MAX3100 - no FIFO overflow status bit? Any other SPI/UART?

As far as I can tell from the specification, the Maxim MAX3100 can lose 
bytes if the FIFO overflows and the softwarae cannot detect that this has 
happened.  Of course, the software should be quick enough, but real life is 
full of nasty surprises.  The CRC should detect it, but see earlier remark.

I have to hook a PIC16F876 to a Cypress 8051 using the debug ports (so no 
CTS or RTS wires), and please do not ask why.  I do not want to chop the 
messages up into 8 byte pieces, and have a protocla layer to avoid FIFO 
overflow.  Are there any (better) SPI UARTs around?

tia
    Bill 

On 20-Oct-2006, "Bill Davy" <Bill@SynectixLtd.com> wrote:

> Are there any (better) SPI UARTs around?

http://www.nxp.com/products/interface_control/i2c_bridge/index.html
--
Hershel

> Are there any (better) SPI UARTs around?

Another microcontroller.... probably cheaper than the Maxim part as well.