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.
Pinning
RS232-C |
Description |
Circuit
EIA |
Circuit
CCITT |
RJ45 |
TIA 457 |
1 |
Shield Ground |
AA |
† |
† |
† |
7 |
Signal Ground |
AB |
102 |
4 |
5 |
2 |
Transmitted Data |
BA |
103 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
Received Data |
BB |
104 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
Request To Send |
CA |
105 |
8 |
7 |
5 |
Clear To Send |
CB |
106 |
7 |
8 |
6 |
DCE Ready |
CC |
107 |
1 |
6 |
20 |
DTE Ready |
CD |
108.2 |
3 |
4 |
22 |
Ring Indicator |
CE |
125 |
1 |
9 |
8 |
Received Line Signal Detector |
CF |
109 |
2 |
1 |
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 |
† |
† |
9 |
Reserved for Testing |
† |
† |
† |
† |
10 |
Reserved for Testing |
† |
† |
† |
† |
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 |
BB |
Data received by the DTE. |
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 Source> |
CH/CI |
A control signal that can be used to change the
transmission speed. |
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
(DCE Source) |
DB |
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/CG |
Originated by the DCE that changes state when
the analog signal received from the (remote) DCE becomes marginal. |
Test Mode |
TM |
† |
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 pinnings
Here are some cable pinnings that might be useful. Not all applications are covered,
it is just a help:
Straight DB25 Cable |
DB25 Null- modem cable (Async) |
DB25 Tail- circuit cable (Sync) |
DB25 to DB9 DTE - DCE cable |
DB25 to DB9 DTE - DTE cable |
Pin |
Pin |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
8 |
9 |
9 |
10 |
10 |
11 |
11 |
12 |
12 |
13 |
13 |
14 |
14 |
15 |
15 |
16 |
16 |
17 |
17 |
18 |
18 |
19 |
19 |
20 |
20 |
21 |
21 |
22 |
22 |
23 |
23 |
24 |
24 |
25 |
25 |
|
Pin |
Pin |
1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
6, 8 |
20 |
7 |
7 |
20 |
6, 8 |
|
Pin |
Pin |
1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
8 |
6 |
20 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
4 |
17 |
24 |
20 |
6 |
24 |
17 |
|
Pin |
Pin |
2 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
7 |
5 |
8 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
5 |
8 |
1 |
20 |
4 |
22 |
9 |
|
Pin |
Pin |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
8 |
5 |
7 |
6 |
4 |
7 |
5 |
20 |
1, 6 |
|
|