© National Instruments Corp.
C-1
GPIB-232CT User Manual
Appendix C
The Serial Connection
The serial port on the GPIB-232CT provides an asynchronous serial
communication link between the GPIB-232CT and a serial peripheral
device. The connector for the port is located on the rear panel.
This appendix is a review of the RS-232 standard at the physical and
electrical levels. This information will be helpful if you decide to build
your own cable. If you would like more information on the RS-232
standard, write to:
EIA Engineering Department
Standards Sales Office
2001 Eye Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006
RS-232C
The RS-232C standard (international standard CCITT V.24) was
formulated in 1969 largely from the efforts of the Electronic Industries
Association (EIA) and Bell Laboratories. The standard describes the
electrical specifications and arrangement of control and data signals on both
sides of a serial communications interface. Its original intent was to
interface terminals to modems. Since then, many manufacturers of
computers and instruments have adopted the standard for their serial
communications needs.
The RS-232 serial port on the GPIB-232CT uses a 25-pin, D-subminiature
connector with a DTE (Data Terminal Equipment) interface configuration.
That is, the GPIB-232CT transmits data on pin 2 and receives data on pin 3.
Table C-1 shows the signal lines supported on the GPIB-232CT.
