DEV-12935 Datasheet, PDF (1/5 Pages) SparkFun Electronics – FTDI SmartBasic Hookup Guide

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FTDI SmartBasic Hookup Guide
Introduction
Page 1 of 5
The FTDI SmartBasic is a variation on our classic FTDI Basic which allows
you to connect a second device to the hardware serial port on an Arduino
Pro, Pro Mini, or other USB-less board without compromising the ability to
bootload code from the Arduino IDE.
Normally, to use a device which requires a serial port resource on an
Arduino board, one must either use a software serial port or plug and
unplug the device during programming. The SmartBasic board adds a
multiplexer to the serial port pins coming from the Arduino, which allows the
application code to switch the serial signals from the USB port to another
device. No special code is required to enable programming, either!
Suggested Reading
Before we get started, you might want to review these other tutorials:
• Logic levels- Setting the jumper on the FTDI SmartBasic to the wrong
voltage level may cause damage to one or more of the boards
hooked up to it.
• Serial communications - The FTDI SmartBasic is a device for
multiplexing serial signals; learn a bit more about serial data and how
it works with this tutorial.
• Installing FTDI Drivers
Hardware Tour