Subject: Study of RS-232 standard and making of Data cable

TSSN
using DB-9 connector.
Experiment No. ECD
2 DATE:

AIM: - Study of RS-232 standard and making of Data cable using DB- 9
connector.

RS-232 (Recommended Standard 232) is the standard for establishing serial data signals
connection between DTE (Data Terminal Equipment) and DCE (Data Circuit-terminating
Equipment).

In all the cases the length of the cable should not exceed 25 feet (about 7.5 meters) unless a
signal booster is used. Most commonly used types of serial cable connectors are 9-pin connector
DB9 and 25-pin connector DB25. Each of them can be of female or male type as shown on the
following image.

RS-232 is interface for carry information between two devices, for a distance of up to few
meters. The information is carried along patch wires. It describes the interface between terminals
(DTE) to a modem (DCE) for the transfer of serial data.

The devices for serial link have been connected by cable with 9-pins or 25-pins connector type.
We can find many terminologies, for example DB-9, DB-25, CANNON 9, CANNON 25, etc.
The connectors are made in male and female type. Each pin is named and labeled. Their pin outs
has been described below.
 RS232 Pin Assignments
(DB 25 PC signal set)
Pin 1 Protective Ground
Pin 2 Transmit Data
Pin 3 Received Data
Pin 4 Request To Send
Pin 5 Clear To Send
Pin 6 Data Set Ready
Pin 7 Signal Ground
Received Line Signal Detector
Pin 8
(Data Carrier Detect)
Pin 20 Data Terminal Ready
Pin 22 Ring Indicator

The connector on the PC has male pins; therefore the mating cable needs to terminate in a
DB25/F (Female pin) connector.

RS232 Pin Assignments

(DB9 PC signal set)
Received Line Signal Detector
Pin 1
(Data Carrier Detect)
Pin 2 Received Data
Pin 3 Transmit Data
Pin 4 Data Terminal Ready
Pin 5 Signal Ground
Pin 6 Data Set Ready
Pin 7 Request To Send
Pin 8 Clear To Send
Pin 9 Ring Indicator

The connector on the PC has male pins, therefore the mating cable needs to terminate in a
DB9/F (Female pin) connector.

While the normal PC hardware might well run with just Tx, Rx and Ground connected, most
driver software will wait forever for one of the handshaking lines to go to the correct level.
Depending on the signal state it might sometimes work, other times it might not. The reliable
solution is to loop back the handshake lines if they are not used.
 Handshake looping a PC serial connector

When the lines are handshake looped, the RTS output from the PC immediately activates the
CTS input - so the PC effectively controls its own handshaking.

RS232 DB9 PC Loopback test plug

Voltages
The signal level of the RS232 pins can have two states. A high bit, or mark state is identified by
a negative voltage and a low bit or space state uses a positive value. This might be a bit
confusing, because in normal circumstances, high logical values are defined by high voltages
also. The voltage limits are shown below.

RS232 voltage values

Transmitter Receiver
Level
capable (V) capable (V)
Space state (0) +5 ... +15 +3 ... +25
Mark state (1) -5 ... -15 -3 ... -25
Undefined - -3 ... +3

DATE: - FACULTY IN-CHARGE