Tony, There are actually two types of FTDI serial ports. There is the RS232 one with a DB9 connector on the end. Typically that port will signal between +/- 7 volts or so. Then there are the small FTDI TTL serial adapters. Depending on configuration they will swing either between 0 and 5 volts or 0 and 3.3 volts. In today's serial PC world rarely does an actual MAX232 need to be used for level translation. Even with actual RS232 ports, virtually all of them signal properly with a 0/5V TTL signal. Note that the sign is inverted such that a logical 1 is represented by 0V and a zero by 5V. For years I've used a simple voltage clamp to limit the swings. The basic circuit is here: https://i.stack.imgur.com/jyZvD.gif D1 conducts when Vin is above VMax and D2 conducts then Vin is below Vmin. R limits the current. I typically put a second resistor after the clamp. I find that 1K for both works well with PIC inputs. A couple of variations are helpful. If D1 and D2 are Schotty diodes then the voltage overshoot is typically only 0.3V or so. Also if D2 is a Zener then D1 is unnecessary because the Zener action will limit the high voltage while normal conduction clamps the low voltage. With the signal inverted there are a few things you can do to manage it. I've been using PIC24FV parts for several years. The hardware EUARTS on them can be inverted in software. It is also possible to bit bang a digital input/output for serial. Otherwise a NPN transistor whose base is connected to Vout, emitter grounded, and a pullup collector will invert the signal in hardware. Another thought that may be traitorous on this board: ever considered an Arduino? Complete boards with the USB serial adapter on board clock in at about $5 USD. Boards like a Nano will plug right into a breadboard. Plug in a USB cable, load the Arduino IDE and you're going literally in about 5 minutes. Tons of libraries already built into the platform. As I've progressed in the hobby, I find that sometimes it's just more trouble than it's worth to try to roll everything from scratch. Back in the PIC 16C54 days, the price and functionality was a compelling reason to switch as compared to the alternatives. But in 2017 with high level boards such as a Raspberry PI Zero W that runs Linux and having a complete wireles= setup for less than $10 USD and Arduino clones literally running 5 for $20, it becomes more difficult to justify wiring up a board from scratch and programming in assembly anymore. Those who have never done it may need the experience. But those of us who have a closetfull of t-shirts with 'Assembly coder' emblazoned upon them? Not so much. I find now that I spend more time and energy trying to match the hardware/firmware to the application. It literally may be more adventageous to throw a RasPi ZeroW into a problem to make a wireless remote light switch than any alternative = for example. BAJ On Wed, Nov 15, 2017 at 12:54:26AM +1100, Anthony Nixon wrote: > You wont need a level translator with the FTDI chip. It will directly > interface to the PIC, and the FTDI directly interfaces to the USB port > with the right support components which are just a handful of > passives. >=20 > The trick is whether or not the FTDI will be powered by the USB port > or by the PIC circuit. >=20 > cheers >=20 > Tony >=20 > On Tue, Nov 14, 2017 at 11:56 PM, Richard Pope w= rote: > > Clint, > > I'll do that this evening after I get up. I appreciate the insight > > and help! I will probably have to use a MAX232 to do the level > > translation. I appreciate you reminding me of that. > > Thanks, > > rich! > > > > On 11/14/2017 6:47 AM, Clint Jay wrote: > >> There may be, I've usually just rolled my own routines to service the > >> EUSART though I haven't used the '4520 specifically. > >> > >> I don't think there are huge differences between most EUSART enabled= mid > >> range devices so there should be plenty of example code to examine and > >> modify for your needs. > >> > >> You'll need a level translator if you're going PIC to PC directly. > >> > >> On 14 Nov 2017 12:36, "Richard Pope" wrote: > >> > >>> Clint, > >>> Yes, I am using a FTDI to RS232 converter to hook the PC to the > >>> PIC. I just found out that all that I need to do is treat the connect= ion > >>> to the PIC as a Serial connection. Is there a MC Serial Library > >>> available? I'm the one that was confused. > >>> Thanks, > >>> rich! > >>> > >>> On 11/14/2017 6:28 AM, Clint Jay wrote: > >>>> I'm a little confused but the way I read your message would suggest = that > >>>> you're going to connect your PIC to the PC with an FTDI USB to seria= l > >>>> device? > >>>> > >>>> Or have I misunderstood and you're hoping to connect the PIC to the = FTDI > >>>> with USB? > >>>> > >>>> On 14 Nov 2017 12:25, "Richard Pope" wrote: > >>>> > >>>> HELLO ALL, > >>>> . . . . I could really use some help with using USB on the PIC 18F45= 20. > >>>> I am going to use a FTDI USB to RS232 converter to talk to the PIC > >>>> 18F4520 Through the RX and TX Pins. I want to send Configuration Cod= e to > >>>> a 24C512 serial EPROM. When I add additional devices I want to be ab= le > >>>> to update the EPROM. I also want to be able to use a Win 8.1 64bit P= ro > >>>> PC to control the Programmer. I also do a lot of searching and resea= rch > >>>> on materials that I acquire from the MicroChip website. I have been > >>>> reading the MC USB Device Firmware Framework User's Guide. > >>>> . . . . I have the latest version of MpLab, and the latest versi= ons of > >>>> the X8, X18, and X32 Compilers installed. I also see that I need to > >>>> install the latest versions of C30 C and C18 C Compilers and setup t= he > >>>> proper Paths for these files. I don't mind doing the footwork. I am > >>>> Disabled and retired. This gives me a lot of free time. > >>>> Thanks, > >>>> > >>>> Richard R. Pope > >>>> 1230 19th Street #5 > >>>> Reedsburg, WI 53959, USA > >>>> 1-608-768-7448 > >>>> mechanic_2@charter.net > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> --- > >>>> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. > >>>> https://www.avast.com/antivirus > >>>> > >>>> -- > >>>> http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > >>>> View/change your membership options at > >>>> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > >>> -- > >>> http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > >>> View/change your membership options at > >>> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > >>> > > > > -- > > http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > > View/change your membership options at > > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > --=20 > http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > View/change your membership options at > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist --=20 Byron A. Jeff Associate Professor: Department of Computer Science and Information Technol= ogy College of Information and Mathematical Sciences Clayton State University http://faculty.clayton.edu/bjeff --=20 http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .