SparkFun FTDI Basic Breakout - 3.3V

The SparkFun FTDI Basic Breakout - 3.3V is an innovative product that has been redesigned with a SMD 6-pin header at the bottom. This makes it more compact and smaller than its previous version, while maintaining the same functionality.

The product is a basic breakout board for the FTDI FT232RL USB to serial IC. It is specifically designed to match the FTDI cable pinout, making it compatible with both official and cloned 3.3V Arduino boards. Besides, it can also be used for general serial applications. One of the key differences of this board is the DTR pin, which enables an Arduino target to auto-reset when a new Sketch is downloaded. This eliminates the need to hit the reset button, making it a convenient feature.

The board features pins labeled BLK and GRN, corresponding to the colored wires on the FTDI cable. The black wire is for GND while the green is for DTR. These pins are used to align the FTDI basic board with your Arduino target.

When compared to the FTDI Cable, this board has its advantages and disadvantages. For instance, it comes with TX and RX LEDs that allow you to see serial traffic on the LEDs, verifying if the board is functioning. However, it requires a Mini-B cable. The FTDI Cable, on the other hand, is well protected against the elements, but it is large and not easily embedded into a project. The FTDI Basic uses DTR for a hardware reset while the FTDI cable uses the RTS signal.

The design of this board aims to reduce Arduino development cost and increase ease of use, thanks to the auto-reset feature. It is compatible with Arduino Pro and LilyPad boards that use this type of connector.

For those who prefer microUSB over miniUSB, SparkFun offers the FT231X Breakout to cater to your micro FTDI needs.

The product also comes with a variety of documents for reference, including a schematic, Eagle Files, a USB to serial UART Boards Hookup Guide, a guide on how to install FTDI drivers, FTDI Drivers, and GitHub design files.