RS232 DB9 NULL Modem Pinout on CAT5/CAT5(e)/CAT6

This is in response to a number of recent emails asking how to wire both ends of a DB9 connection using cat5, cat5(e) or cat6 cable. This must not be confused with DB9 to RJ45 (RS232D). We have shown a null modem (back-to-back PCs) only configuration. And if you want to use cat5, cat5(e) or cat 6 with a real modem (a DB25 connector)? Our advice - don't. Warning:. There is, as far as we know, no standard to cover the use of cat5, cat5(e) or cat 6 (8 conductor) wiring when used with two DB9 connectors. Any such wiring scheme is therefore nonstandard - that includes the wiring scheme below. Specifically this means that both ends of the cable must be wired in the same way and that no assumptions can be made about how the other end is wired. You will have to manually inspect both ends of the connection. Damage can result from mis-matched wiring. A DB9 clearly has 9 connections and a cat5, cat5(e) and cat 6 cable has 8 conductors. RS232D has chosen to use Pin 1 as a multi-function pin (DSR/RI) to provide maximum flexibility with modems - in particular it allows for DCD which is a meaningful signal from a modem but not, we suggest, from a peer PC. We have chosen to use a minor variation on the normal DB9 Null modem pinout above specifically we have allowed for RI which could be used from a peer PC to commence a transmission sequence. The colors used are unimportant but the suggested configuration is one way to provide the shortest use of the adjacent (twisted) pairs. If this pinout does not work for you then you could try our Signal/pin primer because you may need to SPOOF connections. PC1 Peer DB9 2 3 4 6,1 7 8 5 9 Signal RD TD DTR RTS CTS SGND RI cat5(e) Color Brown Blue Green Blue-white Green-white Orange PC2 Peer DB9 3 2 6,1 8 7 5 Signal TD RD DTR CTS RTS SGND RI cat5(e) Color Blue Brown Green Green-white Blue-white Orange Orange-white

DSR, DCD Brown-white

DSR, DCD Brown-white 4

Orange-white 9

DB9: View - looking into male connector (male and female connector diagrams) NOTE: 1. We have received email suggesting that the above pinout looks like DTR from one side is driving into DSR/DCD on the other side - not normally a healthy situation. The emails miss the point that since this is a NULL modem connection both ends are DTEs. The two peer DTE's treat DSR/DCD signals as RX (INPUT) only. The INPUT DSR/DCD on one side is created by cross connecting the OUTPUT DTR signal for the other peer.