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Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!gatech!unmvax!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!hplabs!hp-sdd!megatek!zeta!hollen
From: hollen@zeta.megatek.uucp (Dion Hollenbeck)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc,comp.periphs,comp.misc
Subject: Re: RS-232 protocol primer (long)
Message-ID: <592@megatek.UUCP>
Date: 23 Jun 89 20:35:03 GMT
References: <1538@mtunb.ATT.COM>
Sender: news@megatek.UUCP
Lines: 42

From article <1538@mtunb.ATT.COM>, by dmt@mtunb.ATT.COM (Dave Tutelman):
> In article <589@megatek.UUCP> hollen@megatek.UUCP () writes:
>  [ ... stuff about titleing deleted ... ]
> In fact, your comment about the RS-232 standard itself needs some
> corrections...
> 
>> The RS232 "standard" is merely a document which designates
>>the accepted use of the 25 wires in a cable and the physical configuration
>>of the size and shape of the connector (DB-25). 
> 
> Why is the word STANDARD in quotes?  There is, in fact, a REAL LIVE
> EIA standard, designated RS-232-C and dated 1981.  (Originally 1969,
> reaffirmed 1981.)  It DOES NOT specify the DB-25 interface connector,
> or any interface connector at all.  It DOES specify:
> 
>    [ ... lots of good observations deleted ...]

Thank you for clarifying this to the net, Dave.  I do, in fact,
have a copy of the very standard you mention, but in my humble experience,
I have seen it violated more often than followed.  Therefore, I put
the word STANDARD in quotes.  In the hardware we build here, we do
our best to adhere to such standards when they exist, but this is,
unfortunately, not the case with many manufacturers.

And yes, I am wrong about the standard specifying the size and shape
of the connector.  I was talking off the top of my head and
obviously spliced into the standard pages from other documents
which do not belong there without realizing I was doing so.  This
merely points out that even the "experts" can give mis-information
in the process of being helpful.  Generally stems from having too
much information in the head and not realizing that it should be
looked up.

Sorry if I caused any confusion, and thanks to all for the corrections
which have been mentioned.  The important thing is that people out
there get the correct information.


	Dion Hollenbeck             (619) 455-5590 x2814
	Megatek Corporation, 9645 Scranton Road, San Diego, CA  92121

        uunet!megatek!hollen       or  hollen@megatek.uucp