Hi all, i have a netgear wgt634u router and i want to connect it to a serial console but i haven't enought experience to build an interface using a MAX3232 chip. Do you known where could i buy one ready to use ? I found on ebay something like that http://cgi.ebay.com.au/USB-to-RS232-Mod … m153.l1262

is it suitable for me ? Thank u regards

Buy a second router with a 3.3 volt serial console. Most routers have two serial consoles. Flash both routers with OpenWrt and use one as a remote serial console. Then you only have to directly connect RX - TX, TX - RX, GND - GND. Install minicom on one the routers and that's it.

(Last edited by Yanira on 29 Sep 2008, 14:19)

Second router ? Nono i only want to known where to buy a build in connector for it

It looks to me like you've got a dedicated serial terminal device (such as a WYSE60) already (the other reply assumed you needed a new terminal device).  You want to specifically use that terminal to access the router's serial port.  You *might* be able to get away without the 232 and just hook it up directly, but I'd say it's better not to try.  Blowing  out your router's serial port wouldn't be fun.
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/produc … ts_id=8780 is the device you want, however.  It'll take your TTL level signals from the router and convert to/from the RS232 level (A.K.A. standard computer serial port) signals your terminal device is expecting.

However, if you just want to connect this device to your computer, you've got any number of happy options!
http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/produc … cts_id=718 converts the pins you've got in the router to a USB connection.  Plugging the USB into your computer presents you with an "emulated serial port" that you can connect to using most any good software (such as PuTTY).

Thanks a lot for the explaination! I think that the second choice is more easy to do. Regards

hi i have tried it with the available max232.....one is the Rx and the other one is Tx...USE a resistor voltage divider at the Tx of MAX232 it will reduce it to 3.3v....i have use a 100k pot ....u can use 10k and 20k resistor....

+1 on this device!  I have a dozen of these on order and set to arrive today.  I will be installing these in all of my routers - so I never have to search through all of my cables to find a router specific serial cable again. 

If you wanted to save money, you could just purchase one of these, and then make custom cables to go from this board to the serial header of the each brand/type of routers you own.  For example, one cable for the 4-pins on this board to FONs Serial header, one cable for the 4-pins on this board to the serial header on Linksys, etc...  but re-use this same "USB to Serial to TTL break-out-board" as linked above for each one.  (That way you don't have to pay $15 USD for each router.)

Also, be aware that you do not have to use 18 pins along the sides of this converter board for simple serial connections, you only need to use the 4 at the end.  But its nice that these other pins are there if you need to create more sophisticated interfaces.

Cheers,
33W

(Last edited by 33Warlord on 3 Oct 2008, 20:11)