Honored Contributor
Honored ContributorA UART outputs a serial data stream at logic levels, eg., probably 3.3V on your DE0.
The ADM3202 is a level translator, it converts the 3.3V logic level to the RS232 standard (+/-10V or so levels), and most likely routes those signals to a DB9 connector (I don't have a DE0 so am not sure about this statement, the signals might also go to a header). If you want to talk to your DE0 using a USB-to-RS232 cable or using a COM port on a PC, then you need to use the DB9 connector on the DE0. If you want to talk to your DE0 using a microcontroller development kit, or a USB-to-Serial cable that has logic level outputs (like the FTDI C232HM cable), then you would route the UART IP signals to GPIO headers and connect those headers *and* a ground signal to your microcontroller or USB-to-Serial cable. Cheers, Dave
