On 1/12/2012 6:44 PM, Andrew Errington wrote:
So far all I have done is strip the RS232 level shifter and support components off the USB-serial adapter, leaving the FTDI chip behind. [...] It's easy to do, but it takes time.
I reallse you've already started on this path, for other there are a number of sources of FTDI usb<->serial cables that operate at either 5V or 3.3V including FTDI themselves.
I previously posted this to chirp_users:
http://intrepid.danplanet.com/pipermail/chirp_users/2011-November/001529.htm...
http://www.ftdichip.com/Products/Cables/USBTTLSerial.htm http://www.ftdichip.com/Support/Documents/DataSheets/Cables/DS_TTL-232R_CABL...
You can get that cable as well as some other good FTDI usb serial breakout boards from some of the electronics DIY places like Adafruit, Sparkfun, Seeedstudio, etc.
https://www.adafruit.com/products/70
Or
https://www.adafruit.com/products/284
Or
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9873
I realize you are in the UK, I believe there are a number of UK/EU DIY sources.