Reddit reviews HiLetgo FT232RL FTDI Mini USB to TTL Serial Converter Adapter Module 3.3V 5.5V FT232R Breakout FT232RL USB to Serial Mini USB to TTL Adapter Board for Arduino

You could always use a serial programmer such as this one, and here is a video on how to use it and several other programmers otherwise you could always use a arduino uno as a programmer as seen here. Hope this helps :)

I personally buy from Amazon, though I haven't looked around for a cheaper price... but I've also been buying zwave switches @ $45-$50 so $24 for two shelly 1 units is extremely cheap to me.

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To flash my Shelly 1 units i use this (usb mini cable, if you don't have an old one sitting around the house be sure you pick one up). you can find it under the frequently purchased with items for the Shelly 1. If you don't have any jumper wires you are going to want those too.

Something similar to this one with a mini-usb female on-board. Been around for 3 years.

You can program it by soldering some wires to pins 6, 8, and 10 to connect an FTDI adapter. You can then console into the pi. Here is an article on how to to it.

Ignore all other answers..... read this one.

You want this RGBW WiFi controller, $16.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GJMRLUY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

A generic strip of LEDs (makes sure you get one that includes a power supply), similar to this
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HD37U6S/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You will need to flash the controller with different firmware, to do so, you'll need to get your hands on a FTDI USB to TTL Serial converter to connect it to your computer to flash $6, https://smile.amazon.com/HiLetgo-FT232RL-Converter-Adapter-Breakout/dp/B00IJXZQ7C/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1492692709&sr=8-4&keywords=ftdi+usb+to+serial This is a one time purcahse thought, and you might be able to find a computer store that would let you borrow one? I've flashed 6 of the controllers, so far, so the $6 to buy it was worth it.

Detailed instructions are in this thread, it includes the firmware, smartapps, and device handlers (all are free). https://community.smartthings.com/t/release-smartlife-h801-rgbw-led-strip-wifi-controller-bulb/51182/360.

I have over 32' of LED lighting on two different controllers, total cost, a tad over $60 total.

Thanks for the advice. What voltage do I need? I thought the max was 3.3V. If I remember correctly, when I was checking the voltage with my DMM, I saw 2.8V or so. There's some other issues. For example, every time I turn on the device (or plug it in), I see garbled text, then normal. It's only then. It's not during bootup or anything. I'm also having trouble getting to a shell (but I did manage to get to a shell) and I typed fastboot, nothing. Absolutely nothing showed up on the screen after typing it. Just a black window. But I tried running ./sunxi-fel version and still received the same error message. I ran lsusb and still didn't see the NES's CPU in FEL mode. So, I'm thinking maybe having the RS232 shifter hooked up to a USB cable is causing the issues.

I was thinking maybe something with the wires I used caused the garbled text at the beginning, but it's weird that it's only there in the very beginning. Also, my shifter had a torn trace so I soldered a jumper wire. The bad trace was for the TX. Because of the issues getting to a shell, I'll try soldering it in a different spot. Obviously, the jumper wire isn't making a good connection. That shouldn't affect FEL mode though.

I've ordered this to help rule out problems:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IJXZQ7C/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

But it won't arrive until Tuesday. I need to provide power for this device as well, right? Maybe I should just power the adapter with an external power source, instead of powering it from the NES. The current pad I'm using for power is the one right next to the RX pad on the NES.

I was a bit lazy and used an FTDI board:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IJXZQ7C/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

• VCC to VCC
  
• GND to GND and GPIO0
  
• TX to RX
  
• RX to TX

you need to get the flash device, $6 on amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IJXZQ7C/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

> USB uart device

I had to look it up which mean no I am not using a UART device.

I understand the USB device i have with the switch i soldered on there to short out the pins is just for updating firmware so I kind of gave up on that for now as I am literally just trying to get the device to be visible and send AT commands to it, so i thought the stock firmware would allow me to accomplish this.

Since I have not seen the device on my computer I have no idea what firmware is on the device itself.

FTDI: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IJXZQ7C/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The ESP8266-ESP01 I bought from here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MT6T73L/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Its not a bad process if you have the correct serial converter. I spent hours yelling at it until I figured that out.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IJXZQ7C/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Once you have that it only takes a few minutes. I've done a few of them since.

Depending on your needs, you could get an FTDI adapter instead. I personally like the ESP12e and esp8266 huzzah feather.

Fucking it up is mostly hardware. So there's 4 pins sticking off of the board that you'd bridge with some sort of jumper. Basically, you need the right pinout, and some way of converting TTY to USB.

[Link}(https://community.ubnt.com/t5/EdgeRouter/Edgerouter-X-ER-X-USB-TTL-Serial-Port-Mod/td-p/1662131)

If you look at the pins in that orientation, the second from the left is TX, third is RX, and last one is ground. I used this board, but you could use anything as long as it's TTY to USB, not RS232. The pins on that one are labeled, and it seems to also be the same board the guy in the forum post used. Your console speed is 57600 when you're done.

Thank you very much, it means a lot.

when it comes to programming I know a bit of java and have experience with processing, I'm not worried about the programming side of things, I believe I can work that out.

when it comes to electronics I also have some experience, I did this a while ago Custom car horn and some other project but nothing with Arduino.

Creating an app seems like a bigger task than doing this, I enjoy learning new things and I need a project to keep my mind busy for a couple of days.

Since I made this post I found a few things but I yet don't know what could work/be the best solution:

This is the epaper.

And this are some boards I believe could work:

Arduino pro mini I believe I also need this to use it but I'm not sure FTDI?.

I also saw a video of someone using just this to drive the e-paper but idk ESP8266.

do you know if any of this could work, which one is the best and if so how can I pug a speaker into it?.

I am working on a gps project with this exact same GPS module.

I haven't tried to use it with TinyGPS library, but I did get it working using these videos by iforce2d. I can post my code later on tonight if you'd like.

Have you connected your GPS to the Ublox U-Center Software? You can use it to configure the messages the GPS is sending out, and verify it is connecting properly. Use a 3.3v FTDI to TTL adapter to connect the GPS directly to your computer.

Also, I had a hard time using Software Serial with this module. I ended up just using hardware serial (RX-TX, TX-RX), and disconnecting the RX lines of the Arduino when uploading sketches.

Love those things. No easier way to get a micro talking to a PC. Personally, I like the basic breakout FTDI board you can find on Amazon, for instance: https://www.amazon.com/HiLetgo-FT232RL-Converter-Adapter-Breakout/dp/B00IJXZQ7C/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_147_bs_lp_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=JDMJB6GZ8AAKG7H9V3TR

Ah! Then you need an FTDI programmer between them.

They’re about $6, less on Banggood or whatever. Since I suspect you’ll want one before March, you can order this one off Amazon, if you’re in the US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IJXZQ7C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_s5pGAb7PD65VG

The Pro Mini doesn’t have any USB capabilities. On the other hand, the lack of USB makes them cheaper and, where it matters, lighter. You can use a single programmer for all your Pro Minis.