RS232 Data

Interface
a Tutorial on Data Interface and cables

RS-232 is simple, universal, well understood and supported but it has some
serious shortcomings as a data interface. The standards to 256kbps or less
and line lengths of 15M (50 ft) or less but today we see high speed ports on
our home PC running very high speeds and with high quality cable maxim
distance has increased greatly. The rule of thumb for the length a data cable
depends on speed of the data, quality of the cable.

a Tutorial
Electronic data communications between elements will generally fall into two broad
categories: single-ended and differential. RS232 (single-ended) was introduced in 1962,
and despite rumors for its early demise, has remained widely used through the industry.
Independent channels are established for two-way (full-duplex) communications. The
RS232 signals are represented by voltage levels with respect to a system common
(power / logic ground). The "idle" state (MARK) has the signal level negative with
respect to common, and the "active" state (SPACE) has the signal level positive with
respect to common. RS232 has numerous handshaking lines (primarily used with
modems), and also specifies a communications protocol.
The RS-232 interface presupposes a common ground between the DTE and DCE. This
is a reasonable assumption when a short cable connects the DTE to the DCE, but with
longer lines and connections between devices that may be on different electrical busses
with different grounds, this may not be true.
RS232 data is bi-polar.... +3 TO +12 volts indicates an "ON or 0-state (SPACE)
condition" while A -3 to -12 volts indicates an "OFF" 1-state (MARK) condition.... Modern
computer equipment ignores the negative level and accepts a zero voltage level as the
"OFF" state. In fact, the "ON" state may be achieved with lesser positive potential. This
means circuits powered by 5 VDC are capable of driving RS232 circuits directly,
however, the overall range that the RS232 signal may be transmitted/received may be
dramatically reduced.

The output signal level usually swings between +12V and -12V. The "dead area"
between +3v and -3v is designed to absorb line noise. In the various RS-232-like
definitions this dead area may vary. For instance, the definition for V.10 has a dead area
from +0.3v to -0.3v. Many receivers designed for RS-232 are sensitive to differentials of
1v or less.
This can cause problems when using pin powered widgets - line drivers, converters,
modems etc. These type of units need enough voltage & current to power them self's
up. Typical URART (the RS-232 I/O chip) allows up to 50ma per output pin - so if the
device needs 70ma to run we would need to use at least 2 pins for power. Some
devices are very efficient and only require one pin (some times the Transmit or DTR pin)
to be high - in the "SPACE" state while idle.
An RS-232 port can supply only limited power to another device. The number of output
lines, the type of interface driver IC, and the state of the output lines are important
considerations.
The types of driver ICs used in serial ports can be divided into three general categories:

Drivers which require plus (+) and minus (-) voltage power supplies such as the
1488 series of interface integrated circuits. (Most desktop and tower PCs use this
type of driver.)

Low power drivers which require one +5 volt power supply. This type of driver
has an internal charge pump for voltage conversion. (Many industrial
microprocessor controls use this type of driver.)

Low voltage (3.3 v) and low power drivers which meet the EIA-562 Standard.
(Used on notebooks and laptops.)

Data is transmitted and received on pins 2 and 3 respectively. Data Set Ready (DSR) is
an indication from the Data Set (i.e., the modem or DSU/CSU) that it is on. Similarly,
DTR indicates to the Data Set that the DTE is on. Data Carrier Detect (DCD) indicates
that a good carrier is being received from the remote modem.
Pins 4 RTS (Request To Send - from the transmitting computer) and 5 CTS (Clear To
Send - from the Data set) are used to control. In most Asynchronous situations, RTS
and CTS are constantly on throughout the communication session. However where the
DTE is connected to a multipoint line, RTS is used to turn carrier on the modem on and
off. On a multipoint line, it's imperative that only one station is transmitting at a time
(because they share the return phone pair). When a station wants to transmit, it raises
RTS. The modem turns on carrier, typically waits a few milliseconds for carrier to
stabilize, and then raises CTS. The DTE transmits when it sees CTS up. When the

station has finished its transmission, it drops RTS and the modem drops CTS and
carrier together.
Clock signals (pins 15, 17, & 24) are only used for synchronous communications. The
modem or DSU extracts the clock from the data stream and provides a steady clock
signal to the DTE. Note that the transmit and receive clock signals do not have to be the
same, or even at the same baud rate.
Note: Transmit and receive leads (2 or 3) can be reversed depending on the use of the
equipment - DCE Data Communications Equipment or a DTE Data Terminal Equipment.

Glossary of Abbreviations etc.

CTS
Clear To Send [DCE --> DTE]
DCD
Data Carrier Detected (Tone from a modem) [DCE -->
DTE]
DCE
Data Communications Equipment eg. modem
DSR
Data Set Ready [DCE --> DTE]
DSRS
Data Signal Rate Selector [DCE --> DTE] (Not
commonly
used)
DTE
Data Terminal Equipment eg. computer, printer
DTR
Data Terminal Ready [DTE --> DCE]
FG
Frame Ground (screen or chassis)
NC
No Connection
RCk
Receiver (external) Clock input
RI
Ring Indicator (ringing tone detected)
RTS
Request To Send [DTE --> DCE]
RxD
Received Data [DCE --> DTE]
SG
Signal Ground
SCTS
Secondary Clear To Send [DCE --> DTE]
SDCD
Secondary Data Carrier Detected (Tone from a
modem)
[DCE --> DTE]
SRTS
Secondary Request To Send [DTE --> DCE]
SRxD
Secondary Received Data [DCE --> DTE]
STxD
Secondary Transmitted Data [DTE --> DCE]
TxD
Transmitted Data [DTE --> DCE]
Is Your Interface a DTE or a DCE?
One of the stickiest areas of confusion in datacom is over the terms "transmit" and "receive"
as they pertain to DTE (data terminal equipment) and DCE (data communication
equipment). In synchronous communication, this confusion is particularly acute, because

more signals are involved. So why is it that you sometimes send data on TD, and other
times you send data on RD? Is this just a cruel form of mental torture? Not really. The
secret lies in adopting the proper perspective. In data-com, the proper perspective is always
from the point of view of the DTE. When you sit at a PC, terminal or workstation (DTE) and
transmit data to somewhere far away, you naturally do so on the TD (transmit data) line.
When your modem or CSU/DSU (DCE) receives this incoming data, it receives the data on
the TD line as well. Why? Because the only perspective that counts in data-com is the
perspective of the DTE. It does not matter that the DCE thinks it is receiving data; the line
is still called "TD". Conversely, when the modem or CSU/DSU receives data from the outside
world and sends it to the DTE, it sends it on the RD line. Why? Because from the perspective
of the DTE, the data is being received! So when wondering, "Is this line TD or RD? Is it TC
or RC?" Ask yourself, "What would the DTE say?"

Find out by following these steps: The point of reference for all signals is the
terminal (or PC).
1 ) Measure the DC voltages between (DB25) pins 2 & 7 and between pins 3 & 7. Be
sure the black lead is connected to pin 7 (Signal Ground) and the red lead to whichever
pin you are measuring.
2) If the voltage on pin 2 is more negative than -3 Volts, then it is a DTE, otherwise it
should be near zero volts.
3) If the voltage on pin 3 is more negative than -3 Volts, then it is a DCE.
4) If both pins 2 & 3 have a voltage of at least 3 volts, then either you are measuring
incorrectly, or your device is not a standard EIA-232 device. Call technical support.
5) In general, a DTE provides a voltage on TD, RTS, & DTR, whereas a DCE provides
voltage on RD, CTS, DSR, & CD.

X.21 interface on a DB 15 connector

also see X.21 write up

also see end of page for more info

X.21
General

Voltages:

+/- 0.3Vdc
Max. 100Kbps (X.26)

Speeds:

Max. 10Mbps (X.27)

The X.21 interface was recommended by the CCITT in 1976. It is defined as a digital
signaling interface between customers (DTE) equipment and carrier's equipment (DCE).
And thus primarily used for telecom equipment.
All signals are balanced. Meaning there is always a pair (+/-) for each signal, like used
in RS422. The X.21 signals are the same as RS422, so please refer to RS422 for the
exact details.
Pinning according to ISO 4903

Sub-D15 Male

Sub-D15 Female

Pin

Signal

abbr.

DTE

DCE

Shield

Transmit (A)

Out

In

Control (A)

Out

In

Receive (A)

In

Out

Indication (A)

In

Out

Signal Timing (A)

In

Out

Unassigned

Ground

Transmit (B)

Out

In

10

Control (B)

Out

In

11

Receive (B)

In

Out

12

Indication (B)

In

Out

13

Signal Timing (B)

In

Out

14

Unassigned

15

Unassigned

Functional Description
As can be seen from the pinning specifications, the Signal Element Timing (clock) is
provided by the DCE. This means that your provider (local telco office) is responsible for
the correct clocking and that X.21 is a synchronous interface. Hardware handshaking is
done by the Control and Indication lines. The Control is used by the DTE and the
Indication is the DCE one.

Cross-cable pinning

X.21 Cross Cable

X.21

X.21

11

10

12

11

12

10

13

14

14

13

15

RS232D uses RJ45 type connectors

(similar to telephone connectors)

Pin No.

Signal Description

Abbr.

DCE Ready, Ring Indicator

DSR/RI

Received Line Signal Detector

DCD

DTE Ready

DTR

Signal Ground

SG

Received Data

RxD

Transmitted Data

TxD

Clear To Send

CTS

Request To Send

RTS

DTE

DCE

This is a standard 9 to 25 pin cable layout for async data on a PC AT serial cable

Signal

9-pin
DTE

25-pin
DCE

Carrier Detect

CD

from Modem

Receive Data

RD

from Modem

Transmit Data

TD

from Terminal/Computer

Data Terminal
Ready

DTR

20

from Terminal/Computer

Signal Ground

SG

from Modem

Data Set Ready

DSR

from Modem

Request to Send

RTS

from Terminal/Computer

Clear to Send

CTS

from Modem

Ring Indicator

RI

22

from Modem

Description

Source DTE or DCE

This a DTE port as on the back of a PC Com Port EIA-574 RS-232/V.24 pin out on a DB-9 pin
used for Asynchronous Data

25 pin D-shell connector

RS232
commonly used for
Async. data
PIN SIGNAL DESCRIPTION
1 PGND Protective Ground
2 TXD Transmit Data
3 RXD Receive Data
4 RTS RequestTo Send
5 CTS Clear To Send
6 DSR Data Set Ready
7 SG Signal Ground
8 CD Carrier Detect
20 DTR Data Terminal Ready
22 RI Ring Indicator

Some applications require more pins

than a simple async. configurations.

Pins used for Synchronous data

jump to

Other Connector pages

RS-232 Specs.
SPECIFICATIONS

RS232

RS423

SINGLE
-ENDED

SINGLE
-ENDED

1 DRIVER
1 RECVR

1 DRIVER
10 RECVR

Maximum Cable Length

50 FT.

4000 FT.

Maximum Data Rate

20kb/s

100kb/s

Maximum Driver Output Voltage

+/-25V

+/-6V

+/-5V to +/-15V

+/-3.6V

+/-25V

+/-6V

3k to 7k

>=450

Mode of Operation

Total Number of Drivers and Receivers on One Line

Driver Output Signal Level (Loaded Min.)

Loaded

Driver Output Signal Level (Unloaded Max)

Unloaded

Driver Load Impedance (Ohms)

Max. Driver Current in High Z State

Power On

N/A

N/A

Max. Driver Current in High Z State

Power Off

+/-6mA @ +/-2v

+/-100uA

Slew Rate (Max.)

30V/uS

Adjustable

Receiver Input Voltage Range

+/-15V

+/-12V

Receiver Input Sensitivity

Receiver Input Resistance (Ohms)

+/-3V

+/-200mV

3k to 7k

4k min.

One byte of async data

Cabling considerations - you should use cabling made for RS-232 data but I have seen
low speed data go over 250' on 2 pair phone cable. Level 5 cable can also be used but
for best distance use a low capacitance data grade cable.

The standard maxim length is 50' but if data is async you can increase that distance to
as much as 500' with a good grade of cable.
The RS-232 signal on a single cable is impossible to screen effectively for noise. By
screening the entire cable we can reduce the influence of outside noise, but internally
generated noise remains a problem. As the baud rate and line length increase, the
effect of capacitance between the different lines introduces serious crosstalk (this
especially true on synchronous data - because of the clock lines) until a point is reached
where the data itself is unreadable. Signal Crosstalk can be reduced by using low
capacitance cable and shielding each pair
Using a high grade cable (individually shield low capacitance pairs) the distance can be
extended to 4000'
At higher frequencies a new problem comes to light. The high frequency component of
the data signal is lost as the cable gets longer resulting in a rounded, rather than
square wave signal.
The maxim distance will depend on the speed and noise level around the cable run.
On longer runs a line driver is needed. This is a simple modem used to increase the
maxim distance you can run RS-232 data.

Making sense of the specifications

Selecting data cable isn't difficult, but often gets lost in the shuffle of larger system
issues. Care should be taken. however, because intermittent problems caused by
marginal cable can be very difficult to troubleshoot.
Beyond the obvious traits such as number of conductors and wire gauge, cable
specifications include a handful of less intuitive terms.
Characteristic Impedance (Ohms): A value based on the inherent conductance,
resistance, capacitance and inductance of a cable that represents the impedance of an
infinitely long cable. When the cable is out to any length and terminated with this
Characteristic Impedance, measurements of the cable will be identical to values
obtained from the infinite length cable. That is to say that the termination of the cable
with this impedance gives the cable the appearance of being infinite length, allowing no
reflections of the transmitted signal. If termination is required in a system, the
termination impedance value should match the Characteristic Impedance of the cable.
Shunt Capacitance (pF/ft): The amount of equivalent capacitive load of the cable,
typically listed in a per foot basis One of the factors limiting total cable length is the
capacitive load. Systems with long lengths benefits from using low capacitance cable.
Propagation velocity (% of c): The speed at which an electrical signal travels in the

cable. The value given typically must be multiplied by the speed of light (c) to obtain
units of meters per second. For example, a cable that lists a propagation velocity of
78% gives a velocity of 0.78 X 300 X 106 - 234 X 106 meters per second.

Plenum cable
Plenum rated cable is fire resistant and less toxic when burning than non-plenum rated
cable. Check building and fire codes for requirements. Plenum cable is generally more
expensive due to the sheathing material used.
The specification recommends 24AWG twisted pair cable with a shunt capacitance of
16 pF per foot and 100 ohm characteristic impedance.
It can be difficult to qualify whether shielding is required in a particular system or not,
until problems arise. We recommend erring on the safe side and using shielded cable.
Shielded cable is only slightly more expensive than unshielded.
There are many cables available meeting the recommendations of RS-422 and RS-485,
made specifically for that application. Another choice is the same cable commonly used
in the Twisted pair Ethernet cabling. This cable, commonly referred to as Category 5
cable, is defined by the ElA/TIA/ANSI 568 specification The extremely high volume of
Category 5 cable used makes it widely available and very inexpensive, often less than
half the price of specialty RS422/485 cabling. The cable has a maximum capacitance of
17 pF/ft (14.5 pF typical) and characteristic impedance of 100 ohms.
Category 5 cable is available as shielded twisted pair (STP) as well as unshielded
twisted pair (UTP) and generally exceeds the recommendations making it an excellent
choice for RS232 systems.

RS232 - V.24/V.28 - IS2110 - X.20 bis (for

Async) X.21 bis (for Sync)
General
In this document the term RS232 will be used when refered to this serial interface. The
description of RS232 is an EIA/TIA norm and is identical to CCITT V.24/V.28,
X.20bis/X.21bis and ISO IS2110. The only difference is that CCITT has split the
interface into its electrical description (V.28) and a mechanical part (V.24) or
Asynchronous (X.20 bis) and Synchronous (X.21 bis) where the EIA/TIA describes
everything under RS232.

As said before RS232 is a serial interface. It can be found in many different applications
where the most common ones are modems and Personal Computers. All pinning
specifications are writen for the DTE side.
All DTE-DCE cables are straight through meaning the pins are connected one on one.
DTE-DTE and DCE-DCE cables are cross cables. To make a destiction between all
different types of cables we have to use a naming convention.
DTE - DCE: Straight Cable
DTE - DTE: Null-Modem Cable
DCE - DCE: Tail Circuit Cable
Interface Mechanical
RS232 can be found on different connectors. There are special specifications for this.
The CCITT only defines a Sub-D 25 pins version where the EIA/TIA has two versions
RS232C and RS232D which are resp. on a Sub-D25 and a RJ45. Next to this IBM has
added a Sub-D 9 version which is found an almost all Personal Computers and is
described in TIA 457.

Male

Female

Pinnings
Description

Circuit
EIA

Circuit
CCITT

RJ45

TIA 457

Shield Ground

AA

Signal Ground

Transmitted Data

AB

102

BA

103

Received Data

BB

104

Request To Send

CA

105

Clear To Send

CB

106

DCE Ready

CC

107

20

DTE Ready

CD

108.2

22

Ring Indicator

CE

125

Received Line Signal Detector

CF

109

23

Data Signal Rate Select

(DTE/DCE Source>

CH/CI

111/112

24

Transmit Signal Element Timing

(DTE Source)

DA

113

15

Transmitter Signal Element Timing

(DCE Source)

DB

114

17

Receiver Signal Element Timing

(DCE Source)

DD

115

18

Local Loopback / Quality Detector

LL

141

21

Remote Loopback

RL/CG

140/110

14

Secondary Transmitted Data

SBA

118

16

Secondary Received Data

SBB

119

19

Secondary Request To Send

SCA

120

13

Secondary Clear To Send

SCB

121

12

Secondary Received Line Signal Detector/

Data signal Rate Select (DCE Source)

SCF/CI

122/112

25

Test Mode

TM

142

Reserved for Testing

10

Reserved for Testing

RS232-C

11

Unassigned

Interface Electrical
All signals are measured in reference to a common ground, which is called the signal
ground (AB). A positive voltage between 3 and 15 Vdc represents a logical 0 and a
negative voltage between 3 and 15 Vdc represents a logical 1.
This switching between positive and negative is called bipolar. The zero state is not
defined in RS232 and is considered a fault condition (this happens when a device is
turned off).
According to the above a maximum distance of 50 ft or 15 m. can be reached at a
maximum speed of 20k bps. This is according to the official specifications, the distance
can be exceeded with the use of Line Drivers.
Functional description
Description

Circuit Function

Shield Ground

AA

Also known as protective ground. This is the chassis ground

connection between DTE and DCE.

Signal Ground

AB

The reference ground between a DTE and a DCE. Has the

value 0 Vdc.

Transmitted Data BA

Data send by the DTE.

Received Data

Data received by the DTE.

BB

Request To Send CA

Originated by the DTE to initiate transmission by the DCE.

Clear To Send

CB

Send by the DCE as a reply on the RTS after a delay in ms,

which gives the DCEs enough time to energize their circuits
and synchronize on basic modulation patterns.

DCE Ready

CC

Known as DSR. Originated by the DCE indicating that it is

basically operating (power on, and in functional mode).

DTE Ready

CD

Known as DTR. Originated by the DTE to instruct the DCE

to setup a connection. Actually it means that the DTE is up
and running and ready to communicate.

Ring Indicator

CE

A signal from the DCE to the DTE that there is an

incomming call (telephone is ringing). Only used on
switched circuit connections.

Received Line
Signal Detector

CF

Known as DCD. A signal send from DCE to its DTE to

indicate that it has received a basic carrier signal from a
(remote) DCE.

Data Signal Rate

Select
(DTE/DCE

CH/CI A control signal that can be used to change the transmission

speed.

Source>
Transmit Signal
Element Timing
(DTE Source)

DA

Timing signals used by the DTE for transmission, where the

clock is originated by the DTE and the DCE is the slave.

Transmitter Signal
Element Timing
DB
(DCE Source)

Timing signals used by the DTE for transmission.

Receiver Signal
Element Timing
(DCE Source)

DD

Timing signals used by the DTE when receiving data.

Local Loopback /
Quality Detector

LL

Remote Loopback

RL/C
G

Test Mode

TM

Originated by the DCE that changes state when the analog

signal received from the (remote) DCE becomes marginal.

Reserved for
Testing
The secondary signals are used on some DCE's. Those units have the possibility to
transmit and/or receive on a secondary channel. Those secondary channels are mostly
of a lower speed than the normal ones and are mainly used for administrative functions.

Cable pinning
Here are some cable pinning that might be useful. Not all applications are covered, it is
just a help:

aight DB25 Cable

Pin

DB25 Null- modem

or cross over cable (Async)

DB25 Tail- circuit

or cross over cable cable (Sync)

DB25 to DB9 DTE - DCE cabl

Pin
Pin

Pin

Pin

Pin

Pin

Pin

2
3
4

5
6
7
8
9

10
11

20

6, 8

20

20

6, 8

17

24

20

20

24

17

22

12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22

</
DB9 Null- modem or
cross over cable

23
24
25
1,6

1,6

This cable should be used for DTE to DCE (for instance computer to modem) connections with
hardware handshaking.

(To Computer).

(To Modem).
9 PIN D-SUB FEMALE to the Computer
25 PIN D-SUB MALE to the Modem
Female
Shield

Male
1

Transmit Data

Receive Data

Request to Send

Clear to Send

Data Set Ready

System Ground

Carrier Detect

Data Terminal Ready

20

Ring Indicator

22

Nullmodem (25-25) Cable

Use this cable between two DTE devices (for instance two computers).

(To Computer 1).

(To Computer 2).

25 PIN D-SUB FEMALE to Computer 1.
25 PIN D-SUB FEMALE to Computer 2.

Dir

D-Sub 1 D-Sub 2
Recieve Data

Transmit Data

Transmit Data

Receive Data

Data Terminal Ready

20

6+8

Data Set Ready + Carrier Detect

System Ground

System Ground

Data Set Ready + Carrier Detect

6+8

20

Data Terminal Ready

Request to Send

Clear to Send

Clear to Send
5
4
Request to Send
Note: DSR & CD are jumpered to fool the programs to think that their online.

RS232 (25 pin) Tail Circuit Cable

Null Modem cable diagrams

Nullmodem (9p to 9p)

Nullmodem (9p to 25p)

Nullmodem (25p to 25p)

Cross Pinned cables for Async data.

Pin out for local Async Data transfer

Loopback plugs:

Serial Port Loopback (9p)

Serial Port Loopback (25p)

jump to

The Belden Cable Company's cable selection tutorial pages

jump to

RS232 I/O

jump to General

jump to

Hardware Input/Output

http://www.hardwarebook.info/

(in-depth write ups)

RS232 by CAMI Research Inc

jump to

jump to

Interfacing the Serial / RS232 Port

jump to

Introduction to Serial Communications

jump to

Serial Communications

jump to

Serial Port Basics

jump to

http://electrosofts.com/serial

jump to

Parallel port

jump to

related fiber Optic cable pages

jump to Data

Modems for phone lines

jump to Data

Modems for fiber optics

jump to Interface

converters

ARC Electronics ...

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