Adafruit CP2105 Friend brings dual UART over single USB without hub
Adafruit released a new open hardware breakout board that converts a single USB connection to two independent UART serial ports using the CP2105 chip.
Summary
The Adafruit CP2105 Friend is a new USB-to-dual-UART converter board aimed at makers and embedded developers who need two serial ports but want to avoid USB hub complexity. It uses Silicon Labs' CP2105 chip and is documented with a full learning guide including pinouts and downloadable resources. The board fits Adafruit's existing 'Friend' product line of USB interface breakouts.
What the CP2105 Friend provides
- CP2105 chip: Silicon Labs USB-to-dual-UART bridge with two independent serial ports
- No USB hub required: Both UARTs share a single USB connection to the host
- Two serial ports: Separate TX/RX pairs for simultaneous communication with two devices
- Form factor: Adafruit 'Friend' breakout board with standard 0.1" headers
- Documentation: Full Adafruit Learning System guide with overview, pinout diagrams, and resource downloads
Why it matters
The board fills a gap for developers working with multiple serial devices on single-USB hosts like Raspberry Pi or laptops, simplifying wiring compared to using a USB hub with two separate serial adapters. As Adafruit open hardware, design files will likely be published for community modification.
Original reference: blog.adafruit.com →