UGREEN CM204 USB-A to RJ45 Console Cable is in stock at Mascom International, priced at KSh 2,200, brand new and sealed, with a 1.5m lead, an FTDI FT232 chip and support for Windows, macOS and Linux. The UGREEN CM204 USB-A to RJ45 Console Cable plugs into a normal USB-A port on your laptop at one end and the RJ45 console port of a network device at the other. It gives you a serial command-line session at up to 115200 bps. You can collect one from our shop at the Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD.
Designed for network engineers, the UGREEN CM204 USB-A to RJ45 Console Cable handles the jobs that a web page or SSH session cannot. A brand new Cisco switch has no IP address until someone configures it. A router with a broken configuration may lock you out of the network completely. In both cases the console port is the only way in. Modern laptops dropped the old DB9 serial port years ago, so engineers at ISPs, banks and data centres in Upper Hill and Westlands rely on a USB console cable like this one to type commands directly into the device.
Where most Nairobi electronics shops sell unbranded console leads with unnamed chips that fail to load drivers, Mascom International stocks the UGREEN CM204 USB-A to RJ45 Console Cable with a stated FTDI chipset. FTDI is the chip family most engineers trust for serial work across operating systems. Field engineers across Kenya tell us a console cable is the one item they cannot afford to leave behind on a site visit. Keep the UGREEN CM204 USB-A to RJ45 Console Cable in your laptop bag, or order it on WhatsApp for pay-on-arrival delivery.
Common Questions About the UGREEN CM204 USB-A to RJ45 Console Cable
How much is the UGREEN CM204 USB-A to RJ45 Console Cable 1.5m in Kenya?
The UGREEN CM204 USB-A to RJ45 Console Cable 1.5m costs KSh 2,200 brand new at Mascom International, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD. That price includes a 6-month Mascom International warranty and pay-on-arrival delivery to all 47 counties. You pay once for a cable that replaces a USB-to-serial adapter plus a separate rollover cable. If you are kitting out a new site, the UGREEN NW304 Multifunction Crimping Tool adds KSh 1,800 for making your own Ethernet patch leads.
Which chipset does the UGREEN CM204 USB-A to RJ45 Console Cable use?
The UGREEN CM204 USB-A to RJ45 Console Cable uses an FTDI FT232 chip to convert USB into the serial signal a console port expects. This matters because console cables live or die on their chip. FTDI drivers are widely supported and are built into or available for Windows, macOS and Linux. On most current systems the cable appears as a COM port or serial device soon after you plug it in. If it does not, FTDI's official virtual COM port driver fixes it.
Does the UGREEN CM204 USB-A to RJ45 Console Cable work with Cisco routers and switches?
Yes, the UGREEN CM204 USB-A to RJ45 Console Cable connects to the RJ45 console port found on Cisco routers and switches. It also suits other network devices that use the same RJ45 console layout, including many switches, firewalls and servers. Open PuTTY, Tera Term or a terminal, select the COM port, and use the device's console settings. For most Cisco gear that means 9600 baud, 8 data bits, no parity and 1 stop bit. Always check the vendor's manual for other brands.
Should I buy the UGREEN CM204 USB-A to RJ45 Console Cable or a USB-to-serial adapter with a rollover cable?
Buy the UGREEN CM204 USB-A to RJ45 Console Cable if you want one lead that goes straight from USB to the console port. The older approach chains a USB-to-DB9 adapter to a blue DB9-to-RJ45 rollover cable. That setup has two joints that can work loose and two items to pack. The adapter route still makes sense if you also service older equipment with DB9 serial ports, such as some UPS units, PBX systems or industrial controllers.
Does the UGREEN CM204 USB-A to RJ45 Console Cable work on a MacBook or Linux laptop?
Yes, the UGREEN CM204 USB-A to RJ45 Console Cable supports macOS and Linux as well as Windows. On a Mac, the cable shows up as a serial device you open with the screen command or an app such as CoolTerm. On Linux it usually appears as a ttyUSB device you open with screen, minicom or PuTTY. A MacBook with only USB-C ports needs a USB-C to USB-A adapter, because this cable ends in a full-size USB-A plug.
Is the UGREEN CM204 USB-A to RJ45 Console Cable useful for field work in Kenya?
Yes, the UGREEN CM204 USB-A to RJ45 Console Cable is a standard tool for Safaricom, Airtel Kenya and fibre ISP engineers working on customer sites. After a KPLC power cut, a router may boot into a broken state that only the console can repair. In Mombasa server rooms with coastal humidity, or dusty cabinets in Industrial Area, the PVC jacket shrugs off rough handling. The 1.5m length reaches from a rack to a laptop on a nearby trolley or floor.
Who should buy the UGREEN CM204 USB-A to RJ45 Console Cable and who should skip it?
The UGREEN CM204 USB-A to RJ45 Console Cable suits network engineers, NOC staff, IT officers in banks and NGOs, and CCNA students at Strathmore, JKUAT or the University of Nairobi. Skip it if your devices are home routers managed only through a web page, since those rarely have a console port. Skip it too if your equipment uses a USB-C or micro-USB console port, because that needs a different cable from the device maker.
Does the UGREEN CM204 USB-A to RJ45 Console Cable carry network data like a LAN cable?
No, the UGREEN CM204 USB-A to RJ45 Console Cable carries only serial console commands, not internet or network traffic. The RJ45 plug looks like an Ethernet plug, but the wiring inside follows the console pinout. Plugging it into a normal LAN port does nothing useful. For data links, use proper Ethernet cable, such as the UGREEN NW102 Cat 6 Flat LAN Cable at KSh 1,000 for 10m from Mascom International.
Technical Specifications
Core Function and Signal
- USB-A to RJ45 serial console conversion — lets a modern laptop talk to the console port of routers, switches and firewalls.
- FTDI FT232 chipset — a well-known serial chip with drivers built into or available for all major operating systems.
- Baud rate up to 115200 bps — covers the common 9600 bps default used by Cisco and faster console settings on other gear.
- Command-line access without a network — configure a device that has no IP address yet, or recover one after a bad change.
- Works with standard terminal software — PuTTY, Tera Term, SecureCRT, screen and minicom all open the cable as a serial port.
- ESD protection up to 4kV — shields the cable's electronics from static discharge, common when handling gear in dry server rooms.
Compatibility with Devices and Systems
- Cisco routers and switches — fits the RJ45 console port used across Cisco access, distribution and branch routing equipment.
- Other RJ45 console devices — suits switches, firewalls and servers from brands that use the same RJ45 console layout.
- Windows support — appears as a COM port in Device Manager, ready to select by number in PuTTY or Tera Term.
- macOS support — appears as a serial device you open with screen in Terminal or a serial app such as CoolTerm.
- Linux support — appears as a ttyUSB device on most distributions, opened with screen, minicom or picocom from the command line.
- USB-A plug — fits standard USB ports on laptops and desktops; USB-C-only laptops need a small adapter, sold separately.
Build and Length
- 1.5m length — reaches from a rack-mounted switch to a laptop resting on a shelf, trolley or the floor beside the cabinet.
- PVC outer jacket — a tough, flexible sheath that copes with being coiled into a laptop bag day after day.
- 8-core twisted internal structure — twisted wires reduce interference, which keeps console text clean near power cabling.
- Moulded USB-A plug — a solid grip for pulling the cable out without tugging on the wire itself.
- RJ45 console plug with latch — clicks into the console port and stays put while you type commands or paste a configuration.
Inclusions and Support
- One UGREEN CM204 USB-A to RJ45 Console Cable, 1.5m, sealed in UGREEN retail packaging and unused.
- No driver disc needed — current systems either carry FTDI support or fetch it from FTDI's official download page.
- Terminal software not included — free tools such as PuTTY or Tera Term on Windows, or the built-in screen command, cover the job.
- 6-month Mascom International warranty — full terms are in the Warranty section below.
- In-store help — our team can show the cable connecting to a test device at our Kimathi Street shop.
Package Contents
The UGREEN CM204 USB-A to RJ45 Console Cable arrives sealed in UGREEN retail packaging with the 1.5m cable inside. There is no USB-C adapter, DB9 adapter or terminal software in the box. Most engineers already carry a USB-C adapter for their laptop, and free terminal apps cover every operating system. Ask Mascom International on WhatsApp if you need a matching adapter with your order.
Warranty
The UGREEN CM204 USB-A to RJ45 Console Cable comes with a 6-month warranty from Mascom International, covering manufacturing defects under normal use, including the FTDI chip, plugs and cable. Bring warranty claims, with proof of purchase, to our service desk at the Old Mutual Building, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD.
Buying the UGREEN CM204 USB-A to RJ45 Console Cable from Mascom International
Find the UGREEN CM204 USB-A to RJ45 Console Cable at Mascom International, Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD, Monday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Bring your laptop and we will plug it in so you can watch it appear as a serial port before you pay. The cable comes in black.
Contact us before you visit or to place an order:
- Phone/WhatsApp: +254 708 852 521
- Email: info@mascomintl.com
- Website: www.mascomintl.com
Delivery is pay-on-arrival to all 47 counties. Nairobi and its environs receive orders the same day, and engineers based in Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Mombasa and other major towns get theirs the next business day. Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, Lamu, Tana River, and Turkana receive delivery within 2-3 business days.
Each cable is backed by the 6-month warranty above. Mascom International stands behind honest specifications, accurate pricing and after-sales support from a team you can walk in and meet.
