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FTDI FT232 USB-Serial Adapter

An FTDI FT232R/FT232RL USB-serial adapter is the most reliable option for RTS/DTR hardware PTT keying and serial CAT. FTDI's Linux/macOS/Windows driver support is excellent and its line-handling is predictable. Why it matters: For deterministic PTT keying off a serial control line (rather than CM108 GPIO), FTDI is the gold standard. Many homebrew keying circuits assume an FTDI RTS/DTR output. Caveat: Buy genuine FTDI. Counterfeit FT232 chips are common on cheap cables and have historically been bricked or made unstable by driver updates. Genuine parts avoid that headache.