5 ms·
FTDI chips cost at least $5 (https://www.findchips.com/search/ft232 https://www.findchips.com/search/ft232), but an RP2040 can be bought for less than $1, so it
by ivoc 3y ago
FTDI chips cost at least $5 (https://www.findchips.com/search/ft232 https://www.findchips.com/search/ft232), but an RP2040 can be bought for less than $1, so it makes sense to use an RP2040.
- tecleandor 3y agoRepurposing is also great. I have FTDI UART adapters that I've used once five years ago, and couldn't find them later, then had to buy another new one for using it (again) just once. If I can take one of my rp2040s and use it for half and hour and then use it for a different thing, it's great
- sebcat 3y agoDoesn't the RP2040 require external qspi flash? What does that cost? MCP2200 is ~$2.50 in single units and you don't have to deal with firmware or programming.
- Denvercoder9 3y agoThere's other FTDI chips than the FT232, the FT230 can be found for <$2.
- 15155 3y agoWCH CH340 USB-UARTs cost less than an RP2040 (and probably the external flash.) https://www.lcsc.com/search?q=CH340 https://www.lcsc.com/search?q=CH340 The reason to use an RP2040 is that you need a little bit of logic with that UART.
- adolph 3y agoRP2040 is so cheap it is used in the debugger for the Pi Pico. https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/microcontrollers/debug-probe.html https://www.raspberrypi.com/documentation/microcontrollers/d...