diecimila with this adapter if you want to use a Comm port for example and avoid the FTDI chip in the Diecimila.

This adapter must be provided with +5 volts and ground from the breadboard. It mates seamlessly with the first five pins on BBB (Rev D) or RBBB boards. It has two extra rows of pads that can be used to remap the pins to different order for your other applications.

P3 & P4 instructions.pdf

Standard DB-9 Serial Cables

Generic 6' serial cables with female DB-9 connector on one end and male DB-9 cable on the other end. Low cost connection with P4 adapter between a PC with a serial port and a BBB, RBBB, Lilypad etc.