The Importance of RS-232 and Other Serial Converters

This article is not for hard-core techies seeking more detailed knowledge about the often-arcaneword of USB, RS232, RS485 and RS422 converters. Instead, it is geared toward the more casualcomputer user who may need those interface protocols on the job and wonders what, exactly theyare, and how to use them. So, let's talk about the serial interface in general, why serial connectionscontinue to be important, and why reliable converters are often crucial.

Today, when we connect something to a computer, it likely uses USB, which stands for UniversalSerial Bus. Computers from Apple and some other manufacturers may also have an IEEE 1394"Firewire" interface, though with USB 2.0 so fast, IEEE 1394 is used less often now. We are alsoused to the various card slots, ranging from the original PC Card format (often combined withExpressCard connectivity) to slots supporting CF cards, SD cards, the tiny microSD cards and anumber of other formats. Most external peripherals -- such as hard disks, optical drives, mice,cameras, etc. - connect to computers via one of the above methods. Most, but not all.

That's because, for a variety of reasons, there is still a large number of applications and peripheralsthat use serial communication. Serial communication goes way back to the early days of computingand refers to a technology that sends data bit by bit in serial fashion. It is a simple, reliable, andtime-tested means of electronic communication, and sort of a common denominator that can beused between just about any two pieces of electronic equipment. At its most basic, RS232 usesdifferent voltage levels with respect to ground to communicate point-to-point at slow speeds overshort distances. RS422 uses twisted pairs and communicates signals faster and over longer distancesvia negative and positive voltages. Since it uses two twisted pairs, RS-422 can communicate in bothdirections simultaneously. RS485, finally, works like RS422, but uses an addressing system (a bitlike Ethernet) and therefore can communicate with multiple devices. There are also devices that useTTL (Transistor Transistor Logic).

While these serial technologies continue to be used in a wide range of computer, automation andother commercial and industrial applications, they are now considered "legacy" interfaces by thecomputer industry, or at least the consumer side of things. As a result, most modern laptops nolonger have a serial connector, and even on desktops they are becoming less common. And evendevices that have "legacy support," i.e. a 9-pin serial connector, generally only provide RS232connectivity.

This is where protocol converters and adapters come into play. These converters come in varioussizes and configurations and convert between RS-232, RS-422, RS-485, and TTL. There may alsobe a need to convert between the electrical signals generated by computers and fiber optic

transmission methods used for high-speed/high bandwidth connections. Often it is just a matter ofgetting an adapter to convert between your computer's USB port to whatever serial protocol isneeded. Other times conversions is a bit more complex and requires special insulation, genderchangers, the ability to manually manipulate signals, or there may be other special considerations.All of this is doable, and there's a whole industry dedicated to making and selling whateverconverter you need for your project.

Contact Details :=

Company Name : Cescom Enterprises Pty Ltd

Address : Surfers Paradise, Qld 4217 PO Box 9255 GCMC, Qld 9726 Australia

Phone : +61 7 5570-3334

Email id : info@cescom.com.au

Website : http://www.cescom.com.au