RS 232

“Recommended
Standards-232
History of RS-232
• Recommended Standard 232 (RS-232) emerged in the 1960s
as a common interface standard for data communications
equipment. This data communications was often an exchange
of data between a mainframe computer and a remote
terminal via an analogue telephone line, and a modem was
required at each end of the connection to carry out the
necessary signal conversion (digital-to-analogue and vice-
versa). A standard was needed to ensure reliable
communication and to enable equipment produced by
different manufacturers to interoperate.
• The standard specified signal voltages, signal
timing, the function of each circuit in the
interface, and a protocol for the exchange of
information. It also provided the specifications
for physical connectors. In the four decades
since the standard first appeared,
the Electronic Industries Association has made
a number of modifications to the standard.
The most recent version, EIA232F, was
introduced in 1997. It renames some of the
signal lines, and introduces some new ones,
including a shield conductor.
Basic working of RS-232
• “RS-232 defines the connection between data terminal
equipment (DTE) and data circuit-terminating equipment (DCE).”
• Data terminal equipment is any end user device, such as a
computer, that can be used to send data over a network. Data
circuit-terminating equipment is a device that provides the
interface between the DTE and the network, and is often a modem
or terminal adapter. An RS-232-compatible interface was commonly
used for computer serial communication (COM) ports, which were
originally intended for connecting the computer to a modem. While
the original RS232 standard specified 25-pin connections, many of
the pins were not used in practice, and a 9-pin connection was
implemented on most computers. Although the RS-232 port has
now largely been superceded by USB for connecting peripheral
devices to personal computers, it is still often provided to enable
the connection of legacy devices.
• The illustration below shows the 25-pin and 9-pin DTE-to-DCE
connections that would result if the EIA232 standard were strictly
followed. The most commonly used signals are shown in red.
A similar DB-9 DCE - DTE
Point to Ponder.
• RS-232 allows data rates of up to 20 kbps
• RS-232 allows cable up to 50 feet ( 15.24 meters.)
• DATA transfer speed upto 20KBps only.
• RS-232 uses Serial Transmission Scheme.
that is one bit at a time.
• Transmit Data (TxD) and Receive Data (RxD) are separate circuits,
the interface can operate in full duplex mode. The EIA232 standard
uses negative, bipolar logic in which a negative voltage is used to
represent a logic '1', and a positive voltage represents a logic '0'. A
typical DTE-DCE interface setup is shown below.
Commonly used RS-232 Signals
TxD Transmitte data transmitted from the DTE to the DCE
d Data
RxD Received data transmitted from the DCE to the DTE
Data
set to 0 (asserted) by the DTE to prepare the DCE to
RTS Request To receive data
Send
CTS Clear To set to 0 (asserted) by the DCE to acknowledge RTS
Send and allow the DTE to transmit
DTR Data
Terminal set to 0 (asserted) by the DTE to indicate that it is
Ready ready to be connected

DSR Data Set set to 0 (asserted) by the DCE to indicate an active

Ready connection
DCD Data set to 0 (asserted) by the DCE when a connection has
Carrier been established with a remote device
Detect
RI Ring set to 0 (asserted) by the DCE when a connection has
Indicator been established with a remote device
Voltage Levels

• The logic ‘1’ in RS232 is described as being in the voltage

range of -15V to -3V and logic ‘0’ is described as the voltage
range of +3V to +15V i.e. low level voltage is logic ‘1’ and high
level voltage is logic ‘0’.
• Typically, the logic ‘1’ in RS232 will be -12V and logic ‘0’ will be
+12V. All the above mentioned voltages are with respect to a
common ground ‘GND’ pin. Any voltage between -3V and +3V
is considered to be an undefined logic state.
• Historically, logic ’1’ (-15V to -3V) is referred to as Marking and
logic ‘0’ (+3V to +15V) is referred to as Spacing.
Limitations of RS232

• RS232 Protocol requires a common ground between the

transmitter (DTE) and receiver (DCE). Hence, the reason for
shorter cables between DTE and DCE in RS232 Protocol.
• The signal in the line is highly susceptible to noise. The noise
can be either internal or external.
• If there is an increase in baud rate and length of the cable,
there is a chance of cross talk introduced by the capacitance
between the cables.
• The voltage levels in RS232 are not compatible with modern
TTL or CMOS logics. We need an external level converter.
Applications

• Though RS232 is a very famous serial communication protocol,

it is now has been replaced with advanced protocols like USB.
• Previously they we used for serial terminals like Mouse,
Modem etc.
• But, RS232 is still being used in some Servo Controllers, CNC
Machines, PLC machines and some microcontroller boards use
RS232 Protocol.