1.

RS232 is the oldest standard of the Electronics Industries Associations (EIA)

which was followed later by RS422 and RS485. The origin of RS232 can be traced
back to the days when remote teletype machines were connected to main frames
via modems. Communications between DCE (Data Circuit-terminating equipment)
and DTE (Data Terminal Equipment) used to happen sequentially. The entire
process was very slow and very mechanical. With the help of RS232, EIA made a
standard which minimized incompatibilities to make life easier for those involved
with the information technology department and data communication. But
shortcomings and limitations in speed, flow control and reliability posed a
question on the performance of RS232. This is where RS422 came in. RS422
provided a solution to the problem by using two sets of negative and positive
pairs of voltages. RS422 has speed up to 10 megabits per second with a
connection distance of about 4000 feet.

 2. RS422 has two twisted pairs carrying negative and positive voltages which help it to
communicate in both directions at the same time. In case of RS232, communication
takes place one after another. RS422 provides data transmission using differential or
balanced signaling. It has unidirectional and non reversible transmission lines. Unlike
EIA 485, it allows multiple receivers but not multiple drivers. It has the advantage of
differential receiver, differential driver and high data rates (10 megabaud at 12
meters). EIA 422 on the other hand only specifies the characteristics of electrical
signaling of a single balanced signal.

RS485 also uses twisted pairs of negative and positive voltage differentials but for
serial binary data communication. This is also known as EIA-485, TIA 485 because this
was published by the ANSI Telecommunication Industry Association (TIA) and Electronic
Industries Alliance (EIA). They can be effectively used over long distances and in
environments with electrical noises. Multiple receivers can be connected to these in a
multi-drop configuration.

 3. RS232 and RS422 are point to point

protocols but RS485 devices are
addressable and have the capacity to
communicate with multiple nodes, up to
32. However, RS 485 works almost like
RS422 in matters of speed and distance.

 4. RS485 is appropriate for variety of master

or slave networks and architecture
connections. Each of them can be connected
bi-directionally as line termination requires
special consideration. But as RS232 and
RS422 are point to point, they are not
suitable for this purpose.

 5. As RS422 has a single driver circuit, it cannot be

switched off, but EIA 485 or RS485 drivers are required to
be put in the transmit mode by placing a signal to the
driver.

These are the basic differences between RS232, RS422 and

RS485 largely used in various industrial and commercial
systems.