The RS-232 protocol

Information being transferred between data processing equipment and peripherals is in the form of digital data which is transmitted in either a serial or parallel mode. Parallel communications are used mainly for connections between test instruments or computers and printers, while serial is often used between computers and other peripherals.

Rs232 protocol transmission involves the sending of data one bit at a time, over a single communications line. In contrast, parallel communications require at least as many lines as there are bits in a word being transmitted (for an 8-bit word, a minimum of 8 lines are needed). RS232 Serial transmission is beneficial for long distance communications, whereas parallel is designed for short distances or when very high transmission rates are required.

RS232 Standards
One of the advantages of the RS232 protocol is that it lends itself to transmission over telephone lines. The serial digital data can be converted by modem, placed onto a standard voice-grade telephone line, and converted back to serial digital data at the receiving end of the line by another modem.

Officially, RS-232 is defined as the "Interface between data terminal equipment and data communications equipment using serial binary data exchange." This definition defines data terminal equipment (DTE) as the computer, while data communications equipment (DCE) is the modem. A modem cable has pin-to-pin connections, and is designed to connect a DTE device to a DCE device.

Rs232 port
In addition to communications between computer equipment over telephone lines, RS-232 protocol is now widely used for connections between data acquisition devices and computer systems. As in the definition of RS232, the computer is data transmission equipment (DTE). However, many interface products are not data communications equipment (DCE). Null modem cables are designed for this situation; rather than having the pinto- pin connections of modem cables, null modem cables have different internal wiring to allow DTE devices to communicate with one another.

Cabling Options
RS-232 cables are commonly available with either 4, 9 or 25-pin wiring. The 25-pin Rs232 cable connects every pin; the 9-pin Rs232 cables do not include many of the uncommonly used connections; 4-pin Rs232 cables provide the bare minimum connections, and have jumpers to provide "handshaking" for those devices that require it. These jumpers connect pins 4, 5 and 8, and also pins 6 and 20.

The advent of the IBM PC AT has created a new wrinkle in RS-232 communications. Rather than having the standard 25-pin connector, this computer and many new expansion boards for pc's feature a 9-pin serial port. To connect this port to a standard 25- pin port, a 9- to 25-pin adaptor cable may be utilized, or the user may create his own cable specifically for that purpose.

Selecting a Rs232 Cable
The major considerations in choosing an RS-232 cable are based upon the devices to be connected. First, are you connecting two DTE devices (null modem cable) or a DTE device to a DCE device (modem cable)? Second, what connectors are required on each end, male or female, and 25 or 9-pin (AT style)? Usually, it is recommended that the user obtain the two devices to be connected, and then determine which cable is required.

TRANSMITTED SIGNAL
VOLTAGE LEVELS:
Binary 0: +5 to +15 Vdc (called a " space" or "on")
Binary 1: -5 to -15 Vdc (called a "mark" or "off")

RECEIVED SIGNAL
VOLTAGE LEVELS:
Binary 0: +3 to +13 Vdc
Binary 1: -3 to -13 Vdc

DATA FORMAT
Start bit: Binary 0
Data: 5, 6, 7 or 8 bits
Parity: Odd, even, mark or space (not used with 8-bit data)
Stop bit: Binary 1, one or two bits

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