How to get started on a mac?

Development Boards MicroMod
1

Hi,

It’s holidays down here in Australia and I want to get my feet wet in the world of micro controllers while I have a ton of free time on my hands. Your tutorial series looks great and I’d love to follow it however the only computer I have access to is my mac laptop, so I don’t have a serial port to use.

What is your recommendation on how to get started using a mac with no serial port?

Time is no issue so if there is some hectic breadboard workaround I can setup that would be awesome

Thanks in advance

2

Use a USB to serial converter.

Also try

http://www.obdev.at/products/avrmacpack/index.html

3

I’ll second the above suggestion. I’ve been using one from Cables2Go for a couple of years now and I’ve yet to find a situation where it doesn’t work as reliably as a hardware com port.

4

Ion:
Hi,

It’s holidays down here in Australia

What? Since when!

I’m assuming you are a uni student then.

Yeah USB → serial cable or converter is the way to go. Get a name brand one rather than a $5 eBay special.

5

hi all

Is it OK to use Breakout Board for FT232RL USB to Serial?

http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/produc … cts_id=718

I’m a beginner and about to buy the kits for programming.

6

Is it OK to use Breakout Board for FT232RL USB to Serial?

I think so. Double check that you can find an FTDI serial driver for your machine.

I have one of those boards and I have a Mac, I should see if they work together… if I find time to check that out, I’ll post here.

7

Sure, FTDI USB chips work on OSX, Linux and Windows

8

inventore123:
Sure, FTDI USB chips work on OSX, Linux and Windows

thank inventore123 and wiml. My USB to Serial arrived this morning.

Will pair it now with my mac.