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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!rocky2!cubsvax!wu1!rf
From: rf@wu1.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.dcom
Subject: Re: Cheap 1200 bps modems
Message-ID: <172@wu1.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 17-Oct-83 13:25:03 EDT
Article-I.D.: wu1.172
Posted: Mon Oct 17 13:25:03 1983
Date-Received: Wed, 19-Oct-83 23:32:56 EDT
References: <228@houxb.UUCP>
Organization: Western Union Telegraph, Mahwah, NJ
Lines: 19

Bob Schreibmaier is absolutely correct.  The connector types are
not specified in RS-232.  When RS-232 was written all interested
parties knew what connectors to use, since RS-232 was an EIA
blessing of an AT&T modem standard.

RS-232 also does not specify the timing relationships between
signals, making the design of networks which take their carrier
signals seriously a difficult matter.  EIA has promulgated the
RS-449 standard as a replacement for RS-232, but no-one is
taking it seriously even though it does specify a signalling
standard which would guarantee the operability of 200 foot
cables.  Since a 212 class modem now fits on a rather small card
it is now sensible to build your modems into computers and
terminals and I expect that RS-232 and RS-449 will slooowly fade
away.


				Randolph Fritz
				Western Union Telegraph