Improve your ni.com experience. Login or Create a user profile.

983 ratings: out of 5

Serial

I would like to use my computer's built-in serial port to communicate with a serial device, and I have
both the null modem and straight through serial cables. What is the difference between the two cables,
and which one should I use?

The null modem cable is frequently called a crossover cable. It is used to allow two serial Data
Terminal Equipment (DTE) devices to communicate with each other without using a modem or a Data
Communications Equipment (DCE) device in between. For this to happen, the Transmit (TXD) pin of
one device needs to be connected to the Receive (RXD) pin of the other device. To enable
handshaking between the two devices, the Request to Send (RTS) pin of one device must be
connected to the Clear to Send (CTS) pin of the other device. Because these pins are "crossed" on the
two cable terminals, the name crossover cable is used.

A straight-through cable is used to connect a DTE device to a DCE device. The TXD-RXD and RTS-
CTS pins are not cross-connected in this case, hence the term straight through cable.

The built-in serial port on a PC is a DTE device. Modems and printers are examples of DCE devices.
Note that an instrument with serial interface could be either a DTE or a DCE device. It is best to check
the user manual of the instrument to find out the device type. For more information regarding DTE and
DCE devices, please see the links below.

To tell if your cable is null modem or straight though, you can search the part number at ni.com, the
product description will tell if it is null modem. Alternatively you can use a hand held DMM to test
continuity on the individual pins of your serial cable. If every pin is electrically connected to the
corresponding pin on the other end, i.e.: pin 1 to pin1, pin 2 to pin 2, etc. then the cable is straight
through.

Products and Services: Serial Interfaces

Developer Zone Tutorial: Serial Communication General Concept

22/12/2004
05/06/2014
3GLDMSIT

Poor | Excellent Yes No

Document Quality? Answered Your Question?
1 2 3 4 5
Document needs work? Please tell us why.

Please Contact NI for all product and support inquiries.

My Profile | RSS | Privacy | Legal | Contact NI
© 2014 National Instruments Corporation. All rights reserved.
| E-Mail this Page