Reddit mentions of DSD TECH USB to TTL Serial Converter CP2102 with 4 PIN Dupont Cable Compatible with Windows 7,8,10,Linux,Mac OSX

It won't actually. I bought that first and found that out the hard way. 😂

It DOES work to power your device though, so I actually ended up using it for my power source.

I used this to flash it:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072K3Z3TL/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It also comes with a large number of jumpers/cables so it's a good one to order.

Thanks for your feedback, it's pretty helpful :)

I ordered this last night so hopefully that will let me directly connect to tx/rx for either monitor or programming purposes. If it's successful I may send this chip back as faulty.

Given you have a known working board with a cp2102 interface, would you be able to test a procedure and then post it for me to reproduce? E.g. connect to it over putty at a given baud rate, either in cold boot or in programming mode, and send it commands over the console and see a response? Even if it's a bad command and it returns an error - at the moment literally nothing I send over the console shows up or elicits a response, which is why I think the cp2102 interface is bad.

The RX/TX bridge thing is something I read in one comment but can no longer find again - it is something I've done before with an RS232 port to check serial over a long cat5 run, and that worked. If the RX/TX pins on the board act as a Tee or a tap on the same lines that the cp2102 uses, then I imagine it should work, but I'm not experienced enough with these to know.

I have done this recently - hooked up using the USB Serial cable that @plasticluthier mentioned. I got this cable from Amazon (UK link sorry): https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B072K3Z3TL/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Hook that that up (don't forget to switch the TX / RX on each end), make sure the CH_EN pin is high as well (this one messed me up a bit) and you should be able to flash with what firmware you like.

Well if you do decide to do it I think you will enjoy the added features. This is the USB to TTL converter I used.

DSD TECH USB to TTL Serial Converter CP2102 with 4 PIN Dupont Cable Compatible with Windows 7,8,10,linux,Mac OSX https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072K3Z3TL/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_VlxV4Ek9mnINu

Good luck!

Yes, every esp8266 is basically the same, I'm using an esp8285 and it's still the same thing, just different memory size.

You'll need an ftdi programmer too,
I'm using this one and works well:

https://www.amazon.com/DSD-TECH-Converter-Compatible-Windows/dp/B072K3Z3TL/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?keywords=Dsd+tech+ttl&qid=1573078545&sr=8-5

or should i get this one? is there a difference between TTL adapters?

https://www.amazon.com/DSD-TECH-Converter-Compatible-Windows/dp/B072K3Z3TL/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=usb+to+ttl&qid=1555471545&s=gateway&sr=8-4

Thanks! Is this also the same thing? https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B072K3Z3TL/

With something little this: DSD TECH USB to TTL Serial Converter CP2102 with 4 PIN Dupont Cable Compatible with Windows 7,8,10,linux,Mac OSX https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072K3Z3TL/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_o2cPBbPY828K8

This is the same ic that is on most esp dev boards.