--- chapter.sgml.orig Sat Sep 3 14:52:36 2005 +++ chapter.sgml.2 Tue Sep 6 22:36:41 2005 @@ -119,15 +119,20 @@ A null-modem cable passes some signals, such as signal ground, straight through, but switches other signals. For - example, the send data pin on one end goes to the - receive data pin on the other end. + example, the transmitted data pin on one end goes to the + received data pin on the other end. - If you like making your own cables, you can construct - a null-modem cable for use with - terminals. This table shows the RS-232C signal names and the pin - numbers on a DB-25 connector. + You can also construct your own null-modem cable for use with + terminals (e.g., for quality purposes). This table shows the RS-232C + signal names and the pin numbers on a DB-25 connector. Note that the + standard also calls for a straight-through pin 1 to pin 1 + protective ground line, but it is often omitted. + Some terminals can get by using only pins 2, 3 and 7, while others + require different configurations than the examples shown below. - + + Null-modem DB-25 to DB-25 cable + @@ -189,11 +194,11 @@ - DCD + DTR + 20 + connects to 8 - - 6 - DSR + DCD @@ -203,16 +208,269 @@ 20 DTR + + + DCD + 8 + connects to + 20 + DTR + - +
+ Here are two other schemes more common nowadays. + + + Null-modem DB-9 to DB-9 cable + + + + + Signal + Pin # + + Pin # + Signal + + + + + + RD + 2 + connects to + 3 + TD + + + + TD + 3 + connects to + 2 + RD + + + + DTR + 4 + connects to + 6 + DSR + + + + DTR + 4 + connects to + 1 + DCD + + + + SG + 5 + connects to + 5 + SG + + + + DSR + 6 + connects to + 4 + DTR + + + + DCD + 1 + connects to + 4 + DTR + + + + RTS + 7 + connects to + 8 + CTS + + + + CTS + 8 + connects to + 7 + RTS + + + +
+ + + Null-modem DB-9 to DB-25 cable + + + + + Signal + Pin # + + Pin # + Signal + + + + + + RD + 2 + connects to + 2 + TD + + + + TD + 3 + connects to + 3 + RD + + + + DTR + 4 + connects to + 6 + DSR + + + + DTR + 4 + connects to + 8 + DCD + + + + SG + 5 + connects to + 7 + SG + + + + DSR + 6 + connects to + 20 + DTR + + + + DCD + 1 + connects to + 20 + DTR + + + + RTS + 7 + connects to + 5 + CTS + + + + CTS + 8 + connects to + 4 + RTS + + + +
+ - Connect Data Set Ready (DSR) and - Data Carrier Detect (DCD) internally in the - connector hood, and then to Data Terminal - Ready (DTR) in the remote hood. + Usually, when one pin at one end connects to a pair of pins + at the other end, it is implemented with one short wire between + the pair of pins in their connector and a long wire to the other + single pin. + + The above designs seems to be the most popular. In another + variation (explained in the book RS-232 Made + Easy, ISBN: 0137498543) SG connects to SG, TD connects + to RD, RTS and CTS connect to DCD, DTR connects to DSR, and + vice-versa. + + The correspondance between acronyms used and signal names + follow. + + + Signal acronyms + + + + + Acronyms + Signal names + + + + + + RD + Received Data + + + + TD + Transmitted Data + + + + DTR + Data Terminal Ready + + + + DSR + Data Set Ready + + + + DCD + Data Carrier Detect + + + + SG + System Ground + + + + RTS + Request To Send + + + + CTS + Clear To Send + + +
@@ -220,8 +478,8 @@ RS-232C cables A standard serial cable passes all the RS-232C signals - straight-through. That is, the send data pin on one - end of the cable goes to the send data pin on the + straight-through. That is, the transmitted data pin on one + end of the cable goes to the transmitted data pin on the other end. This is the type of cable to use to connect a modem to your FreeBSD system, and is also appropriate for some terminals.