FTDI FT232RL BoB

[metrologist]

I have this BoB with a male pin header so I can use it on my breadboard for serial and USB based power (so convenient). I was having trouble programming my "breadboard" Arduino and I think the BoB has failed. I tried a loop-back test and there is no return, and the TX is line is high with just a few short low pulses when sending data. Both TX/RX LEDs light when sending data, however.

Unless I gamble with assured eBay fakes, are there any reasonably priced alternatives?

Some other info - other FT232RL chips I have work, and I looked in the device manager for the failing device and seemed to have the correct device ID (6001?), and the driver I'm using is a vintage 2012. This used to work fine, so I think the chip died.

[nctnico]

The chip could have died. One of my customers used to go through FTDI boards like a kid goes through candy even though there where 1k  Ohm series resistors on the pins. Nowadays they use a Silabs CP210x based design (though with smaller series resistors and TVS diodes) which keeps working.

[metrologist]

I haven't been able to find anything in the same form factor (ports and pinout) since I use them on pro mini as well (not even in CH340G). Why are they putting the USB-A connector instead of the USB mini?