How to connect to a serial port

macOS

Method 1: using SerialTools
  • download SerialTools from the Mac Appstore
  • open it
  • choose your serial port and baud rate
  • click on connect

if the Serial Port dropdown is empty or just “Bluetooth-Incoming-Port”, you may need to install drivers for your Serial to USB Chipset first

Method 2: using ‘screen’ in a terminal
  • install brew see brew.sh
  • install screen via brew: brew install screen
  • find out the device name of your USB to serial cable:

    ls /dev/tty.* | grep -v Bluetooth
    

    you should see something similar to this output:

    /dev/tty.usbserial-AJ038WWL 
    

    this is our device, copy this line

  • connect via screen:

    screen /dev/tty.usbserial-AJ038WWL 115200
    

    press enter, then wait some seconds, then press enter again


Windows

  • download the tool: putty
  • find out the COM port of your USB to serial cable:

    • open the device manager:

      • Method 1:

        press the windows-key and R together
        type: devmgmt.msc
        press enter
        
      • Method 2:

        press the windows key
        search for device manager
        (or the equivalent in your language like 'geräte manager' on german)
        open it
        

        screenshot of the device manager:
        device manager

    • click on the triangle alongside ‘COM & LPT

    • look out for the COM-{NUMBER} example: COM7

  • open putty

  • click on ‘Serial’

  • enter the COM port information from above:
    putty serial

  • click on open


Linux:

  • open a terminal
  • install screen using your package manager example on debian: apt-get install screen
  • find out the device name of your USB to serial cable:

     dmesg | grep ttyUSB
    

    example output:

        [29382204.166125] usb 1-1.4: FTDI USB Serial Device converter now attached to ttyUSB0
    

    ttyUSB0 is your serial device in this case (in most cases)

  • connect via screen:

    screen /dev/ttyUSB0 115200
    

    press enter, then wait some seconds, then press enter again


some ‘screen’ basics:

  • exit/end/destroy a session: press CTRL-A, then k, then y
  • dettach a session: press CTRL-A, then d