Professional Documents
Culture Documents
RS-232
EIA-232 uses a single ended, bipolar voltage signal. Voltages typically swing from -12V to +12V with respect to
signal ground. Suitable for low noise environments and distances below 30.5 meters (100 feet), RS-232 is
commonly used for the desktop modem and mouse. An increase in modem speeds has spurred an effort to
increase RS-232 data rates by chip vendors. Transceivers capable of 460k baud and higher are now available,
although the actual throughput gains of running higher data rates than 115.2k baud on interrupt based systems is
questionable at best.
RS-422
RS-422 is suited to longer distance communications, up to 1,200 meters (4,000 feet) without repeaters. Using a
balanced differential pair results in higher noise immunity than EIA-232. The differential voltage provides a valid
signal down to 200 mV. Two wires are required for each signal in addition to a signal ground conductor. RS-422 is
most commonly used for point-to-point communications, although up to 10 receivers may be connected to a single
transmitter.
RS-485
RS-485 is also suited to longer distance communications, up to 1,200 meters (4,000 feet) without repeaters. Again,
a balanced differential pair is used for higher noise immunity than EIA-232. Voltage levels are identical to RS-422.
In addition, RS-485 offers a multidrop capability; up to 32 nodes can be connected. The multidrop feature also
allows "two-wire" (in addition to signal ground) half-duplex data connection to be made.
Page 1
11/12/2014
Figure 1: Signals
Paul T. Rawlings
Page 2
11/12/2014
Notes:
B&B Electronics Converters
B&B tries to include the RS-422/485 specifications' naming scheme. Because of its common use, most of our data
sheets and product labels include the "+" and "-" naming scheme along with the "A" and "B".
B&B Electronics labels the data lines on RS-422 and RS-485 with an "A", for negative or "B" for positive, to
indicate the positive and negative relationship between the two data lines. It is important to label the data lines
because this positive and negative relationship between the lines must be maintained when connecting one device
to another.
Page 3
11/12/2014
Cabling
The RS-422 specification recommends 24AWG twisted pair cable with a shunt capacitance of 16 pF per foot and
100-ohm characteristic impedance. While the RS-485 specification does not specify cabling, these
recommendations should be used for RS-485 systems as well. Shielding is recommended but not required by the
specification.
Ground Wire
Theres no such thing as 2-wire RS-485. Some people describe their RS-485 system as 2-wire but, RS-485
requires a differential pair and a signal return line. It may look like it works without the ground, but your system will
not be reliable without a dedicated signal ground connection.
Connections
Paul T. Rawlings
Page 4
11/12/2014
RS-232
Three are two types of RS-232 ports, DTE and DCE. The signal names and pin numbers are the same, but signal
flow is opposite! The pin labeled Tx can be input, and Rx the output.
The two port types are complementary, the Output signals on a DTE port are Inputs to a DCE port, and Output
signals on a DCE port are Inputs to a DTE port. The signal names match each other and connect pin for pin. Signal
flow is in the direction of the arrows.
Paul T. Rawlings
Page 5
11/12/2014
What devices have DTE type RS-232 ports? A DTE device is "Data Terminal Equipment"; this includes Computers,
Serial Printers, PLC's, Video Cameras, Video Recorders, Video Editors, and most devices, which are not used to
extend communications. Think COMPUTER for DTE.
What devices have DCE type RS-232 ports? A DCE device is "Data Communications Equipment", this includes
devices intended to plug directly into a DTE port, PDA cables, Modems and devices that extend communications
like a modem, such as RS-422, RS-485, or Fiber Optic converters or Radio Modems. Think MODEM for DCE.
Paul T. Rawlings
Page 6
11/12/2014
EIA Standards
Paul T. Rawlings
Page 7
11/12/2014
RS-232 Signals
Transmitted Data (TxD) - Data sent from DTE to DCE.
Received Data (RxD) - Data sent from DCE to DTE.
Request To Send (RTS) - Asserted (set to 0) by DTE to prepare DCE to receive data. This may require
action on the part of the DCE, e.g. transmitting a carrier or reversing the direction.
Clear To Send (CTS) - Asserted by DCE to acknowledge RTS and allow DTE to transmit.
Data Terminal Ready (DTR) - Asserted by DTE to indicate that it is ready to be connected. If the DCE is a
modem, this may "wake up" the modem, bringing it out of a power saving mode. This behavior is seen quite
often in modern PSTN and GSM modems. When this signal is de-asserted, the modem may return to its
standby mode, immediately hanging up any calls in progress.
Data Set Ready (DSR) - Asserted by DCE to indicate an active connection. If DCE is not a modem (e.g. a
null modem cable or other equipment), this signal should be permanently asserted (set to 0), possibly by a
jumper to another signal.
Data Carrier Detect (DCD) - Asserted by DCE when a connection has been established with remote
equipment.
Ring Indicator (RI) - Asserted by DCE when it detects a ring signal from the telephone line.
NOTE: The standard defines RTS/CTS as the signaling protocol for flow control for data transmitted from
DTE to DCE. The standard has no provision for flow control in the other direction. In practice, most
hardware seems to have assigned the RTS signal for this function.
Paul T. Rawlings
Page 8
11/12/2014