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From: ridder@elvira.cxo3.dec.com (Hans Ridder)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.tech
Subject: RS232 gender (was Re: Apple SCSI not compatible with standard SCSI?)
Message-ID: <503@shodha.dec.com>
Date: 1 Dec 89 18:32:52 GMT
References: <845@lpami.wimsey.bc.ca>
Sender: news@shodha.dec.com
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation, Customer Support Center
Lines: 41

In article <845@lpami.wimsey.bc.ca> lphillips@lpami.wimsey.bc.ca (Larry Phillips) writes:
>While I'm at it, I may as well voice my pet peeve about connectors.
>IBM did the RS-232 WRONG. I know it isn't in the spec, but up until
>these clowns got hold of it, most manufacturers used FEMALE connectors
>on their equipment (not as easy to short out). Now we have CBM, who
>did it right on the A1000, then decided to kowtow to the IBMishness
>and use a male RS-232. Grr.

Oh no!  Not the RS-232 gender wars again!?!  Let's see if we can nip
this one in the bud.

RS-232 (now EIA-232) has, for quite a while specified the gender of
connectors.  My copy of the standard, dated August 1969, says it on
page 7 section 3.1.  The language is a bit difficult, but is basically
gets around to saying that female connectors are for DCE's (modems),
and male connectors are for DTE's (terminals and to most people,
computers).  So, IBM followed the standard, not the bandwagon.

#define SOAPBOX
DEC has done it this way for as long as I can remember, and the result
is that for most situations only one of two types of cables is
required: either a null-modem with female connectors on both ends, or
a straight cable with one male and one female connector.  Around here,
it's almost impossible to find any "gender menders" or the like.  If
the cable mates with the connectors, it's the right one (sync. vs.
async. not withstanding.)
#endif SOAPBOX

I probably should have avoided the soapbox when I was trying to end a
discussion, but I couldn't help myself....:-)

>-larry
>

-hans


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  Hans-Gabriel Ridder			Digital Equipment Corporation
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