communications, standard (Formerly "RS-232") The most common
EIA-232 specifies the
gender and pin use of connectors, but
not their physical type.
RS-423 specifies the electrical
signals. 25-way
D-type connectors are common but often only
three wires are connected - one ground (pin 7) and one for
data in each direction. The other pins are primarily related
conditions etc.
(DTE). DTE receives data on pin 3 and transmits on pin 2
(TD). A DCE EIA-232 interface has a female connector. DCE
receives data from DTE on pin 2 (TD) and sends that data out
the analog line. Data received from the analog line is sent
by the DCE on pin 3(RD).
Originally DCE was a modem and DTE was a computer or terminal.
The terminal or computer was connected (via EIA-232) to two
modems, which were connected via a telephone line.
The above arrangement allows a computer or terminal to be
connected to a modem with a straight-through (2-2, 3-3) cable.
It is common, however, to find equipment with the wrong sex
connector or with pins two and three reversed, requiring the
connecting a computer directly to a terminal or to another
computer without the use of modems.
(1999-12-28)