StarTech.com 1 Port FTDI USB to Serial RS232 Adapter Cable with COM Retention

Product Overview

AI-generated summary

StarTech’s 1‑port FTDI USB‑to‑RS232 adapter is one of the safer “just make it work” options in this price bracket. The FTDI chipset matters in the real world: it tends to behave consistently across common Windows installs, and the COM retention feature is genuinely useful if you’ve got legacy software that expects a specific port number. At ~£26.54 ex‑VAT, it’s decent value if you only need one serial connection and you don’t want to spend your week chasing driver/port-number weirdness.

That said, I wouldn’t buy it if you’re buying for “future proofing” or high-throughput industrial use. USB‑to‑serial adapters are a bit of a mixed bag depending on signal integrity, cabling, and the RS232 environment—if you’re doing something noisy or long‑distance, you may need proper line handling beyond just the adapter. Also, if you need multiple ports, it quickly makes more sense to look at multiport solutions instead of paying per single adapter. Overall: a solid choice for admin desks, basic integrations, and legacy device troubleshooting—just keep expectations realistic for RS232 reliability.