Using TX/RX serial pins to communicate over USB I'm using an Arduino Nano with an Atmega 328p.
I would like to attach and use a different USB port instead of the builtin one for supplying power, serial debugging and uploading code.
Currently my board is recieving power from the USB port using vin, but I would like to know how I can get the Arduino to use serial communication with the TX/RX pins and the data+ and data- pins on the USB. I'm especially interested in knowing if I can upload new code to the board through TX/RX.
The official page for the Nano says that the serial communication is handled by an FTDI FT232RL chip, which as I understand, translates the signal from the builtin USB to serial. Is there any way that I can use this chip to communicate over the TX/RX pins instead of builtin USB?
Online documentation about this subject is really lacking, and of the few opinions that I've found, many are conflicting. I would really appreciate any help with this, thanks.
There is no &quot;built-in USB&quot; on the Nano. There is only the FT232RL chip which talks USB. That chip is connected directly to the TX/RX pins inside the board.
You are already communicating over the TX/RX pins through the FT232RL to the USB.
Yes, you could use your own FT232RL (or FT232-like) board to communicate between USB and the TX/RX pins, but that will be exactly the same as using the one built in to the board - but without the convenience, and with the addition of more wires and expense.  So pointless, unless the current USB connection is damaged in some way.