EIA-232-D INTERCONNECTIONS
The EIA-232-D Standard is the most widely used interface between terminals and computers or modems, and yet it is not fully understood. This is because all the lines are not clearly defined, and many users do not see the need to conform for their applications. A system should easily connect to any other. Many times designers think only of their own equipment, but the state-of-the- art is computer-to-computer or computer-to-modem operation.
The DIA-232-D Standard was originally developed by the Bell System to connect terminals via modems. Therefore, several handshaking lines were included. In many applications these are not needed, but since they permit diagnosis of problems, they are included in many applications.
Table A-1 lists the standard DIA-232-D interconnections. To interpret this information correctly it is necessary to know that EIA-232-D is intended to connect a terminal to a modem. When computers are connected to computers without modems, one of them must be configured as a terminal and the other as a modem. Because computers are normally configured to work with terminals, they are said to be configured as a modem. Also, the signal levels must be between +3 and +15 volts for a high level, and between -3 and -15 volts for a low level. Any attempt to connect units in parallel may result in out of range voltages and is not allowed by the EIA-232-D specifications.