Serial connection to Seagate Dockstar via FTDI USB-Serial Cable

Here’s a quick summary of how to use a FTDI data cable to connect to a Seagate Dockstar.

Requirements

• Xbox 360 DVD power cable ( http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.42313 )
• Strip of 5 male header pins ( http://www.oomlout.co.uk/male-header-36-pin-x4-p-254.html )
• FTDI USB-Serial cable ( http://www.oomlout.co.uk/usb-serial-cable-33v-p-232.html )

Making the Connector

1. Cut the cable of the Xbox power connector in half.
2. You’re interested in the 3 pins at the top left (looking from behind), so seperate these and strip them.
3. Snap a strip of male header pins so that you have 5 pins. Remove pins #2 and #3
4. Solder the top left-most pin (GND) to header pin #1
5. Solder the top next pin (TX) to pin #5
6. Solder the top third pin (RX) to pin #4

Connecting

1. Plug pin #1 of the header pins into the socket to connect to the black cable of the USB-serial cable
   (this will mean that pin #4 goes to the orange, and #5 to yellow)
2. Open your dockstar and plug the xbox connector onto the header pins (if you orientate your dockstar so the header pins are at
   the top, the xbox top-left wire connects to the dockstar top-left pin)
3. Plug in your USB-serial cable to your PC
4. Open putty and use the following connection settings: -
   Serial
Serial line: COM5 (or whatever COM port the USB-serial adapter has)
Speed: 115200
Data bits: 8
Stop bits: 1
Parity: none
Flow control: none

5. Click “Open” in putty
6. Power up the Dockstar
7. Watch the putty window – the boot-up messages should appear.