Like I said I'm new to all this and I'm going to buy the cable from ALDLcable.com so I have one that is problem free. but i want to make one from scratch also. I have bought a kit with different types of diodes, transistors, resisters, etc and a breadboard to. I also bought a USB ft23rl, a DB9 serial connector and a serial to usb. If my schedule ever allows it I want to sit down and try to get one working good and compare my results to the aldlcable.com cable.