Just a quick question about an serial to usb neophyte. I picked up an OSEPP ftdi breakout board at Frys the other day because I'm working on getting a roomba up and running with an arduino board. http://www.frys.com/product/6997547?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG I was going to use the board to communicate with an xbee attached to my computer for wireless debugging. My question is whether or not I need an extra arduino attached to the breakout board or if it can be powered thru the usb connection. Basically for the purposes of going from computer to xbee I don't see the need to have the arduino be the intermediary between it unless I'm misinterpreting what the breakout board does. I don't yet have the xbee and I'm just wondering if I bought the right breakout board.
Which xbee are you using? If it's like the modules from Sparkfun.com, you should be able to just hook the FTDI adapter to the Vcc, Gnd, Din and Dout pins of the Xbee. (After makinf sure the voltages are the same. I'm not sure if these gadgets are 3.3V or 5V)