Alternative to pricey ALDL cables

[FSJ Guy]

I found a $21 (virtually) turnkey option for a DIY ALDL cable.

http://www.sparkfun.com/products/8165

This little gem uses a standard USB cable. You only need to hook up 2 wires: data and ground. Connect both grounds of the device and the ALDL Ground together. Next, tie the TX and RX pads together and connect them to your data pin of your ALDL port.

If you're using TunerPro, set it up for regular serial cable mode and pick a com port.

That's it! You probably already have a USB A to B cable so your cost really is only $21 plus shipping.

Don't have a soldering iron? You can wrap wires around the header pins if you want.

[babywag]

This one is even cheaper...

http://www.superdroidrobots.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=1173

$16.74 shipped to my door, just add wires, plugs right into USB port on laptop.

I forget who, but someone posted it in this section.

[Bill USN-1]

Yah, i've used the superdroids premade gray cables that were FTDI. Worked fine. It looks like they aren't avail now or they changed them. There is a pic at the top of the page but it's not listed as an option.

The Nokia CA-42 phone cable for $2.50 is about the cheapest but it's not an FTDI.
Looks just like the new superdroid cables.

[BGW]

Thanks for the link. The best part is SparkFun is a local company!

[FSJ Guy]

Thanks for the link. The best part is SparkFun is a local company!

Yup! Someone posted one up but it was an eBay auction and shipped from overseas and took something like up to 20 days to arrive. I got mine 2 days after it shipped. I now have to find a case for it.

[billyrb]

now when I search fleabay, I select US only so I don't have that Chinese problem